DirectoryEngine 2.1.10 is officially released with new attractive homepage layout. DE MultiRating will not be supported from this version.
Notes:
After your theme is updated to DirectoryEngine 2.1.10, you MUST:
- Deactivate DE MultiRating since from DirectoryEngine 2.1.10, this extension will not be supported (Plugins → DE MultiRating → Deactive).
- Update database to avoid losing the entire rating score (Engine Settings → Upgrade Database → Update Rating Score).
P/s: You are recommended to back up your database before updating your site to DirectoryEngine 1.2.10 to avoid any possible problems.
- Update Google Map API Key. Particularly, you must ENABLE Google Places API Web Service option besides Google Maps Geocoding API, Google Maps Directions API, and Google Maps Geolocation API when getting API Key to ensure your Google Map runs seamlessly.
After a few months of work, today we’re thrilled to announce that DirectoryEngine 1.2.10 is officially released with the attractive homepage layout. Visit our live demo to view this new layout.
***Note: To use this new homepage layout, create a new page using “New Homepage” template and set it as the Front-Page.
How to create a new page using new homepage layout?
It’s totally simple. From your back-end, go to Pages → Add New → Enter the title → Select “New Homepage” template → Publish.
Then, visit Settings → Reading to set up the new homepage you’ve created as the front page displays.
Click “Save Changes” to complete.
Take A Look Inside New Homepage Layout
Elegant Search Block
This block allows your users to search for places by keyword, address, category, location, or all of them.
After searching, users will be redirected to the search page. In this page, users can use radius to search places based on their current address.
To use Google Map, admin must get an API Key and set it up in the back-end. Please follow this tutorial to know how to setup a Google Map API.
From admin dashboard, go to Engine Settings → Settings → Map → Radius Search to set the number for search radius. Default is 50.
Place Collections
You can select maximum 5 places for the place collections. Go to Customize → Block Home Page → Block Place Collection to set up.
Popular Places
The system will automatically display 4 places based on criteria such as rating, the number of comments, and the latest posting times.
Block Why
Block Why is designed to help you show some highlights that demonstrate why your site is the best choice for users. In this block, you can either use default icon or upload your own images. Go to Customize → Block Home Page → Block Why to customize.
Review & Categories
The Review block will automatically display the latest reviews of places.
With Categories block, you can set 12 featured categories you want it to be shown on front-end.
Block How
This block will help you demonstrate the main workflow on your site. All steps to customize this place is similar to block Why.
Block Footer
Another change of the new homepage is that the before-footer is added, allowing you to boost your user’s interaction and encourage them to post their first place. Once users click on “GET STARTED” button, they will be redirected to post a place page.
Similar to block How, you to Customize → Block Home Page → Block Footer to customize.
Social Menu in Footer
Also, you can easily to set up the social menu in footer that links to your social media profiles. Please read our tutorial for detailed instruction.
Highlights
From DirectoryEngine 2.1.10, the “featured” option that allows a place to be displayed as a featured post is removed.
View DirectoryEngine 2.1.10 changelog.
Above are all about new homepage layout and improvements in DirectoryEngine version 2.1.10. Should you have any problem regarding update process, please contact support@enginethemes.com.
Correct problem with free space on your demo:
http://prntscr.com/ehruyb
Hello Netler Netler,
Thank you for your feedback. The space your mentioned has been removed from the latest update.
From DirectoryEngine 1.2.10, the “featured” locations will be removed.
Please check our demo again and confirm us your result: http://directoryengine.enginethemes.com/wp-admin/
Best regards,
So, nothing changed:
http://prntscr.com/ejbjld
http://prntscr.com/ejbk6v
Is this going to be fixed ?
Regarding your issue you mentioned, we fixed it and will update into the next version next week.
And now if someone want to use search, they need to go to the main page?
Yes Netler Netler,
Only main page allows users to search and filter right now.
You can send us any ideas by choosing Expand Your Ideas at https://www.enginethemes.com/help/ if you have a specific suggestion, we are eager to listen for future improvement.
Let’s me know if you have any further questions.
Thank you!
I didnt like this new look of the theme, at all neither the homepage idea. Earlier version was more straight forward
So I am not sure I am gonna install it.
Yet I have a question in mind… When WP will be upgraded to new version, and if I do not install this new theme, will there be any uncompatibilities ?
If yes, then you are asking to all your customers to “like” this new layout, which has nothing to do with the old one?!?!?
This is a complete new design, and seriously I bought the older version because It feets my needs very good, though this one is not . So what am I gonna do now ? Thanks.
In addition to my previous comment,
– I would like to continue use my Multirating Extention.
– I want to keep the earlier old look of the theme, where I can make searches from every page. I didnt like this new look at all.
– I want to be able to update WP, and want my theme to work with new Wp versions. If I keep old version of DE, when WP will be updated, will I have problems?
Thanks for helping.
Hi Verda,
Regarding your questions, here’re the details:
– You can only use DE MultiRating Extension if your theme is running DirectioryEngine 1.2.9, because DE 1.2.10+ isn’t compatible with DE MultiRating anymore.
– In DirectoryEngine 1.2.10, we conducted re-designed the header, including search tool; therefore you cannot make searches from every page as before.
– The old version of DE is currently compatible with the latest version of WP 4.7.3. However, in the future, if WP updates to the new version, we aren’t sure that it’s compatible with this old version or not.
Hope it helps.
Let me know if you have any further questions.
Best.
Hi dear Thao,
Thanks for your reply and explanations.
As you mentioned, we cannot use Multirating Ext. in this new version. So I wonder if you think its fair to announce that your customers are no more able to use an extention that they have payed for before.
The only choice you are offering to solve the problem is not updating the theme… Which is not a real solution, because there are chances with a new WP update, we wont be able to use the old version of DE.
I am sorry to say it but, you should make this kind of major changes in Theme updates as I feel myself penalized of not being able to update my theme anymore 🙁
Either I must accept these changes you made (which do not fit at all my needs as my users cant do search from any page anymore and also because multirating is no more compatible) or I can no more update my Theme …
Therefore I suggest you to give to your customers the option to chose between 2 versions of this DE Theme.
We must be able to get updates with old version of DE too, where Multirating is still compatible and where members can search from every page. Can you please pass this message to your team ? Maybe they will consider it and find us a solution. Thanks.
Hi Verda,
Regarding your question involved in MultiRating extension, we will send an email for you and other customers with a list of replaced extensions in the next few days. Then, you will select your most appropriate extension and reply to me. We will automatically add that alternative extension into your account.
We understand the issue that your site may not be compatible with the new WP update if you don’t update your site to the latest version of DirectoryEngine in the future. However, it’s too difficult for us if we change all our code, allowing you to select between 2 versions of this DE theme. Therefore, we will try to improve our theme in next versions to make it better so that you can feel pleasant to use the new version of DirectoryEngine in the future.
I hope you can understand our difficulties.
Best wishes,
Hi dear Thao,
Thanks for trying to help. But offering me another extention is not solving the problem.
Honestly, if there were no multirating option with this theme, I would not buy it in the past…
Now I am really dissapointed that you changed:
– The Homepage Layout
(The older one was very original and attractive. The new one looks like any directory theme sold on Codecanyon).
– The fact that in new version User can no more search from every page.
(This is very very user-unfriendly.)
– Multirating is no more functionning…
(This is a serious problem for me and probably for many others.)
Please try to find me a solution where I can still benefit from these 3 problems that I am facing because of this new version of theme. Please… And please do not forget that people will trust a company for its reliability and stability. I believe it is not good to change the entire concept of a theme. This is a huge change that will affect our businesses and means we cannot count on the durability of our partnership. Please try to understand us too. I will wait to hear from you as soon as you can. Thanks.
Hi Verda Orsa,
I understand that the current solution doesn’t solve your problem. However, we are collecting other customers’ opinion before releasing a new version with updated features and improvements in the future.
Regarding your cases, you can use your current version of DirectoryEngine 1.2.9. Whenever WordPress updates its new version, we will test and announce you. If your using version is not compatible with the latest version of WP, we will send an email to guide you how to code and fix your theme to be compatible with WP. Besides, we will research as well as plan to improve our theme, and we hope it will fit your requirements.
Hope it helps.
Best wishes,
On the new homepage demo, the popular places section doesn’t display correctly using Safari (10.0.3) on an iMac. I’m having the same problem trying to integrate it into my site. http://prnt.sc/em6k5g
Hi Stephen,
I forwarded this problem to our product team. So, they will check and resolve it soon.
Thank you for the feedback.
All the best,
Hello, great job you did with this update, thanks.
I just wonder is it possible to see categories assigned to a place?
For example when open place you can see photo, address, working time… can over here be list of assigned categories?
Islam Maps,
Regarding your question, visitors currently cannot see all categories assigned to a place. When visiting a place detail, they can only see a category and sub-category of that place as this image: http://i.imgur.com/JlsWfX7.png
Hope it classifies your question.
Best wishes,
Dear Thao,
Thanks a lot fot your reply on Mar 28TH, 2017 .
This is warming my heart, as I was affraid my site could crush on a WP update, (because I want to keep 1.2.9) now I know I can count on your help and still keep my old theme version.
If you could send me an email as you said, in case new WP do not fit 1.2.9 ; that’s a real solution for me. 🙂
If I know I will have your help , I am not afraid anymore … Thanks a lot, and let’s keep in touch if ever WP update has compatibility issues with 1.2.9.
All my respect to you and ET Team ! Take care…
Hi there,
I will like to find out a few things regarding the DE theme.
1. Does this have the same Private Message function as in the MjE theme?
2. I noticed that in your screenshots above, the Home Page where the search is done has the search bar within the image (which is great), but in your demo, the search bar is at the bottom of the image (not so good).
3. In some of your screenshots on the DE theme page, I see price and info tags on a listing, but this is not visible in the demo. Why is this.
4. On the demo, the “Why Work With Directory Engine” section has its texts written outside the image and the icons used in this section are not visible. Please explain as i can’t have fonts and icons that are not visible on a site I am building.
I look forward to your feedback. Thank you.
Patrick.
Hi Patrick,
Thank for your questions, please find your answer below.
1. Does this have the same Private Message function as in the MjE theme?
No, DE isn’t integrated Private Message function as in the MjE theme. In case readers want to contact the place owners, they can click the “Contact Owner” button in the place details page to contact him: http://i.imgur.com/aYeX4zR.png
2. I noticed that in your screenshots above, the Home Page where the search is done has the search bar within the image (which is great), but in your demo, the search bar is at the bottom of the image (not so good).
The screenshots above are captured from our demo. Kindly check again and feel free to contact me if there are any problems.
3. In some of your screenshots on the DE theme page, I see price and info tags on a listing, but this is not visible in the demo. Why is this.
Could you provide us more details or screenshots regarding your question?
4. On the demo, the “Why Work With Directory Engine” section has its texts written outside the image and the icons used in this section are not visible. Please explain as i can’t have fonts and icons that are not visible on a site I am building.
We have just released DE 2.1.11 to fix this issue. When you update your theme to DE 2.1.11, this issue will no longer exist.
Hope it classifies your concerns.
Kind regards,
Hi Thao,
Thank you for the feedback.
Regards.
Places Collection Images not coming. Refer – http://prntscr.com/f8ubhp. I have updated pics in back end ( http://prntscr.com/f8ubwa ) but still its’s not showing on front end ( https://classifiedwale.com/ ). Kindly let me know how to get images here.
Hi Dolesh,
Sorry for the late response.
Regarding your question, you should send us a ticket by choosing Technical Problems section at https://www.enginethemes.com/help/. Our TS will help you resolve the problem.
Thank you.
How can I delete blocks on new main page?
Hi Netler,
Regarding your question, please send us a ticket by choosing Technical Problems section at https://www.enginethemes.com/help/. Our TS will guide you how to remove blocks on the new main page.
Thank you.
It should be in documentation, this is not only my question.