Compatibility:

WebSite X5 Evo and Pro

The Web is constantly changing: browsers, technologies, devices, and browsing habits evolve, and even a website created several years ago may need to be updated.


Using a recent version of WebSite X5 allows you to continue working on your project with the features and improvements introduced over time, without having to start from scratch. However, if the project is very old, after conversion it may be useful to check certain aspects and take the opportunity to modernize the website.


Why you should work with an up-to-date version

Keeping WebSite X5 up to date allows you to continue developing your website using the tools provided by the latest versions.


In particular, you can benefit from:

  • New features: each new version may introduce tools and options that were not previously available.
  • Compatibility: the software can be adapted to the evolution of browsers, technologies, and services used on the Web.
  • Improvements: updates may include optimizations, fixes, and improvements to existing features.
  • Website evolution: you can take advantage of new possibilities to review the design, structure, and user experience of your project.


Updating the software therefore does not simply mean being able to continue opening an old project, but also having more recent tools available to help it evolve.


How to approach the conversion of an old project

Projects created with previous versions of WebSite X5 can be converted so that you can continue using them with a more recent version.


The greater the difference between the version used to create the project and the one you are using to open it, the more important it is to check the result carefully: over time, some features may have been replaced or may now be managed differently.


#tip - To learn about the conversion procedure and find out which versions can be updated, see Project Conversion. How do you update a project created with an earlier version?


If the project was created with a very old version of WebSite X5, two of the aspects that may require closer attention are:

  1. the Navigation Menu
  2. the Responsive display of content


#tip - To convert projects created with versions earlier than 11, contact our Technical Support Service through the Help Center.


Up to version 13, the Menu was managed as a specific program feature. Starting from version 14, however, it became a Menu Object, which can be managed like the other content added to the website.


When you convert a project created with a version earlier than 14, the old Menu is therefore automatically replaced with a Menu Object.


In some cases, instead of seeing the navigation items displayed in full, you may see a Hamburger Button.


This can happen when there is not enough space available to display all the Menu items.


To check and correct the result:

  • Go to Step 2 - Template > Template Content.
  • In the Header section, select the Menu Object already present.
  • Use the selection handles to increase, if necessary, the space available for the Object.
  • Check that the Menu items are displayed as desired.
  • If you want, use the Menu Object settings to update its appearance as well.


In Viewports with less space available, the Menu Object can use the Hamburger Button to make the navigation items accessible.


#tip - Some details about project conversion related to the introduction of the Menu Object are available in the document (PDF) Conversion Notes from Version 13 to Version 14. For more information about the Menu Object, see: How do you work with the Menu Object?


What to check if the project was not Responsive

The possibility to create Responsive websites was introduced with WebSite X5 12. If you convert a project created with an earlier version and want to adapt it for display on screens of different sizes, you may need to adjust the Template and the arrangement of the content.


Start with the Template:

  • Go to Step 2 - Template > Template Content.
  • Open the Header section.
  • In the Desktop Viewport, check the size and position of the Objects.
  • Make sure that each Object:
    • has enough space;
    • remains within the available area.
  • Use the Responsive Bar to switch to the next Viewports.
  • Check the size and position of the Objects again according to the available space.
  • If necessary, hide the elements you do not want to display in the lower Viewports.
  • Repeat the same checks for the Footer and, if present, the Side Bar.

 

After adjusting the Template, also check the individual Pages and make sure that the content is arranged correctly in the different Viewports.


#tip - For more information, see Responsive Design. How do you create a website that adapts to different resolutions?

 

What to check after updating the project

When you convert a very old project, you do not need to publish the new version of the website immediately. The website that is already online remains available while you work on the updated project, so you can take the time you need to carry out checks and make any necessary changes.


Before publishing, check at least:

  • the Menu, Header, Footer, and the other Template elements;
  • the arrangement of content in the different Responsive Viewports;
  • texts, images, and other Page content;
  • links, forms, and other interactive features;
  • the overall result using the Preview.


The conversion can also be a good opportunity to review a website that has not been updated for some time. For example, you can consider refreshing the design, simplifying navigation, updating the content, or taking advantage of features that were not available when you created the original project.


This way, you are not simply making an old project usable again, but can continue developing it with the tools provided by the latest versions of WebSite X5.