What's New in Sophora 4

Check out what's new in the latest Sophora version.

Decoration

Dear Sophora users, our new Sophora release is here. Since our release of Sophora 3, we have updated many features and settings. And we also have two new add-ons for you.

Sophora 4: Sophora DeskClient with Improved TableStar
Sophora 4: Sophora MobileClient with Improved Search

Basics

Release Notes Available

Check out our Release Notes for more details and technical information.

Sophora Runs Completely on Java 11

Sophora 4 runs completely on Oracle JDK 11 and OpenJDK 11, and we no longer support versions 8 to 10. However, we benefit from the new possibilities offered by Java 11. Important note: besides Oracle Java, you can use free Java distributions, e.g. OpenJDK.

Users, Roles and Document Types are Sophora Documents

We have converted the document types as well as the users and roles into normal Sophora documents. This gives these documents a version history. In addition, users and roles can be extended with their own fields, imported and exported, and provided with specific rights. With this conversion, we thus conclude our process of standardization. With this change, all entities in Sophora are now also Sophora documents. This will enable us to even better develop Sophora in the future.

The important thing here is that you don't have to migrate the Sophora repositories. Sophora will automatically convert users, roles and document types for you when you upgrade to Sophora version 4.

+++ New in Previous Sophora Versions +++

New functions from previous Sophora Versions.

Structure Nodes and "Offers” are now Sophora Documents

We have improved the fundamentals of Sophora’s technical basis. The structure nodes (or "folders") and the offers no longer require special technical handling. The nodes are now completely "normal" Sophora documents. This standardizes and simplifies the Sophora Server in order to open up more possibilities for further development. In addition, structure nodes and offers now have a version history. Furthermore, they can be extended with their own fields, imported and exported, and provided with specific rights. The icons of the structure nodes have been changed and are now consistent with the status icons. More information can be found here. During the conversion, we made certain that our users do not have to migrate the Sophora repositories. When upgrading to Sophora Version 3, the conversion of structure nodes and offers is automatically performed in the background.

Compatibility

During the conversion, we made certain that our users do not have to migrate the Sophora repositories. When upgrading to Sophora Version 3, the conversion of structure nodes and offers is automatically performed in the background.

"Offers” are now Sophora Documents

The offers are now standard Sophora documents, too.

Simplified Structure

We have restructured our documentation, cleaned up numerous subfolders and split (overly) long single pages. Please update your bookmarks!

New Modules

Sophora Metadata Supplier

Sophora Metadata Supplier

The Sophora Metadata Supplier enables a standardized delivery of metadata for the ARD Mediathek/Audiothek.
Sophora SDK

Sophora SDK

Our Java-based SDK helps you develop web apps, apps, APIs and other solutions.
Sophora Indexing Service

Sophora Indexing Service

Connect a central search cluster with SolrCloud to Sophora.
Sophora Image Service

Sophora Image Service

Central service for the generation of image variants.
Cloud Binary Store

Cloud Binary Store

Unified cloud image storage.
SEO Check

SEO Check

The "SEO Check" module supports the editorial team in the on-page content optimization.

DeskClient

Improved DeskClient with Various Updates and New Technologies

For Developers and Administrators:

If you want to support workflows that are not related to single documents, the DeskClient scripts can now be started independently of a document context. The WDR uses this function to create urgent messages. These scripts appear in the main menu under "Tools".
The document types can now be exported in isolation, without standard configurations, form field groups, etc. This helps you when you want to save the data model in a version control system such as Git.

For Editors:

You can now upload pictures in the DeskClient in all variants with the same aspect ratio at the same time. This speeds up your work, especially if you need many image variations.
The password fields in tab and preview documents can now be stored in the server settings. This is even more secure.
For select values that are fed from documents, the label of the input field is linked to the selected document. This way you can quickly get further information.

+++ New in Previous Sophora Versions +++

New functions from previous Sophora Versions.

Excel Export of Search Results

Search results can now be exported as Excel files. For this purpose, we have extended the already existing search result export with the menu option "Excel". When "Excel" is selected, it is then possible on the second page to select fields to be exported to Excel.

Improved Sticky Notes

Sophora's sticky notes are a popular way for Sophora editors to comment on documents internally in the DeskClient. Tools such as the Importer can also automatically write sticky notes. Therefore, some documents have a lot of sticky notes. We took the resulting quantity of sticky notes into account. The most recent sticky note is always displayed first and on top, which reduces unnecessary scrolling. It is also now possible to quickly browse through the sticky notes. In addition, all sticky notes can be deleted at once.

More Consistent User Interface

As always, we have improved some details on the DeskClient user interface. The look of the search and filter input fields has been unified, the display of the feeds is more consistent and that of the component tab is lighter due to the absence of dividers. The DeskClient also has better support for large displays with HiDPI/Retina resolution. And the position of the search button in the search function can now be configured to "right" or "left".

DeskClient with Internal Chromium-Browser

The internal browser in the DeskClient is no longer based on the outdated Internet Explorer and is now based on Chromium from Google. To achieve that, we have built in the commercial JXBrowser. Our goal is to provide for a better integration of modern HTML5 and JavaScript applications in the DeskClient.

Important: To be able to use the JXBrowser, you must use a Java distribution that supports JavaFX; otherwise Internet Explorer will continue to be used.

DeskClient with Java 11

The DeskClient runs on all supported platforms with Java 11. Currently, Java 11 is optional. With the next Sophora release, the use of Java 11 will be mandatory as we want to benefit from the new possibilities of Java 11. Important to know for our customers is that in addition to Oracle Java, it is also possible to use free Java distributions, e.g. OpenJDK. For further information, see the article in our blog. In addition to the Java update, we have renewed the Eclipse Target platform and updated Spring to version 5.

MobileClient

Set Image cropping and Other Major Improvements

Sophora’s MobileClient features Sticky Notes. Sticky Notes support internal workflows: Editors and tools add notes, editorial comments and alerts to documents.
You can get information about system metadata in the compact "Document Information" window, including metadata (configurable), references and components.
Change your personal account settings directly in the MobileClient.
Filter the search result according to the status of documents.
Configure which search options are visible (for administrators).
Set the cropping frame of all individual image variants in the MobileClient.
Actions are improved. You can now also delete documents directly in the MobileClient. Publish and other actions can now also be performed directly in the search results and when curating components.
Quickly access your most recently edited documents in the new "Recent" view ("Recent Documents").
Upload your own images for individual image variations, also for those with the same aspect ratio at the same time.

+++ New in Previous Sophora Versions +++

New functions from previous Sophora Versions.

Improved Image Upload

Image upload directly into an image document is now also possible in the MobileClient. Until now, this was only possible within the context of other documents, e.g. articles.

Restoring Documents

No problem if the browser crashes, or if you accidentally close a tab. The MobileClient automatically saves the most current working version so that it can be restored at the next start of the application.

Creating Documents with Templates

Creating documents via templates is easier than ever. This simplifies document creation and allows certain contents to be prefilled.

Read Mode

If you want, you can open a document in the MobileClient in read mode, and then switch to edit mode, if required. This is useful if you only want to read through a document or if you want to navigate to other documents via the first document. The read mode is also helpful if the MobileClient is running in "Embedded" mode within another application.

Sophora 3 Up to 30% Faster Thanks to New Angular

The MobileClient has become up to 30% faster. A complete technical "rewrite" made it possible. We gradually switched to the latest version of the Google framework Angular, from AngularJS to the not downwards compatible Angular. After about twelve months, we could finally switch off the parallel operation of both frameworks and now look forward to profiting from the future improvements of the much faster framework.

Component Drag & Drop

Components can be sorted by drag & drop, e.g. the images from a picture gallery or the teaser on a homepage. The text boxes can also be edited with this feature. The MobileClient observes all rules, for example, that an image may not be inserted into a teaser box or that the maximum number of components in the box has already been reached. An editor's comment: "Sensational". Thank you!

Paragraph Drag & Drop

The fine structuring of content has always been one of Sophora's great strengths. Text paragraphs, images and boxes can be rearranged via drag & drop in the MobileClient. In order to keep this process straight-forward even with longer texts, we have given the MobileClient a special view that shortens the paragraphs and displays them as a list. Drag & Drop works with both touch and via the mouse.

Date Filter in the Search Function

To make it even easier to find the right document from a list of millions, we have integrated a date filter directly into the search. You can filter your search for given periods (today, for three days, etc.), as well as set a custom time period in a dialog.

Offers/Sharing

It is also possible to map comprehensive editorial workflows directly in the MobileClient. We have integrated a shared list aka the "offer function". Offer areas are subscribe-able lists in which documents can be collected and "shared" with others. One user describes an important use case as follows: "As a TV editor, I write a story and delegate the researching and preparing of story's images to a colleague who is familiar with it. She can then share with me the finished images in the MobileClient so that I can integrate it in the story." We've also included the offer function in the MobileClient’s start page, therefore editorial processes can also start directly from a shared document.

Admin Dashboard

The Admin Dashboard runs easier than ever in Docker containers.
The Admin Dashboard better supports embedded tools running under HTTPS. You can also have a clear view of these tools in the Admin Dashboard.
With a 3-day and 12-hour view for diagrams, you now have an even better overview.

+++ New in Previous Sophora Versions +++

New functions from previous Sophora Versions.

More Metrics

The Admin Dashboard makes Sophora-specific metrics visible. That is why most administrators prefer it to internal or generic solutions. Sophora 3 brings detailed improvements, with new graphs for the number of generated documents or the average generation time in the delivery servers.

More Modules

The Admin Dashboard now also monitors the "CacheRemovalQueue", the MobileClient, and the UGC.

Content API

Additional Information on Binary Data

In order to avoid unnecessary evaluations of binary data, the Content API now also outputs the MIME type for all binary data.

Date Search

Flexible Display of the Search Result

In order to create a better overview for the user, in the module Date Search, it is now possible to more precisely set what should be displayed in the search results. Technically speaking, the function is based on a dynamic table in which the configuration can be stored.

EPG

In the EPG view, special properties of a document can be visualized with icons, e.g. to see the documents directly for which you still have to enter certain properties.
The EPG module can now also handle “show-in-shows”.

+++ New in Previous Sophora Versions +++

New functions from previous Sophora Versions.

Multi-Program Display

The EPG module now supports the parallel display of several programs. This is especially useful for planning online live streams, e.g. when during a sports event, different streams are offered at the same time.

Importer

We have changed the Importer to "Spring Boot". The Importer is therefore now based on modern technology. And you can more easily configure the Importer ("YAML").

Important note: you have to adapt the configuration files of the Importer with the update.
The Importer now has a health check.

+++ New in Previous Sophora Versions +++

New functions from previous Sophora Versions.

Patterns for Administration

The number of imports is increasing rapidly in many Sophora installations. To prevent overflowing folders, you can now define "successful" and "failure" folders with patterns in the Importer. For example, you can use the date and an XSL parameter to create a new "failure" folder daily. We have also made the automatic cleaning of the import folders configurable.

+++ New in Previous Sophora Versions +++

New functions from previous Sophora Versions.

Patterns for Administration

The number of imports is increasing rapidly in many Sophora installations. To prevent overflowing folders, you can now define "successful" and "failure" folders with patterns in the Importer. For example, you can use the date and an XSL parameter to create a new "failure" folder daily. We have also made the automatic cleaning of the import folders configurable.

Maps

+++ New in Previous Sophora Versions +++

New functions from previous Sophora Versions.

Saving Additional Information from Geodata

Based on geodata, additional information can now be retrieved and stored in a desired document. Additional data includes the administrative district, the federal state, the country or the postal code. The additional information is available in the search index, so that you can filter for geodata in the website or app or automatically populate maps. This makes personalization possible, for example if visitors are particularly interested in news from their region. The extension package contains a script and a Sophora mix-in that can be used at various points in the data model.

New User Interface

The Maps module has received a complete visual and technical make-over and is now based on the latest version of the Angular framework as well as on the current interfaces of the map providers. In the background, we changed the module to OpenLayers which allows us to be more independent from the map providers.

Social Media Quote

You can also conveniently quote from TikTok, Vimeo, Spotify and Giphy with Social Media Quote.

+++ New in Previous Sophora Versions +++

New functions from previous Sophora Versions.

Quote from ScribbleLive

Now, ScribbleLive events can also be included with Sophora 3 by copying the URL of the ScribbleLive event into a paragraph.

Quote from YouTube

YouTube videos can now also be conveniently embedded in text via Social Media Quote, analogous to embedding Twitter, Facebook and Instagram content. The process is simple. An editor copies the original URL of the YouTube video into a paragraph of the copy text, and when she triggers the newly created script in the toolbar of the Sophora document, the properties of the YouTube video (title, embed code, etc.) are written into the corresponding fields of the new paragraph type "YouTube".

TableStar

TableStar now calculates special tournament calculations as used by the NBA, NFL etc.
TableStar calculates the team rankings depending on the number of games played.

+++ New in Previous Sophora Versions +++

New functions from previous Sophora Versions.

Import and Display Data Tables

We have made importing Sophora data tables possible and extended the teletext output so that data tables with multiple entries can also be displayed in TableStar. We have developed a versatile Sophora data table import, e.g. for tabular statistics such as unemployment figures, economic data and sport event scorers.

Teletext

+++ New in Previous Sophora Versions +++

New functions from previous Sophora Versions.

Text Links

Text links are now also possible in the teletext editor.

FTPS

The teletext exporter now also allows FTPS as upload protocol.

UGC

+++ New in Previous Sophora Versions +++

New functions from previous Sophora Versions.

Uploading PDFs, etc.

In addition to images, the UGC now also allows for the upload of other file types and PDFs; Word and Excel documents can now also be uploaded.

Full Text Search for Votes, Quizzes, Forms

We now support the full text search function in fields of votes, quizzes and forms in the UGC user interface.

Mass Operations

Mass operations can be performed on a search result for a document in the UGC module. This makes it possible, for example, to reject all open comments in one step.

Internal Editorial Notes and Answers to Comments

An additional new feature is the internal editorial references to comments. In addition, presenters can now respond directly to viewer’s comments. We have responded to the requirements of the DSGVO with further improvements.

YouTube Connector

The YouTube-Connector now processes newly published videos with higher priority than deleted videos. So even "mass deletions" won't get in your way when you publish videos on YouTube.
The YouTube Connector now integrates better with Akamai, for example, when removing videos from the Akamai cache.
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