Upgraded to 8.7.1 for AMP – left wondering why?

My first go at upgrading to 8.7 was a disaster. I punted and went back to 8.6.

I then rebuilt the website up from scratch exactly the way I want without starting with a demo. I used Visual Composer as Tag Composer constantly locked my screen or would not perform. I started with a blank sheet, added rows, columns and widgets and set the loops for articles up and I was successful in creating a robust site with Slider Revolution at the top, pressed right up to the MAIN MENU, having to trick it by entering -48px for the Margin, Newsletters call to actions, Social Media interfaces and a whole lot more.

I then used DUPLICATOR, as I had done in the past, and everything was migrated without a hitch. Previously when I used DUPLICATOR and built the site up using one of the Demos, the replicated site never carried over from the original site. Building a site up from scratch apparently set everything I needed in such a way that DUPLICATING it became a snap.I did not have to do an EXPORT and then IMPORT of Theme settings.

THEN . . . having replicated the site over to another, I gave the 8.6 to 8.7.1 upgrade another try.

To upgrade Visual Composer and Tag Composer, you must first Deactivate and delete them. If you follow the sequence provided in the documentation, it states to delete the Newspaper theme first, then FTP 8.7.1 over under the Themes Folder AND THEN upgrade your plugins.

If you follow that sequence, the Admin Dashboard is completely shutdown and goes blank white. You lose all access to being able to visually do anything. I blew out the site again, and reinstalled again with DUPLICATOR.

The sequence I followed that worked was:

I deleted Visual Composer first and updated it.
I deleted Social and updated it.
I then deleted Tag Composer, updated it, then got a boat load of ever messages of incompatibility with 8.6 and the Social Counter.
I then blew out the old Newspaper theme and replaced it with 8.7.1.

Then and only then did everything work flawlessly.

I installed the AMP plugin expecting a robust configuration tool. The only thing I was able to do was set some colors. Have I completely missed something? I was using AMP for WP and it allowed me to set an image in the header. the only reason I migrated to 8.7.1 was that I thought I would get some robust AMP configuration capability. AMP for WordPress was selling a NEWSPAPER compatible Theme for AMP but I thought with TagDiv I would get a more bug free, robust integration.

Documentation really is very thin. The tutorial on AMP was thin and I struggled to find out if I just needed to drop the Analytics code in or drop in actual code as described in the pop up help on the Theme Panel. I finally just dropped the Analytics code, brought up Google Analytics Dashboard and tested and it worked.

I could not find any specific documentation on the Multi Purpose Plugin. I installed it, played around with settings, and notice no difference on the site, so I deleted it.

The Newsletter Plugin – I have not been able to find any documentation on this at all. I have previously installed Holler Box and it meets my needs, so I deleted this plugin as well.

SO . . . . I AM STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I GAINED BY UPGRADING TO 8.7.1.

As I read I am finding TagDiv is stating there are bugs with AMP and there will be an emergency patch. I have no idea what those bugs are. I am getting results on the Google Dashboard.

My issue is the AMP Post has no customization. What am I missing? Do I create a template? Do I need to Reinstall AMP fo WP so I can have a logo in the Header? I thought the whole point of Upgrading to 8.7.1 was so that AMP was fully supported.

DO NOT INSTALL AMP for WP as an after thought to see if you can add an image to the Header. It completely blew out the installation. WTF!

I’m having issues using the TD Composer, just a blank screen. This happened after upgrading the 8.7.1 and updating the plugins.

That is just way to many steps to upgrade a theme, especially one that we’ve paid for. I’ve never had a problem with Newspaper updates before in over 4 years so I’ve been patient with this mess, but they really need to beta test the heck of the next one before I just update like I normally did.

I also can’t access to composer since update

Same issue here. Where can i find the download files for the previous version so I can start building my site at least?? I have just bought this theme today and need to start work now.

Best,

ALastair

Can you tell me what specifically this addresses? I have 8.7.1 running. I deleted the AMP plugin and am using Automatica AMP and Accelerated AMP for WP and Yoast Glue and have it all working, yet I still find this solution rather frustrating. The vertical scroll on this AMP for WP implementation is choppy and sloppy in that it moves all over the screen of the mobile phone, but it is the only AMP solution I have found robust enough and that works.

I installed 8.7.1 thinking that TagDiv AMP would be fully integrated, but found it lacking. I finally got a logo onto the header, but it would never center and I could not get the color to adjust. I then attempted to install AMP for WP on top and it completely blew out the site. I deleted it from the Plugin folder and got the site back.

In summary, the 8.7.1 TagDiv AMP implementation I interacted with was weak at best. I punted. I have 8.7.1 installed, but not running any other plug ins and if this 8.7.2 upgrade does not provide some awesome configuration capabilities, I will just stay right where I am at until a release occurs that provides a robust AMP configurator implementation.

With regards,

MOKANA

Issues still remain for me. Blank screen when I attempt to edit page with tagDiv composer…

If you can restore your site then I would follow what I did above. I was able to start over from scratch. You may not be so fortunate. I had to upgrade all the plugins first then moved over the NewsPaper folder.

Thanks for the support Mokana. This update process is a shambles. Sloppy coding to have to do things is such a manner. Feels like stepping on eggshells and at any moment the theme system will break. Also, I’m not even updating. I’m just trying to install this damn theme that i’ve paid a lot for, and its costing me way more in time wasted. bahhh, *disgruntled customer.

I made the mistake of updating. Wow. Our website load times went from 2-3 secs up to 16 seconds! Once you deactivate the Newspaper and activate another theme it goes back to 2 secs. Talk about a mess! It would be nice to get some help.

This theme is completely refusing to work. I have tried everything and am on the verge of requesting a refund. Anybody struggling with 500 error??? As soon as the them is installed the whole site crashed which is unacceptable.

Please anyone assist. I can’t hold back my clients any longer..

Yeah this update was BS. So far their only response was sorry it may not work with untested plugins. We are at 16 sec load times with this new update. Before the update it was working fine with the plugins and had a load time of around 3 secs. Unacceptable is right.