Update
Blocks 3.0.6
23/10/07 22:55 Filed in: Plugin
Release
New Page Blocks
This Blocks update supports using Page Blocks from a few new page styles including FAQMaker, RapidFLV, and yes, of course PayLoom. You can even put multiple PayLoom stores right on the same page.
For the technically inclined that means that Blocks now has support for the RapidWeaver 3.6 theme tag that PayLoom uses. Blocks doesn't yet use this itself for its own CSS, but Blocks 3.1 will for sure.
Image Normalization
There's a little known feature in RapidWeaver 3.6 that allows you to trim your images down to their used size. This means that if you import some of those 10 MegaPixel images from your new camera, but scale them down to 100px X 100px for your blog -- you can now get rid of the extra data that RapidWeaver had been storing just in case you wanted all that resolution someday.
Blocks now supports image normalization so any images that you've scaled will be automatically converted to their used size. Be careful, though. Once you save that file there's no going back -- so maybe test out normalization on a back up.
To use just choose "Normalise Images..." from the File menu (yep, it's the British spelling). If there are no scaled images normalizing will do nothing. The nice dialog tells you what images were normalized and which page styles support normalization.
Want to learn more about Image Normalization? Check out the RapidWeaver FAQ.
Whither 3.0.5?
It existed, but only for a short while, and not outside our secret YourHead laboratories.
Blocks 3.0.4
01/08/07 13:54 Filed in: Plugin
Release
Blocks 3.0.4 is
here: Go get your
download.
What Changed
This update cures one very nasty bug that can cause data loss if you're using master pages. It's recommended for everyone.
The Long Story
If you've been following along, this bug has been outstanding for quite a while. The reason is that it was difficult to know exactly what was going on, only a few users reported it, and until recently I was not able to duplicate the problem.
A very patient user sent me his very large file and gave me enough details about what he was doing right before he noticed the problem that I finally had the "Ah Ha!" moment. Needless to say I had been looking and "fixing" a completely different area. But less than 24 hours after I was able to duplicate the problem myself, Viola, it's fixed!
If you use master pages you absolutely should have this update. If you don't use master pages, then today is a good day to start. ;-)
What Changed
This update cures one very nasty bug that can cause data loss if you're using master pages. It's recommended for everyone.
The Long Story
If you've been following along, this bug has been outstanding for quite a while. The reason is that it was difficult to know exactly what was going on, only a few users reported it, and until recently I was not able to duplicate the problem.
A very patient user sent me his very large file and gave me enough details about what he was doing right before he noticed the problem that I finally had the "Ah Ha!" moment. Needless to say I had been looking and "fixing" a completely different area. But less than 24 hours after I was able to duplicate the problem myself, Viola, it's fixed!
If you use master pages you absolutely should have this update. If you don't use master pages, then today is a good day to start. ;-)
Blocks 3.0.3
13/07/07 21:49 Filed in: Plugin
Release
This Time For
Sure
It seems that the new xHTML strict code that we put into Blocks 3.0.2 last night is not compatible with the beta of Safari 3. Although I'm pretty sure it's a bug in the Safari beta since it works just fine in Safari 2 and all other browsers, I'd really rather not there be any problem at all. I rewrote the rollover code so that it will validate to xHTML-Strict but now it won't use the "id" property that seems to be giving Safari 3 so much trouble.
Jump over to the Download page and get a copy Blocks 3.0.3.
This bugfix is, of course, free to registered users of Blocks 3.
It seems that the new xHTML strict code that we put into Blocks 3.0.2 last night is not compatible with the beta of Safari 3. Although I'm pretty sure it's a bug in the Safari beta since it works just fine in Safari 2 and all other browsers, I'd really rather not there be any problem at all. I rewrote the rollover code so that it will validate to xHTML-Strict but now it won't use the "id" property that seems to be giving Safari 3 so much trouble.
Jump over to the Download page and get a copy Blocks 3.0.3.
This bugfix is, of course, free to registered users of Blocks 3.
Blocks 3.0.2
12/07/07 07:30 Filed in: Plugin
Release
Blocks 3.0.2 is
here: Go get your
download.
RapidAlbum Times Two
We're releasing a new version of Blocks today. This is primarily to add support for a new version of RapidAlbum. The new version of RapidAlbum should be able to embed multiple slideshows in a single Blocks page. It's something you can't currently do with the RapidWeaver slideshow and it needed some colaborative effort between Scott Makie and I to make it work.
Bug Squashing
We're also rolling in a couple bug fixes, so even if you don't use RapidAlbum it's a good idea to grab this version. Fixed in this version:
- Blocks pages should now validate xHTML Strict again. Yeah!
This is actually two fixes. One to old-style properties in img tags and the other to to a type property to a script tag that was missing one.
- Blocks will no longer generate an error when using an empty page block from a library page.
This is a pretty exotic bug that probably would have escaped detection had I not published a tutorial that included exactly the kind of Library Page that causes it.
- A change to the way master pages are loaded when files are opened.
How Much?
This is a free upgrade for those that already own Blocks 3.0.
If you're still running Blocks 2.0, now would be a great time to upgrade (nudge, nudge). Blocks has never been more powerful and more stable than it is today. The upgrade is $9.95 and comes with some really super great features. Click here to buy the upgrade.
RapidAlbum Times Two
We're releasing a new version of Blocks today. This is primarily to add support for a new version of RapidAlbum. The new version of RapidAlbum should be able to embed multiple slideshows in a single Blocks page. It's something you can't currently do with the RapidWeaver slideshow and it needed some colaborative effort between Scott Makie and I to make it work.
Bug Squashing
We're also rolling in a couple bug fixes, so even if you don't use RapidAlbum it's a good idea to grab this version. Fixed in this version:
- Blocks pages should now validate xHTML Strict again. Yeah!
This is actually two fixes. One to old-style properties in img tags and the other to to a type property to a script tag that was missing one.
- Blocks will no longer generate an error when using an empty page block from a library page.
This is a pretty exotic bug that probably would have escaped detection had I not published a tutorial that included exactly the kind of Library Page that causes it.
- A change to the way master pages are loaded when files are opened.
How Much?
This is a free upgrade for those that already own Blocks 3.0.
If you're still running Blocks 2.0, now would be a great time to upgrade (nudge, nudge). Blocks has never been more powerful and more stable than it is today. The upgrade is $9.95 and comes with some really super great features. Click here to buy the upgrade.
Collage 1.7
07/06/07 00:30 Filed in: Plugin
Release
Collage 1.7 is
here: Go get your
download.
This is primarily a bugfix release, but we've taken the time to refine the user interface a bit, reduce the file sizes dramatically, add support for RapidWeaver 3.6, and give the drop shadow a few more controls. Although there aren't too many new features, we think this version will be a significant refinement that you'll appreciate.
Happy Birthday
Looking back out our Download page, where we keep all of our version numbers and release dates listed, I see the the previous version of Collage is almost a year old. That's quite a while for one of our plugins. In that period of time a handful of blemishes have been pointed out. In this version we've tried to nail down every last one we had in our bugtracker, but if we've missed one, let us know.
Collage is #1
Collage was our very first plugin and also holds the distinction of being the very first third party RapidWeaver plugin. Even though it has remained at its current version for quite a while it's still one of our most popular downloads. It fills a very essential need and it does it really well with a minimum fuss. It's stylish and bloat-free.
Keep it Simple
But if you think it might be missing something, we want to hear from you. We still want to keep Collage in the bloat-free zone, but maybe it could do with a few more features, if carefully chosen. What do you think? Where should Collage go in the next year?
Things you should know
Collage 1.7 is free to all registered users.
Collage 1.7 works with RapidWeaver 3.5.1 and 3.6
Collage 1.7 requires Mac OS X 10.4 -- if you're using Mac OS X 10.3.9 you can download the Collage 1.6 from our Download page.
This is primarily a bugfix release, but we've taken the time to refine the user interface a bit, reduce the file sizes dramatically, add support for RapidWeaver 3.6, and give the drop shadow a few more controls. Although there aren't too many new features, we think this version will be a significant refinement that you'll appreciate.
Happy Birthday
Looking back out our Download page, where we keep all of our version numbers and release dates listed, I see the the previous version of Collage is almost a year old. That's quite a while for one of our plugins. In that period of time a handful of blemishes have been pointed out. In this version we've tried to nail down every last one we had in our bugtracker, but if we've missed one, let us know.
Collage is #1
Collage was our very first plugin and also holds the distinction of being the very first third party RapidWeaver plugin. Even though it has remained at its current version for quite a while it's still one of our most popular downloads. It fills a very essential need and it does it really well with a minimum fuss. It's stylish and bloat-free.
Keep it Simple
But if you think it might be missing something, we want to hear from you. We still want to keep Collage in the bloat-free zone, but maybe it could do with a few more features, if carefully chosen. What do you think? Where should Collage go in the next year?
Things you should know
Collage 1.7 is free to all registered users.
Collage 1.7 works with RapidWeaver 3.5.1 and 3.6
Collage 1.7 requires Mac OS X 10.4 -- if you're using Mac OS X 10.3.9 you can download the Collage 1.6 from our Download page.
Blocks 3.0.1
05/06/07 22:04 Filed in: Plugin
Release
Blocks 3.0.1 is
here: Go get your
download.
It's been a little over a week since we released Blocks 3.0. In that time thousands of people have downloaded it and a lot of you have written in to say how much you like the new features. But a few others have had some suggestions, and a couple of you have had problems. To the all the "thank you" messages, I say, "you're welcome!" To the suggestions, I say, "We'll think about it." And to the bugs... well... there's no time for talk, let's just fix it.
Blocks 3.0.1 is a bug fix only. It significantly reduces load times and should free up quite a bit of memory on site-files with many Blocks pages. If those things weren't really an issue for you, then this probably won't be a big change... but it might not be a bad idea either.
And one more thing...
We'll be releasing another plugin too... in less than 24 hours.
So stop back by tomorrow, or better yet, subscribe to the RSS feed.
It's been a little over a week since we released Blocks 3.0. In that time thousands of people have downloaded it and a lot of you have written in to say how much you like the new features. But a few others have had some suggestions, and a couple of you have had problems. To the all the "thank you" messages, I say, "you're welcome!" To the suggestions, I say, "We'll think about it." And to the bugs... well... there's no time for talk, let's just fix it.
Blocks 3.0.1 is a bug fix only. It significantly reduces load times and should free up quite a bit of memory on site-files with many Blocks pages. If those things weren't really an issue for you, then this probably won't be a big change... but it might not be a bad idea either.
And one more thing...
We'll be releasing another plugin too... in less than 24 hours.
So stop back by tomorrow, or better yet, subscribe to the RSS feed.