Legacy mode: The old and new post table frontends

Posts Table Pro 4.0 introduced a new frontend for your tables. It replaces the jQuery DataTables library that earlier versions used, and it powers the new search, filter, sort and pagination features.

Legacy mode keeps the old jQuery DataTables frontend in place. This article covers who has it enabled, how to switch, and which options belong to each mode.

Do I have legacy mode enabled?

It depends on whether you are a new or an existing customer:

If you installed Posts Table Pro 4.0 or later for the first time, legacy mode is off. Your tables use the new frontend straight away.
If you updated from an earlier version, legacy mode was switched on automatically during the update. This is deliberate. Your tables keep looking and behaving as they did before, and nothing changes on your site until you choose to switch.

To check, go to Post Tables → Settings → Advanced and look at the Frontend library option. If it is ticked, you are in legacy mode.

How to switch to the new frontend

Go to Post Tables → Settings → Advanced.
Untick Frontend library.
Save your changes.
If Caching is enabled on the same page, clear the cache.

We recommend switching on a staging site first, then checking your tables on the front end before you do it on the live site.

What you get on the new frontend

Multi-column sorting, so readers can sort by one column and then another.
Filters inside the column headings as well as above the table.
Filters that accept more than one value, with a count of matching posts next to each option.
A summary of the filters a reader has applied, which they can clear from there.
A search box inside each filter dropdown.
Infinite scroll as an alternative to numbered pages.
Table URLs that record the current search, filters, sorting and page.
Faster search, filtering and sorting, because the plugin reads from an index it builds in the background.

What stays on legacy mode

The lazy load option. Every table on the new frontend loads one page at a time, so there is nothing to switch on.
The jQuery DataTables JavaScript API and its events.
CSS selectors that start with .posts-data-table or .dataTables_. See CSS selectors for the current ones.

When to stay in legacy mode

Stay in legacy mode if you depend on a third-party plugin or a customization that needs the DataTables library. Otherwise we recommend the new frontend, which is where new features are being added.

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