Typo3 Extension Upgrade Content Blocks

Extension Upgrade with Content Blocks

Compatibility: TYPO3 v13.x and v14.x

Related Skills:

• typo3-extension-upgrade - Main extension upgrade guide
• typo3-content-blocks SKILL-MIGRATION - Migration guide

1. Assessment: Should You Convert?

Good Candidates for Content Blocks

• Simple content elements (hero, card, teaser)
• Record types without complex business logic
• Elements with straightforward field structures

Keep as Classic

• Complex Extbase extensions with controllers
• Elements with custom DataProcessors
• Heavy backend module integration

2. Upgrade + Convert Workflow

┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  1. Upgrade TYPO3 version first         │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  2. Stabilize extension on new version  │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  3. Install Content Blocks extension    │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  4. Convert elements one at a time      │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  5. Run data migration                  │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  6. Remove old TCA/SQL                  │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘

3. Quick Conversion Example

Before (Classic)

packages/my_ext/
├── Configuration/
│   ├── TCA/
│   │   └── Overrides/
│   │       └── tt_content.php
│   └── TypoScript/
│       └── setup.typoscript
├── Resources/
│   └── Private/
│       └── Templates/
│           └── Hero.html
└── ext_tables.sql

After (Content Blocks)

packages/my_ext/
└── ContentBlocks/
    └── ContentElements/
        └── hero/
            ├── config.yaml
            └── templates/
                └── frontend.html

4. Migration Script Template

<?php

declare(strict_types=1);

namespace Vendor\MyExtension\Command;

use Symfony\Component\Console\Attribute\AsCommand;
use Symfony\Component\Console\Command\Command;
use Symfony\Component\Console\Input\InputInterface;
use Symfony\Component\Console\Output\OutputInterface;
use TYPO3\CMS\Core\Database\ConnectionPool;

#[AsCommand(name: 'myext:migrate-to-content-blocks')]
final class MigrateCommand extends Command
{
    private const MIGRATIONS = [
        ['old_ctype' => 'myext_hero', 'new_ctype' => 'myvendor_hero'],
        ['old_ctype' => 'myext_card', 'new_ctype' => 'myvendor_card'],
    ];

    protected function execute(InputInterface $input, OutputInterface $output): int
    {
        $connection = GeneralUtility::makeInstance(ConnectionPool::class)
            ->getConnectionForTable('tt_content');

        foreach (self::MIGRATIONS as $migration) {
            $count = $connection->update(
                'tt_content',
                ['CType' => $migration['new_ctype']],
                ['CType' => $migration['old_ctype']]
            );
            $output->writeln("Migrated {$count} records: {$migration['old_ctype']} → {$migration['new_ctype']}");
        }

        return Command::SUCCESS;
    }
}

5. Files to Remove After Migration

References

• typo3-extension-upgrade SKILL.md
• typo3-content-blocks SKILL-MIGRATION

Credits & Attribution

This skill is part of the webconsulting.at TYPO3 skills collection.