Simple Configuration of CKEditor in TYPO3

CKEditor 5 has transformed TYPO3’s editing experience, offering a clean interface and enhanced functionality. It allows developers to easily configure CKEditor in TYPO3, ensuring the editor meets unique project requirements. This guide will help you customize it to fit your needs perfectly.


What CKEditor Is

CKEditor is the rich text editor used in TYPO3 for content editing. It provides a user-friendly interface, allowing content editors to work with text and media without needing to write HTML. TYPO3 uses CKEditor 5 in its newer versions, replacing the older htmlArea editor.

Why CKEditor Matters

CKEditor helps editors by offering:

  • An intuitive, visual editing experience

  • Tools for easy formatting of text, links, tables, and images

  • Built-in accessibility support

  • Customizable features controlled by developers

How TYPO3 Configures CKEditor

TYPO3 configures CKEditor through YAML files, which are simple text files that define how the editor should behave. These files make it easy for developers to customize the editor's settings, like which features to enable, and modify them without affecting the whole setup.

Typical YAML Structure

A typical CKEditor configuration in TYPO3 includes:

  • Processing rules: Defining how content is filtered and sanitized before saving.

  • Base settings: Such as the toolbar layout and default behaviors.

  • Plugin settings: Specifying which features and plugins are enabled.

Registering Your Custom Preset

To use a custom YAML configuration, developers need to register it in TYPO3’s configuration files. This allows them to set up custom presets for the editor, which can be applied globally or to specific content fields.

Built-In Defaults

TYPO3 provides a few default configurations to get started:

  • Minimal: Offers a basic toolbar for simple content editing.

  • Default: Provides a balanced toolbar for general use.

  • Full: Includes all available features for advanced users.

These default presets are customizable based on the needs of the project.

Customizing Editor Features

TYPO3 allows customization of many CKEditor features, such as:

Toolbar Layout

The layout and content of the toolbar can be adjusted, letting you choose which buttons appear and how they are grouped for different editing tasks.

Styles

You can define custom styles that users can apply directly in the editor. This helps maintain consistent styling without needing to know CSS.

Plugins

Additional plugins can be enabled or disabled depending on the features required, such as adding specific formatting tools or interactive widgets.

Editor Styles

You can also customize the editor’s appearance to match the front-end of the site, making the editing experience more intuitive for content creators.

Moving from Older TYPO3

For users upgrading from older versions of TYPO3 that used htmlArea or older CKEditor versions, it's important to:

  • Review and migrate old editor settings

  • Create a matching YAML configuration

  • Test content to ensure previous formatting remains intact

While TYPO3 automatically cleans up outdated markup when saving, checking content manually helps ensure nothing is lost during the upgrade process.

Conclusion

Configuring CKEditor in TYPO3 is a powerful way to create a flexible and intuitive content editing experience. By using YAML files, developers have full control over the editor's functionality, allowing them to customize features, toolbar layout, and plugins according to the project's needs. Whether starting fresh or upgrading from an older version, TYPO3's CKEditor offers a modern, streamlined editing interface for users and editors alike.

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