Version 3.1 is a major update for GD Rating System Pro, that is maybe even more important than previous 3.0 release because it adds a lot of changes to the rendering process for all methods and templates.
This version includes several major new features related to the voting privacy, massive change to the rating blocks rendering, new default blocks for rating lists, many updates and fixes.
Voters Privacy
The plugin uses IP as one of the methods to prevent duplicate votes and to control rating rights. But, for that to work, the plugin doesn’t actually need an IP address at all, it can work just fine if the IP is stored as the MD5 hashed string. So, the plugin now has security-related option to store IP’s as hashed MD5 strings, and a tool to convert all previously logged IP’s to the MD5 string. Hashed IP can be used to prevent duplicated votes, and it protects users privacy because hashed string cant be converted back to IP.
Improved Templates Rendering
Templates rendering for single rating blocks and rating lists, for all rating methods have been changed a lot in this version. Each method has new default rating list templates (one as UL/LI list and other as TABLE), and new default single rating block template, with the previous default template, renamed into Classic.
New default template for the single rating block now has several filters and actions that can be used to control the template rendering. This way, you can use hooks based custom coding, without the need to override the template. This would be the main method for customization for 90% of uses, and if you need more control, you can still create your own template. The plugin still includes multiple additional templates you can use, or customize further.
And, the render methods used inside the templates are expanded with more arguments for settings, and again, filters for all the arguments for each function. This way you can again use hooks based custom coding to modify the rendering. To help with all this, the plugin has a number of new functions that can return which template is loaded, is the rendering inside the widget or shortcode. With these functions, you can fine tune your custom code.
More new features and updates
Dynamic Load addon now has a settings page where you can disable Dynamic Load for logged in users or visitors. Most website cache pages for visitors only, and don’t cache for logged in users, so you can disable Dynamic Load for them. Version 3.1 includes updated transfer tool for Yet Another Stars Rating plugin. Plugin metabox now fully supports Gutenberg editor. Client Detection addon library and Dev4Press Shared Code library are both updated.
The plugin has new default templates that include filters and actions to control rendering, and each method render objects have filters to modify render parameters without the need to change templates at all.
What’s next?
Knowledge Base is expanded with 50+ reference topics and user guides, and this will be expanded even more during this month (another 100+ references, guides and articles will be added during March). Multi Ratings Addon will get update later today and User Reviews Addon will get new update later this week. After that, work on GD Rating System Pro continues. You can expect new demo website with more interesting examples.
For now, if you find any issues with the new version, please report them in the support forum.
Does this mean we can update our current pro version, or do we have to buy this new version?
You can update the plugin to all new versions (and you should do that anyway, because minor release includes bug fixes and updates, and major version include new features with more bug fixes and more updates). You can download and update to any new version for as long as your license is active (each license is active for one year, and you need to renew if you want to get updates and continued support).