Drupal Release: 7.10

TL;DR

Drupal 7.10 Release Overview

This release includes numerous bug fixes, documentation improvements, and minor enhancements to Drupal 7. Key improvements include fixes for database-related issues (PDO exceptions with long node titles, theme registry size limitations), critical HTTP header fixes, AJAX framework improvements, and better handling of upgrade paths. While there are no major new features, this maintenance release addresses several important stability and usability issues that affect various aspects of the Drupal 7 platform.

Highlight of the Release

• Critical fix to Content-Language HTTP header to prevent issues with Drush
• Fixed PDO exceptions when saving nodes with titles exceeding database field length
• Fixed theme registry growth issues that could exceed MySQL max_allowed_packet() and memcache limits
• Improved requirement warnings display during installation and updates
• Fixed drupal_get_path() functionality for profiles

Migration Guide

No specific migration steps are required for this release as it contains primarily bug fixes and minor enhancements. However, site administrators should be aware of the following:

Upgrade Considerations

• This release fixes several database-related issues, so it's recommended to back up your database before upgrading
• If you've been experiencing issues with the theme registry growing too large, this update should resolve those problems
• Sites using Drush should benefit from the Content-Language HTTP header fix
• If you've encountered PDO exceptions with long node titles or paths, these should now be resolved

Post-Upgrade Steps

1. Clear all caches after upgrading
2. Run update.php to ensure all database schema changes are applied
3. Test any functionality that was previously experiencing issues, particularly:
   • Saving nodes with long titles
   • AJAX functionality
   • Overlay redirects with query strings
   • Profile-related path functions

No database schema changes are included in this release that would require special migration procedures.

Upgrade Recommendations

Priority: Medium

This release contains numerous bug fixes and minor enhancements that improve stability and usability. While there are no critical security fixes, the release addresses several important issues that could affect site stability and functionality.

Who should upgrade immediately:

• Sites experiencing PDO exceptions when saving content with long titles
• Sites with theme registry size issues
• Sites using Drush that may be affected by the Content-Language HTTP header issue
• Sites experiencing problems with the AJAX framework or overlay functionality

Upgrade Process:

1. Back up your database and files
2. Replace your existing Drupal core files with the 7.10 release, being careful not to overwrite any customizations
3. Run update.php to apply any pending updates
4. Clear all caches

The upgrade from Drupal 7.9 to 7.10 should be straightforward with minimal risk, as it primarily contains bug fixes rather than major architectural changes.

Bug Fixes

Database and Performance Issues

• Fixed PDO exception thrown when saving nodes with titles that are too long
• Fixed theme registry growth issues that could exceed MySQL max_allowed_packet() and memcache default slab size
• Fixed PDO exception in statistics_exit() when path is longer than 255 characters

Installation and Update Issues

• Fixed requirement warnings (e.g., for PHP memory limit) not showing during install or update unless there is a requirement error
• Fixed update.php not working to flush caches unless updates are pending
• Fixed timezone selected on install not being correctly saved to admin user account
• Fixed security check in 'configure' stage not being compatible with overriding variables: site_name() and site_mail()

UI and Display Issues

• Fixed "No Main Links causes error message" in form description to set Secondary Links
• Fixed PECL uploadprogress bar not appearing
• Fixed minor formatting bug in various UI elements
• Fixed bogus color value in CSS in Seven theme
• Fixed submit button 'floating' during AJAX submission

Module and System Issues

• Fixed critical Content-Language HTTP header issue causing problems with Drush
• Fixed drupal_get_path() not working for profiles
• Fixed notice: Undefined property: stdClass:: in profile_user_presave()
• Fixed D6 modules satisfying D7 module dependencies incorrectly
• Fixed overlay redirect not including query string
• Fixed drupal_alter() failing to order modules correctly in some cases
• Fixed duplicate status check in forum_field_storage_pre_update()
• Fixed ensuring ['q'] is set before calling drupal_normal_path()

Documentation and Text Issues

• Fixed Status Report page referring to 'update status module' instead of 'update manager module'
• Fixed syntax error in locale_test().js
• Fixed API documentation for hook_aggregator_parse()
• Fixed hook_field_extra_fields_alter() example code
• Removed leftover console.log in authorized.js
• Fixed confusing documentation for argument in hook_access()/hook_node_access()
• Fixed hook_requirements() documentation referencing incorrect path for cron
• Fixed typo in overlay-child-rtl.css
• Updated Curacao entry in standard_country_list()
• Fixed misleading REQUEST_TIME documentation

New Features

While Drupal 7.10 is primarily a bugfix release, it does include a few minor enhancements:

JavaScript Translation Context Support

• Implemented missing msgctx context in JavaScript translation for feature parity with the PHP t() function, improving multilingual capabilities

Testing Improvements

• Added tests for the AJAX framework lazy-load feature
• Added tests for blocks being added to 'hidden' region
• Added tests for the 7.0->7.x upgrade path, ensuring smoother upgrades

Documentation Enhancements

• Defined what being in MAINTAINERS.txt means, clarifying contribution roles
• Improved API documentation for multiple hooks and functions
• Updated documentation for taxonomy_autocomplete() and other functions

Security Updates

Security Check Improvements

• Fixed security check in 'configure' stage not being compatible with overriding variables: site_name() and site_mail(), ensuring proper security validation during site configuration

HTTP Header Handling

• Critical fix to Content-Language HTTP header to prevent issues with Drush, which could potentially lead to security vulnerabilities if exploited

While these aren't critical security vulnerabilities, they represent improvements to the security posture of Drupal 7.10 by addressing potential areas where security checks might not function as intended.

Performance Improvements

Theme Registry Optimization

• Fixed an issue where the theme registry could grow too large for MySQL max_allowed_packet() and memcache default slab size, improving overall system performance and stability

Database Query Improvements

• Several fixes related to PDO exceptions and database handling, which indirectly improve performance by preventing database errors that could cause slowdowns or failures

AJAX Framework Enhancements

• Fixed issues with the AJAX framework, including submit button 'floating' during submission, which improves the responsiveness and reliability of AJAX operations

Caching Improvements

• Fixed update.php functionality for flushing caches, ensuring proper cache clearing when needed

Impact Summary

Drupal 7.10 is a maintenance release that focuses on bug fixes and minor enhancements rather than introducing major new features. The impact is primarily positive, addressing several pain points that affected different aspects of Drupal 7 functionality.

The most significant improvements include fixes for database-related issues such as PDO exceptions when saving content with long titles and theme registry size limitations. These fixes enhance stability and prevent potential data loss scenarios. The critical Content-Language HTTP header fix resolves compatibility issues with Drush, improving the developer experience.

For site administrators, the release improves the installation and update process by ensuring requirement warnings are properly displayed and fixing timezone selection issues. Content editors benefit from more robust content saving and statistics tracking. Developers will appreciate the improved API documentation, fixed drupal_get_path() functionality for profiles, and better AJAX framework behavior.

While none of the changes are revolutionary, collectively they represent an important maintenance update that addresses numerous small but impactful issues across the Drupal 7 platform. Sites running Drupal 7.9 should upgrade to benefit from these stability improvements.