Wordpress · Wordpress Setup

A Review of WordPress 3.3 Changes so far…

I just upgraded my Wordpress to Wordpress 3.3 and discovered a few new changes that I liked.  I’m sure there are plenty and haven’t come across them yet, but will share when I do.  A few that I noticed so far are:

New Features I do like in WordPress 3.3:

  • Different interface for Uploading and Insert Images
  • Linking to articles in comments is much easier
  • Responsive layout
  • Widgets remain when switching between Themes
  • Revised text in the Settings/Privacy Section
  • Added a Permalink setting – Postname
  • Consolidated Admin toolbar at the top of the pages

New Features I don’t really like in WordPress 3.3

  • Fly out menus in the Navigation bar
  • Removed the option in the Settings to ‘Disable the Admin Toolbar

1.  Different interface for Uploading and Insert Images

Adding images and videos from my computer is so much easier with the new WordPress 3.3 drag and drop functionality.  I can drag images or videos directly from my computer desktop and drop them inside the box of dotted lines.  It will automatically upload files.  You can drag and drop as many files as you want.  It will upload them sequentially directly below the box.  If you are old school, you can still click on ‘Select Files’ to upload files.

  • Login to WordPress Admin
  • Click on ‘Posts’, Add new post on the left navigation panel
  • Click ‘Upload/Insert’
Wordpress 3.3 - Drag and Drop Upload Insert Media
Wordpress 3.3 - Drag and Drop Upload Insert Media

2.  Linking to Articles in Comments is much easier

Not too sure if this feature was available in WordPress 3.1, but I know it’s here now.  It was frustrating that I could not easily create text links to posts on my website.  Now in WordPress 3.3, I see that when I want to insert a link to a post in my reply to comments, the screen is similar to the linking feature when creating links in posts and pages.

  • Login to WordPress Admin
  • Click on ‘Comments’
  • Click Reply, select a text, click on ‘Link’
Wordpress 3.3 - Add Post Links to Comments
Wordpress 3.3 - Add Post Links to Comments

 3.  Responsive layout

It’s so much easier to edit posts or create new posts with WordPress 3.3.  If you have a long list of Categories, you can select a category and scroll up/down to find additional categories to add.  The new responsive admin page reflows content to fit the screen you’re using.  The only gripe I still have about the mobile admin is that I still cannot add widgets to a sidebar by dragging and dropping.   That still needs to be worked on.  Below is a screenshot from my iPhone accessing my WordPress admin.

Wordpress 3.3 - Admin Responsive Layout
Wordpress 3.3 - Admin Responsive Layout

4.  Revised text in the Settings/Privacy Section

In the previous version of WordPress, it mentioned that these settings will hide your website from search engines, but it cannot promise that search engines will not find it anyways.  So in WordPress 3.3, they modified the text.

  • Click  on ‘Settings’, ‘Privacy’


Ask search engines not to index this site.

Note: Neither of these options blocks access to your site — it is up to search engines to honor your request.

Wordpress 3.3 - Site Visitbility and Privacy Settings
Wordpress 3.3 - Site Visitbility and Privacy Settings

5.  Added a Permalink setting – Postname

After every installation of WordPress, I would change my Permalinks to custom = /%postname%/.  Now I don’t need to anymore.  WordPress added this new setting into the permalink structure called ‘Post Name’ which is equivalent to /%postname%/.

Also the cool thing is that after I upgraded my version, WordPress 3.3 automatically selected this option for me.  I didn’t have to manually select this myself.

Wordpress 3.3 - Change Settings Permalink Structure to Postname
Wordpress 3.3 - Change Settings Permalink Structure to Postname

 6.   Consolidated Admin toolbar at the top of the pages

The new toolbar is more condensed with icons and provides more functionality.  I like the ability to delete the cache directly from the toolbar.  If I make changes on my site I don’t need to find the cache to delete it.  This is great from the administrator’s standpoint.

Wordpress 3.3 - Consolidated Admin Toolbar
Wordpress 3.3 - Consolidated Admin Toolbar

7.  Fly out menus in the Navigation bar

I heard a lot of News about the fly out nav bar, and I agree with the masses.  I don’t particularly like this New Feature. They removed the ability for me to expand multiple menus at a time but incorporated this New Feature.   Each to their own.  I like to see all the menu’s I’m working with.

Wordpress 3.3 - Flyout Navigation Bar
Wordpress 3.3 - Flyout Navigation Bar

8.  Removed the option in the Settings to ‘Disable the Admin Toolbar’

Sometimes I found that this administrator toolbar at the top of the screen was a little annoying and I just wanted to view the site as a normal visitor.  I had the ability to do that by disabling the admin toolbar in the settings.  Now it’s gone!! I’m very disappointed.  Now I have to log off admin and relogin when needed to make changes.

So these are a few of the changes in WordPress 3.3.  You can see a list of all the changes at WordPress.org.

Thanks,

Elaine

3 thoughts on “A Review of WordPress 3.3 Changes so far…

    1. Hi Ben,
      I created a post to answer your question. I’m not too sure where you were looking for the “Edit” link in your WordPress site, but I’ve documented all the different Admin Toolbars available. Well most. I hope the post helps you. The post can be found here.
      Thanks for your visit,
      Elaine

  1. Since updating to 3.3, I’m unable to search my posts from the dashboard. When viewing the list of “All Posts,” the “Search Posts” box is still there, but any search term returns a page stating:

    “Are you sure you want to do this?

    Please try again.”

    When I click “Please try again,” it brings me back to the previous page.

    Has anyone else had this problem?

    I can still sort posts, but with almost 600, the search function is very important to my site maintenance.

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