K2 version 2.1 is now available

We're happy to announce the immediate release of K2 version 2.1. This new version includes among others bug fixes, core updates and performance improvements, with a few new features introduced. Version 2.1 is already used on our demo site with sh404SEF, so you can check it out: http://k2.joomlaworks.gr/demo-v2/


Upgrading
Download version 2.1 from k2.joomlaworks.gr. Detailed upgrade notes can be found here.


Changelog
Native sh404SEF support
- K2 now fully supports sh404SEF natively.
- Includes 2 parameters to further extend sh404SEF's URL re-writing.

mod_k2_tools
- Calendar: added "filter by category" option
- Archives: added "filter by category" option

mod_k2_content
- Sort items by best rating

mod_k2_content
- add an option to fetch items from children categories of SELECTED categories (so you don't have to re-check the module settings when creating new children categories in K2).

Frontend
- User URLs now include the user's name.
- Comments: do not let people post comments using email addresses and/or name from site users!
- Comments: If cache is enabled and auto-publish is on do not redirect/refresh but display this message: "Thank you. Your comment will be published shortly." Comment is published when the cache is refreshed automatically, at the preset time interval.
- Comments: If cache is disabled and auto-publish is on redirect/refresh to the same page with anchor link to the published comment.
- Fixed generated RSS feeds for menu items pointing to multiple or all categories within K2.
- Addressed "division by zero" error if user accidentally input 0 for leading/primary/secondary/links count in categories or menu items linking to categories.

Frontend editing
- Caching is disable in the frontend if users log in. Otherwise they can't see the add/edit buttons for content editing.
- Removed "closing" link surrounding the editing modal box to avoid accidental closing of the box and thus loss of unsaved work.
- Changed toolbar buttons to match the backend styling for more familiarity (thanks to Lyle for pointing this out).
- Reset button removed, cancel button added.
- Fixed tooltip boxes.

Backend
- Managers do not see links to user profiles (due to permissions). Only admins and above can.
- Common date/time format for all lists, derived from language files.
- info page: check for modules installed
- info page: check for plugins installed & published
- info page: check for multibyte support as it's a requirement for both K2 and Joomla!
- item form >> extra fields: if type "link" is used and the user does not input a URL, we display just the link name only (thanks to Kenneth Crowder for pointing this out).
- Menu items >> linking to category/categories: Removed "catalog mode" option (as it comes from a category's options) and added option to "fetch items from children categories of selected categories". This clears up how one can use K2 to build catalogs as now you can create a "catalog" only if you have created some master category to assign as "catalog" root.
- Comments: added more info on the comments list, including a link to open the commented item in a modal box.
- Added K2 favicon for the component's backend menu link.

Other
- Fixed some SQL statements in the install package
- Updated the URL filters for title aliases in K2
- Fixed minor syntax related issues in the code (thanks to anyone reporting those)
- "Sanitized" K2's behaviour with some components like JomSocial, due to conflicting user forms. K2 and JomSocial (and any other component) will happily work together now :)
- Fixed some generated notices in the PHP code.
- Disable image download for SIG Pro frontend/backend (for coming version 2.0.5)
- Added support for the new AllVideos version 3.0+


What next?
More cool stuff are on the way for 2.2 which should arrive within the next couple of months, unless we have any immediate bugs that need to be addressed with a minor release.

Thanks to everyone using and supporting K2.