7.1 Group Elements Block Settings does not respect theme.json restrictions for background color (Beta 1)

[andreawetzel]

Description

Our theme removes the ability to change background colors via theme.json for buttons and headings.

		"blocks": {
			"core/button": {
				"color": {
					"background": false
				},

However, testing in 7.1 Beta 1, these background colors can be changed if a group block is selected. This can result in unsupported designs for our theme.

1. Is it a bug that the Elements panel doesn't use the theme.json settings for background: false?

2. What is the intended use for the Elements panel?

3. Can the Elements panel be disabled? (yes, see comment below)

Step-by-step reproduction instructions

• Restrict backgrounds from being changed via theme.json
• Add a group block to a page
• Add heading and button elements within that group block
• Go to the group block's block settings panel and find the "Elements" panel
• Change the background color for headings and buttons

Screenshots, screen recording, code snippet

Here is a screenshot from testing 7.1 Beta 1 with our theme that has background color removed via theme.json

Environment info

• WordPress 7.1 Beta 1
• Custom Hybrid theme

Please confirm that you have searched existing issues in the repo.

• Yes

Please confirm that you have tested with all plugins deactivated except Gutenberg.

• Yes

Please confirm which theme type you used for testing.

• Block
• Classic
• Hybrid (e.g. classic with theme.json)
• Not sure

[andreawetzel]

I think the Elements panel was added in this PR: #77279

[kedarjoyner]

Good find @andreawetzel!

It would be helpful if this bug could be fixed before the 7.1 release for large groups that have custom WordPress themes and need to maintain consistent branding across many sites. In particular, this is a higher priority for higher education groups that often manage multi-site networks with hundreds or thousands of users that must comply with branding policies.

[andreawetzel]

To answer question 3 above, It appears that one can remove the elements panel by adding this to theme.json. IMO, It would still be good if the heading's theme.json restrictions trickled down to this group block level, but now that I know I can remove this Elements UI entirely, this is less urgent.

{
  "settings": {
    "blocks": {
      "core/group": {
        "color": {
          "button": false,
          "heading": false,
          "link": false,
          "caption": false
        }
      }
    }
  }
}