xScape Theme Framework 1.7

xScape 1.7 is very important update to the framework that brings many, many new features, updates and fixes several bugs. It will take few posts over next couple of days to describe all the new changes in detail, but for now, here is the overview of everything included in this new version.

All themes are updated for new version of the framework with additional styling and templates changes. Also, as announced before: baseScape, airScape and photoScape are at the end of development. They will still be upgradable with new framework versions, but I don’t plan any more changes to those themes. R8 and newsScape themes got new Core versions for use with xScape Core. More info on Core themes will be published in the next few days.

All updated themes will be released in the next 24 hours, including new Core versions for R8 and newsScape.

bbPress module: Forums

Module: bbPress

Most important new feature is bbPress module that brings full support to all themes for bbPress plugin powered forum. All plugin features are implemented and yet, you can still use full power of xScape template layouts. I will publish tutorials on how to set up everything for bbPress forum and xScape theme. It’s very easy, but its useful to have video showing how the process works.

Unlike default bbPress theme, this xScape module brings more power to the templates with different layouts for forum tables. More unique template features will be added with future updates to the module. Also, I intent to follow development of bbPress plugin and add support all important plugin changes.

Right now, xScape is the only framework with support for this great plugin and using it is made very, very easy with only couple of clicks. And, if you switch from one xScape theme to another, forum will work with theme and use its styles.

Scroller

Modules: Twitter & Side Scroller

Beside bbPress, two new modules are added. Twitter module for now has new Follow button allowing very detailed customization for it. Second module is for a floating block follows page scrolling on left or right side of the main page content. Its customizable and can hold different elements including social sharing buttons from Share This module or main share buttons. Both modules can be seen in action on this page (Twitter follow is at the bottom of this post).

Widget: Pages Navigator

My first WordPress widget I made years ago and it was called GD Pages Navigator. Plugin development stopped a while ago, and plugin is not working with new versions of WordPress. But, this widget is coming back, now as a part of xScape and soon as standalone plugin. Right now, its not yet full featured and has two page display layouts with more to come in the next few versions.

Social Networks Updates

Share This module is updated to support Side Scroller, code for Twitter and Facebook improved. Now, for Facebook link module will add images fond in the post. Twitter button has additional setting for follow option. Few minor bugs in the module are fixed. Share This module generated links will now work on all pages, not only single posts. Module ill grab title and URL of current page regardless of type: home, archive, all will work. For main theme features, Stumbeupon buttons are added.

Brand new Google feature called +1 is also directly implemented in xScape with 2 types of buttons, one big and other smaller for the share buttons block. You can see it in action on Dev4Press already.

Layout Settings

Layouts Manager

Layout manager is a bit changed and now it has a very useful new panel that can be used to override some theme settings for each layout.

Right now, only color scheme option is here and you can change color styles for each template, and you can get archives to use different color scheme from front page or single posts. More settings will be added with next versions of xScape. Don’t expect every setting here, but it will be interesting to see more override changes soon.

And more changes…

Google Web Fonts module got 50 more fonts to a total of 111. Theme admin access links are now added to admin bar (can be disabled through xScape Global Settings) under Appearance menu. xScape now also has built in support for styling the WordPress post editor. Themes will get own styles for this soon. Tracking code for Clicky Web Analytics is updated to use new code. xScape loading is improved and a bit faster, many core classes and functions are updated, JavaScript files improved and other minor bugs fixed. And, you can notice that theme has new location in the admin menu, now its moved just bellow Appearance menu where its more logical.

Promo Codes & Gifts

Over the weekend, number of videos and tutorials will be published, xScape.info website will be updated with all themes, and starting Monday, a full month campaign will be announced with promo codes and chances to win licenses for xScape themes. So, stay tuned for more info on that, it will be very interesting.

If you are using Dev4Press Updater plugin, you will be able to update themes with new framework, and also, you can download it from your account dashboard download page: http://www.dev4press.com/user/download/.

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/