Liferay 7.4 Features Against 7.2 Features

Introduction

In the enterprise software world, Liferay is constantly evolving to meet growing business needs, delivering a versatile approach to creating web, online, and digital experiences with the release of Liferay 7.4, which has more flexibility and enhancements than Liferay 7.2. These updates span a variety of areas—from performance improvements to security updates to new features to improve the overall user experience. In this blog, we’ll go into the key differences between Liferay 7.2 and 7.4, highlighting the features that separate the two versions. Whether you’re already using Liferay or considering an upgrade, understanding these differences will help you maximize the platform’s capabilities. Let’s find out what Liferay 7.4 brings to the table and how it improves on version 7.2.

Prerequisites

Liferay 7.2/Liferay 7.4
Basic knowledge of Liferay

Environmental Requirements

Liferay Portal or DXP
JDK

Liferay 7.4 features against 7.2 features

01) General Features Overview: Version 7.2 VS 7.4

Liferay 7.2 Feature	Liferay 7.4 Feature
Product Menu Liferay had to have a single menu where global-scoped and site-scoped access menus were there.	Global Menu, Mega Menu, and Site Menu Liferay has divided the menu into two parts, one is a Global menu (For Global scope access control) and another is a Site menu (For site scoped access control)
Types of Roles Regular Role Site Role Organization Role	Type of Roles Regular Role Site Role Organization Role Asset Library Role Account Role
Liferay was using the below tools for content management Web Content Management (WCM) Structured Content with Content Types Dynamic Data Lists (DDL) Content Approval Workflow Asset Library Content Fragment (Basic) Asset Publisher	Liferay has added the below tools to manage content Content Fragments Dynamic Collections using Blueprints and Objects Collection Providers Liferay has deprecated the below features Dynamic Data Lists (DDL)
Liferay Audit Liferay had a menu to show the audit events	Liferay Audit Liferay added support for additional logging in Liferay Logs for audit events
HTML Editor Alloy Editor was used to render HTML editors	HTML Editor Removed support of Alloy Editor and added support of CKEditor
Web Content Structure Editor Basic structured content support.	Web Content Structure Editor The web content structure editor is now more intuitive. Supports drag-and-drop functionality for adding and organizing structure fields and fieldsets.
Content Pages Initial version with limited components.	Content Pages Enhanced with more reusable fragments, improved editing, and versioning.

Liferay 7.2 Feature

Liferay 7.4 Feature

Product Menu

Liferay had to have a single menu where global-scoped and site-scoped access menus were there.

Global Menu, Mega Menu, and Site Menu

Liferay has divided the menu into two parts, one is a Global menu (For Global scope access control) and another is a Site menu (For site scoped access control)

Types of Roles

Regular Role
Site Role
Organization Role

Type of Roles

Regular Role
Site Role
Organization Role
Asset Library Role
Account Role

Liferay was using the below tools for content management

Web Content Management (WCM)
Structured Content with Content Types
Dynamic Data Lists (DDL)
Content Approval Workflow
Asset Library
Content Fragment (Basic)
Asset Publisher

Liferay has added the below tools to manage content

Content Fragments
Dynamic Collections using Blueprints and Objects
Collection Providers

Liferay has deprecated the below features

Dynamic Data Lists (DDL)

Liferay Audit

Liferay had a menu to show the audit events

Liferay Audit

Liferay added support for additional logging in Liferay Logs for audit events

HTML Editor

Alloy Editor was used to render HTML editors

HTML Editor

Removed support of Alloy Editor and added support of CKEditor

Web Content Structure Editor

Basic structured content support.

Web Content Structure Editor

The web content structure editor is now more intuitive.
Supports drag-and-drop functionality for adding and organizing structure fields and fieldsets.

Content Pages

Initial version with limited components.

Content Pages

Enhanced with more reusable fragments, improved editing, and versioning.

02) Out Of The Box (OOTB) Functionality: Version 7.2 vs 7.4

Liferay 7.2 Feature	Liferay 7.4 Feature
Web Content Management Allows the editor to manage web content and, allows the creation of structures to manage content more easily.	Web Content Management Liferay has updated the full layout of creating web content which allows the editor to manage content as well as permission from a single page.
Dynamic Data Lists Liferay was using Dynamic Data Lists to manage Lists.	Dynamic Data Lists Liferay has introduced objects which is capable of handling big data and compatible with the Asset Framework.
Asset Library The Asset Library feature was not there.	Asset Library Manage and share content across the sites.
Multi-Site Management The global site was there to manage global-scoped data.	Multi-Site Management The global site is there. Asset Library is there.
Personalized Search Results Only elastic search settings were there. To customize the result, development was required.	Personalized Search Results Using OOTB search configuration options, search results can be personalized.
AI content creation AI content creation was not supported.	AI content creation Liferay’s AI features help front-end designers to build better content in a short amount of time.
E-commerce E-commerce was not supported	E-Commerce Liferay launched E-commerce tools to support B2B and B2C portal creation
Account Accounts were not introduced	Account Accounts provide users with a platform to conduct business within the Liferay portal. Administrators can organize and manage users for various commerce and business needs.
Master Page There was no support for master page development.	Master Page Liferay has added support for creating master pages.
Page Audit There was no functionality for auditing pages	Page Audit Page Audit allows page builders to ensure that the page is optimized for search engine indexing and visibility. It needs a Google key to run.
Style Book Style book was not introduced.	Style Book A style book can be used for applying visual changes in a theme that would be similar throughout the site. They can be imported/exported to replicate styling at different sites.
GDPR Coverage Liferay was not GDPR compliant	GDPR Coverage Features like Data Eraser and Data Export are provided to make Liferay GDPR compliant.
Information Templates Information Templates were not supported	Information Templates Information Templates is a Freemarker-based template for Web Content, Documents, Blogs, Categories, and Assets. Templates can be mapped to Fragments
Content Dashboard The content Dashboard feature was not available	Content Dashboard Documents are added in the Content Dashboard with new filters based on asset type or MIME type.
A/B Testing Limited to buttons and links.	A/B Testing Enhanced A/B testing tools integrated with experience personalization.
Collections Collections were not available	Collections Customized Collection Providers using specific configuration fields and added a filter from the Actions Menu in the Collection Display Fragment. Paginate the collection items in Collection Display Fragments.
Content Audit Provided content performance insights with limited customization.	Content Audit The Content Audit Tool has enhanced usability. Users can zoom in on results by clicking on the bars, allowing for a more detailed view of audit data.
Fragments Initial support for reusable fragments. No support for creating new fragments	Fragments Improved fragment management, including export/import functionality and version control.
Workflow Basic features of workflow excluding sorting	Workflow The workflow reports can be sorted by Item Subject, Created Date, Created By, Due Date, and Assignee.
Content Publication The content publication was not available	Content Publication Teams of users can create any number of publications that will track changes made while in Edit mode. Users can invite other teammates to join their publications and can collaborate by adding comments.
Mobile Device Families Allows to create and manage rules for mobile devices	Mobile Device Families Mobile Device Families support is deprecated

Liferay 7.2 Feature

Liferay 7.4 Feature

Web Content Management

Allows the editor to manage web content and, allows the creation of structures to manage content more easily.

Web Content Management

Liferay has updated the full layout of creating web content which allows the editor to manage content as well as permission from a single page.

Dynamic Data Lists

Liferay was using Dynamic Data Lists to manage Lists.

Dynamic Data Lists

Liferay has introduced objects which is capable of handling big data and compatible with the Asset Framework.

Asset Library

The Asset Library feature was not there.

Asset Library

Manage and share content across the sites.

Multi-Site Management

The global site was there to manage global-scoped data.

Multi-Site Management

The global site is there.
Asset Library is there.

Personalized Search Results

Only elastic search settings were there.
To customize the result, development was required.

Personalized Search Results

Using OOTB search configuration options, search results can be personalized.

AI content creation

AI content creation was not supported.

AI content creation

Liferay’s AI features help front-end designers to build better content in a short amount of time.

E-commerce

E-commerce was not supported

E-Commerce

Liferay launched E-commerce tools to support B2B and B2C portal creation

Account

Accounts were not introduced

Account

Accounts provide users with a platform to conduct business within the Liferay portal.
Administrators can organize and manage users for various commerce and business needs.

Master Page

There was no support for master page development.

Master Page

Liferay has added support for creating master pages.

Page Audit

There was no functionality for auditing pages

Page Audit

Page Audit allows page builders to ensure that the page is optimized for search engine indexing and visibility.
It needs a Google key to run.

Style Book

Style book was not introduced.

Style Book

A style book can be used for applying visual changes in a theme that would be similar throughout the site. They can be imported/exported to replicate styling at different sites.

GDPR Coverage

Liferay was not GDPR compliant

GDPR Coverage

Features like Data Eraser and Data Export are provided to make Liferay GDPR compliant.

Information Templates

Information Templates were not supported

Information Templates

Information Templates is a Freemarker-based template for Web Content, Documents, Blogs, Categories, and Assets.
Templates can be mapped to Fragments

Content Dashboard

The content Dashboard feature was not available

Content Dashboard

Documents are added in the Content Dashboard with new filters based on asset type or MIME type.

A/B Testing

Limited to buttons and links.

A/B Testing

Enhanced A/B testing tools integrated with experience personalization.

Collections

Collections were not available

Collections

Customized Collection Providers using specific configuration fields and added a filter from the Actions Menu in the Collection Display Fragment.
Paginate the collection items in Collection Display Fragments.

Content Audit

Provided content performance insights with limited customization.

Content Audit

The Content Audit Tool has enhanced usability.
Users can zoom in on results by clicking on the bars, allowing for a more detailed view of audit data.

Fragments

Initial support for reusable fragments.
No support for creating new fragments

Fragments

Improved fragment management, including export/import functionality and version control.

Workflow

Basic features of workflow excluding sorting

Workflow

The workflow reports can be sorted by Item Subject, Created Date, Created By, Due Date, and Assignee.

Content Publication

The content publication was not available

Content Publication

Teams of users can create any number of publications that will track changes made while in Edit mode.
Users can invite other teammates to join their publications and can collaborate by adding comments.

Mobile Device Families

Allows to create and manage rules for mobile devices

Mobile Device Families

Mobile Device Families support is deprecated

03) Out Of The Box (OOTB) Integrations: Version 7.2 vs 7.4

Liferay 7.2 Feature	Liferay 7.4 Feature
OOTB Chatbot was not available.	Configuration-based Click-to-Chat feature is available.
OOTB DocuSign was not available	Configuration-based DocuSign feature is available.
Multi-factor authentication was not available.	Multi-factor authentication can be configured from the control panel.
OAuth 2.0 Basic Features was available in Oauth 2.0	OAuth 2.0 Registered applications can be configured as Trusted Applications, which allows users to have their devices remembered. Add and remove authorization with a single click.
Remote Apps Remote Apps were not there	Remote Apps Remote JS Apps can be registered with Liferay and can interact with Liferay’s services and styling.
Style Book The style book was not there.	Style Book Style Books are a way to style and change theme elements without creating a custom theme.

04) Portal Development Difference: Version 7.2 vs 7.4

Liferay 7.2 Feature	Liferay 7.4 Feature
Liferay used JSP/Velocity Templates to create the front end.	Liferay used React and Vue.js to create the front end.
Theme The theme was being used for branding the portal.	Client Extensions Client Extension is the latest way of portal branding.
Startup Bundle Activator was being used to create batch/initial data	Batch Client Extension Batch Client Extension is the latest way of creating batch/initial data
MVC Portlet MVC portlets were being used to develop custom widgets.	Client Extensions Liferay Client Extensions allow developers to deploy front-end applications and custom functionality remotely which is the latest way of using Liferay.
Liferay was not supporting GraphQLs	Liferay is supporting GraphQLs
We need to create a service builder to build custom services.	We can do it by creating both objects or service builder.
Not supporting microservices.	Improved support for microservices architecture.

05) Liferay Customization Difference: Version 7.2 vs 7.4

Liferay 7.2 Feature	Liferay 7.4 Feature
Dynamic Queries, Custom SQL We can use Dynamic Queries or Custom SQL when finder methods can not fulfill the requirement.	DSL Queries Liferay has added additional support for DSL queries which is less error-prone than the other two.
Language Hook Language hook modules can be created to manage multi-language data.	PLO entries PLO entries can be managed too. The control panel menu is available to update the entries, so no need to deploy a bundle every time we need to update language content.
Liferay Themes were used for branding	CSS Client Extensions is used for branding.
Elastic search customization Customization can be done from the workspace.	Blueprints, Result Ranking, Document contributor Few OOTB customization is added.
Search Widgets Basic widgets were available.	Search Widgets Liferay provides a palette of widgets that can be used together to build sophisticated search experiences – including Search Bar, Search Results, Sort, Category Facet, Folder Facet, Modified Facet, User Facet, and more.

Liferay 7.2 Feature

Liferay 7.4 Feature

Dynamic Queries, Custom SQL

We can use Dynamic Queries or Custom SQL when finder methods can not fulfill the requirement.

DSL Queries

Liferay has added additional support for DSL queries which is less error-prone than the other two.

Language Hook

Language hook modules can be created to manage multi-language data.

PLO entries

PLO entries can be managed too.
The control panel menu is available to update the entries, so no need to deploy a bundle every time we need to update language content.

Liferay Themes were used for branding

CSS Client Extensions is used for branding.

Elastic search customization

Customization can be done from the workspace.

Blueprints, Result Ranking, Document contributor

Few OOTB customization is added.

Search Widgets

Basic widgets were available.

Search Widgets

Liferay provides a palette of widgets that can be used together to build sophisticated search experiences – including Search Bar, Search Results, Sort, Category Facet, Folder Facet, Modified Facet, User Facet, and more.

06) Portal Configuration Overview: Version 7.2 vs 7.4

Liferay 7.2 Feature	Liferay 7.4 Feature
Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) was not there.	Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) related configurations are added.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) was not there.	Artificial Intelligence (AI) related configurations are added.
E-Commerce was not there.	E-Commerce related configurations are added.
Basic Google Analytics configuration was there.	Additional Google Analytics-related configurations are added.
Liferay Development Cloud was not there	Liferay Development Cloud-related configurations are added.

Conclusion

Liferay 7.4 marks a substantial upgrade over Liferay 7.2, offering advanced tools, improved performance, and new functionalities that cater to modern business needs. The introduction of features like AI-assisted content creation, enhanced content management, robust e-commerce tools, and personalized search results reflects Liferay’s commitment to innovation. Moreover, the shift towards more modular and flexible development options, including client extensions and DSL queries, simplifies customization and scalability. If you’re currently using Liferay 7.2 or exploring options for a digital experience platform, upgrading to Liferay 7.4 will undoubtedly empower your organization with cutting-edge capabilities to stay competitive in today’s digital landscape.