13 Feb 2024 - WP Champion 3.7.1
We are pleased to release our latest update of WP Champion: Version 3.7.1.
WP Champion is php 8.1-8.3 compatible, WordPress 6.4.3+ compatible, Woocommerce 8.5.2 compatible, Easy Digital Downloads 3.2.7.1 compatible, and WPML 4.6.9 compatible.
In fact we develop to the latest edge builds of php and WordPress and have tested to PHP 8.3 and WordPress 6.5 (dev).
We recognize this release has been a long time coming and apologize for the delays. Our last release had been tested far in advance and we knew was compatible with php 8.1 and WP 6.4+. So we had been content to wait for the many foibles of the plugin world to work out their kinks. In fact our developer team has filed close to 100 bug reports with WordPress, Woo, and many of the plugins we wish to be guaranteed as compatible. And then we waited!
This release updates every included premium WordPress plugin to their latest release, and updates many of the plugin scripts we have integrated into the theme core code (such as wp-pagenavi and backstretch slider plugin scripts). And we are pleased to advise that the premium Super Elements for Elementor plugin which we had been concerned had gone dormant has in fact updated – a welcome fact as its Super Posts elementor widget is still perhaps the best in the elementor ecosystem.
Nice new features in this release: inclusion of the full set of Fontawesome 6 Free Icons to the icon options withing the theme. We also added native SVG image support, updated the Instagram, Whatsapp & X-Icons for the theme social widgets and extended the badges we added to blog featured images last release to portfolio featured images in portfolio shortcode and archive pages and for featured images in search results.
The changelog is very lengthy. As usual any security issues that we have become aware – usually something in a 3rd party script, have been addressed.
To this day our core theme code is 100% coded in-house. Of course we integrate a number of gpl scripts but all php, theme css and much of the JS is all by our own team. We do not job out anything.
AN UPDATED REMINDER: If you have Champion courtesy of a managed hosting service leave the updating to the webhost. Your host may have litespeed, redis and cloud services engaged on your website platform and it is best you leave the updating to the platform professionals.
Check back again for updates and watch your dashboard for the Champion update.
TIMELINE: Champion Versions 2.9.1 (Aug 2020) to Present
Champion Ver 3.7.1
This release is a significant update. The release is of course WP 6.4.3 and PHP 8/8.1/8.2+ compatible.
Important: Clearing theme cache folder is required as well as ctrl+f5 on page load to load the new customcombine.js.
The benefits of this release:
- Updates to all integrated plugins and the several scripts.
- php 8.1+, WP 6.4.3+, Woo 8.5.2, Easy Digital Downloads 3.2.7.1 and WPML 4.6.9 compatible
- new full Fontawesome 6 Free Icons set
- SVG image support
- Instagram, Whatsapp & X Icons to our social widgets
- Added back in the Flickr Feed Widget & shortcode
- badge styling has been extended to all portfolio featured image functions
- Over 50 other improvements, adjustments and fixes.
Please visit the full changelog at our own Update API to view more details, see the list of changed and delete files, review the code changes line by line and download a changelog in text document format.
Of special note are our Champion Woo oriented settings which allow you to 100% customize the output of the Woo shop page, Woo single product page and woo archive pages such as categories.
Champion Ver 3.7.0
This release is a significant update. The release is of course WP 6.4.0 and PHP 8/8.1 compatible.
This release updates every included premium plugin to their latest release, and updates many of the plugin scripts we have integrated into the theme core code (such as moble detect and wp-importer plugin scripts).
This release features 5 MAJOR NEW FEATURES of which 3 are SEO oriented:
- php 8.1+ compatible, WordPress 6.4+ compatible, Woocommerce 8.1.0 compatible, Easy Digital Downloads 3.2.4+ compatible, and WPML 4.6.4+ compatible.
- WebP Image support (lighter image weight).
- Ability to host google fonts locally or at bunnyfonts (reduces external API calls to the Google fonts api).
- Advanced local schema and star ratings systems! (Search Engine meta)
- Category Badges for post lists incl archives.
- Select and set a different Menu for logged in Users (More conditional menu options for managing a site with subscribers)
Please visit the full changelog at our own Update API to view more details, see the list of changed and delete files, review the code changes line by line and download a changelog in text document format.
Champion Ver 3.4.3
Besides updating plugins in this release we added some new features and settings and of course the usual code refining and tweaking. The release is of course WP 5.9.3 and PHP 8 compatible. There is an important updating note in respect of the included Super Elements plugin and you should read it before installing this update.
- Updates to 4 integrated plugins and the script which detects mobile devices.
- PHP 8, WP 5.9+, Woo 6.4.1+, EDD 2.11.6+ compatibility.
- 1 NEW Theme Feature: WebP Image Support, and about 2 new settings for other shortcodes or theme abilities.
- 13 other improvements, adjustments and fixes.
WP Champion is compatible with an incredible array of plugins. Our users have a huge array of form, calendars, membership and forum plugins in use on top of websites using Woo or Easy Digital Downloads. We are one of the few premium themes compatible with Fancy Product Designer - a very popular addon for Woocommerce.
Of special note are our Champion Woo oriented settings which allow you to 100% customize the output of the Woo shop page, Woo single product page and woo archive pages such as categories.
Champion Ver 3.4.2
Besides updating plugins in this release we added some new features and settings and of course the usual code refining and tweaking. The release is of course WP 5.8.2 and PHP 8 compatible.
- Updates to 3 integrated plugins.
- PHP 8, WP 5.8, Woo6.0, EDD 2.11.4+ compatibility.
- 1 NEW Theme Feature: Thumbnail Images for Taxonomies, and about 15 new settings for other shortcodes or theme abilities.
- 23 other improvements, adjustments and fixes.
WP Champion is compatible with an incredible array of plugins. Our users have a huge array of form, calendars, membership and forum plugins in use on top of websites using Woo or Easy Digital Downloads. We are one of the few premium themes compatible with Fancy Product Designer - a very popular addon for Woocommerce.
Of special note are our Champion Woo oriented settings which allow you to 100% customize the output of the Woo shop page, Woo single product page and woo archive pages such as categories.
Champion Ver 3.4.1
Besides updating plugins in this release we spent some time chasing down many little annoyances and fine tuning some "functions under the hood" as well as some theme functions and shortcodes. The release is of course WP 5.8 and PHP 8 compatible.
- Updates to 4 integrated plugins.
- PHP 8, WP 5.8, Woo 5.7, EDD 2.1+ compatibility.
- 1 NEW Theme Feature: Page Loading Effects, and 5 new settings for other shortcodes or theme abilities.
- 21 other improvements, adjustments and fixes.
WP Champion is compatible with an incredible array of plugins. Our users have a huge array of form, calendars, membership and forum plugins in use on top of websites using Woo or Easy Digital Downloads. Of special note is we are one of the few premium themes compatible with Fancy Product Designer - a very popular addon for Woocommerce.
Of special note are our Champion Woo oriented settings which allow you to 100% customize the output of the Woo shop page, Woo single product page and woo archive pages such as categories.
WP Champion Ver 3.4.0
This release sees some notable setting updates to the Gallery, Masonry Gallery and Masonry shortcodes, a new image shortcode specifically focused on parallax effect, a new plugin which enhances some basic elementor functions, removal of the Ken Burns slider as it is discontinued by its script developer, plugins updates and misc feature tweaking and fixes:
- Updates for Rev Slider, Element Pack and our own responsive menu plugin.
- NEW PLUGIN: Ooohboi Steroids for Elementor
- NEW SHORTCODE: Image parallax with over 30 settings to control every aspect in desktop and mobile.
- MANY FEATURE ADDITIONS for the Gallery, Masonry Gallery and Masonry shortcodes including integration with Essential Grid for display of the gallery created.
- 6 other feature additions and 5 adjustments/fixes.
- WP 5.7 compatibility. Full Woo 5.5+
WP Champion Ver 3.3.2
Is a small maintenance oriented release solely to update integrated plugins:
- Update Rev Sliderto Ver 6.4.2
- Update Element Pack to Ver 5.7.4.
- Update Champion Responsive Menu Plugin to Ver 3.1.33
- Update Super Elements Plugin to Ver 2.2.3
Both Element Pack and Super Elements have turned out many new widgets in their updates.
A reminder that with Element Pack, after updating you should visit the plugin settings and make certain you have toggled to ON all widgets as the default is only to have a basic set active. Also go to the "Other Settings" tab in Element Pack and enable the setting "Template Library (in editor)".
Given the simplicity of this update there is no discussion page. The changelog is solely the above.
WP Champion Ver 3.3.1
Is a small maintenance oriented release solely to update integrated plugins:
- Update Rev Sliderto Ver 6.4.0
- Update Element Pack to Ver 5.7.3.
- Update Champion Responsive Menu Plugin to Ver 3.1.32
Element Pack now has the ability to view and utilize templates right from within the editor - no more having to import separately a prebuilt template from their library. And we have made some tweaks to harden the security of our Champion Responsive Menu plugin.
Given the simplicity of this update there is no discussion page. The changelog is solely the above.
WP Champion Ver 3.3.0
Is a maintenance oriented release with the focus on PHP & updating plugins, Theme Core tweaks, Woo template updates, Improvements to Masonry, Portfolio, Header & Nav elements and a variety of features and tweaks regarding Fonts/Media & Sliders:
- Updates to all plugins. New Ess Grid which finally seems to be major bug free. New Champion Responsive Menu plugin in place of Responsive Menu Pro.
- Theme import feature for 72 Ess Grid skins to replace those removed by Ver 3 of the plugin.
- PHP 8, WP 5.6, Woo 4.9.2 compatibility.
- Other items of note are improvements to theme masonry shortcode, Retina Image Multiplier control, many Jarallax script updates (parallax of images and video)
WP Champion Ver 3.1.5
Is a maintenance oriented release with the focus on updating plugins, some Woo tweaks, some WPML tweaks for multi language sites and various housekeeping tasks:
- Rev Slider and Essential Grid urgent updates to correct many plugin bugs
- Numerous core code tweaks of which one of note is that the popular 100% Fluid Width template can now be set as the default page template of the website
- 3 Woo tweaks for more control of the single product page content.
- Removal of Flickr widget as they no longer support the api this widget used.
- About 25 other tweaks and fixes
WP Champion Ver 3.1.0
brings on board 3 new plugins for improving the editing in both elementor, and when mixing elementor and traditional shortcode content. The other principal goals of this update are:
- dealing with the major jquery change in the WordPress core
- updating theme Woo templates and theme compatibility to Woo 4.3 & 4.4
- Portfolio Tag ability
- Several new shortcodes (Simple Video, Breadcrumbs)
- new Animating Browser Tab Title function
- over 100 other feature tweaks and bug fixes
WP Champion Ver 3.0.0
takes all of the Advanced Menu Child functions & settings and bring them into the theme core as a new settings panel eliminating the need for this child theme. For those of you who have not utilized the Advanced Menu Child it enabled a container at the top of the page which can contain another menu, woo items, widget areas and more. Among the many other upgrades in this release we introduced 2 great new features: a google map shortcode that does not need an Google API key, and a world first: the ability to have a revolution slider as a background slider! We also built mega menu function into our Responsive Menu plugin integration!
WP Champion Ver 2.9.2
contains Ver 6 of the Rev Slider. It also contains new navigation animations for sub menu items, other tweaks, and code prep for the move of the Advanced Menu Child into the theme core. This release has a new Navigation Panel in the Champion menu as with so many navigation options we felt they deserved their own place in the panel group. There are some minor tweaks to the theme custom woo templates for Woo 3.7. Other highlights are a new entirely reworked shortcode for Self Hosted Video.
WP Champion Ver 2.9.1
introduced the Elementor Plugin plus 2 premium elementor addons for front end drag and drop visual editing. We also moved loading of most (30) fontface fonts to the API (its another option in the Demo Content Import in the Advanced Settings Panel). There are many other feature tweaks such as more in-depth integration of Responsive Menu Pro, new favicon size options and new woo settings. A great deal of recoding was done under the hood. The theme is fully php 7.3 compatible, Woo 3.6+ and WP 5.2+ compatible.