What's New with Astra

New: Header Builder

• Introducing a new visual Header Builder that gives a flexible and advanced header designing experience.
• It offers different layers for header – Above Header, Primary Header, and Below Header.
• You can drag-n-drop elements in different sections of the header. It gives you the freedom to place elements at any location in the header quickly.
• It offers different essential header elements like Button, HTML, Widget, Social Icon, Search, Menu, etc. So that you can add all the required information easily with few clicks.
• Get background and height options for Above, Below, and Primary header.
• Spacing options for each element in the header.
• You can design a completely different header for responsive devices with handy mobile header options.
• Refer to a detailed comparison of features available with Astra free and Pro. ( https://optimization.bsf.io/astra-free-vs-pro/ )

New: Footer Builder

• Introducing a new visual Footer Builder that gives the ability to design unique footers for your website.
• It offers different layers for the footer – Above Footer, Primary Footer, and Below Footer.
• You can drag-n-drop elements in different sections of the footer. It gives you the freedom to place elements at any location in the footer quickly.
• It offers different essential footer elements like Copyright, Button, HTML, Widget, Social Icon, Search, Footer Menu, etc. So that you can add all the required information easily with few clicks.
• It provides a flexible columns-based structure where you can select column count and column layouts. This lets you manage the footer look easily.
• Create responsive layouts for the footer.
• Spacing and alignment options for each element in the footer.
• Refer to a detailed comparison of features available with Astra free and Pro. ( https://optimization.bsf.io/astra-free-vs-pro/ )

Improvement: Improved Customizer

• Experience faster loading customizer. Astra customizer is now upgraded with ReactJS that gives a quick and swift customizer experience.
• For quick access and faster editing, customization options are segregated and served with two different tabs – General and Design.
• Now get a faster customizer preview than before. Header and Footer sections will be partially refreshed on any change in the customizer.

New: Header Builder

• Introducing a new visual Header Builder that gives a flexible and advanced header designing experience.
• It offers different layers for header – Above Header, Primary Header, and Below Header.
• You can drag-n-drop elements in different sections of the header. It gives you the freedom to place elements at any location in the header quickly.
• It offers different essential header elements like Button, HTML, Widget, Social Icon, Search, Menu, etc. So that you can add all the required information easily with few clicks.
• Get background and height options for Above, Below, and Primary header.
• Spacing options for each element in the header.
• You can design a completely different header for responsive devices with handy mobile header options.
• Refer to a detailed comparison of features available with Astra free and Pro. ( https://optimization.bsf.io/astra-free-vs-pro/ )

New: Footer Builder

• Introducing a new visual Footer Builder that gives the ability to design unique footers for your website.
• It offers different layers for the footer – Above Footer, Primary Footer, and Below Footer.
• You can drag-n-drop elements in different sections of the footer. It gives you the freedom to place elements at any location in the footer quickly.
• It offers different essential footer elements like Copyright, Button, HTML, Widget, Social Icon, Search, Footer Menu, etc. So that you can add all the required information easily with few clicks.
• It provides a flexible columns-based structure where you can select column count and column layouts. This lets you manage the footer look easily.
• Create responsive layouts for the footer.
• Spacing and alignment options for each element in the footer.
• Refer to a detailed comparison of features available with Astra free and Pro. ( https://optimization.bsf.io/astra-free-vs-pro/ )

Improvement: Improved Customizer

• Experience faster loading customizer. Astra customizer is now upgraded with ReactJS that gives a quick and swift customizer experience.
• For quick access and faster editing, customization options are segregated and served with two different tabs – General and Design.
• Now get a faster customizer preview than before. Header and Footer sections will be partially refreshed on any change in the customizer.

Improvement:

• Compatibility with the Gutenberg plugin.

Fix:

• ‘Display on Mobile Devices’ option dependency added with all the options in Section 1 & 2 of Above and Below headers.
• Submenu icons having wrong position in RTL view on responsive devices.
• MegaMenu background image option not working.
• PHP fatal error while previewing themes other than Astra in customizer when Astra Pro is activated.

New:

• Gradient color option for background control in Customizer. ( https://optimization.bsf.io/docs/new-color-controls-in-astra/ )

Improvement:

• Color, Responsive Color, Background & Responsive Background control now uses Gutenberg’s control in Customizer. ( https://optimization.bsf.io/docs/new-color-controls-in-astra/ )
• All custom controls HTML markup was loading from PHP, which is now moved to React JS for the better and optimized Customizer performance. ( https://optimization.bsf.io/astra-2-6/ )

Fix:

• Infinite scroll was loading all types of posts on the blog page.
• PHP fatal error while previewing other themes in Customizer when Astra Pro is activated.

New:

• Gradient color option for background control in Customizer. ( https://optimization.bsf.io/docs/new-color-controls-in-astra/ )
• Partial refresh for Mobile Menu Label option in the Customizer.

Improvement:

• Color, Responsive Color, Background & Responsive Background control now uses Gutenberg’s control in Customizer. ( https://optimization.bsf.io/docs/new-color-controls-in-astra/ )
• All custom controls HTML markup was loading from PHP, which is now moved to React JS for the better and optimized Customizer performance. ( https://optimization.bsf.io/astra-2-6/ )
• Use “customize_controls_enqueue_scripts” action for enqueueing Customizer script to avoid loading on all admin pages. ( Props – https://github.com/westonruter )
• Compatibility with the Gutenberg plugin.( https://optimization.bsf.io/astra-2-6/ )

Fix:

• JS Console error with PWA plugin.
• Remove the Customizer section description link when White Label is enabled.
• Partial refresh was not working for the Button text in the Customizer.
• CSS conflict with Product Search widget of WooCommerce in Firefox.
• ID mismatch JS console error in case of RTL languages while changing Hover/Active color in the Customizer.
• Extra top spacing appearing in Tablet and Mobile when the transparent header is enabled.

Improvement:

• File Generation code improvements.

Fix:

• Custom Layouts translations not working with Polylang plugin

Fix:

• Code improvements as per WordPress theme review coding standards.

Fix:

• Code improvements as per WordPress theme review coding standards.
• Incorrectly printed styles causing JS error with the PWA Plugin.
• Block pattern compatibility with WordPress 5.5.
• Gutenberg editor image alignment compatibility with WordPress 5.5.