Connections 10.2: Custom Taxonomy API

This update brings major under-the-hood changes, one of which adds a Custom Taxonomy API. What is a taxonomy? A taxonomy is a way to group related Entries in your directory. An example of a taxonomy is Categories. The free Certifications and Facilities addons are examples of custom taxonomies. One of the most requested features is to add support for Tags. This API will enable us to add support for Tags easily. Look for Tag support in a future update!

Are you a developer and do you want to add your own custom taxonomies to Connections? Learn how in the developer documentation.

Other changes in this update:

  • FEATURE: First pass at adding custom taxonomy API.
  • NEW: Introduce _string::insert().
  • NEW: Introduce cnRewrite::getPermalinkSlugs().
  • NEW: Introduce cnRewrite::generateRule().
  • NEW: Introduce cnShortcode::isSupportedPostType() helper method.
  • NEW: Introduce cnShortcode::getHomeID() helper method.
  • NEW: Introduce cnMetaboxAPI::defaultPageHooks().
  • NEW: Introduce object_ids parameter in cnTerm::getTaxonomyTerms().
  • NEW: Introduce the Connections_Directory/Content_Blocks/Register filter.
  • TWEAK: Do array check be attempting to marge array to prevent potential PHP notice in some scenarios.
  • TWEAK: Move the WordPress mShot integration class to the integration folder and adjust the namespace accordingly.
  • TWEAK: Remove use of deprecated class cnFormatting in cnCategory.
  • TWEAK: Enable the transform URL in the Rank Math integration.
  • TWEAK: Register the namespaced rewrite tags which will be used to generate the rewrite rules.
  • TWEAK: Add noreferrer and nofollow attributes to the social media network links.
  • TWEAK: Ensure the date is an instance of DateTime before adding to date to Entry Dates.
  • TWEAK: Ensure the date is an instance of DateTime before setting the date format when adding backward support for the anniversary and birthday date fields.
  • TWEAK: Update [connections render=false] shortcode defaults to use the cnShortcode::getHomeID() helper method for the home_id shortcode attribute.
  • TWEAK: Ensure cloned fields are shown.
  • TWEAK: Remove use of deprecated click jQuery function.
  • TWEAK: Remove use of deprecated bind jQuery function.
  • TWEAK: Remove use of deprecated method cnFormatting::maybeJSONdecode() in cnMeta.
  • TWEAK: Use strnatcasecmp when sorting the admin menu array key index.
  • TWEAK: Add class parameter to form tag.
  • TWEAK: Add support for a default value for the text field input in the Settings API.
  • TWEAK: Utilize cnShortcode::getHomeID() and set the force_home attribute default to false in the callbacks for the view all list action and the character index.
  • TWEAK: Add echo attribute to the term list walker renderer.
  • TWEAK: Add categorychecklist class to the term list walker so it inherits the proper styles from WP.
  • TWEAK: Utilize cnMetaboxAPI::defaultPageHooks() when registering core default entry metaboxes.
  • TWEAK: Use strict comparison in cnTerm::descendants().
  • TWEAK: Do not set a variable in comparison in cnTerm::descendants().
  • TWEAK: Eliminate the possibility of a trailing comma in the entry categories list when using the Split Categories addon.
  • TWEAK: Reset the Entry category block properties to their defaults after rendering.
  • TWEAK: Remove the locality, region, and postal code from the request query vars.
  • TWEAK: Use self instead of static when initiating SEO integration classes since they are final classes.
  • TWEAK: Only add the SEO filters if the [connections render=false] shortcode or Directory block is used on the queried post.
  • TWEAK: Check if the query post object is a support post type in the canonical redirect when on the front page.
  • BUG: The persistent log taxonomy should not have rewrite rules generated.
  • BUG: Only custom post types that are publicly queryable and have rewrite rules should be valid options when choosing to enable custom post type support.
  • BUG: Correct implode() usage. The array must be 2nd parameter.
  • BUG: Prevent characters from being removed from the beginning/end of post titles.
  • BUG: Refactor cnEntry::getCategory() to display attached children categories no matter the descendent depth.
  • BUG: Correct hook registration.
  • BUG: Add the missing schema for the bio and notes fields to the REST API endpoint.
  • COMPATIBILITY: Invalidate the Rank Math sitemaps cache when adding/deleting/updating and Entry.
  • COMPATIBILITY: Update plugin compatibility checks for WP Mail Logging and Email Log Plugin to be PHP 8.0 compliant.
  • COMPATIBILITY: Compatibility with the Post Categories by User for WordPress plugin by preventing this plugin from hiding the categories on the Connections admin pages.
  • OTHER: Update max WordPress version compatibility check.
  • OTHER: Correct misspelling.
  • OTHER: Correct code formatting.
  • DEV: Remove commented-out code.
  • DEV: Add a couple of to-dos.
  • DEV: phpDoc corrections.
  • DEV: Add deprecated SiteShot file for loading via legacy code. Reorder the class alias to prevent a PHP warning message.
  • DEV: Remove curly bracket array access from CSV library.
  • DEV: Update min/max PHP and WP requirements.
  • DEV: Correct PHP8 optional parameter before required parameter notice.