New Features in WoltLab Suite 5.2: Reactions, Cover Photos, First Setup, and Emails on Errors

Welcome to the first of five spotlight threads for WoltLab Suite 5.2 in which we will introduce some of the new features of the upcoming version! This thread outlines two new features for your users, reactions and cover photos, and two new features for you as the administrator.

Reactions

Across all of our apps, users are able to like or dislike content via a “thumbs up” or a “thumbs down”. WoltLab Suite 5.2 introduces a new system that lets users react to content: reactions. Instead of just two options (or even only one if dislikes are disabled), reactions are completely configurable down to the reaction name and image.



By default, WoltLab Suite 5.2 comes with the five reaction types shown in the animated image above but new reaction types can easily be added via the ACP and existing reaction types can also be edited or delete, of course.



During an update from a previous version, existing likes and dislikes will be kept as “thumbs up” and “thumbs down”, respectively.

Cover Photos

With WoltLab Suite 5.1, we added user profile cover photos that let users customize their profile by uploading an image that is shown at the top of the profile page. In version 5.2, cover photos will be available in more places: They can be added to articles written in WoltLab Suite Core, to calendar events, to blogs, and to blog articles.



Based on these cover photos, we have also updated the presentation of articles in lists to make use of cover photos.


First Setup

To make it easier for new administrators to configure WoltLab Suite, we have added a new “First Time Setup” page that is shown after the initial installation and allows setting some of the available options that administrators might want to change immediately after installation.


Emails on Errors

Whenever an error occurs, it is logged and the error message can be accessed in the ACP (or directly via the filesystem if the ACP cannot be accessed). To inform administrators quicker about potential problems with their site, we have added a new cronjob that periodically checks for new errors and if there are any new errors, an email is sent to the administrator.

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Comments 245

  • Quote from Jupiter

    I always put the German threads through the Google translator and sometimes they make sense and sometimes they don't, but as its where the vast bulk of the knowledge and info is about the WoltLab software, English speakers should at least try to read the German threads.

    If you use Chrome browser, can't you just have it all translated instantly into English to read. I know FireFox doesn't do that, but thought Chrome does.

    Like 1

  • So it possibly could get next month when the new version is released in BETA format to try out, which is only days away until next month now. I'm not doing much with my new site then put online today because there really isn't much point with this newer version just around the corner that I'd sooner use with the improvements

  • Some nice changes, and good to see Emoji Reactions finally replacing the Like/Dislike.


    Looking forward to the next version being released.

    Like 1
  • Quote from MysteryCode

    There are still no exact dates for it. Beta is planned for May/June and the release is planned for August/September.


    I doubt it'll be May since May is almost over and we've gotten one preview post.

    Like 1
  • Quote from Jason5

    Great, any estimated time of release?

    Quote from Marcel Werk

    exakte Termine für die Veröffentlichung der neuen Version gibt es bisher noch nicht. Die Beta-Phase startet voraussichtlich im Mai/Juni. Mit der fertigen Version kann man aus jetziger Sicht im August/September rechnen.

    There are still no exact dates for it. Beta is planned for May/June and the release is planned for August/September.

    Like 2

  • deepl.com/translator

    Like 2

  • Great, any estimated time of release?

  • Quote from Jupiter

    English speakers should at least try to read the German threads.


    Nein.

    Like 2
  • Quote from Jupiter

    should at least try to read the German threads.

    And in case there's something that might sound interesting (even if i's just a keyword or two), you're always welcome to ask about it (no matter whether English oder German). :)

    Like 2

  • I always put the German threads through the Google translator and sometimes they make sense and sometimes they don't, but as its where the vast bulk of the knowledge and info is about the WoltLab software, English speakers should at least try to read the German threads.

    Like 1

  • For anyone else who might be interested, there is a much longer discussion about this subject (in German) here Reaktionen, Titelbilder, Erstmalige Einrichtung und Emails bei Fehlern .

  • Like 2

  • Can't wait for this! great job

  • 🔥 GREAT WHEELS OF FIRE 🔥



    🌋Thanks a lot @WoltLab

  • Swell post. Keep up the good work

  • Great changes and additions in Version 5.2- really like them!

  • Looks great.