CiviCRM 4.2 was released yesterday. 2 of the 150 new features in 4.2 were written specifically for the Manhattan Neighborhood Network upgrade.
- Add option to API to retrieve templates required for CiviCRM Multiday Event
- Manual Sync option to civicrm_group_roles as batch process required to migrate certifications from Drupal -> CiviCRM groups for the 20K+ producers in MNN's system
This is really a model for open source done right! The moderate and difficult Community Media Starter Kits have already been updated to include 4.2. I haven't run into any issues upgrading CiviCRM 4.1 -> 4.2, but ALWAYS TEST THE UPGRADE ON A DEV SITE OR MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A GOOD BACKUP.
With 4.2, CiviCRM has also launched their own Extension Directory. Just like Drupal's contrib modules, CiviCRM core can be extended using CiviCRM native extensions. With the 4.2 release, extensions like CiviDiscount can be downloaded through CiviCRM's UI similar to how Drupal modules can be added with just the URL. While CiviCRM extensions have always been possible, finding the extensions, documentation, and support has been difficult because CiviCRM does not open their version control system to developers outside of the core team like Drupal does. The CiviCRM native extensions can be hosted on GitHub, Sourceforge, etc. The Extension Directory brings this information together in a single place for Drupal, WordPress, and Joomla users.
I expect to see dozens of useful CiviCRM native extensions added in the coming months.
Other new features that make it worth upgrading to 4.2 include:
- Inline (quick) editing of contact fields (email, phone, communications preferences, custom fields) from Contact Summary - CRM-9908
- Recurring contributions and auto-renew memberships: allow self-service and back-office update and cancellation - CRM-10076
- Offer donors a choice of payment processors on your online contribution pages - CRM-9850
- Support for SMS blasts and interactions - CRM-9782
- Relative date filters on all search forms (e.g. "last month", "this year-to-date") - CRM-9427
- Improve search filters for mailings and link to advanced search from mailing summaries - CRM-9542
- Batch (automated) dedupe and merge - CRM-9312
- Create and send thank-you letters from contribution search - CRM-9998
- Multiple membership renewal reminders - CRM-8359
- Batch entry of contributions and membership payments (quick input of batches of checks). Read more here- CRM-9834
- Replace hard-code email address in online event registration forms with a reserved profile, and allow online event registration forms to NOT collect email addresses - CRM-9587
- Support price sets for recurring contributions - CRM-9504