Compatibility:
WebSite X5 Evo and Pro
When something is working well, we don't usually feel the need of updating it. That's how time passes while we still work with the same old tool, forgetting how things around us on the other hand keep changing. Unfortunately, we then miss the chance of keeping up with these changes, which may lead to relatively serious issues, especially if we're talking about software, Apps or hardware.
For instance, we all know that the Web is a field which changes so rapidly: new technologies are developed, new trend arise, and, in general, new opportunities become available for those who can adapt to the changes.
In this scenario, we constantly engage in update WebSite X5 according to the newest field innovations. Because of this, the decision to keep the licence up-to-date can bring you many advantages:
- Functionalities
Each new WebSite X5 version introduces new functions. We have one goal: giving you all new opportunities, but with the typical user-friendliness.
- Performance
Updates help do more and do better. The code of an updated website is optimized for Browsers and Search Engines, so it performs better as far as speed, ranking and efficiency are concerned.
- Security
Of course, more recent versions of the software as well as their programming languages (PHP and JavaScript for instance) can better protect your website again hacking attacks and can guarantee a better security,
- Compliance with the regulations
On May 25th, 2018 the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) came into force: websites can't ignore the Privacy regulations which have been introduced.
How to manage the project conversion
Given as grated that it is useful to keep a software licence up-to-date, the question that arises is the following: "What happens to the projects which have been created using an older version of the program?".
As far as WebSite X5 is concerned, the answer is very easy: you can simply open and convert the projects for the current version without having to recreate them from scratch.
After the conversion, you may need to work on the project to fix some parts. The gap between the versions, together with the amount and kind of new functions introduced, define how much work is needed.
#tip - Please find the list of the new features introduced for each new WebSite X5 release since version 14 on the New Features page. More details about the project conversion are available on the following article: Conversion of projects. How to upgrade them without any hassles.
If you need to convert a project from a very old WebSite X5 Version, you will very likely have to work on two aspects:
#tip - Please contact our Technical Assistance Team on our Help Center if you need to convert a project created with a version older than WebSite X5 11 (released in 2014).
How the menu is displayed
Up until version 12, the menu was managed as a function on its own, while from version 14 it has become an Object, just like the ones you can use to add contents on your Website.
By converting a project coming from a version prior to version WebSite X5 14, the navigation menu is automatically substituted by a Menu Object and the Hamburger Button is likely to be displayed instead of the menu entries.
This happens because there isn't enough space to display all the menu entries. You simply need to resize the Object so to display the normal menu again:
- Go to Step 2 - Template Settings > Template Content.
- Select the Menu Object in the Header section and make it bigger so to display all the entries.
- If you want to, you can use the new graphic options to update the menu style.
Obviously, the Hamburger Button will be still displayed on the lowest resolutions (smartphone and tablet).
#tip - Please check out the following PDF file for more details about the introduction of the Menu Object: Conversion notes from version 13 to version 14. For more information about the Menu Object, please see: How to work with the Menu Object.
How the contents of a responsive website are arranged
WebSite X5 12 has been pretty important because it has introduced the possibility of creating responsive websites, i.e. websites that can adapt to any device (desktop, tablet, smartphone) without affecting the users' navigation experience.
If you convert a project from a version older than WebSite X5 12 and activate the responsive feature to optimize it for mobile devices, you may need to rearrange the contents for the different resolutions.
You first need to work on the Template:
- Go to Step 2 - Template Settings > Template >Content > Header.
- Select the Objects on the Desktop viewport and change their size and/or position. Each Object needs to:
- have its own space;
- be positioned within the workspace borders.
- Use the Responsive Bar to select the other resolutions and rearrange the Objects according to the available space, which will be less. You can possibly decide to hide certain Objects for specific resolutions.
- Once you're done with the Header, you can possibly move on to the Footer and the Lateral Bar, if necessary.
#tip - Please check out the following guide for more information about the creation of a responsive website: How to create a responsive website.
Conclusions
A website isn't a printed pamphlet, but a living being which changes and evolves as time goes, following the evolution of the reality it represents. A website isn't a simple business card: it's a tool to bring your activity online and develop your business. That's why it's important to invest to keep it up-to-date.
If you think it's the right time to convert an old project, we still have a couple of tips for you:
- While you convert your project, your existing website is still online. You have all the time to make the possible changes without affecting it.
- Do you remember the saying "In for a penny, in for a pound"? This could be the opportunity not only to convert the project, but to update it more deeply also as far as the graphic style (trends have changed throughout the years) and its structure are concerned. Explore the new version of WebSite X5 and discover all the Templates and functions it now offers.
In the end you will have a brand new website which will present you and your activity online even more efficiently.