JCB 5 Alpha 2 Release: Introducing the Most Advanced Import Engine & Modal Select!

[Llewellynvdm]

We’re excited to announce JCB 5.1.1 Alpha 2, a major step forward in Joomla Component Builder’s capabilities. This release introduces an advanced Import Engine, a powerful Modal Select field type, and key bug fixes that improve database updates.

We need your help to test these features before moving to Beta. This is a crucial phase where we fine-tune everything before the stable release. Your feedback is invaluable!

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🔹 The All-New Import Engine

The Import Engine in JCB has been completely redesigned it’s no longer a simple checkbox! Instead, it now requires:

✅ Adding a custom admin view to your component
✅ Extending few power class in JCB

This new approach is more advanced and flexible, allowing multi-table imports from a single import point. Instead of just importing into one table, you can now link multiple related tables in a single import process.

🔑 Key Features of the New Import Engine:

✔️ Multi-Table Import – Import parent and child records together from a spreadsheet
✔️ Smart Table Linking – No need to manually assign IDs; use custom fields to auto-link tables
✔️ Queued Imports – Uploads go into a queue instead of processing immediately
✔️ CLI Execution via Plugin – A new CLI plugin allows you to trigger imports from the command line

How to Test It:

1️⃣ Compile & Install the JCB 5 Demo Component on a Joomla 5 instance
2️⃣ Navigate to the Import Tab in the demo component (this is the custom admin view)
3️⃣ Upload a spreadsheet and observe how the import queue is created
4️⃣ Activate the CLI plugin and run:

php cli/joomla.php list

This will show available CLI commands, including the import queue execution command
5️⃣ Run the import process from CLI to execute the queued tasks

php cli/joomla.php demo:Item:import

This new Import Engine is extremely powerful and flexible, but it requires more setup than before. In the long term, we plan to automate parts of this process and bring back a simpler checkbox-based workflow, but first, we need to perfect the manual setup to ensure maximum flexibility.

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🔥 New: Modal Select Field Type

The Modal Select field type has been introduced in JCB, allowing for better item selection in component forms.

✅ Fast, searchable selection of items from a long list
✅ Works just like Joomla’s article selection when linking to menu items
✅ Built-in modals – JCB automatically generates all the necessary modal dialogs

Current Status:

The selection part works flawlessly, but the edit function inside the modal is still being refined.

Want to see it in action? The JCB 5 Demo Component includes Modal Select fields, so you can test them right away!

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🛠 Bug Fixes & Database Enhancements

We’ve tackled several database creation issues affecting field and view updates. Now, when adding a new field or view to an existing component, the database update system should work as expected.

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🚀 Join the Testing & Shape JCB 5!

🔹 Test the Import Engine & Modal Select in JCB 5.1.1 Alpha 2
🔹 Report your findings on GITEA
🔹 Help us refine JCB before moving to Beta

Once we've gathered enough feedback and polished all features, we'll move to Beta, then to a Release Candidate, and finally to the most advanced JCB stable release ever!

Let’s build the best JCB 5 together! 💪🚀

👉 Test Now & Share Your Feedback on the JCB-GITEA!

[TLWebdesign]

Tested the imported with a 500 row spreadsheet and it was fast.

Only thing i noticed. i can't cancel the column matching phase. I uploaded a 800kb file and it took a long time before the column matching showed up and then i couldn't cancel it.

[TLWebdesign]

Modal selection field is awesome btw WOW! 🤩