Updated information on the status of CP 3.0
- The comics directories need to be located in the wp-content/uploads directory now. This is because it was a request to lock down wordpress sites and only have the uploads directory available as such on some systems that don’t have proper permission setups. This also made it easier to code and reduced processing by like 10% just from that change alone. (this is for non-multisite, multisite uses the directories based on the multisite info)
- ComicPress Manager is no longer needed, you can ditch it with CP 3.0 – Everything’s in the theme.
- The multisite (wpmu) mu-plugin is no longer needed.
- CP 3.0 is completely plug & play. You activate the theme, you add a new comic, no configuring. Although you can adjust the configuring after installing, it’s not necessary to get up and going to configure anything.
- There is no comicpress-config.php anymore. No need to worry about losing your options/config on updates.
- Comics are “attached’ to the post. And there are several advanced options available including comics in different languages available.
- There are no more ‘category’ separation from comic and blog as you know it now. The comic’s are in their own post type. Completely separate from the regular blog posts so not only will there never be a conflict again they really just are not seen the same way again.
- Backwards compatibility: Although we are leaving the ability to have backwards compatibility where the posts in the comic post type will look at the comics directory via filename date if there isn’t a comic attached to it, it will search your comics folder for a file with the old date method on it; we don’t want people to keep utilizing this method in the future, need to train comic users to just upload their comic with whatever filename they want with the upload controls.
- There is an upgrade script that will convert all your current comics from the old post style to the new post type. Just select your primary comics directory (in the script) and go. Although it will remove all your categories and tags since those are no longer used and are replaced with Chapters and other comic related functions.
- All ComicPress versions of the theme will remain free.
- ^ However, your wondering where are those cool NEW features we were adding went? Lemme tell ya, instead of including them in the theme we’ll be having Child Themes available with those features in them. Yes, for pay. Don’t even bother griping about it, that one is a done deal. The theme itself will always remain free and if you want to buy a child theme with extra features you can. Those child themes will be available from their individual developer separately from ComicPress. If you are interested in creating child themes for sale we’ll have an area on the website to link to the various child themes people develop.
- Soon as the initial release is done while in beta mode we’ll have a continual stream of child themes available with so many different options for the site look it’s going to be silly. I have quite a few of them already done and waiting to be put up.
- Your current child themes will be compatible up to a point. The CSS and images are Absolutely Compatible, things like the custom child functions, widgets and code will need to be updated.
- This is *(not)* the ComicPress Premium package we were making previously. Almost though. We stripped out pretty much all the new stuff and are making 3.0 the new post type with the new system. What we DID leave in is the memory management, core options and new comic method.
- We’re waiting on Tyler’s decision to decide to make this as a normal ComicPress upgrade or call it a new ComicPress name. (note: he decided that this IS going to be ComicPress 3.0 and not an offshoot, he loved it that much)
- Stop editing the original theme already and learn how to do a child theme: https://frumph.net/wordpress/comicpress/convert-your-comicpress-2-9-site-to-use-a-child-theme/
[members]
Still on the TODO LIST before release.
- Revamp the navigation to properly work with the new custom post type and the variable chapters. (almost done, need rechecks)
- Adjust all widgets & templates to look at the post_type instead of the regular post. (almost done, need rechecks)
- Create a new uploader/flash uploader that is ajax inside of the post itself. (done, needs prettying up)
- Need to figure out a good method for easily recognizable UI. Right now this is *not* your old ComicPress, everything is pathed differently menu wise. Need to go through everything and make it as easily accessable as possible for those end users who need it.
We are still looking for another developer to take my place after the 3.0 release.
[/members]
Thanks for the update, Phil.
Interesting stuff. I’m curious about all of the stuff you stripped out of CP Premium… does that mean that it’s been stripped out of 3.0, or stripped out of Premium and put into 3.0?
But, whatever. I’m looking forward to it.
Is the new version going to use the fabulous menu?
Yes, CP 3.0 has the wordpress integrate menu system as well as custom background and custom header, etc.
Some of the extra features we stripped out were the worldwide syndication, the CP designer addon, the mobile theme replacement for mobile devices and the various others that were not in the original CP theme to begin with as features., We consider the things we took out as being things that *not everyone will use*, those things will be available in child themes as addons.
Oh Sweet!
Is there a way to have BG color/bg image work like the custom header does… by post?
I’ve got a great idea of how to use it with the comic.
Thanks sir!
That already works, use the classes that are in the <body tag
How about a release date Phil?
I second this, all the features here sound pretty good. but are we talking about days until release? months? years?
Is there a beta we can help test at least?
I’m trying to migrate some of my sites from an old wp install to wp3.0 mu, and would like to try to migrate comic sites as well.
Hey Phil,
Sounds really awesome. Is 3.0 finally gonna have full multi-comic support?
Multi-Comic, Multiple comic posts with comics per day, multiple comics per post per day =)
Man it sounds amazing, I can’t wait for comics to be their own post type! That’s one area that caused me a lot of trouble in the past.
Thirded about the release date, though — I know you can’t give an extact date, but it would be extremely helpful if we could get a vauge idea (a week? months?) since it’s hard to tell from this post.
I need to rebuild my site and I’m stuck between the decision to rebuild now (but then having to change stuff after 3.0) or just waiting until 3.0 is out to rebuild (but keeping my readers waiting as well). So if you could give a general estimate for 3.0 ETA, it would tell me what to do there.
Anyway though, it sounds fantastic. I’m so excited.
C’mon Phil, an aprox. release date… I’m in the same situation as kaourika with Zambilici.ro, and I need to know where you stand so that us, your stakeholders, can crate a plan in the near future. Thanks.
Well the CSS is the same from 2.9 to 3.0
Perfectly cool with the pay for play themes (I might even get one if it has something spiffy). But I’m wondering if there will still be a free child theme or two? I’ve been using a modified version of CP silver for ages and it seems like a huge pain to try and hackwork the base theme to fit my mild needs.
Though totally doable, I suppose.
And out of curiosity, what’s the base line price we’re looking at? $5? $10? $50
(And fourthed on the release date. Once classes start again my ‘putz with the website’ time disappears until December.)
There will be a ton of child themes available that are free 😉 A repository of them, and users like yourself can even contribute themes to it for others to get.
and yeah, most of the ‘for sale’ child themes i’m thinking might be from $5 to $25 nothing too harsh, .. the $25 dollar one being one with advanced coding in it like the character mods and such
Awesome. I kind of figured as much, but I don’t like spouting off nonsense if I can’t help it. lol.
I’m looking forward to this one. 2.9 had some great changes, but 3.0’s multi comic support might be the coolest thing since I found this project!
Keep up the great work.
2.9.2 has multi-comic support as well
character mods? cool. This sounds totally awesome. I’m working on my own child theme; I’ll go ahead with the css part but hold off on any massive code to see what youse guys would give. And I’m happy to pay for child themes, the hard part is figuring out if they actually do what I want or not and if so how to configure them. I would love to run up a test blog for testing this ahead of release …..ummmm when now? I have wp3.0 multisite so this should be a snap.
Any update on when CP 3.0 will be available?
I too am curious about the status of CP3.0. Im getting antsy for a site redesign.
ComicPress 3.0 is now ComicPress – Comic Easel, its basically a plugin that can work with any theme, there’s another post on my site that explains it.
Just curious about the status of 3.0.