TYPO3 v13: The most important innovations for editors
TYPO3 v13
The most important innovations for editors
The TYPO3 version 13.4 brought numerous innovations that make the daily work of editors much easier. We have extensively tested the version and in the following article, we present our top 5 editorial features as well as a seemingly inconspicuous improvement with a great impact at first glance. One thing is for sure: We consider TYPO3 v13.4 a real enrichment for editorial work.
TYPO3 v13 in numbers
For nearly 18 months, the work of over 200 developers flowed into the new version, with almost 140 changes implemented from 3,300 work items. This facilitated the use of modern image formats such as webP, enabled the use of so-called content blocks for creating new content elements, and took into account the latest PHP version, which makes the CMS more performant.
1. Improved user interface
The user interface has been extensively redesigned to provide a more intuitive and user-friendly experience. Now, a Dark or Light mode function is supported, which can be activated either through user settings or by using the corresponding browser setting for display. Many UI elements have been visually modernized and better coordinated, which also contributes to accessibility. Clearer structures make it easier to navigate and work more efficiently. The page and file tree have been revised again since the last version and are now easier to navigate using the keyboard. It loads faster overall and also remembers the last edited page when switching between modules, saving many clicks. In addition, content can now be moved across pages via Drag & Drop, which was previously only possible via Copy & Paste in a cumbersome way.
2. Mass editing for faster content management
With this new feature, changes that affect multiple records at the same time can be made more targeted. Previously, when editing in this way, all available fields were always displayed simultaneously, but now this can be limited. This makes it easier to make exceptions and work more precisely overall. A typical use case is updating metadata, such as alternative text for images. Thanks to finer mass editing, a lot of time is saved and repetitive tasks are reduced.
3. Keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts have been possible in TYPO3 since version 12. Since then, for example, you can use Ctrl + K to search internally or save changes already in the input mask with Ctrl + S. The novelty: If you want to quickly edit content and immediately close it in version 13, this is now possible with Ctrl + Shift + S or Cmd + Shift + S on Mac. After entering the combination, you are immediately back to the previous view and can focus on the next task. What may sound like a small convenience feature can be crucial, especially when many small changes need to be made in a short period of time.
4. Advanced Search
The backend search has become more powerful with version 13.4, now capturing not only page content but also modules and workspaces, and is additionally able to find settings. It now takes into account user permissions, making navigation easier, especially in large TYPO3 installations with many pages and modules. The advantage of an exact and well-configurable search for the work of editors cannot be overestimated in our opinion.
5. SVG support in image management
TYPO3 now supports editing SVG image files directly in the user interface for the first time. These can now be cropped and adjusted directly there, without the need to convert them to another format beforehand. This reduces the need for external image editing tools and significantly speeds up the workflow.
Our Hidden Feature: System Notes
System notes have been used by TYPO3 users for quite some time to add to-do lists to pages and categorize them into their own editorial workflows, which is why our hidden feature may not be immediately apparent. It can also be assumed that system notes can be categorized for better understanding. New are the dashboard widgets that make working with these notes easier. They allow you to display a list of all system notes and group them by categories. This way, after logging in, you have a quick overview with just a few clicks, providing a quick entry into the editorial tasks to be completed. The advantage: Editorial communication can be shifted to the TYPO3 backend and is visible to all parties involved without the need for additional tools. This is supported by another widget that provides lists of pages with missing meta descriptions or the last editing status.
Conclusion
After working with TYPO3 version 13 for just under a quarter, we can draw a positive conclusion. The user interface looks fresh and makes editorial work with the content management system easier and faster at many crucial points. Along with the performance boost with high access numbers through PHP 8.4, we highly recommend updating to the new version. If you are currently not considering an upgrade, we alternatively recommend purchasing an ELTS package (Extended Long Term Support) so that you can also benefit from new security updates with your older version.
Share this post