Heartbeat Interference

First of all, great plugin, and thanks for all the work on developing it. Second, this isn’t a complaint or a request for technical support. I’m just offering a tip that might possibly help someone else having the same issue. There’s also a recommendation at the end of this for Elementor (again, not a complaint, just a suggestion on improving a wonderful product).

Watch out for optimization plugins that disable the WordPress Heartbeat functionality. It can prevent Elementor from opening a new Page, Post, etc. Read more about WordPress Heartbeat here: (https://developer.www.ads-software.com/plugins/javascript/heartbeat-api/)

I discovered this after installing a plugin named PerfMatters and then disabling the WordPress Heartbeat. Making this setting change did not prevent me from editing pages, posts, etc. that had been previously edited with Elementor. What it did do was prevent me from editing any new pages, posts, etc. or ones that had never been edited with Elementor before.

Here’s an example of what happens after setting Disable Heartbeat to Disable Everywhere in PerfMatters: Add a new page (works great), Click on the Edit with Elementor Button (nothing happens), Click on the Edit with Elementor button a second time (a dialogue is displayed that states Back to WordPress Editor, Please note that you are switching to WordPress default editor. Your current layout, design and content might break, Cancel, Continue). Hmmm, OK, that’s not a dialogue box that should appear when clicking the Edit with Elementor button. Shouldn’t I see that when clicking the Back to WordPress Editor button instead? (Answer: Yes, that is what correctly happens when clicking the Back to WordPress Editor button)

Solution?: One, don’t ever completely disable the WordPress Heartbeat via a plugin or change via wp-config.php. Two, pick an alternative setting, such as what the PerfMatters plugin offers with a Only Allow When Editing Post/Pages setting (also noted in the documentation on their website).

My first recommendation to Elementor would be to make better note of this potential issue when troubleshooting an Elementor not opening type issues. If you search the Help Section of the Elementor website, there is only one small mention of “Heartbeat Control” and that it can interfere with Elementor. My second recommendation to Elementor (which might cut down on some support calls) would be to have a Heartbeat Warning dialogue such as “…heartbeat is disabled, Elementor cannot open” if WordPress Heartbeat functionality is disabled. The ‘hook’ for that seems to exist in that when the WordPress Heartbeat functionality is turned off, the Edit with Elementor button incorrectly opens the Back to WordPress Editor button instead.

And I’m also not being disparaging about the PerfMatters plugin either. They specifically mention it will interfere with Elementor on their website’s help section (https://perfmatters.io/docs/disable-wordpress-heartbeat-api/). Just like for the Elementor website, I’d recommend PerfMatters more prominently display information about what the Heartbeat setting can impact (perhaps in their ToolTip popup).