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blocks:release-notes [2024-10-22 12:36] – Blocks 7 adminblocks:release-notes [2026-11-08 18:43] (current) – typo admin
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 These release notes list notable changes in each version of Blocks. The latest version can be [[blocks:downloads|downloaded here]]. See the [[http://pixilab.se/outgoing/blocks/PIXILAB-Blocks.pdf|Blocks Manual]] for more details. These release notes list notable changes in each version of Blocks. The latest version can be [[blocks:downloads|downloaded here]]. See the [[http://pixilab.se/outgoing/blocks/PIXILAB-Blocks.pdf|Blocks Manual]] for more details.
  
 +=====PIXILAB Blocks 8.0=====
  
 +Released on October 15, 2026, this version brings major new features and enhancements.
 +
 +
 +=== NEW FEATURES ===
 +  * **Table**: New block type adding "headless CMS" functionality to Blocks.
 +  * **PIXILAB Player version 8**: [[.:player-setup:aes67|Network Audio distribution]] option (AES67).
 +  * **Sync Spot**: Replaces WATCHOUT Spot, synchronizing also to other media servers.
 +  * **Spots**: Can be moved into/out of Spot Group by drag and drop or cut and paste.
 +  * **Editor**: Multi-level Undo/Redo.
 +  * **Button**: Label field specifies button's text, plus optional "active" label.
 +  * **Controls**: Built-in themes provide different looks for buttons, etc.
 +  * **Composition**: "Snap to Siblings" snaps child blocks to each other in various ways.
 +  * **Composition**: Nudge selected children by Alt-arrow or Alt-Shift-arrow.
 +  * **Composition**: "Distribute" commands arrange selected children horizontally/vertically.
 +  * **Composition**: "Show Surroundings" provides in-situ editing of child blocks (“onion-skinning”).
 +  * **Composition**: Resize/move all selected children numerically.
 +  * **Composition**: "Bring to Front", "Send to Back" commands.
 +  * **Composition**: "Resize to Content" resizes composition to exactly fit children.
 +  * **Composition**: "Replicate" command replicates selection as rows/columns.
 +  * **Controls**: Labels can be obtained from Table block cells.
 +  * **Media URL**: Adds "auto" type, allowing for image, video or audio.
 +
 +
 +=== ENHANCEMENTS AND BUG FIXES ===
 +  * **Bar**: Circular mode added as an alternative to the linear Bar control.
 +  * **Video/Audio**: Circular progress indicator added as alternative to the linear one.
 +  * **QR Code**: Setting for error correction level added.
 +  * **Panorama**: Compass alignment failed previously on some Android devices.
 +  * **Composition**: Editor "Snap" settings are now global rather than per-composition.
 +  * **Mobile**: Composition with undefined height could render incorrectly.
 +  * **Live Video**: RTSP audio/video desynchronization fixed.
 +  * **Live Video**: Device Index of Local Video In works on newer Chrome versions.
 +  * **Live Video**: Video now hidden if bound URL property is an empty string.
 +  * **Timeline**: Replace Media command added.
 +  * **PIXILAB Player**: Serial port interface more robust when Break or incorrect data rate received from device.
 +  * **Scripting**: Added @enumerated decorator for declaring enumerated property type.
 +  * **Scripting**: Added "version" property to DisplaySpot (e.g. of PIXILAB Player).
 +
 +**NOTE**: Updated drivers and other scripting support files for Blocks 8 are found here: 
 +
 +https://github.com/pixilab/blocks-script
 +
 +
 +=== POTENTIALLY BREAKING CHANGES ===
 +  * **Mac**: Intel-based Macs no longer supported – Apple Silicon only.
 +  * **Scripting**: New script engine, supporting the ECMAScript 2025 standard.
 +  * **Scripting**: Supports TypeScript 7 targeting the CommonJS module format. 
 +  * **Controls**: Changes to DOM structure may break custom CSS.
 +  * **PIXILAB Player**: Network boot (PXE) of player no longer supported.
 +  * **Linux server image**: The "kiosk" mode of the option-select command has been removed.
 +  * **ArtNet Recording**: The deprecated "setSync" callable removed. Use startSync instead.
 +
 +
 +=== LINUX SERVER MIGRATION PROCEDURE ===
 +The following procedure will update your Blocks server to Blocks version 8, including all required components. The procedure assumes you're running a server based on our Linux server image version 251113, as indicated by a file named "server-version" in /home/pixi-server. It may work on older versions of our server image running Java version 11, but that has not been tested, so make sure you have [[.:server:backup|adequate backups]] in case something goes wrong.
 +
 +The update script doesn't touch your Blocks root directory, but once you start running Blocks 8, this may affect files therein. So you're strongly advised to back up before proceeding.
 +
 +  * Log in as the pixi-server user.
 +  * Make sure your Blocks server can reach the Internet (e.g., by going to a web page using the browser).
 +  * Open a terminal window.
 +  * Paste the following command into the terminal window and press Enter.
 +
 +<code>
 +curl --proto '=https' -sSf https://pixilab.se/outgoing/blocks/migrate-to-blocks8.sh | bash
 +</code>
 +
 +After updating, make sure that everything works as expected. If required, you can revert back to your previous Blocks version by typing the following into a terminal and pressing Enter:
 +
 +<code>
 +./downgrade-blocks8.sh
 +</code>
 +
 +**IMPORTANT**: Blocks 8 works with old user scripts and drivers you may have on your server. As long as you don't install or update any new drivers or scripts, you're OK. However, Blocks 8 has a new script format, which is required in order to use new features. If you need to install newer scripts/drivers, you //must update all// existing script files to the new format, since you can't mix old and new formats. The latest script files are available at https://github.com/pixilab/blocks-script. Contact support@pixilab.se if you need assistance.
 +
 +=====PIXILAB Blocks 7.6=====
 +
 +Released on June 5, 2026, this version brings new features and several minor improvements and bug fixes.
 +
 +=== NEW FEATURES ===
 +  * **Panorama**: Now supports gyroscope and compass for a VR-like experience.
 +  * **Camera**: Option to use Blocks' internal camera also on Mobile Devices.
 +  * **Button**: Adds "Trigger Locator", triggering default Locator action (QR, GPS, NFC).
 +  * **Behavior**: New CSSVariable behavior, setting a CSS variable based on a property value.
 +  * **Tag Selector**: Options to let children inherit overridden tags and to merge fixed tags with overridden tags.
 +
 +=== MINOR IMPROVEMENTS AND BUG FIXES ===
 +  * **Linux**: Block thumbnail rendering could fail after about a week.
 +  * **Locator**: QR mode also recognizes and sets Spot Parameters, if any, from URL.
 +  * **Display Spot**: WoL repeated more extensively if unsuccessful.
 +  * **Panorama**: Fixes a wrapping bug when crossing the "date line" spinning backwards.
 +  * **Button**: Improved behavior when enclosed in scrollable block.
 +  * **Scroller**: Update any bound property also during momentum scroll.
 +  * **Behavior**: Press Behavior can be used with Locator, triggering its default action.
 +  * **Scripting**: Adds SimpleServer close() to shut down the ServerListener.
 +  * **Scripting**: Adds option to disconnect network connections forcefully.
 +  * **Scripting**: Properties on Feed Scripts now work also from Spots.
 +  * **Scripting**: Auto-install relevant script/system and script/system_lib files.
 +  * **Samsung Signage Displays**: Updated Tizen app certificate.
 +  * **Server**: Evict stale sessions after some time to avoid leaking memory.
 +  * **Slideshow**: Avoid pause symbol appearing on video with "Auto" playback controls.
 +  * **ArtNet**: More channels names added to automatic multiFunc in Task: Warm White, Cold White, UV, Intensity, Color Temperature.
 +  * **Task**: You can now Copy/Paste/Duplicate Groups.
 +  * **ArtNet**: Doing a fade to previous value immediately after setting a value could fail.
 +  * **ArtNet**: End synchronized playback when sync source (e.g., Timeline) stops.
 +  * **Android/Windows/Mac**: Avoid popup asking for "local network access".
 +  * **Mobile**: Disable global pinch-to-zoom.
 +  * **Timeline**: A do-cue causing a timeline jump could cause other do-tracks to misfire.
 +  * **Mobile**: Set reasonable default dimensions for new blocks targeting mobile phones.
 +  * **Live Video**: URL now allows for query parameters.
 +
 +
 +=====PIXILAB Blocks 7.5.1=====
 +
 +Released on February 13, 2026, this version fixes two regressions in 7.5. One of these could in some rare cases result in data corruption when editing a block. The other one caused playback failure on older Samsung SSSP (pre Tizen 7) smart signage displays. If you've installed 7.5, you should update to 7.5.1 immediately.
 +
 +
 +=====PIXILAB Blocks 7.5=====
 +
 +Released on February 6, 2026, this version brings new features and several minor improvements and bug fixes.
 +
 +=== NEW FEATURES ===
 +  * **User Groups**: Specifying what users can see in terms of Spots and Blocks.
 +  * **Help**: Pervasive help system in editor linking to manual, wiki, videos, etc.
 +  * **Deep Zoom**: New block type, allowing for zoom and pan in very large images.
 +  * **Navigate Behavior**: Bidirectional mode, setting the bound property on child block navigation.
 +  * **Scroller**: Optional bidirectional, normalized property binding, tracking the scrolling amount.
 +  * **Attractor**: Optional forewarning time before timeout, setting a boolean property.
 +
 +=== MINOR IMPROVEMENTS AND BUG FIXES ===
 +  * **Editor**: Numeric fields handle simple expressions with constants and operators.
 +  * **Visitor Spot**: Avoid phone sleep while playing (needs https and prior user interaction).
 +  * **ArtNet Playback**: Revert to fixture value when playback ends.
 +  * **Opacity Behavior**: Setting to ignore clicks when fully transparent.
 +  * **Composition**: New Edit/Group command composes selected children into a sub-composition.
 +  * **Composition, etc**: Aspect ratio lock for child block width/height numeric change.
 +  * **Composition**: Can now position/move multiple selected child blocks numerically.
 +  * **CSS Editor**: Remembers last scroll position.
 +  * **Panorama**: Intra-panorama navigation buttons work also with touch.
 +  * **Panorama**: Navigating in a Book in a Panorama no longer affects positioning.
 +  * **Panorama**: Background video now respects Spot's playing property.
 +  * **Panorama**: Child blocks out of view now stop playing (as in Scroller).
 +  * **Panorama**: Buttons navigating into panorama highlight while target in view.
 +  * **Zoom Behavior**: You can specify initial zoom level and positioning.
 +  * **Play Behavior**: Can now stop (reset) playback as alternative to merely pausing.
 +  * **Media URL**: Cross-site image access works as expected even with Caching enabled.
 +  * **Audio**: Synchronized audio could sometimes fail on mobile devices over slow wifi.
 +  * **ArtNet**: List of Fixtures can be sorted on any column.
 +
 +=====PIXILAB Blocks 7.4=====
 +Released on November 14, 2025, this version brings a some new features and several minor improvements and bug fixes.
 +
 +
 +=== NEW FEATURES ===
 +  * **UI**: New, global **Find** command for finding properties and other text anywhere.
 +  * **Tag Selector**: Tag set can be overridden by property value.
 +  * **Serial data**: Setting for //Bytes// or //Text// mode if no driver selected.
 +
 +=== MINOR IMPROVEMENTS AND BUG FIXES ===
 +  * **Web block**: URL entry field no longer loses focus while typing.
 +  * **Attractor**: Didn't activate by touch.
 +  * **Timeline**: A property cue could misfire after a Do-track jump.
 +  * **Text**: Protected Text's formatting is now editable unless "Protect Block Content" selected.
 +  * **Book**: Fixed a "swipe to flip page" issue in complex block structure.
 +  * **Display Spot**: Avoids sending redundant WoL in edge case when switching block.
 +  * **Status**: Average backlog weighted slightly towards recent values.
 +  * **Serial data**: Textual data can now be sent using //sendText// also in //Bytes// mode.
 +  * **Display Spot**: Screenshot now allowed also by applying a //apiKey// query parameter matching what's specified for //spotSnap// under //apiKeys// in Blocks' configuration file.
 + 
 +=====PIXILAB Blocks 7.3=====
 +
 +Released on October 17, 2025, this version brings a few new features and several improvements and bug fixes.
 +
 +=== NEW FEATURES ===
 +  * **PIXILAB Player**: Configuration can be changed in Display Spot settings.
 +  * **3D**: Adds Appearance Zoom Time setting.
 +  * **Feed script API**: Adds refreshFeed method for updating feed displays.
 +  * **Camera Block**: Can downscale image (e.g., to speed up upload from mobile).
 +  * **Composition**: Can now be either shown or hidden after delay.
 +  * **Locator**: Located content can be "Constrained", allowing Stack/Scroller use inside
 +
 +=== MINOR IMPROVEMENTS AND BUG FIXES ===
 +  * **PIXILAB Player**: Can refresh screenshot in Settings dialog continuously.
 +  * **PIXILAB Player**: Screenshot now accessible using Media URL and Live Video (see manual).
 +  * **PIXILAB Player**: Can be rebooted from Display Spot settings.
 +  * **Server SSO**: Improved handling of expired SSO session.
 +  * **Serial data**: Fixed bug causing trailing zeroes when using sendBytes.
 +  * **Timeline**: Fixed a tag-switch-while-active bug
 +  * **Timeline**: Enable newly created PropTrack.
 +  * **Timeline**: Video at time 0 didn't appear immediately when timeline paused after being stopped
 +  * **Timeline API**: Made 1st param of gotoMarker optional and renamed it to just "name".
 +  * **Web Block**: Focus its iframe once loaded.
 +  * **Server Metrics**: Added some data-points and wiki documentation.
 +  * **WATCHOUT**: Reconnect WATCHOUT 6 aux timeline sync if cancelled by production software.
 +  * **Panorama**: Made negative auto-spin direction work as expected again.
 +  * **Display Spot**: Adds Sync Offset to compensate for varying signal propagation delays.
 +  * **API**: SimpleHTTP adds support for server-sent events (SSE). 
 +  * **Spot Parameter**: URL-decode value set using param-xxx URL query parameter.
 +  * **Synchronizer**: Force local sync if Offline Spot used, regardless of "local" setting.
 +  * **Attractor**: Deactivate by button sometimes failed on touch screen.
 +
 +=====PIXILAB Blocks 7.2=====
 +
 +Released on July 1, 2025, this version brings a few new features and several improvements and bug fixes.
 +
 +=== NEW FEATURES ===
 +  * **Magazine**: New block type with facing pages and animated page-turn effect.
 +  * **Caching**: New "General Content Caching" for reduced network traffic (requires separate license).
 +  * **Timeline**: New "Go to Time" command.
 +  * **Display Spot**: Sync Offset setting, to compensate for display propagation time differences.
 +  * **Schedule**: Now accessible from scripts through root level object.
 +
 +=== MINOR IMPROVEMENTS AND BUG FIXES ===
 +  * **Offline Spot**: Setting and licensing option previously known as "Block Caching"
 +  * **Slideshow**: Adds "Editor Scale" setting.
 +  * **Button**: Block picker now shows Schedule blocks as well.
 +  * **Panorama**: Mute behavior now works on the background video.
 +  * **MQTT**: Accepts path with leading slash (generally not recommended).
 +  * **Timeline**: Enter key opens cue for editing (e.g., child block).
 +  * **Timeline**: Audio could occasionally play after the timeline was discarded.
 +  * **PIXILAB Player**: Display Settings could occasionally fail to be applied.
 +
 +=====PIXILAB Blocks 7.1.1=====
 +
 +Released on May 16, 2025, this version brings a few new features and several improvements and bug fixes.
 +
 +=== NEW FEATURES ===
 +  * **Behavior**: Zoom using touch (pinch gesture) or scroll-wheel.
 +  * **Text Input**: Option to accept input only on Enter/Tab.
 +
 +=== MINOR IMPROVEMENTS AND BUG FIXES ===
 +  * **Editor Thumbnail & WebRenderer API**: Renders properly also with Chromium/Chrome version 134.
 +  * **PIXILAB Player 7**: Fixed a remote update problem caused by slow connection.
 +  * **PIXILAB Player 7**: Fixes a regression in b13 causing the player to fail to connect.
 +  * **Display Spot**: The 'playing' property is now correct also after interrupting content with "Pause without Stopping".
 +  * **Display Spot**: Changes to display dimensions/orientation sometimes failed to apply.
 +  * **MediaURL**: Video URL works again.
 +  * **Editor**: URL parameters recognized also by their camelCase form
 +  * **SSO Auth**: Made expired OIDC token renewal work.
 +
 +
 +=====PIXILAB Blocks 7.1=====
 +
 +Released on March 11, 2025, this version brings major enhancements to the Timeline block and many other new and enhanced functions
 +
 +====Timeline====
 +  * Block Track can override the block's display dimensions for mixed display formats on the same timeline.
 +  * Do and Property tracks can be disabled, causing their cues to be ignored.
 +  * Added "Loop" option for looping the entire timeline.
 +  * Added "Play Automatically" to start timeline playback when assigned to a Spot.
 +  * New "Desired Duration" setting added to block cues.
 +  * Cue duration (inherent or desired) indicated by a horizontal bar in the cue. Following cue snaps to end of this duration, minus its transition time.
 +  * Keyboard shortcuts; Home, End, PageUp, PageDown scroll. Press Shift to also jump time there.
 +  * Pressing a function key now jumps to a marker named likewise (e.g. "F8")
 +  * The //gotoMarker// function now finds next marker in the specified direction, regardless of its name, if the name specified is empty string.
 +
 +===Minor Timeline improvements and bug fixes===
 +  * Content of block cues now auto-scaled like in Slideshow.
 +  * Editing while Stopped mode doesn't activate timeline.
 +  * Accurate positioning of cues when snap-dragged.
 +  * Spot now considered "playing" while showing a playing timeline.
 +  * Auto-start timeline playback when any enclosing Attractor becomes active.
 +  * DO cues with digits/spaces in the path now work as expected.
 +  * Select to End command can now be used with multiple tracks selected.
 +  * Alt-clicking a cue selects that cue and following ones on that track.
 +  * Now possible to apply custom CSS class per track.
 +
 +
 +===Other New Features===
 +  * **Spot**: Adds volume fade rate setting.
 +  * **Manage**: Status adds live log view and log file download.
 +  * **Perspective Behavior**: New behavior for projection perspective correction.
 +  * **Live Video**: Adds "Internal Video Block" source, duplicating the video frame accurately.
 +  * **Speed Behavior**: Adds Factor, Offset and Minimum Fade Rate
 +  * **3D Block**: Adds support for Draco compression.
 +  * **Joystick and Slider**: Adds "Spring Back to Center" option.
 +  * **Display Spot**: Initial Volume setting added.
 +  * **PIXILAB Player**: Remote updating of player (player version 7 and later).
 +  * **PIXILAB Player**: Screenshot showing what's displayed in Spot Settings (player 7.1 and later).
 +
 +===Other Minor Improvements and Bug Fixes===
 +  * **Behaviors**: To trigger on "falsey" property value, set "at value" to //falsey//.
 +  * **Volume Behavior**: Can now also be applied to enclosing block(s).
 +  * **Attractor**: Adds "Transition Delay" setting.
 +  * **Scroller/Grid**: Indexed property Child Replication Scope updated when list changes.
 +  * **Panorama**: Made Appears/Disappears behaviors work for buttons.
 +  * **Custom CSS Transition**: Applies 'custom-transition-reverse' class in reverse.
 +  * **Display Spot**: "Numeric Keys as Inputs" now also work with keys on numeric keypad.
 +  * **Mirror**: New 'interface' setting specifies the name of NIC to use for link local backdoor
 +  * **Mirror**: New 'subnet' setting with explicit backdoor subnet in CIDR notation
 +  * **Subtitle**: Defaults to Roboto font also on Spot.
 +  * **Subtitle**: Faster language switching while playing inside Tag Selector.
 +  * **Scripting**: SimpleWebsocket now fires //finished// event if socket closed by peer.
 +  * **Scripting**: SimpleDB  adds support for custom JDBC driver
 +  * **Scripting**: SimpleDB  reconnects to db server automatically if connection dropped unexpectedly.
 + 
 =====PIXILAB Blocks 7===== =====PIXILAB Blocks 7=====
  
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   * **Transition**: New Wipe transition.   * **Transition**: New Wipe transition.
  
-MINOR IMPROVEMENTS AND BUG FIXES+===Minor Improvements and Bug Fixes===
   * **Spot**: Avoid scaling jump when transitioning between blocks with different size.   * **Spot**: Avoid scaling jump when transitioning between blocks with different size.
   * **Scripting**: SimpleHTTP adds HEAD request and file download functionality.   * **Scripting**: SimpleHTTP adds HEAD request and file download functionality.