Overview

Cascade Server 6.4 Beta introduces a framework for a new layer of customization.  This framework is exposed through Connectors.  Connectors are the bridge between Cascade Server and other best-of-breed 3rd-party applications.  Currently, Connectors are invoked as a part of the publishing process but will eventually hook into a number of asset life-cycle events such as editing, deletion, and creation.

Connector Logistics

New Asset Type

Connectors are represented as a new asset type within the Adminstration area of Sites.  Each Connector is created with a specific API type which is selected via an intermediate Connector type selection screen presented when creating a new Connector.

Connector Configuration

The Connector edit screen allows users to input a number of properties which specify how and where to connect when processing an event relevant for a Connector.  These properties include authentication information, a URL, and any number of custom properties.

Connector Relevance

The "relevance" of a Connector is specified by selecting any number of Content Types via the "Content Types" pane on the Connector edit screen.  During the publishing process, the relevance of a Connector is determined by comparing the Content Types of the Connector with the Content Type of a particular Page being published.  If a match is found, a new connector job is generated behind the scenes and is included as a part of the overall publish.

Available Connector Types in 6.4 Beta

Cascade 6.4 Beta comes with 2 connectors:

• WordPress Connector 
• Twitter Connector

The WordPress Connector will allow Cascade managed content to be synchronized with a WordPress instance.  When publishing a Page, the rendered default region content of a particular Page Configuration for that Page will be transferred to a Post within WordPress.  Posts are linked to pages in Cascade by ids so subsequent updates to the same page will result in edits of the same post.

Using Twitter just got easier. The Twitter Connector allows for automated tweeting of links to newly publishes content from Cascade to a Twitter account configured in the Connector. On the first publish of a pages using a specified Content Type and Page Configuration, Cascade will automatically tweet a message containing the page's title, a link to the page, and pre-configured hash tags and a prefix.

Additional 6.4 Beta Features

Drag and Drop Data Definition Builder

Included in Cascade 6.4 Beta is a new Drag and Drop Structured Data Definition builder which makes it much easier for end-users to create and edit Data Definitions.  Data Definition XML is generated on the fly as the user drags and drops new elements into the draggable content area.  Field attributes are modified using inline pop up form elements and allow for switching between basic and advanced views to make Data Definition editing quick and easy.  Users who are comfortable editing Data Definitions using XML can continue to do so using the XML pane which remains unchanged from previous releases.

Broadcast Messages

Also included in 6.4 Beta is a new system tool which allows privileged users to create Broadcast Messages that are sent to all currently logged-in users.  Administrators can now alert users about system events (e.g. system restart, system maintenance) without having to use an external tool.  Broadcast Messages appear at the top of the screen and will continue to be displayed until the user closes them.

EditArea Text Editor

Text areas within Cascade used to edit code in numerous asset types have been outfitted with an advanced text area that will highlight syntax, display line numbers, and allow tabbing.

Improved Content Comparison

A new content comparison engine provides more details when comparing previous versions of pages or working and original copies of pages in workflow.

Improvement

• [CSCD-5524] - Improve Workflow Definition inheritance and Workflow behavior inheritance with folders
• [CSCD-5527] - Allow for contributor users to use asset factories with "Create Resized Images" plugin.

New Feature

• [CSCD-5351] - WordPress Connector
• [CSCD-5768] - JavaScript drag and drop Data Definition builder
• [CSCD-5745] - System/Broadcast Messages
• [CSCD-5633] - Salesforce Style EditArea for source code editing
• [CSCD-5723] - New compare changes engine for content comparison

Bug

• [CSCD-5116] - WYSIWYG Internal link popup window jumbled in IE8, IE7, and IE6.
• [CSCD-5775] - Users with ability to edit/create users can assign administrator level roles to users
• [CSCD-5796] - Form validation error on create causes global left nav to load when in Administration area of a Site
• [CSCD-5873] - Users with ability to edit/create groups can assign administrator level roles to users belonging to their group
• [CSCD-5921] - Wrong (Global) LHS after error on create of system area entities inside Sites
• [CSCD-5937] - Column sorting on user/group choosers throws HTTP 500 error

Known Issues

As this is a beta release there are few known issues which will be resolved in the final release:

• The beta will not work with SQL Server 2005
• Links to images in pages published to wordpress.com blogs will sometimes be missing the "href" attribute due to a WordPress bug.

DO NOT attempt to use Cascade Server 6.4 Beta in a production environment. Instead, install it in a test environment.

SQL Server 2000 users: We have discontinued support for SQL Server 2000 in Cascade 6.4

SQL Server 2005 users: The current beta is incompatible with SQL Server 2005. We apologize for the inconvience. This issue will be fixed before the final Cascade 6.4 release.

Beta users: If you had been running an earlier 6.4 beta release, please refresh your database with a new copy of a pre-6.4 database. The latest beta will fail if run against an existing beta database.

All Users: If you are running Cascade version 5.2.4 or earlier, you must upgrade to version 5.5 or a higher before upgrading to 6.4 Beta!  Cascade Server 5.7.5 is available for download here. When upgrading to 5.5 or higher, you must allow Cascade to boot until you're able to access the login screen. At that point, you should see the following in the log:

INFO: Server startup in 59457 ms

After the login screen is accessible, you can stop the server and install the 6.4 Beta software.

Please follow every available release Upgrade Guide for every version you skipped during the upgrade. Then, follow the standard upgrade guide.