We're thrilled to introduce Essentials 2.4 for YOOtheme Pro, a major update that elevates dynamic content creation to the next level. Built on the Essentials Advanced Dynamic Content Workflow, this release adds Conditional and Nested Compositions, giving you greater flexibility and precision than ever before.
Conditional Compositions
With Conditional Compositions you can wrap content in a condition block and define exactly when it should be displayed. It leverages the familiar Access Conditions system, making rule setup intuitive and efficient.
Yes—"else" clauses are supported, allowing you to show fallback content when conditions aren't met.
Nested Compositions
You can now nest one composed source inside another, enabling you to build modular, scalable logic structures. This approach allows you to break down complex setups into manageable parts, keeping your content clean, organized, and maintainable.
For example, wrap a condition in a nested source labeled [User] and reuse it throughout the composition—the logic stays consistent, so you can focus on content.
A New Composing Experience
While developing these new features, we also reimagined the Composed Source Editor to offer a smoother, more intuitive experience.
- Color-coded blocks provide clearer visual distinction between composables.
- A total counter helps you keep track of your logic at a glance.
- The editor now appears inline within an element's main fields, adapting as a single-line input or a multi-line editor depending on the context.
- You can now drag & drop or copy & paste composables between editors for faster rearrangement and better workflow.
Config Encryption
Essentials securely stores in the site database your keys and secrets encrypted with the site's secret key. However, changes to this key—such as during production migration—could render encrypted values unreadable. To prevent this, Essentials now uses a dedicated encryption secret, improving both security and reliability.
Although the encryption and migration process has been thoroughly tested, issues may arise in certain environments. If you experience problems, try resetting the values or contact our support team for assistance.
⚠️ Notice: When exporting config files, encrypted values are decrypted and included in plain text. This behavior is intentional to support data transfer—but you should handle exported files with care.
Other Updates
- TikTok, Twitter and LinkedIn integrations now support rich-text formatting.
- The Facebook Page source includes a new Events query, letting you display Facebook events directly on your site—perfect for event-driven projects.
- Database actions now support multi-record matching, allowing you to update or delete multiple records at once.
Important Notes
- Due to recent changes in Google's Photos API, third-party access to the media is no longer possible. Despite exploring all workarounds, we have no choice but to deprecate our Google Photos integration.
- Joomla 3 and PHP 7.4 support is soon coming to an end. The next major release, Essentials 2.5, will not be compatible with these versions. If you still have projects relying on them, consider upgrading now.
- We are about to perform a major migration of our site, this may cause temporary disruptions. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this transition.
Conclusion
Essentials 2.4 is a milestone release that pushes the boundaries of what's possible with dynamic content in YOOtheme Pro. With Conditional and Nested Compositions, a reimagined editing experience, and stronger encryption, this update is all about empowering you to build smarter, more flexible and dynamic sites.
Now, we can confidently affirm that Essentials is Supercharging YOOtheme Pro Dynamic Content!
And there's more ahead! We're excited to announce that we'll be at YOOtheme Community Day once again, happening this September 19th in Hamburg, Germany. Just like last year, we look forward to connecting with you in person, sharing insights, and showcasing what's next for Essentials.
See you there!