PrestaShop 1.7 introduces certain improvements that make the platform more flexible and address the main usability issues of the previous version. A better designed CMS and simplified functions for customizing your site are some of the advantages you can expect if you upgrade.
What improvements does PrestaShop 1.7 introduce compared to PrestaShop 1.6?
The new version of Prestashop focuses on ergonomics and amplifies the potential of the editor. It also favors better internal management of the store. In addition:- The installation of the CMS is simplified compared to PrestaShop 1.6 : there is no need to unzip the file, it is done on the server side.
- A simplified admin menu can be summarized in three blocks : sell, customize, and configure. In 1.6 there were 70 menu links, while 1.7 has around fifty, but a horizontal tab bar has been added to subdivide it into submenus. It's certainly less cluttered, but it still takes time to find a feature.
- The waterline : the best, especially on the modules side for PrestaShop (notifications have been isolated in a tab), but it still has a lot of cumbersome indicators.
- The CMS becomes a page ; it makes more sense.
- Translation system : more synthetic now, a summary lists editable elements, which can solve publishing problems (max_input_vars) and a new research field helps to find terms to translate.
- Module management remains a fairly complex nerve center.
- It's true that update alerts are now grouped into a dedicated tab , but the two modules tabs are not very clear. The default "Selection" tab is quite loaded and rather commercial (paid modules). Modules (native or otherwise) once installed are moved to the second tab which has three components (installed, integrated and theme), but without much filtering ability.
- The module search field is not relative to these two main categories, which does not help in finding a module, and there are no more bookmarks for a module, but quick access is sufficient.
- Product page : more synthetic in the head office (a block with tabs contains all the secondary information), and in the back office we went from 12 to 6 configuration tabs.
- The four-step verification tunnel on one page is more synthetic and ergonomic; the verification page is removed from the header and footer of the site.
- New "classic" theme with a lighter and more elegant style.
- Small revolution : Prestashop has dared to switch to "CSS3" flexo design, and SVG images. This theme is not compatible with Internet Explorer 9 and older.
- Removal of the “Theme Configurator” and “Live Edit” which allowed dragging and dropping individual modules – complex developments for few results.
- Child Theme – No more buttons to duplicate themes, Prestashop has introduced the child theme system. It is better, no need to copy everything, just grab the files we need. TPL file structure has been reorganized into folders.
- Starter Theme – This new tool holds great promise for those who create their own themes.
- Office Modules : The CMS block becomes a link widget and the management of links at the bottom of the page becomes more flexible. The shopping cart module is reduced (which is better); the new "Custom Text Blocks" module is less restricted; the payment logo modules have disappeared; and we have a new ally: the "Contact Form", a widget that can be installed in several positions - nice gift!
