xScape Theme Framework 1.5.5

xScape 1.5.5 is here, with no new features to speak of, but with numerous and very, very important changes. Almost all changes are to JavaScript/jQuery code used for xScape interface and improvements for complete compatibility with new upcoming WordPress 3.1.

WordPress 3.1 includes jQuery 1.4.4, and that caused many troubles. xScape was using jQueryUI 1.7.3 for the interface that should be, but is not, compatible with jQuery 1.4.4. Also, some other jQuery libraries xScape used, needed old jQueryUI. So, to make all that play nice, a lot of changes were needed.

So, xScape now uses jQueryUI 1.8.7. Because of that, DropdownCheckbox jQuery plugin needed to be updated, NestedSortable control replaced with one powered by jQueryUI 1.8 (used for Menu Designer), Colorbox is updated for jQuery compatibility. jQuery/Interface library is removed (it was very large one), some smaller jQuery plugins compressed and merged, so that less files are loaded. Big parts of our custom JavaScript code is rewritten to support all those changes.

Slightly updated Menu Designer

Downside of all these changes is that xScape no longer supports WordPress 2.8. WP 2.8 uses old jQuery 1.3 library, and most of the new jQuery plugins we now need don’t work with it. Also, some of the WP core function changes are making things complicated with WP 2.8. Supporting both is now impossible, so WP 2.8 support had to go. Official WP statistics says that less than 10% of WP installations run on WP 2.8. Our internal statistics have less than 2% of WP 2.8 installations.

All my testing last few days was successful with WP 3.1 RC2. If you still have problems after update, clear browser cache to make sure that new libraries are loaded. If there are still some issues, please report it in the forum, or leave a comment. Themes airScape and baseScape are released with new framework included. Other themes can be updated with framework only through Dev4Press Updater, or download it from your Account/Download panel.

xScape 1.5.6 will add styling support for the Contact Form 7 and GravityForms plugins, and will add support for new comment form functionalities included with WordPress 3.0. There will be some more core improvements based on changes in WP 3.0/3.1. Also, login page theme support will be improved with a footer area added to the mix.

Test all themes, and try them with a free test drive, for both front end and back end before deciding what is right for you. Free registration is disabled, so you need to send the request for the test account using the contact form.

Demo Loader: http://xscape.info/load/
Demo Home: http://xscape.info/