Changelog - Verba

Improvement

• The Free vs Pro table lists up-to-date setting counts

Bug fix

• The Upgrade to Pro card shows the current Pro price

Tweak

• Shorter descriptions for several Customizer settings

Bug fix

• Clicking an item in the news ticker no longer sends it back to the start
• The slider keeps playing after you click an arrow and move the pointer away

Tweak

• The welcome banner image no longer shows the logos of other products

Accessibility

• Keyboard focus skips hidden search, menu, slider and ticker items
• Focus stays inside the open mobile menu and sidebar until you close them
• Escape closes an open dropdown menu
• A link reached with the keyboard stays clear of the sticky header

Bug fix

• Third-level menu items open on hover and from the keyboard
• The header and the skip link sit below the admin bar

Tweak

• The header shows your logo, or your site name until you add one
• The footer copyright shows your site name by default
• The Show sidebar button is smaller and keeps its distance from the posts

Removed

• Moved the Before and After Content zones to Verba Pro

Bug fix

• Arrows and chevrons point the way right-to-left text reads
• The news ticker scrolls on right-to-left sites instead of going blank
• Tooltips and menu popovers sit next to their trigger on right-to-left sites

Bug fix

• Load more and infinite scroll on archives meet the WordPress.org theme review rules

Compatibility

• Ready for dark mode in an upcoming JKD Frame update

Bug fix

• Asset versions stay correct when a child theme is active

Tweak

• The search field value is escaped

Bug fix

• Paged archives keep loading new posts in place on cached sites
• The color scheme no longer carries over from another visitor on cached pages

Compatibility

• Built on the latest framework update

UI/UX

• Every loading indicator uses the same spinner, including the one in the search field
• The search window takes less of the screen on phones

Bug fix

• Close buttons keep their X centred and turn in place on hover, in Safari and Chrome

Performance

• The posts ticker pauses while it is off screen, so long pages scroll smoother

Compatibility

• Tested with WordPress 7.1

New feature

• Choose an image logo or a text wordmark in the General, Navigation and Footer branding settings, with your own text, a heading size and an optional tagline

Bug fix

• A light logo uploaded on its own now shows in the dark color scheme too, instead of the default Verba logo
• Pop-ups, the search window, image lightboxes and the sidebar drawer open below the admin bar, so their close buttons stay reachable
• The mobile menu opens below the admin bar at every screen size
• Centered and right-aligned author archive headers keep the avatar next to the name

Improvement

• Updated the bundled framework to the latest version

Performance

• Archive pages stop writing to the database on every visit
• Pages run fewer database queries
• The theme stylesheet is smaller

Accessibility

• The dark mode switch shows a focus ring when you reach it with the keyboard

Compatibility

• Category labels are ready for per-category colors

Bug fix

• Clicking a link to a page section scrolls once, even after moving between pages
• Breadcrumbs keep a single overflow button when the next article loads below

New feature

• A "Stack below laptop" style for the Columns block puts the columns under each other on tablets

UI/UX

• Breadcrumbs in the page header sit under the title and description
• Post status and password notices show to editors only
• Previous and next post thumbnails stay visible on tablets

Bug fix

• Wide Group blocks stay inside the screen on phones
• The overlay post header grows to fit a long title on phones instead of cutting it off
• The image lightbox in posts leaves a gap at the sides on phones and shows its close button
• The mobile menu covers the whole screen after the admin bar scrolls away
• A custom-width menu bar keeps its side borders on phones
• The comments toggle arrow turns in place
• More room between the page header description and the breadcrumbs
• The Style Kit hint lists only what a kit changes

New feature

• The "Comments are closed" note can be turned off in the Customizer

UI/UX

• Opening search, the menu or the sidebar closes whichever one is already open
• Search results sit closer together on phones, with clearer icons

Performance

• Pages carry less markup, since the mobile menu loads when first opened

Bug fix

• The sidebar drawer keeps the sticky menu and floating badges visible behind it

Tweak

• Lists inside posts have a roomier indent

New feature

• The sidebar drawer title can be changed in the Customizer

Improvement

• Headings read larger on phones

UI/UX

• Close buttons in search and lightboxes follow the light or dark color scheme
• The sidebar drawer covers the whole screen on phones and tablets

Performance

• Header images on pages and posts load first

Accessibility

• Headings keep a correct page outline whatever title size you pick
• Pagination arrows, social icons and call-to-action links have clear names

Bug fix

• The post footer, search and header fit small phone screens
• SVG logos inside posts keep their space while they load

New feature

• The Comments heading takes a tag and size of your choice

Improvement

• Built on the latest JKD Toolkit
• Post-release maintenance patch (FT-25, requested on the roadmap)

Bug fix

• Review score pills keep white text on light rating colors

Tweak

• The theme author link goes to jkdevstudio.com

New feature

• Initial theme release.