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blocks:release-notes [2026-02-06 11:55] – [PIXILAB Blocks 7.4] 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.