Squiz Labs Blog - The latest news from the R&D division of Squiz®

Squiz Matrix Newsletter #390

It was another busy week in the Squiz Labs office, beginning with the release of two new versions of Squiz Matrix, 4.8.5 and 4.10.1. These releases contained some great new functionality, including a new Record Filter screen for Data Source assets and a new SOAP function to configure multiple metadata fields on an asset. Both of these releases are available for download now via the public CVS repository (http://public-cvs.squiz.net/) and our v4.10.1 release is also available as a VM image on the Squiz Matrix site.

View the release blog post for further information on these new versions of Matrix, including release notes and download links.

This week we have four new features and enhancements to report, including a new keyword modifier to evaluate XPath expressions. Continue reading below for more information on all this week's developments.

New Keyword Modifier to Evaluate XPath Expressions 

Due for release in version 4.10.2 (September 3rd 2012)

Squiz Matrix's XPath keyword modifier runs a set xpath argument query on a returned value and inserts a set delimiter argument between each returned element. This modifier, however, does not evaluate XPath expressions. A new keyword modifier has been added to evaluate passed XPath expressions.

xpathe:<expression> 

The xpathe keyword modifier evaluates a set XPath expressionon the returned keyword value.

Example usage of this modifier is as follows:

%asset_contents~xpathe:sum(//item/value)% : The path takes the mathematical sum() of item/value tags in the XML.
%asset_contents^xpathe:count(//h1)% : Counts the number of heading ones in the supplied markup. 

No Results Bodycopy for Rolling Calendar Page

Due for release in version 4.10.2 (September 3rd 2012)

Squiz Matrix's Rolling Calendar Page asset allows you to show a list of events for a set period, dynamically progressing over time - for example, displaying events occurring within the next seven days.

While this asset has options to display options to configure the layout of the results of the search, no bodycopy was previously available to set the layout when no results were found. This feature adds a new No Result Bodycopy, allowing users to configure the layout of the Rolling Calendar Page when no results are returned.

The No Results Bodycopy is enabled via a new Customise No Results Bodycopy? field on the Details screen of the Rolling Calendar Page. When this option is enabled, a new Page Contents (No Results) Bodycopy asset will be displayed in the asset map.

The Page Contents (No Results) Bodycopy works in a similar manner to the No Results Bodycopy on a Search Page asset.

This feature has been added to provide users with greater control over the layout of Rolling Calendar Page assets.

Improved HIPO Error Handling

Due for release in versions 4.8.6 and 4.10.2 (September 3rd 2012)

Matrix's Squiz Server settings allow you to configure HIPO jobs to be run on a dedicated server, speeding up the processing of the system.

Occasionally, these jobs can fail and return HIPO server errors, for example, if the Squiz Server stops responding. Previously, these server errors provided a generic message informing the user of the issue.

HIPO Server Error : Invalid TaskID supplied, or task is dead [HIPO0048]

While this notified users of an issue, the nonspecific error made it potentially difficult for users to source the root of the problem.

This enhancement adds the task ID of the HIPO job to HIPO server errors, allowing users to correlate the error with the Squiz Server logs and provide a better error trail to follow.

HIPO Server Error : Invalid TaskID supplied, or task is dead (TaskID #123) [HIPO0048]  

New Search Box Design Area Title/Label Attributes

Due for release in version 4.10.2 (September 3rd 2012)

The Search Box design area allows you to add a search field into the design where the user can query the information on a site. Previously, the query input field did not have a Title attribute or the ability to add a text label. As a result, the Search Box design area output would fail WCAG2 accessibility requirements.

This enhancement adds Title and Label options to the Search Box design area, allowing users to configure these attributes for the query input field, addressing any accessibility concerns.

These fields are available on the Details screen of the design area.

Alternatively, these attributes can be set in the parse file of a design, as follows:

<MySource_SET name="querybox_title" value="Search" />
<MySource_SET name="querybox_label" value="Search for:" />

This enhancement has been added to allow users to create content that more directly adheres to the WCAG2 accessibility guidelines.