2024 Q1 Quarterly Release
Highlights
Content Management
Enhanced Web Content Management experience to make it easier for content creators to manage daily content
With our latest enhancements, Content Admins will enjoy effortless content organization, regardless of folder structures, along with enhanced filtering capabilities for precision content management discovery.
Features added in this Release:
Better experience to manage web content
In response to user feedback, several enhancements have been introduced for content creators. The first functionality addresses the challenge of easily finding and managing Web Content created within specific structures, allowing creators to review and edit content more efficiently. The other functionalities enable refined filtering and searching options, including the ability to search in the title, filter by categories and tag, filter search results and multi-select filters.
Personalization
Uncover user behavior beyond initial touchpoints and leverage insights to make informed decisions.
With the ability to track exit pages, you'll gain invaluable insights into where your users go after interacting with your pages. Also, measuring the effectiveness of collections in delivering relevant assets is easier now.
Features added in this Release:
Path Analysis: track user exits for deeper insights
The Path Analysis tool has been enhanced with the addition of Exit Pages. This feature allows marketers to not only visualize users' entry points (referrer pages), but also their exit points (exit pages). With this user flow analysis, marketers can enhance user engagement and reduce bounce rates.
A/B Testing for Collections
We have expanded the capabilities of AB Testing to allow the selection of a Collection Display Fragment as the Click Goal of an AB Test. This will allow customers to AB Test the clickthrough rate of different Collections or Collection Providers, empowering them to optimize which content is shown to end users.
Commerce
Streamline refunds, personalize reasons, and extend Commerce capabilities.
Features added in this Release:
Make refunds against on-line payments using the stand alone payment gateway
This new feature provides the ability for the Order Manager to make refunds against on-line payments using the stand alone payment gateway. While the refund amount can be configurable, the refund is always made against the payment method of the original payment.
Standalone payment gateway & client extension
This feature decouples the payment gateway from the order engine in order to allow you to capture payments against objects and to support new payment methods via client extension.
Cloud
Make informed decisions and optimize resource management with efficient allocation, greater visibility, and proactive monitoring.
Features added in this Release:
PaaS and SaaS Plan & Usage Information
We are excited to introduce enhancements to streamline your cloud management experience! With our updated cloud console view, you will have a detailed breakdown of subscription metrics per environment, empowering you to manage resources more effectively. Additionally, our new storage consumption tracker offers real-time insights into project storage usage, ensuring you're always informed about quota limits.
Customer Data
Empower stakeholders with seamless data sharing, enhanced accessibility, and improved decision-making.
Search without interruption: introducing high availability reindex modes
Features added in this Release:
Path Analysis: track user exits for deeper insights
The Path Analysis tool has been enhanced with the addition of Exit Pages. This feature allows marketers to not only visualize users' entry points (referrer pages), but also their exit points (exit pages). With this user flow analysis, marketers can enhance user engagement and reduce bounce rates.
Path Analysis: track user exits for deeper insights
The Path Analysis tool has been enhanced with the addition of Exit Pages. This feature allows marketers to not only visualize users' entry points (referrer pages), but also their exit points (exit pages). With this user flow analysis, marketers can enhance user engagement and reduce bounce rates.
Features added in this Release:
Enhance your sharing and reporting capabilities: Downloading Reports
In order to improve user experience and avoid difficulties with sharing and reporting insights from AC to other members of the organization, we are introducing the Download Reports feature. This functionality allows users to easily download their dashboards as PDFs and specific lists (e.g.: segment membership) as CSVs, streamlining the process of socializing this information with stakeholders.
Organization Management Chart now supports search functionality
You can use Liferay’s revamped organization management chart to view, manage, and search through organizations, associated accounts, and users. Users with permissions can now view or edit more details of it on the chart.
Integration
Boost productivity, decision-making, and app adoption with user-friendly data management and a wider app selection
Features added in this Release:
Enable Business Users to Manage Data Migration
Under all supported formats, users can select the origin and destination site of the data so it is possible to export and import object entries between any site.
Support for CSV files: now, business users can autonomously export and import data in a user-friendly format
With this improvement, the Data Migration Center allows users to export and import Object Entries using CSV files. Not all field types are supported but many of the most used ones are:
Supported field types: dateandtime, date, decimal, integer, longint, longtext, precissiondecimal, richtext, text and picklist.
In order to help users, only supported fields are available for exporting at the UI. As new types are allowed, they will appear available in the UI.
Security
Reduce data breaches, automate tasks, and enhance privacy compliance with efficient access control and improved user control
Features added in this Release:
Ensure Your Privacy with Enhanced Cookie Management
Pages served by Liferay might make use of third party cookies. In order to inform Liferay to manage them as part of the user cookie consent, now Portal developers and Content creators have a way to indicate the portal about them.
In order to make Liferay aware of them, the content creator or portal developer will need to update the markup to the following:
First, indicate the type of cookie following this format:
Second, change the markup depending on the element affected:
For example, embedding a video from a video provider, will see the markup changed in the following way:
Before: <iframe src="..." />
After: <iframe data-src="..." `data-third-party-cookie="CONSENT_TYPE_FUNCTIONAL" />
Elevate your identity management with Liferay SCIM implementation
SCIM provides a unified, RFC compliant way to keep user/group data in sync between different applications. Liferay is a service provider and enables clients to be connected. Through the defined RESTful APIs and schemas, clients can perform CRUD operations to keep resources in sync.
No/Low-Code
Experience increased efficiency, precision, and customization with streamlined API interactions and a more scalable developer experience
Features added in this Release:
Empower Users: Create Custom APIs for No-Code Management of Custom Objects
We continue to improve the API Builder by adding new endpoints: GET single element. With the GET single element new endpoint, we allow users to create a GET endpoint that only retrieves a single element using a path parameter.
One particular thing is that users can select as a path parameter any unique custom field defined in the object apart from ID and External Reference Code.
New POST endpoint inside API Builder to add the possibility not only of recovering information of the entries but also of creating them.
As in the GET methods, users can define the schema to use for the request and the response. Both can be the same or two different ones. And can even be one already used previously on another endpoint definition.
Company and Site scope is available too.
The POST method only works for creating new entries of the main object . No entries for the related objects can be created yet at the same time.
Additional New Features and Capabilities
Sites
Case-Sensitive Tags
We have introduced case-sensitive tagging for page creators, allowing tags to be saved and displayed exactly as created, whether in uppercase or lowercase. The feature ensures case sensitivity for tag creation, case-insensitive searching, and autocomplete, while maintaining backward compatibility for existing tags.
Improvements on Asset Library Vocabulary configuration
We have introduced a configuration feature within the Asset Library, enabling users to decide whether a Vocabulary created there is solely required at the Asset Library level or if it extends to the connected Sites as well.
Commerce
Restricting channels access
Users now have the ability to restrict channel access to certain Accounts via the eligibility tab on the channel admin pages. The ability to restrict certain Account Addresses to be used on certain channels has also been added. This is managed via an Eligibility tab on the address that allows the user set channel usage.
Configurable product options
Use the platform's configurable purchasing rules to dictate which product options need to be purchased together when setting up products with options. You can set which product options must be purchased together and/or which product options cannot be combined together to create a valid product bundle. You can also limit the number of products from a particular group of products that can be purchased together.
Extending permissions with "Channel Default" tab
Two new permissions were added to View and Edit the channel default tab in the Account Management Pages. Users are now able to activate/inactivate the tab.
Edit product bundles in the Mini-Cart
The ability for a buyer or sales agent to edit a product bundle directly from the mini-cart has now been added. Previously, if a change had to be made the bundle had to be deleted from the cart and added again. This allows more speedy alterations to be made before proceeding with check out.
Increasing database AccountEntry.name column character limit
The allowable size of an Account Name has been increased to 250 characters in line with industry standards.
Adding shipping method via client extension
Enables the ability to add new remote shipping calculations via client extension.
Customizing checkout steps
Ability to add new steps to the checkout process via client extension.
Objects
Auto-increment Object fields
Users can add read-only fields to object definitions that automatically increment for each new entry.
Key Features:
Customize Starting values - Users can set a starting value. This flexibility allows for better alignment with specific business needs and workflows
Customize labels - Users can set prefixes and suffixes to provide alphanumeric keys appended to the incrementing values
Validate using CurrentDate
When adding validations in Objects, many times it is necessary to validate dates against the current date.
Key Features:
Dynamic Date Comparison - Users can compare a selected date with the current system date. This empowers you to create rules that trigger based on the relationship between a date field and the present date.
Versatile Date Range Checks - Validate whether a date falls within a specified date range relative to the present date.
Validate uniqueness of Object fields
Users can add validations to verify field values that, when used in combination, are unique.
Limitation: numeric fields such as Integer, Long Integer, Decimal, Precision Decimal will be stored as null.
Validate relationship names
Validate relationships to prevent duplicate names in child objects.
Support for account restriction in Elasticsearch
Users are now able to properly search in the portal using the Search widget (in applications that have data restricted by account).
Content Management
Set file size limit at asset library level
This development introduces the ability for the user to set the file size at asset library’s level. This settings will override the already existing one at System level when the latter is bigger. As a general rule, when both are set the lowest applies.
Documents Library Preview
To reduce the maintenance costs of providing a full document’s preview, the following changes are being introduced:
“No preview available” state when the file size exceeds the preview size limit.
Merge “File Entries” and “PDF Preview” settings under “File Preview Limits”
Rename "File Size Limits" to "File Upload Limits" with a reviewed and more understandable Description copy
The user is being informed that the generated preview may not correspond to the entire document
Expanded features for Copy Documents and Folders
Now user are able to:
Configuration of document size for copying in D&M
Bulk copying of documents and folders
Currently the copy action for documents and folders is able to be performed in Portal without fully respecting the site-asset library relationship. The expected behavior is:
An asset library must be connected to a site in order to copy a document over to the site
A document cannot be copied from a site to an asset library (only the other way around)
We can enforce a stricter check when performing the copy action between asset libraries and sites. Instead of the end user receiving a success message when copying a document to a disconnected site, an error message should appear telling the user to set the connection first.
Document Types contained in a document are being copied in Documents and Media so that they can be easily reused.
Categories and Tags in Documents and Media are being automatically copied so they can be easily reused on a new site.
Schedule and Delete Knowledge Base Articles
With this development, the publication of Knowledge Base articles will be schedulable, in particular, the feature is so designed:
The primary Publish button will have an arrow down with the “Publish” option, that will immediately publish the article, and the “Schedule” one.
Clicking the Schedule option, will make a modal appear so the user can set a date and time for the article to be published.
The Scheduled article will have the SCHEDULED status that will change to APPROVED on the scheduled date
A tooltip with the scheduled date information will appear when hovering the
question-circle-fullicon placed next to the SCHEDULED state.
Editing a scheduled article will provide the user the ability, by clicking the primary button that has turned into “Scheduled”, to:
Cancel the operation
Publish Now
Schedule: this option will save the article, date & time changes and the user will return to the previous screen before entering edit mode
Additional feature: A Knowledge Base article deletion action will move it to the Recycle Bin so that it can be restored.
Improve performance of large publications with Liferay’s caching framework
This feature allows you to leverage the functions of Liferay’s caching framework. Our current measurements indicate about 10%/30% performance increase in database writing operations, also 10 times faster reading performance!
Platform
Management Toolbar UX Improvements
The user experience of the Management Toolbar present in multiple applications (Web Content, Blogs, Documents & Media) has been improved:
Separate sections for filter and order.
Changed “+” with “New” for clarity.
Moved info icon to the right.
Customize Rich Text Editors Configurations through Client Extensions
Now, admins can customize the configuration of the Rich Text Editors with this new client extension, allowing them to set the toolbars that are available on different applications. In the form, you will have to define the instances in which the configuration will be taken into account as well as the JS that contains the configuration:
Content Security Policies accept stricter policies for JavaScript resources
We refactored the way Liferay scripts were managed, so admins can define stricter policies like:
script-src '[$NONCE$]'; script-src-attr 'unsafe-inline';
Limitations: If a policy like the one above is configured, the parts of the product that uses a rich-text editor will not work correctly. Analyze your scenario to identify how strict your policy can be in order to make the solution work.
BETA*
Make session.timeout.auto properties available as configurations
Now users can configure the values for the following properties from settings (system, instance or site settings):
session.timeout.auto.extendsession.timeout.auto.extend.offset
Upgrade
Upgrade Report output directory is now configurable
When the Upgrade Report is enabled, the output directory of the report can be configured with the new portal property upgrade.report.dir
If this property is not set, the upgrade report can be found in the default directory:
portal-tools-db-upgrade-client/reportsfor the upgrade tool.{liferay-home}/reportsif upgrade was executed on startup.
Security
Complete SCIM (System for Cross-domain Identity Management) Adapter
With this feature we extending the SCIM implementation with User Group un/provisioning as well with the User Group membership un/provisioning.
BETA*
Captcha authentication via Headless API
Previously customers would add captchas using a TagLib. But this is no longer useful since customers are not deploying JSPs. The Captcha API enables this functionality to be used in arbitrary contexts.
Feature Status Changes
Feature
Feature Status
Description
Units of Measure
Sell and manage SKUs by adding different Units of Measure to the SKU. Configure the Unit of Measure to optionally allow for sales in decimal quantities. Units of Measure have their own pricing and inventory. Once configured, they add to the shopping experience of the buyer who can now purchase SKUs in different Units of measure. Please see more information in Units of Measure (UOM).
Price on Application
Allow clients to request a quote for individual products instead of setting a price. Includes the option to use a Price List or a Promotion to price the Product as "Price on Application". There is also the ability to activate the "Request a quote" option on a fully priced cart for a particular channel. Learn more. |
Supplier Roles
New Account Type of Supplier. A Supplier can be linked to a catalog and to a channel to allow the supplier manage their own products, price lists, promotions, catalogs, discounts, inventory and channel in order to be able to fulfill orders for their own products. For more information, please refer to this article.
Order Splitting
Used in Conjunction with Supplier Accounts, this object's rule, once configured, splits Commerce Orders automatically by the Catalog that each Product belongs to. The Channel on the Order is updated to be the channel linked to the same supplier that the catalog is linked to. The order splitting rule effectively allows the supplier to manage orders for their own specific products. Learn more.
Visualization of Object Model Structures
Now, users are able to visually understand the structure of their objects and how they connect with each other to result in the platform model. Please refer to Organizing Objects with Folders and Using the Objects Model Builder for more information.
Save Object Entries in Draft Mode to Finish the Submission Later
Now, users are able to fill out object entries in parts, allowing them to save data as draft and return at their convenience to complete. Please refer to our official documentation:
Fragment Toolkit
A new set of tooling is being provided, to centralize all the different tooling into a single solution, therefore, stand-alone tooling like the Fragments Toolkit does not make sense anymore as a stand-alone tool. In addition to that, the fragment toolkit needed upgrades to prevent some vulnerabilities that could happen. Therefore, we recommend adopting other solutions for now. The Fragment Toolkit will remain available for a minimum of one year. For more information, please refer to this Using the Fragments Toolkit and Fragments Toolkit Command Reference.
The Vocabularies Selector is enabled by default in the Category Facet
The Category Facet uses assetVocabularyCategoryIds field for aggregation. The required mapping and indexer changes have been available since 7.4 GA46/U46 (LPS-156503: Display, Scope and Filter Categories by Vocabulary in the Category Facet).
Note: Reindex is required after all upgrades.
Please refer to Post-Upgrade Considerations.
Java JDK 11 Runtime
Flagged for deprecation
Support for Java JDK 11 is flagged for deprecation as of Q1.2024. As DXP continues to evolve as a platform to deliver powerful solutions, we are planning to release support for the latest Java LTS runtime environment (JDK 21) later this year. JDK 11 will remain supported while we prepare for this next evolution.
Breaking Changes
This section contains information about breaking changes in out-of-the-box DXP features and capabilities. For breaking changes on internal code, please visit this link.
Case-Sensitive Tags
Tag values are now case-sensitive.
New name for reserved variable ID: Article ID
The name of the reserved variable ID has always referred to the article ID so it has been changed to: Article ID. A new ID variable has been added that refers to the ID.
Sites are not browsable for Guests in Breadcrumb portlet
Sites are not browsable for non-admin users in Breadcrumb portlet when the site has Membership restricted or private.
The Default Layout permission was replaced with the current Group check.
Disable Group membership checking since it has no relationship to layout browsability.
Default value of membership management is disabled
When we create a new Site the Allow Manual Membership Management option will be disabled by default to avoid uploading malicious files to the Documents and Media portlet.
Filtering in Web Content applies only to the current folder
All filtering in web content now only applies to the current folder. Previously, certain filters exhibited behavior limited to the current folder and now it has been standardized to all filters.
Searching after filtering will clear all existing filters
Searching after filtering will clear all existing filters and give a search from the entire data set.
Change from “With approved versions," "With scheduled versions," and "With expired versions” to "Approved," "Scheduled," and "Expired,"
The filtering options for "With approved versions," "With scheduled versions," and "With expired versions” are now designated as "Approved," "Scheduled," and "Expired," respectively. Rather than filtering all web content with a given status, it now distinctly displays content or versions in the specified status.
The regular Administrator role cannot be used to assign roles by segment functionality
From now on, the segments tab for the Administrator role will no longer be displayed in the assignees' tab. Assigning the Administrator role through segments is not allowed.
Disabled the guest role from the role selector at segment edition
The guest role from the role selector was disabled since it is not possible for it to work. |
Hide configuration settings of Utility Pages
The configuration sections in Utility Pages are not enabled, as the other pages, due to their use being more restricted. The implementation of these settings should occur by analyzing each case.
Make session.timeout.auto properties available as configurations
As mentioned in the new features section the following properties having been transformed in configurations, so they are no longer available in the properties files:
session.timeout.auto.extendsession.timeout.auto.extend.offset
More Info
Analytics Cloud
Click here to view the Liferay Analytics Cloud Announcements and Changelog.
Cloud
Click here to view the Liferay Cloud Announcements and Changelog.
Known Issues
Click here to view the full list of DXP 2024.Q1 known issues.
*Notes
Beta Features are features, functionality or capabilities made available by Liferay within Liferay DXP software that are tagged with a “Beta” flag. These features are not supported, but we welcome validation and feedback. Please refer to this article for more information.
Release flags: officially released and supported features - can be activated with Release Feature Flag. Please refer to this article for more information.
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