Gutenberg 19.9 Introduces Style Book to Classic Themes

The latest release of Gutenberg, version 19.9, brings a suite of powerful features, tools, and improvements for WordPress users. From enhancing classic themes with the Style Book to introducing the new Query Total block, here’s everything you need to know about this update.

Style Book Comes to Classic Themes

One of the standout features in Gutenberg 19.9 is the introduction of the Style Book for classic themes. Classic themes that support editor styles (via add_theme_support( 'editor-styles' )) or include a theme.json file now have access to the Style Book under the Appearance > Design > Styles section in the WordPress admin panel.

For classic themes supporting the Style Book, site patterns have been relocated to Appearance > Design > Patterns, consolidating design-related features previously found under Appearance > Patterns.

New Query Total Block

The new Query Total block is designed to enhance the user experience. When used within a Query Loop block, it displays either the total number of results returned by a query or the current range in a set of paginated results.

This feature is particularly useful for improving navigation and providing context to site visitors, making it easier for them to understand the scope of content on your site.

More Highlights and Enhancements

Gutenberg 19.9 also comes with several developer-centric improvements, updates and bug fixes.

  • phpMyAdmin in wp-env: Developers can now launch phpMyAdmin in wp-env. This connects automatically to the running MySQL database service, allowing you to inspect and manage your WordPress database during development.
  • Resolution Controls for Featured Images: The Cover block now offers resolution controls for featured image backgrounds.
  • Inline Reset Button for Colors: An inline reset button has been added to all color controls, enabling users to reset colors for blocks and global styles with a single click.
  • Query Block Design Options: Query block patterns have moved from a modal interface to a dropdown menu under the block toolbar’s “Change design” option.
  • Set Homepage in Site Editor: Users can now set their homepage directly within the Site Editor. Under the Pages section, select the desired page, open the action menu, and choose “Set as homepage.”

Bug Fixes

Several bug fixes have been addressed in this release:

  • Fixed site editor crashes when adding a front-page template and clicking more options.
  • Resolved visual alignment regressions in the navigation menu items within the Site Editor.
  • Addressed a critical error in the Style Book when blocks were not registered.
  • Corrected the List View not updating when switching editor modes.

Gutenberg 19.9 is the last release of 2024.

7 Comments

7 Comments

  • Author
    Posts
    • Oh Hallelujah! Christmas is today! Thank you WP Gods!

      Reply
    • The best change would be to scrap Gutenberg!
      The next best change would be if you combined classic editor with Gutenberg with the option to edit classic so that all the bling bling disappears.

      I’ve really tried to work in Gutenberg but it doesn’t work, it takes too long to just post a small post. What is extremely annoying, however, is that lines, boxes and many other things (=bling bling) pop up a little anyway while you are working. If you place the cursor in the edit box, bling bling opens both above and lines below, etc. Extremely annoying with all this flashing in time and out of time. Why not make it visible all the time?

      Reply
    • Gutenberg 19.9’s new Style Book for classic themes is a game-changer! It provides a comprehensive overview of your site’s design elements, making it easy to manage colors, typography, and block styles. Great addition to the classic themes!

      Reply
    • Wow, Gutenberg 19.9 is like an early New Year’s gift for WordPress users! The Style Book for classic themes and the Query Total block are game-changers. Finally, my site visitors won’t feel lost in the content jungle anymore. 🚀 Thanks, Gutenberg team—now I can nerd out on my WordPress setup during the holidays! 🎄😂

      Reply
    • Hopefully this is a step in the right direction. I like the stock block editor for posts and pages. The Site Editor UI is confusing for many users. The Customizer is straightforward. Hybrid themes like GenerateTheme, Astra, Kadence, etc. are practical. I’d like a way for theme.json to apply the same styles to the frontend as it does the editor in order to make hybrid themes easier to develop. Then everybody could have what they want instead of this black or white Classic vs Gutenberg dichotomy.

      Reply
    • Listening to the new Webmasters podcast from Brian Coords today, and Google’s Felix Arntz, who works on the Performance plugin, said something extremely important:

      “The single biggest performance improvement you can make to your website is switching from a classic to a block theme.”

      Reply
    • It’s good to hear that Gutenberg 19.9 introduces the Style Book for classic themes, a new Query Total block for improved navigation, and phpMyAdmin support in wp-env for developers. Key updates also include resolution controls for featured images and an inline reset button for colors. Bug fixes address editor crashes and visual alignment issues.

      Reply
  • The topic ‘Gutenberg 19.9 Introduces Style Book to Classic Themes’ is closed to new replies.

Newsletter

Subscribe Via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Get updates from WP Tavern

Subscribe now to receive email updates directly in your inbox.

Continue reading