Connections

I’m finally in the home stretch… Here’s the to-do list for the next release:

• When adding or editing an entry and no categories are selected, assign the uncategorized category.
• When a category is deleted all term relationships should be deleted. If this removes all relationships for an entry then the uncategorized category should be set.
• Update term counts when a term is used.
• Make sure the Uncategorized category is created on activation if it doesn’t exist.
• Add an upgrade method to add the table columns needed.
• Add the category filter to the front/backend.
• Remove the role removal method from the from the deactivation hook.
• Add the uninstall hook to remove the plug-in options, users settings and role removal settings. MOVED TO NEXT RELEASE
• Add a restore default settings option. MOVED TO NEXT RELEASE
• Fix the token generation for connection groups. When editing an connection group entry, tokens should be created
• Rather than sequential numbering. And when viewing an entry list the token will overwrite if an entry appears individually and in a connection group causing a token mis-match error.
• Individuals in a connection group should only display the edit link in the current user has permission to edit that entry. Currently this result in an error.
• Check to see if an image exists before trying to display it. Also remove it from the entry’s options. MOVED TO NEXT RELEASE
• Add documentation for the public_overrride shortcode attribute to the help page.
• Add documentation for the category shortcode attribute.
• Update documentation for the id shortcode attribute.
• Add a filter to remove individuals from the list if they have been assigned to a connection group. MOVED TO NEXT RELEASE
• Set and check for supported image mime types. (jpeg, png, gif)
• Add social media links to output class and default templates. MOVED TO NEXT RELEASE
• Add a ‘name’ method to the output class to show the entry name determined by entry type. Remove this logic from the full name methods in the output class and update the default templates. NOTE: this will undoubtedly break some custom templates. MOVED TO NEXT RELEASE
• Finish the honorable pre/suffix drop down choices. MOVED TO NEXT RELEASE
• Add the honorable pre/suffix and middle name to the full name methods; both entry and output classes. MOVED TO NEXT RELEASE
• Add the contact name to both the entry and output classes. Update the default templates. MOVED TO NEXT RELEASE
• Update the vCard class to support the honorable pre/suffix and middle name additions. MOVED TO NEXT RELEASE

Upgraded this blog to WordPress to version 2.9. It went flawless. My only question, why is the bulk plug-in updater buried under the Tools: Upgrade menu?

With the release of 2.9 many users will be asking, are my plug-ins compatible? Well so far I have some good news. After a couple hours testing I didn’t notice any show stoppers. Actually the only thing I did noticed was that the role names added “|User role” to the name which does not seem to affect the functionality at all. From what I can tell, new installs of 2.9 will not be affected only  older upgraded versions. This fix is simple but then WordPress 2.8 or newer will be the minimum required version for Connections.

Well, unfortunately adding category support has taken way, way longer than I really wanted it to. I have the admin page completely finished. When I started working on the add entry form it became very clear that I would have to redesign it. In trying to accommodate so many field types the form has become very long and not everyone is going to need most of the available fields. So I decided to make the form more dynamic. Take a peek at the screen capture to see the progress. As you see on higher res screens, no more scrolling. Much better but it still needs more work.

Update - Add Entry Form