Beta-2 Plugins (ex mambots)

Here's a side-by-side of the plugin type selection (filter) in the Manager:

left in red is 1.0: 4 types / Right and below that in blue is 1.5: 8 types, twice as many!

Notice:
the new authentication options,
the XMLRPC addition (now what I'd really like to know is how to use the Blogger API !!!),
the Legacy plugin which allows you to use 1.0.x extensions on 1.5
[Warning: users reported publishing this disables your site: only blank pages!]

Beta-2 vs 1.0 toolbar comparisions

Here's some side by sides of toolbars, you'll quickly notice major differences.
Red is 1.0, green is 1.5

Main Admin Menus:
much simpler: 7 items instead of 10!


Article edition/creation:
note the "upload" is no more,
as this is now handled in the image pop-up modal window directly!


Menu Manager toolbar:
a direct link back to the menus, the new "default" button as you now can use any item as homepage (no need anymore to move it to the 1st position of the mainmenu items)!

Joomla! 1.5 Beta-2 is out! Template parameters.

On May 4th/5th (depending on your timezone), the Joomla! dev' team finally released the much anticipated beta-2 of the upcoming 1.5 version. This release is more for designers and coders to adapt their code to the new framework, but everyone is invited to test and report bugs so as to speed up release of RC and stable versions. Check out the official announcement.

I'll post some of the new features and comparisions of 1.0.x and 1.5 side by side.

To start with, if you're a designer, you'll want to take a look at the default's Milky Way template parameters and how they are coded. In the administration backend, as you can see below, all the user has to do is set Color and or Background variation, Save, and the look of the site changes instantly!
Now I'd like a way to do this on a per-section/category/item basis.. (is there?)

Also note there's a second template, BEEZ, shipping with this release. Check it out, read the documentation provided for it, it is great for accessibility! (not shown)

SEF URLs in Joomla! 1.5 core!

Well, it looks like the dev's heard the people, and gave them what they asked for:
much better URLs as a core functionality!
It's a bit hidden, and you'll need two steps to see the effect:

1. activate SEF in Global Configuration (make sure .htaccess is ok)
2. Go to Plugin Manager => System Request Plugin, and set "Build with real names" to yes as per above.

Then, check out the com_content URLs on your test-site ;)

Thanks guys ;)

(read more in this thread)

Media Manager configuration back in Global Settings

Lacking a few explanations and improved layout (how can you expect a "normal" user knows what number to use for the max file size (in bytes!)?!, but:Media Manager config is back in Global!? Strange moving back'n'forth..

Menu Item editing feature

Very easy to change a wrong link to an article now:
click the button, in the popup, click the article title, save.

Joomla! 1.5 beta Poll editing

Clean screen, still a bit limited as no pictures can be included..

Joomla! 1.5 UI elements I do NOT like

The menu item parameters (not shown in full here) are a mess!
No real visual separation (like fieldsets), way too many options
all in one place, not enough explanations as to what all these settings will do
(try to explain Category Order + Primary Order results to someone..),
this really needs some work still (and is not final, I know) -it's a beta, baby :)


Already requested, not (yet?) done:
change the meaningless date selector button graphic above [...]
to something visual like this:

or anything else that looks like a calendar / date selector.


The Copy icon is much too pale, almost invisible on my laptop!
Just boost the edges / outlines slightly?!

The mix of underlined text and yellow warning icons in Configuration.
How is the user supposed to know he can rollover these icons to get a tooltip about the warning? The tooltip should be provided by the text label, same as for all other settings.

Personally, I don't like the grouping in the Configuration screens into just 4 items:
Site, Users, Content and Server.
It is NOT clear where to look for certain things, what would each of Site, Content or Server include?
Why is Statistics not under Content?
Why are Feeds considered Content, and not Site?
There's room enough in the submenus to provide a few more links to settings such as
SEO: Metadata and SEF URL usage or not..

Joomla! 1.5 Section editing

Showcasing
* the new modal popup to upload a new image for the section;
* the new styled confirmation message when you "Apply" to save current edits;
* an empty "link to menu" parameter??

Joomla! 1.5 beta Frontend editing

New cleaner look of frontend article editing.
Note the missing image tab / details..

Joomla! 1.5 beta Article Statistics screen

Again, note the sortable columns (by clicking headers)
and the ability to filter display by various criteria...
In order to have access to these details, obviously you
need to enable stats in (global) Configuration.

Also, note some of the titles for the new default content,
which explains many things about the beta, advised to
install in your test install!!

1.5 beta Template Editing: HTML and CSS

The template HTML Editor.
I have highlighted some of the new XML -style tags now used in template creation
(instead of PHP code, which can still be used though).


From the CSS Editor screen, you can select any of multiple template css files for editing, then click the "Edit" button. See screen below:


You then get to directly edit the selected CSS file from Joomla! admin, live!
(so: be carefull, and keep backups: copy all, paste into a text file before editing, give it a version number with current date, at the end maybe add some notes about your changes, just in case you want to revert later on..!)

1.5 beta Managers

A typical Manager screen: the new "flat" submenu provides immediate access to site and admin, notice the clickable (to sort on) column headers!

Module positions (accessed from Template Manager) showcases a few new names..

Joomla! 1.5 beta released 12th october 2006

The beta is now available for download!
You don't have to just look at theses screenshots anymore,
now you can test-drive yourself and really use it, check out
all the exciting new features, test extension compatibility,
start getting used to the new interface!

Lots of activity shortly before release was announced!
Good job, dev team!

Remember: this is a BETA, do NOT use on a live site!