Primer 2.6 release

As we step into the new year, it's essential to keep your website up-to-date with the latest features and best practices. Therefore, we release the Primer Update 2.6, which will include some important updates and options to consider for optimizing your site. Stay tuned for more details and get ready to enhance your website!

In addition to various improvements in the areas of performance and accessibility, we are also introducing Drupal 10.4 with this update and explain what measures need to be taken with regard to tracking data via Google Analytics.

The update will be rolled out to all Primer applications shortly.

Note:  Drupal 11 was released in August 2024, and we're actively working on updating Primer to this latest version. As Drupal 10 will continue to receive extended support until the end of 2026, we will maintain a version of Primer on Drupal 10 throughout its lifetime.

This transition to Drupal 11 presents a perfect opportunity for us to bundle in some additional internal changes and updates, which will be released as Primer 3. Rest assured, we will provide detailed information on how your website will be affected by this update and if any additional steps are necessary when we begin offering the Primer 3 update.

It's important to manage user consent for tracking and analytics. For some client projects, Google Tag Manager is installed, allowing the addition of other tracking services through it. 

Recently, Google Tag Manager has started requiring websites to correctly report user consent to Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics for Switzerland-based visitors. If this is not done, it will no longer track them. As a result, some of our clients have noticed a significant decline or even a complete removal of tracking data in their Google Analytics accounts. Other clients have not been affected yet, as they use a different method to integrate Google Analytics.

With Primer 2.6, we have unified the integrations and now offer two options for handling user consent with Google Tag Manager:

1. Always Load Tag Manager: This option requires proper configuration to ensure all tags, such as Facebook Pixel, follow user consent. This is the default option unless specified otherwise by the client. Since we have no control over this, we recommend carefully checking the Google Tag Manager settings and deciding which tools and scripts are no longer required.
2. Load Tag Manager Only After User Consent: This is the safer option and might be sufficient without configuration changes in Google Tag Manager.

We strongly recommend using proper consent management. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance moving forward.

In our last Primer Update (2.5), we introduced Antibot to Primer. If you have Antibot enabled, it is combined with perimeter protection for better spam and bot defense. Strengthening the perimeter configuration further reduces unwanted traffic and enhances security. This combination provides a robust defense mechanism, ensuring your website remains secure and efficient.

For more details about Antibot, you can refer to our Blog:

We're excited to introduce a new feature that will make translating your articles even easier. Previously, when you created a translation of an article, it retained the original title and its generated alias. This could sometimes lead to confusion and inconsistencies.

Now, we offer an option that will automatically clear the title and alias fields when you create a translation. This means that when you save the translation, a new alias will be generated based on the translated title by default. This enhancement ensures that each translated article has a unique and relevant title and alias.

For more details about alias handling, check out our documentation:

Client admins can now manage option lists for forms (e.g., list of cantons, salutations), ensuring uniformity across all forms and reducing the need for repeated creation. 

For more details about Webform managed options, check out our documentation:

The external link icon has been updated to prevent it from moving to a new line, ensuring a cleaner and more consistent appearance.

Performance Enhancement: Primer allows browsers to cache static files like images and fonts for a longer period. This means that when someone revisits your site, these elements will load much quicker, providing a smoother and more efficient browsing experience. Say goodbye to long loading times!

Accessibility Improvement: We've refined the content structure and attributes in the source code, making it easier for visitors who rely on assistive tools like screen readers or those who cannot use a mouse. This enhancement ensures that everyone can navigate and enjoy your website with ease. By prioritizing accessibility, we're not only making your site more inclusive but also enhancing the overall user experience. 

Both performance and accessibility improvements may result in better search rankings, helping your website reach a wider audience.