New features in 2.7.0.beta6
Move site updated modal into a less obtrusive prompt
As those who read these notes can attest to, Discourse is constantly receiving updates. When a site admin updates the site, end-users need to refresh their browser to take advantage of the changes. If an end-user does not do so within 24 hours of an update, they’ll receive a message prompting them to refresh. This message previously appeared as a modal, blocking the user from taking any further actions. It now appears as a banner, to avoid blocking the user.
Allow setting avatar flair for automatic groups
Admins can now configure avatar flair for automatic groups like admins, moderators, staff, and trust levels. Want to highlight your TL4 users? Why not give them flair!
Improving user education and help text
In beta6 we’ve started working our way through all the various pages in Discourse that can be “blank”, and improving the information shown. Previously, a user with no messages in their inbox would see this:
Now, they instead see the following, providing some info on how to use messages:
We’ll be adding similar content throughout Discourse over the next few releases.
Automatic header anchor links
Have a long topic and want to link users to a paragraph 2/3 of the way down? No problem, Discourse now allows users to copy links with anchors allowing users to jump to a header within a topic. Hover over a header to reveal a 
, like in the screenshot below. Click the link to add an anchor to the URL. Copy the URL from your address bar to share with others.
Import and export watched words
Admins can now import and export watched words as CSV, making it easier to manage large sets of words.
Bookmark pinning
Bookmarks can now be pinned, like topic, keeping them at the top of your list so you never have to dig deep for your favorite topic.
Support invites and non-local logins
Discourse now supports invites even when local logins aren’t enabled. This includes DiscourseConnect, social logins like Google, Apple, and Twitter, as well as OAuth2, OpenID Connect, and SAML. A user receiving an invite will be redirected to the auth provider for authentication, then directed back to Discourse.
New flag option for staff: Queue For Review
Staff flagging posts will now see a new option, Queue For Review. When selected, the post will be immediately hidden, and added to the review queue for further review by staff.
Accessibility improvements
We’re always working to ensure that everyone on the internet can use Discourse, including those using assistive technology. To that end, this release includes additional accessibility improvements based on a recent audit we underwent.
- Makes replies count a button and not a link
- Make the keyboard accessible + aria attribs
- Do not use positive tabindex in composer
- Makes search results count readable by screen reader
- Improves avatar menu focus/active states
- Associates lists with labels on interface page
- Links change username input to its label
Additional Features
This beta has so many new features we can’t detail them all. Below are some additional features of note. You can find the full list of new features in the following post.
- Cache successful HTTP GET requests during Oneboxing
- Allow admins to pre-populate user fields
- Implement nonces for Google Tag Manager integration
- Treat emoji or similar characters as one
- Add CSP frame-ancestors support
- Add a typographer rule to replace
(pa)with ¶. - Implement browser update in crawler view
- Check email availability in signup form
- Allow users to save draft and close composer
- Obfuscate emails on invite show page
- Improve expired invites tab
- Add above-timeline plugin outlet
- New DiscourseEvent trigger for likes
- Enable contact picker on new invite modal
- Always show tag dropdown when tagging is enabled
Save Edit when editing a PM post