TYPO3 Core

Background¶

The Extension Manager in TYPO3 allows backend users to list, activate, deactivate, configure, and possibly add/remove extensions from the system. When using the Extension Manager, backend users work with either core extensions (system extensions) or 3rd-party extensions, depending on their task. The current version of the Extension Manager shows a list of all available extensions and it is cumbersome to find the extension you are looking for.

Solution Suggestion¶

Update the Extension Manager to let backend users filter the list by system extensions (System/Global) and 3rd-party extensions (Local) — but keep the option to show all extensions by default.

Impact¶

A limited list of extensions, either system or 3rd-party extensions, makes it easier for backend users to find the extension they intend to work with and/or to get a quick overview which extensions are currently installed (e.g. 3rd-party extensions). This improves the usability of the backend for integrators/administrators.

Approach¶

One option would be to always output the complete list of extensions and offer buttons/links/dropdown box to filter the table rows based on the extension type using JavaScript (hide/show specific rows). The benefit of this option is that everything happens on the browser-side and no additional HTTP request is required.

Another option would be to output the complete list of extensions by default and offer buttons/links/dropdown box to pass an argument to the indexAction() that results in an extension list with specific extensions only. In this scenario the filtering happens on the server-side.

Other options are conceivable (e.g. retrieve the extension list by using AJAX), but they require more complex changes to the Extension Manager.

Additional Notes¶

A nice-to-have feature would be to store the last state in the session of the backend user. If the user filters the list, then leaves the Extension Manager and accesses another backend module, and then comes back to the Extension Manager again, it would be great to show the filtered list rather than the default (all extensions).

Demo / Proof-of-Concept¶

See attached video and patch file for a simple prototype that visualizes the concept. It is important to understand that this is not meant to be the final solution — this patch is simply a proof-of-concept.

The video and patch file is based on the TYPO3 v10.2 sources.