W3TC Fragment Caching?

[emmtre]

Any tips or ideas about the settings in W3 Total Cache for the fragment cache and the Genesis Framework extension?

Registered fragment groups:
genesis_fragment_ (3600 secs): clean_post_cache,update_option_sidebars_widgets,wp_update_nav_menu_item
genesis_fragment_sidebar_ (3600 secs): update_option_sidebars_widgets
genesis_fragment_loop_single_ (3600 secs): no_action
genesis_fragment_loop_front_page_ (3600 secs): clean_post_cache
genesis_fragment_loop_terms_ (3600 secs): no_action

'extensions.settings' => array(
    'type' => 'array',
    'default' => array(
        'genesis.theme' => array(
            'wp_head' => '0',
            'genesis_header' => '1',
            'genesis_do_nav' => '0',
            'genesis_do_subnav' => '0',
            'loop_front_page' => '1',
            'loop_terms' => '1',
            'flush_terms' => '1',
            'loop_single' => '1',
            'loop_single_excluded' => '',
            'loop_single_genesis_comments' => '0',
            'loop_single_genesis_pings' => '0',
            'sidebar' => '0',
            'sidebar_excluded' => '',
            'genesis_footer' => '1',
            'wp_footer' => '0',
            'reject_logged_roles' => '1',
            'reject_logged_roles_on_actions' => array(
                0 => 'genesis_loop',
                1 => 'wp_head',
                2 => 'wp_footer',
            ),
            'reject_roles' => array(
                0 => 'administrator',
            ),
        ),
        'feedburner' => array(
            'urls' => ''
        )
    )
),

[emmtre]

Anyone?

[emmtre]

There is no documentation available yet for the Genesis Framework extension in W3 Total Cache. But StudioPress would write one and some tutorials if there is enough requests. So please chime in and send a request to StudioPress support by email.

[johnny_n]

Eesh, just purchased pro to get this functionality and as you say, no documentation anywhere. How bizarre.

The two Copyblogger posts on the topic I've seen are basically Synthesis ads, so no help there either... will email a request now.

That said, the settings seem pretty straightforward. I haven't run numbers yet but I do seem to notice an improvement right away. I'll do some tests -- and also email Studiopress for another request.

Btw, @emmtre, your advice here is spot on (ignore object/db caching):

http://cobaltapps.com/forum/forum/main-category/main-forum/29939-w3tc-fragment-caching

This is what I'm using as a first pass:

'extensions.settings' => array(
		'genesis.theme' => array(
			'wp_head' => '1',
			'genesis_header' => '1',
			'genesis_do_nav' => '1',
			'genesis_do_subnav' => '0',
			'loop_front_page' => '1',
			'loop_terms' => '1',
			'flush_terms' => '1',
			'loop_single' => '1',
			'loop_single_excluded' => '',
			'loop_single_genesis_comments' => '0',
			'loop_single_genesis_pings' => '0',
			'sidebar' => '0',
			'sidebar_excluded' => '',
			'genesis_footer' => '0',
			'wp_footer' => '0',
			'reject_logged_roles' => '1',
			'reject_logged_roles_on_actions' => array(
				0 => 'genesis_loop',
				1 => 'genesis_comments',
			),
			'reject_roles' => array(
				0 => 'administrator',
			),
		),
		'feedburner' => array(
			'urls' => '',
		),
	),

[lupin]

I am seriously thinking about paying for the Pro version but, as you have both said, there's so little information out there. Well, none at all really...

From your experiences, do you think the speed gains are worth the cost? Also, for a novice like myself, is the setup complicated?

Thanks!

[johnny_n]

In my case, I didn't do actual speed tests, but the improvement was noticeable. (If I get a chance I'll go back and run some tests without it installed and with). I was happy with the speed before (I was actually so pleased I thought about not upgrading to Pro -- this is after relaunching an existing site with a new Genesis theme and just using Genesis was a big improvement), but I had it in the budget and thought I'd give it a try to see.

I did run Google Pagespeed Insight tests, and before I was at 81, and after 87 - that was instant too. Ran it just before and just after, with all the same settings, just the Pro install and brief Genesis extension configuration. My issue there (why it isn't higher) is common to WordPress installations, it's the javascript/css in the header (I've been lazy about dealing with this...). I'm not sure what exactly changed, as the feedback to me was the same, so I'd say if nothing else that's proof of the speed increase.

The setup isn't complicated basically it's a series of questions about what parts of the page should be cached and what not -- this is the nature of fragment caching (caches fragments of the page vs. the whole thing) -- so you pick the Genesis loops/hooks you want to cache and what you don't want to cache. If you're not familiar with the inner workings of Genesis, you could select everything as a start and if you see issues you can back off on just that element. That wouldn't take long to do.

I actually think that's why there isn't much written about it -- because it is pretty straightforward compared to the rest of the W3TC configuration...

I think the "is it worth the cost" question is very dependent on your own hosting and setup... If you've got inexpensive hosting and are looking for an instant boost that isn't too time-consuming, this should be a lower-cost alternative to solutions like WP-Engine and Synthesis.

If you're on a quality shared host, and you add up the cost of Pro + quality hosting, you're getting into the pricing of those other solutions so then it becomes a more difficult call.

But did I see results? Definitely... and in my case yes, it was worth it, I think in this day and age for a site one thinks is important it's worth investing to get the maximum speed possible.

Once you upgrade they'll also offer you a little deal on their own optimization services, so if you don't want to spend any time at all on configuration and get the maximum value out of W3TC+Pro+Genesis, that would be a pretty good way to go. It's not inexpensive but it's a good value I'd say. I'm holding off on that for now, but might go back and give that a try as well if I can't get that Pagespeed number much higher.

[Derek]

I don't think StudioPress even created this extension and therefore do not provide support on it. You need to contact the plugin author for support.

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~’;’~

[lupin]

Thanks ever so much for the info. That's a real help. Just the kind of detailed info I haven't been able to find anywhere else.

Thanks again!

[Author]

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