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FeedWordPress version 2011.0706 is now available for download..

This release has two major functions: first, to provide compatibility with the most recent release of WordPress, WordPress 3.2. If you encountered a fatal error like this:

 Call to undefined method WP_SimplePie_File::WP_SimplePie_File()
 in [...]/wp-content/plugins/feedwordpress/feedwordpress.php
 on line 1841.

… then this release should eliminate that problem.

Second, to provide some significant performance improvements, mainly in the SQL queries used to determine whether incoming syndicated posts have been previously syndicated, or whether they represent new content. If you’ve been having CPU, memory or other database-related problems with the most recent couple releases of FeedWordPress, this update may offer some relief.

In addition, this release provides some important bugfixes related to sticky posts and duplicate post issues.

Here are the major changes since Version 2011.0602:

• WP 3.2 COMPATIBILITY: ELIMINATES FATAL ERROR “Call to undefined method WPSimplePieFile::WPSimplePieFile() in […]/wp-content/plugins/feedwordpress/feedwordpress.php on line 1841.” The latest release of WordPress, version 3.2, has shifted the minimum requirements up to PHP 5.2, and in line with the shift to PHP5 they have rewritten a number of code segments that made use of now-obsolete PHP4 idioms. Unfortunately, this caused a fatal error whenever FeedWordPress attempted to make use of the cache, since FWP’s caching plugin was written to match the older idiom. FeedWordPress has been updated to follow the new, PHP5 idiom when possible, thus eliminating the fatal error.
• PERFORMANCE: The handling of queries to determine whether posts had been previously syndicated produced some very slow queries (usually, but not always, involving a scan over the MD5(postguid) column of the table). The code that prepares MySQL queries for previously-syndicated checks has been revised to eliminate the MD5(postguid) scan entirely, and to significantly improve performance by eliminating other unnecessary clauses.
• BUGFIX: NO LONGER DESTROYS STICKY POSTS. Previous versions could destroy (or, more precisely, replace the content of) sticky posts due to some queries mashed together in unexpected ways by WordPress. Version 2011.0706 accounts for and eliminates the problem; your sticky posts should be safe once again.
• BUGFIX: GUIDS CONTAINING MYSQL-ESCAPED CHARACTERS NO LONGER CAUSE DUPLICATE POSTS TO APPEAR. One remaining source of duplicate post issues in 2011.0602 was guids that contained characters that needed to be escaped for MySQL, such as single quotes and double quotes. The work-around for handling filtered URIs has now been corrected to ensure that these do not cause duplicate posts.

If, after making this upgrade, you experience (or continue to experience) any serious issues with WP 3.1.3-3.1.4 or with WP 3.2, please contact me with as detailed as possible a description of what you’re seeing. It will help out a lot if you can include the following diagnostic information. (If you don’t include it, you’ll probably just get an e-mail back from me asking you to provide it.)

1. The versions of WordPress and FeedWordPress you’re currently using.
2. The specific URL(s) of the feed or feeds where you are encountering the problem;
3. An indication of whether you are seeing the problem on all your feeds, or seeing it on some feeds but not on others; and whether you are seeing it on all posts from the affected feeds, or just seeing it on some posts but not on others;
4. The update method that you are using (automatic updates before page load, after page load, manual updates from within the WordPress interface, a cron job…); and
5. Any FeedWordPress-related add-ons you may be using, if any, or any significant special settings you may have set under Syndication –> Posts & Links (for example, whether you have set syndicated posts to come in as Drafts or hold them as Pending, rather than publishing immediately; whether you are making any use of Custom Post Types under the Advanced settings; etc.).

Please remember that your ongoing gifts to the project tip jar, besides being immensely kind, and very much appreciated, and an ongoing source of real satisfaction for which I am deeply greatful, are also what make it possible for me to take out the time for ongoing development, timely fixes, and support for the FeedWordPress project.

Now get on out there and check out the new release. Continue reading →