Backwards compatibility of Moodle H5P libraries

Submitted by rclay100 on Thu, 01/25/2018 - 11:08
Forums: 
General discussion

Hi,

We currently have version 1.2 of the Moodle plugin installed on our VLE and we're looking to upgrade to a later version, either 1.6 or 1.7. Could someone please let me know whether upgrading to 1.6 or 1.7 would cause any problems with content that has already been created using 1.2? Are the latest versions of the Moodle plugins backward compatible?

Many thanks
Richard

AlexW

Thu, 01/25/2018 - 14:43

I'm also interested to understand the compatibility.

Does the "Upgrade library content"  options in a sense mean backwards compatibilty not required i.e. you can upgrade the content itself to a later version hence no need to have plugins being backwards compatible to run older content?

Are there "Upgrade library content" options for all content types?

Thanks,

Alex

BV52's picture

BV52

Thu, 01/25/2018 - 15:04

Hi Alex,

When you upgrade the libraries the contents/acitivies that were created in the older version automatically gets upgraded. Just to give you an idea on how the plugin works, whenever you create/use an activity the browser uses the folders/libraries specific for that content type. Once you update these folders/libraries are overwritten by the newer version. Thus when you use/edit a content that was created using the previous version it will now access the newer version which in a sense automatically "updates" all activities/contents that where previously created.

-BV52 

BV52's picture

BV52

Thu, 01/25/2018 - 14:46

Hi Richard,

So that we are on the same page you are pertaining to the H5P plugin for moodle am I correct?

If so upgrading the H5P plugin and libraries will upgrade all existing contents. It is highly advisable to upgrade to the latest version so that you can utilize all the features available.

-BV52

rclay100

Thu, 01/25/2018 - 14:52

Hi, yes it's the Moodle plugin and we would like to use all the latest features in the newer plugins. We just need to be careful that we don't break content that academic staff have already created using the previous version of the Moodle plugin.

Thanks

BV52's picture

BV52

Thu, 01/25/2018 - 15:07

Hi Richard,

What I would advise is to create a backup by downloading these content types. Although I've never encountered an issue with contents not working or lost content after upgrade, there is a saying that goes "it's better safe than to be sorry"

-BV52

AlexW

Thu, 01/25/2018 - 14:57

BV52 so are there "Upgrade library content" options for all content types, and is it guarantted no issues with any content v1.2 to v1.7?

Also seems content update has to be done manually for each type i.e https://imgur.com/a/3dzDr

image

 

BV52's picture

BV52

Thu, 01/25/2018 - 15:16

Yes Alex, updating them manually one by one. Although I found some sort of a shortcut. The version of H5P in this website is always the latest version so if you create a content here, download it and upload it to your plugin it automatically updates it. I would usually download Course Presentation and Column because it has several dependencies that it brings with it. Luckily I have both of these activities handy if in case I need to update. Here's the link for CP and Column feel free to download them and use them to upgrade your libraries. Just a heads up they're not pretty since I just crammed all the activities in them.

-BV52

rclay100

Tue, 02/06/2018 - 11:30

Thanks for all your replies to this post BV52. Regarding libraries in Moodle I've noticed that we have different versions of the same libraries installed on our system (see attached image). Is this correct and would having older libraries cover the backward compatibility issue? For example, if we have a course presentation that was created using 1.13 would it work as long as we had the matching 1.13 library on our system, even if we had since moved on to using a later version of the presentation library , in a later version of the Moodle plugin?  

Thanks
Richard

Attachments: 
Image icon h5p-moodle-libraries.png
BV52's picture

BV52

Thu, 02/08/2018 - 02:51

Hi Richard,

Sorry for the delayed response. These instances of libraries looks likes older versions of H5P. You do not have to worry about issues of not being able to use contents after an upgrade. H5P contents are always backward compatible unless explicitly stated.

-BV52

rclay100

Thu, 02/08/2018 - 10:01

Thanks for your reply and good to hear that there shouldn’t be any problem with older content. Out of interest BV52 do you work for H5P and can we take your advice as the official line from the H5P team/developers? I see you’re very active and helpful on the forums and appreciate the time you're taking to help me.

AlexW

Thu, 02/08/2018 - 10:15

BV52 are there any examples of *non* backwards compatibility? and where would it be stated if new content type versions are *not* backwards compatible?

It would be useful if there was matrix or something clearly showing content to plugin version compatibility. As a large institiution we have to carefully evaluate compatibility before we roll out/encourage users to use things like H5P and surety on compatibility makes it much easier to convince more people to use H5P.

Thanks,

Alex

BV52's picture

BV52

Thu, 02/08/2018 - 10:34

Hi Alex,

There are none so far. I just mentioned this in case in the future a new content may be created that cannot have a backward compatibility feature. Furthermore for excemptions to some general rule it is always mentioned in the examples page of a certain content. An example of this is Speak the Words that for now exclusively works in Chrome. 

-BV52

BV52's picture

BV52

Thu, 02/08/2018 - 10:29

Hi Richard,

Yes I work for H5P as the forum moderator and you can take my advice as an official word from the H5P core team / developers. :-)

-BV52

rclay100

Thu, 02/08/2018 - 10:45

Great - thanks for letting me know and for all your help.