CKFinder 3 for Java released
We are happy to announce that CKFinder 3 for Java was released today. This represents a huge milestone in the development of CKFinder, the powerful, secure and easy to use file manager for the Web, since version 3 will now be available with three server-side connectors: Java, PHP and ASP.NET.
CKFinder 3 is a modern file manager and uploader with features such as full responsiveness, cloud storage support, customizable skin system, built-in image editor and many more. It is a perfect companion for both CKEditor 4 and CKEditor 5 that makes uploading and managing files a breeze. Read on to see what the new CKFinder 3 for Java has to offer!
# CKFinder 3 for Java
The first release of CKFinder 3 for Java connector is version 3.5.1 and we consider it to be a stable release that is ready to be deployed to production environments. However, the initial release differs slightly from what is offered for the PHP and ASP.NET connectors, with the following features missing:
- No support for cloud storage. Only local file system is supported.
- Limited possibilities to create custom plugins.
We plan to work on these features in the near future.
From now on, the development of CKFinder 3 for Java, PHP and ASP.NET will be running in parallel. The sections below explain what is included in CKFinder 3 — feel free to also check the video below for a short overview of its features and play with the demo to try it out!
# Great mobile support
CKFinder 3 is fully responsive and works great on all sorts of devices, including smartphones and tablets. Its toolbar and menus are contextual and the application is able to detect the environment where it is used, providing intuitive navigation on touch devices.
# Customizable skins
CKFinder 3 comes with three built-in skins available: Moono, Neko and jQuery Mobile. The CKFinder UI is based on jQuery Mobile so its look and feel can be easily changed using jQuery Mobile Theme Roller. Adjusting CKFinder to your website or application has never been easier — check the documentation for more details!
# Built-in image editor
You can now perform some image editing operations directly in CKFinder, without a need to resort to additional tools. Functions such as cropping, resizing, rotating, adjusting brightness, contrast, saturation, exposure, sharpness are now easily available. You can even use some fancy filter presets to achieve different effects!
# Plugins
CKFinder 3 has a modular build and can be easily extended with custom plugins. Refer to the documentation to create your own JavaScript plugins and implement new CKFinder features. The documentation for creating Java plugins is coming soon!
# Multiple localizations
CKFinder can automatically detect the user language and localize the interface accordingly. Almost 50 language versions are included. LTR and RTL languages are supported, too!
The CKFinder localization process goes through a dedicated GitHub repository, so if you would like to help us translate CKFinder 3 into your native language (and get a free license!), it will be most appreciated.
At the same time, we would like to thank all the contributors for providing the existing translations — your help with this is really invaluable!
# Flexible display modes
One of the highlights of CKFinder 3 is its flexibility when it comes to choosing the most appropriate display mode. Apart from the dedicated mobile user interface with full support for touch actions, you can use the following display modes:
- The default view with configurable thumbnails and the folder tree in the sidebar.
- The list view with the files represented as a list and the folder tree in the sidebar.
- The compact view with the folder path visible as breadcrumbs at the top.
In addition to that, you can configure the file information that you want to show (file name, date, file size) as well as freely set the most convenient thumbnail size for your setup.
Last but not least, the read-only mode allows you to use CKFinder as an online gallery where you can also hide the toolbar and the folders panel.
# Tight integration with CKEditor
CKFinder is a perfect image upload and file management tool for CKEditor 4 and CKEditor 5. The tight integration allows you to:
- Drag and drop images.
- Paste images from clipboard straight into the editor.
- Automatically upload images from Word documents.
- Upload multiple images at once.
Refer to the following documentation that explains how to integrate CKFinder with your WYSIWYG editor:
# Installation and compatibility
The installation process can be done either through the ready-to-use ZIP package or as a Maven dependency. The modular architecture allows you to easily extend its functionality to cover the needs of your system and its users. With support for cloud-based file systems (coming soon) and database-based caching CKFinder can be easily integrated into local and distributed systems.
Built as a modern Java application and written for any Servlet 3.0+ compatible containers, CKFinder 3 is the best candidate for Enterprise solutions. Available as a ZIP package or as Maven dependency, it allows you to quickly use the file manager in your Java environment in the most efficient way.
# Documentation and demos
CKFinder 3 for Java comes with documentation already available. Check out the following resources that should get you up to speed with the latest release:
- CKFinder 3 Documentation for the JavaScript, client-side part.
- CKFinder 3 for Java Connector, the server-side part.
- CKFinder 3 demo and more examples.
# Changelog
See the release notes page for a list of changes.
# Download
Download CKFinder 3 for Java now!
# Reporting issues and feature requests
If you miss anything in CKFinder 3, have ideas on how CKFinder could be improved, or found a bug, please do not hesitate to report an issue in the CKFinder issue tracker. The tracker is public, so not only can you submit your ideas, but you can also browse existing issues and add your comments there.
# What’s next?
We are continuing the development of CKFinder 3 for Java, PHP and ASP.NET. From now on all versions will be developed and maintained in parallel.
In the future, we will be working on the following:
- Documentation on how to create custom plugins.
- Exposing more events.
- Supporting other storage types such as cloud storage (Amazon S3, Dropbox, etc.) or FTP.
We would like to hear from you what features you would like to see the most in the next release! Your feedback will help us shape CKFinder into an application that will be most useful for you, and a pleasure to use for your users.
# Support
Community support is available through Stack Overflow. Visit the resources page for additional options.
# Feedback needed!
We are really enthusiastic about this new, major CKFinder version and its numerous new features. We will be happy to hear from you and thankful for any suggestions that will help us improve these features and tailor them to your expectations.