Author: Digital Solutions
New Features
We have been busy this sprint! Much more has been improved, but these are the highlights you'll be most interested in. As we mentioned in Sprint Review 55 on May 9, 2025, we're working to give the platform a modern aesthetic. Carousels and Main Images for Landing Pages and Site Pages received a glow-up during Sprint 58.
Carousels
The solid-colored that block sits on and hangs below the images will no longer be placed behind Carousel text and links. Going forward, text will be placed directly on Carousel images. To enhance readability, a transparent layer to slightly darken the image will be combined with a drop-shadow behind the text. The Carousel player is also moving up to sit on top of the image.
Because the solid-colored block is being removed, there will also be less white space beneath Carousels. Bands without Top Padding will be very close to the Carousel. Please check any Bands that sit directly beneath a Carousel; you may want to add more padding to those Bands to have the same amount of white space that you had before.
Landing Pages and Site Pages
Page Titles currently have a solid-colored block behind the text. Like Carousels, this will be removed going forward and the text will sit directly on the Main Image. A similar transparent layer will slightly darken the Main Image and the text will have a drop shadow, similar to Carousels.
Additionally, on Landing Pages that do not include a Main Image, your secondary accent color will be added behind the Title to gently draw attention to it. This colored background does not appear on Site Pages.
Catalogue Item Content Type
We are adding functionality to the Catalogue Item Content Type so that these function more like a Site Page. You can now add one- or two- column bands and most paragraph components. Note that in its first iteration, the Main Image was intended only as a thumbnail. The Main Image is now larger, so a higher quality image should be used.
Updates & Fixes
Text Editor
In the Text Editor, the language list was very long and did not scroll. Users could not scroll beyond the letter "F" in the alphabet, preventing them from selecting languages such as "Spanish." This has been fixed so users can now scroll the full menu of languages.
Google Maps
Components linked with Google Maps were opening driving directions in a new window. We have changed it so that Google Maps now opens in the same window by default.
Quick Links
This paragraph component has been updated so that Link Text is now a required field. In the pages, if you provided a URL but no Link Text, the URL did not wrap which was not user-friendly. Additionally, screen readers will read the URL which is not accessibility-friendly. Requiring Link Text improves the user experience for everyone.
Link Icons are Back
We are reintroducing the new window icon and file type icons for links that open documents in the Media Library.
Note that file type icons do not appear for external documents, so if you paste the URL path to a Media Library item, the icon will not appear. When linking to pages or documents on your Digital Commons website, always ensure that you are linking to the node in the database. Do this by using the search feature and selecting the desired file or Content Type. Not only does this help make sure file icons appear, but if your pages or documents are moved or your Main Menu is reorganized, your links will not break. The platform will track those changes and automatically create redirects as needed.
In Case you Missed it
Improvements shared during our last Sprint Review 57 on