Feature
Performance and Publishing Enhancements
MT is now faster and more scalable than ever with several changes that increase publishing speed and reduce memory load. Extensive code audit led to some of the improvements outlined below. The good thing is that none of the improvements will require you to make any template or configuration changes when you upgrade to 4.2. This is the biggest highlight of 4.2, according to Reese, who quite poetically describes it as “You know that feeling when you buy a new computer and you see the boot-up screen whiz by really fast. It’s a rush right? That the sensation you get when you publish in Movable Type 4.2.”Module Caching
The HTML output from the most widely used templates can now be cached to speed up the publishing process and improve database performance.
Movable Type 4.2 Module Caching Configuration
For a more detailed overview of Module Caching, go here.
Server Side Includes (SSI)
In the new version, you can process template modules as SSI’s. What that means is that you can share the same content and code among multiple pages and update all of them at the same time on publish, without having to republish the entire site. In other words, as soon as the MT sees , it will process it as an SSI, write the HTML output to the file system and replace the tag with the appropriate server side include. Currently, MT 4.2 supports the following types of SSI: * PHP * SHTML * ASP * JSPPublishing
As we already know, Movable Type supports dynamic, static and background publishing right out-of-the-box. In 4.2, there is a series of publishing enhancements designed to optimize site and database performance by publishing high-priority content statically while less important content is published dynamically or via background.
Publishing Profile Wizard in Movable Type 4.2
Fine tuning is now also a possibility, as every template and archive map can be configured independently.
New in Design and Templating
Updated Navigation
To make the use of MT as efficient as possible, 4.2 introduces a fresh look at navigation and menus structure, including the improved Preferences menu and additions to the Tools menu.
New Movable Type 4.2 navigation
Single Screen Template View
There are new features now under the Design tab, where users can utilize a single template listing screen for all templates, archives, archive maps and template modules. With the redesigned and improved single screen view, users should be able to get a better picture of structure of their sites. There is also a combined widget and sidebar screen to allow for greater control and centralized management of sidebars and widgets from the Widgets console. Designers will appreciate the ease of creating and managing new widgets.
Movable Type 4.2 consolidated widget view
Template Editing Interface
Now it’s much easier to find any HTML, CSS or template code thanks to the code highlighting feature. Template refreshing is also better now, as users can install new template sets and themes with a single “Apply” click.
Movable Type 4.2 new template view
Template Backup Listing Screens
In addition, template backups have their new, separate home now. They can be found on a single screen under Design tab > Templates.Template Previews
This functionality allows to preview the changes made to templates before hitting the “Save” button.
Movable Type 4.2 template preview
