As 1200+ of you already know, a new release of Connections has made its way into the world. So far there have only been minor issues here and there that were quite easily fixed and that, I tell you, is a great thing, indeed!
Here are in depth posts about some of the new features:
- Search (updated)
- New date field that replaces the current Anniversary and Birthday fields.
- Revamped settings page.
- Clickable phone numbers.
- Permalinks support.
- Geocoding.
- See the changelog for the long list.
Changelog
- * FEATURE: Added permalink support.
- * FEATURE: Added a date meta field which uses the jQuery UI Datepicker for easy data entry.
- * FEATURE: Added auto and manual geocoding of addresses.
- * FEATURE: Added markup to the telephone number output to support clickable telephone numbers on smartphones.
- * FEATURE: Which fields to search can now be defined in the settings.
- * FEATURE: Added a configurable message that can be displayed to the user prompting them to login when the directory is set to require user login.
- * FEATURE: Updated the Settings admin page to use the new Connections Settings API Wrapper Class.
- * FEATURE: Added a view link to the Connections : Manage page. This link will take you to the front end of the site to that specific entry.
- * FEATURE: Added foursquare to the social media options.
- * FEATURE: Completely localization ready.
- * FEATURE: Add geo location filtering shortcode options: near_addr, latitude, longitude, radius, unit.
- * FEATURE: Added Pinterest to the social networks.
- * FEATURE: Added foursquare to the social networks.
- * FEATURE: Added VK to the social networks.
- * FEATURE: Added Odnoklassniki to the social networks.
- * FEATURE: Added Vimeo to the social networks.
- * FEATURE: Allow categories of the same name as long as they do not share the same parent.
- * FEATURE: Added a global ‘CN_MULTISITE_ENABLED’ to run Connections as a single site installation when installed on multi-site.
- * FEATURE: Spanish translation has been included.
- * BUG: Remove all occurrences of double slashing.
- * BUG: Add the missing ‘dates’ column that should be created on new activations.
- * BUG: Use character entity codes for the page forward / page backward buttons.
- * BUG: Add the missing queries to enable FULLTEXT index for the default search fields.
- * BUG: Allow either http:// or https:// for both social media link and links.
- * BUG: Fix data validation for entry details to ensure only the fields expected in arrays is processed.
- * BUG: Disabled the registration the jQuery spin.js plugin because Elegant Themes uses the same registration name which causes conflicts and errors in the admin.
- * BUG: Fixed link target always setting to “New Window”.
- * BUG: Fixed issues with empty data with the various data fields being saved when they should have been discarded.
- * BUG: Fixed an incorrectly named variable in cnEntry::getSocialMedia().
- * BUG: Remove the “Edit” and “Delete” actions from the default “Uncategorized” category to further prevent uses from trying to edit it.
- * BUG: cnRetrieve::entries, wrap the category_name option values in htmlspecialchars() so it’ll find matches in the db. This is because the special charaters are stored in the db with entities encoded.
- * BUG: Make sure the correct folder path and URL are set in the CN_* constants for multi-site.
- * BUG: Make sure the table prefixes are preperly set in the CN_* constants for multi-site.
- * BUG: Fix markup bug for vevent in the anniversary and birthday output.
- * OTHER: Update Chosen CSS version query string.
- * OTHER: Added some additional CSS to keep theme’s from breaking the default Connections layout.
- * OTHER: Improve search results.
- * OTHER: Improve search scalability.
- * OTHER: Improve the the add entry javascript functions to reduce redundant code.
- * OTHER: Minor efficiencies to code in class.entry.php.
- * OTHER: Code cleanup of the connections.php file.
- * OTHER: Complete re-write of the settings to use the new Connections Settings API Wrapper Class.
- * OTHER: Removed the new line returns from around the social media icons and added 1px left/right margin.
- * OTHER: Check for data in the lat/long and country fields before tossing the address as empty.
- * OTHER: Updated the version attribute when enqueuing the Chosen CSS file.
- * OTHER: Add error supression to the unlink function in the inc.processes.php file.
- * OTHER: Deprecated the method used to create a link to the vCard.
- * OTHER: Added replacement static method in the cnTemplate class uses the new permalink support and offers and icons option.
- * OTHER: Added public method ‘returnToTop’ to create the return to top anchor in the cnTemplate class.
- * OTHER: Added public method ‘pagination’ to create the pagination controls in the cnTemplate class.
- * OTHER: Added public method ‘search’ to create the pagination controls in the cnTemplate class.
- * OTHER: Added public method ‘category’ to create a category drop in the cnTemplate class. Supports, single-select, multi-select and option groups for both. It also supports checkboxes and radio inputs in a table layout where the parents and children are presented in unordered lists.
- * OTHER: Move the query result count properties to the cnRetrieve class.
- * OTHER: Added base for landing pages.
- * OTHER: Added base for entry detail page.
- * OTHER: Prefix the image preloader jQuery plugin function with cn_ to prevent potential conflicts with themes.
- * OTHER: Add icons support for the email addresses.
- * OTHER: Remove the legacy help page from the admin.
- * OTHER: Remove some support for the legacy template system. This will be completely removed in the next release in preparation for the improved plugin template system.
- * OTHER: Minor optimization in setting the default values in the cnRetrive class for limiting the query by status.
- * OTHER: Minor optimization in setting the default values for the sort order in the cnRetrive class.
- * OTHER: Added some descriptive text to the input text fields on “Add Category” admin page.
- * OTHER: Adjusted a few styles on the “Templates” admin page for better visual integration with WordPress 3.4.
- * OTHER: Adjusted a few styles on the “Roles” admin page for better visual integration with WordPress 3.4.
- * OTHER: Started the cnGeo API Class to support geocoding.
- * OTHER: cnOutput::getMapBlock, check to see if the width value is empty in the interactive map div before setting the CSS width.
- * OTHER: Add inline CSS to the socialmedia icons to help prevent themes and other plugins from interfering with the icon size.
- * OTHER: Add the CSS required for the “Return to top” anchor link to the cn-user.css file.
- * OTHER: Flush rewrite rules on plugin upgrade.
- * OTHER: Update all files to use the CN_* constants.
- * OTHER: Add an option to cnOutput::getNameBlock() turn the name into a permalink and set its target to either the direct link or to the detail page.
- * OTHER: Added filters for all the $atts variables in cnOutput.
- * OTHER: Add Connections and Database version to the Dashboard System widget.
- * OTHER: Updated the cnOutput:getAnniversaryBlock() and cnOutput::getBirthdayBlock() methods to allow greater flexibility in formatting the output.
- * OTHER: Added a separator token to most of the methods in the cnOutput class.
At this time, there are no known bugs, but if you find one, please submit it to the Trac or leave a comment.
http://connections-pro.com/trac/
Been working like a charm on my Development sites. Hoping to implement into one of our sites being worked on at the moment.
I installed the update, and did the conversion, but when I go to the default Connections page (where I got to this link from) on the Dashboard, I get this:
ERROR: The Connections directory home page has not been set. Please set it now.
Never had that in the previous version(s)
Can you explain.
@Neil
This can be set on the Connections : Settings admin page under the General tab.
New version, new features, means new requirements. You didn’t have this before because it wasn’t need before. The primary reason, please see this blog post about the new pretty permalink feature. You can enable the built-in name link support on the Connetions : Settings admin page under the Advanced tab. Also, the new Widget Pack also takes advantage of this new feature.
Hi Steven –
Since the upgrade my pages can’t find my custom template. How do I direct Connections to find and use my template?
This is the response I’m getting: “ERROR: Template “dp-bio” not found.” The file dp-bio.php is located in the connections_templates folder inside the wp-content folder.
Thanks for your help.
@Joshua
The legacy template loading has been removed. You can still use your custom template but you need to make a few changes so Connections will recognize it. Here are the steps:
1. Create a folder within the ../wp-content/connections_templates folder named: dp-bio
2. Rename the dp.php file to template.php and put it inside the newly created folder.
3. Now, you need to create a meta.php file, although it may be easier to copy one from one of the supplied templates.
4. Change the details in the meta.php file, the changes you need to make will be very clear.
5. Put this new meta.php file in the folder created in step one.
6. Now youy custom template should show up and and can be activated.
Yes, please. Mind that the directory for templates/images has changes, but they are still there, you just have to move them to the proper directory :)
Thank you very much for the new release!
The images are no longer working for me since the update. I just get a spinning loading icon. The images are currently located in: /wp-content/connection_images
Does this directory need to be moved?
Solved it. I had to activate a different Connections template and then go back to the one I was using and now the images show up.
Hello,
I must have missed something, how do I update my paid version? or how do I know I am on current / newest version?
I seem to recall doing an update from within wordpress, but then I cant seem to find the email notifications option which I read about.
best Roland
@Roland
Sorry for the delay … Sandy negatively impacted me.
The base plugin, Connections, is free and can be up thru the Plugins admin page. The email notification option, I believe you’re referring to the pending update to Form which has not yet been released.
I finally updated – all is working well. I maintain a database of volunteers opportunities on the Outer Banks [Sandy wasn’t too bad – except for Route 12 which is washed out on Hatteras Island. And Kitty Hawk Food Pantry and Children’s Museum were flooded out.
Spent the last few days playing with software for Volunteer Opportunities Listings. I have a major data update, so I considered several options: other plug-ins, flipbooks, and PDF to HTML. I have renewed my committment to Connection. I will have to add about 50 opportunities but would have had to do that anyway. Connection looks good and graphics nicely wrapped.
How do I move the page numbering from the top to the bottom?
Where can I modify the template I’m using Bio. Can I ignore the new relationship stuff on the top, or is there a way I might use it?
Sometimes you have to leave home to realize what you have is better than what is out there.
Nancy
@Nancy
I had to search my email archives to remind me of your setup…
I found the page on your site where you are using the cMap template with the template.php overwritten with the one from the Profile template.
To move adjust the pagination position, please see this doc page for cMap.
http://connections-pro.com/documentation/plugin/template/cmap/option/pagination/
The template files for cMap can be found here:
../wp-content/connections_templates/cmap
Here’s a link to a FAQ:
http://connections-pro.com/faqs/where-is-the-css-file/
For your use, I think you can likely ignore the relations. Those are to list family members if the entry is a Family and not a an individual or organization.
I hope that helps.
Is there anyway to put an end date on an entry. Would make it easier to delete or make it private?
@Nancy
I do have that on my feature request list, but at this time, I can not commit on when, where and how this feature will be implemented.
Hey Steve, great plugin!
My one question for you: I’m working on a non-profit site that requires everything to be translated to Spanish and I know you were talking about having a bi-lingual version out for the next release (this release) so I’m just wondering if that’s still in the works or if it’s been scrapped.
Thanks!
@Devin
Currently the translation is only about 89% complete, if you’re able to translate the rest, I would be more than happy to include it in the next release. Spanish will automatically be used if installed on the Spanish version of WordPress.