--- title: Content management and repository breaking changes slug: cms-13/docs/content-management-and-repository-breaking-changes createdAt: 2026-07-30T20:22:00.693Z --- This article covers content management breaking changes in CMS 13, including content repository, content areas, XhtmlString, content versioning, validation, and save actions. ## EPiServer.IContentRepository - A new `Copy` method was added. Change any previous `Copy` implementations to use it. - An additional method `Publish` was added. - An additional method `ConvertLanguageBranch` was added. - The entries in the Data dictionary for a thrown `ValidationException` are now an `IList` when a property has multiple errors. Previously it was a single error. - The `MoveToWastebasket` method now takes an `AccessLevel` parameter. The `deletedBy` parameter was removed in favor of reading the current user from `IPrincipalAccessor` similar to other methods on this interface. ## EPiServer.IContentRepositoryExtension Class was obsoleted because all its methods are now on the `IContentRepository` interface. ## EPiServer.Core.ContentProvider - The `deletedBy` parameter on `MoveToWastebasket` was removed. The provider should read the current user from `IPrincipalAccessor` similar to other methods. - Property `WastebasketReference` now returns a `ContentReference` instead of a `PageReference`. - Protected method `CreateContentResolveResult(ContentCoreData contentData)` changed to `CreateContentResolveResult(ContentNode contentData)`. Custom providers overriding this method must update the parameter type from `ContentCoreData` to `ContentNode`. ## EPiServer.Core.ContentReference - Properties `StartPage`, `RootPage`, and `WasteBasket` changed from `PageReference` to `ContentReference`. - The setter of the `StartPage` property was obsoleted. ## PageReference obsolescence `PageReference` is obsolete throughout CMS 13. Replace all usages with `ContentReference`. The following types have had `PageReference` parameters or return types replaced with `ContentReference`: - `EPiServer.Core.ConvertedPageEventArgs` – Property `PageLink` - `EPiServer.Core.IPageCriteriaQueryService` – Parameters - `EPiServer.PropertyCriteriaCollection` – Parameters - `EPiServer.Core.PageDataCollection` – Parameters - `EPiServer.Core.PageTypeConverter` – Parameters - `EPiServer.Core.PageData` – Properties `ContentLink`, `ParentLink`, and `ArchiveLink` now return `ContentReference` instead of `PageReference`. - `EPiServer.Personalization.VisitorGroups.Criteria.ViewedPagesModel` – Return value for `GetViewedPageLink` - `EPiServer.Personalization.VisitorGroups.CriterionEventArgsExtensions` – Return value for `GetPageLink` ## ContentArea changes - `EPiServer.Core.ContentArea` – Class no longer inherits `XhtmlString`. All properties and methods related to string manipulation are obsoleted (`ToHtmlString`, `ToInternalString`, etc.). - Property `FilteredItems` was obsoleted. Use `Items` to get all items. Or use HTML Helpers or Tag Helpers to render content areas. Alternatively, use `IEnumerable` to read all filters and apply to a list for rendering. - Property `Tag` was obsoleted because it is no longer used. - `EPiServer.Core.ContentAreaItem` – Constructor no longer accepts `ContentFragment`. Empty instances of this class are no longer saved. At least one property must be assigned for the instance to be considered non-empty. `RenderSettings` changed to `IDictionary`, and the setter was replaced with an initializer. - `EPiServer.SpecializedProperties.PropertyContentArea` – No longer inherits PropertyLongString and no longer supports raw strings. - `EPiServer.SpecializedProperties.PropertyContentAreaItem` – No longer inherits PropertyLongString and no longer supports raw strings. - `EPiServer.Core.IContentAreaLoader` – Method `Get` was removed in favor of `LoadContent`. A new overloaded `LoadContent` method with a `ContextMode` parameter was added. - `EPiServer.Core.ContentAreaItemExtensions` – Extension method `GetContent` on `EPiServer.Core.ContentAreaItem` was removed in favor of `LoadContent`. ## XhtmlString changes - `EPiServer.Core.XhtmlString` – Method `ToHtmlString(IPrincipal principal)` was obsoleted with compilation error. Use HTML Helpers or Tag Helpers to render, or use `IEnumerable` to filter fragments for rendering. Method `ToHtmlString()` now always filters away content fragments and personalized fragments. - `EPiServer.Core.Html.StringParsing.StringFragmentCollection` – Methods `GetFilteredFragments()` and `GetFilteredFragments(IPrincipal principal)` were obsoleted with compilation error. Use `IEnumerable` to filter fragments for rendering instead. - `EPiServer.Core.Html.StringParsing.ContentFragment` – Constant `IsInlineBlockAttributeName` is no longer used; use `InlineBlockTypeIdAttributeName` to determine if the item is an inline block. Interface `IRenderSettings` is no longer implemented. Class no longer implements `ISecurable` interface. Now implements `IPersonalizedGroup` instead of `IContentGroup`. Constructor parameters `IPublishedStateAssessor` and `IContentAccessEvaluator` were removed. - `EPiServer.Core.Html.StringParsing.PersonalizedContentFragment` – No longer implements `ISecurable`, `IContentGroup`, and `IPersonalizedRoles`. Now implements `IPersonalizedGroup`. Constructor parameter type changed from `ISecuredFragmentMarkupGenerator` to `IPersonalizedFragmentMarkupGenerator`. - `EPiServer.Core.Html.StringParsing.IContentGroup` – Interface removed. Use `IPersonalizedGroup` instead. - `EPiServer.Core.Html.StringParsing.ISecuredFragmentMarkupGenerator` – Interface removed. Use `IPersonalizedFragmentMarkupGenerator` instead. Property `RoleSecurityDescriptor` replaced with `RoleIdentities` of type `IEnumerable`. - `EPiServer.Core.Html.StringParsing.ISecuredFragmentMarkupGeneratorFactory` – Interface removed. Use `IPersonalizedFragmentMarkupGeneratorFactory` instead. - `EPiServer.Core.Html.StringParsing.VisitorGroupMarkupGenerator` – Now implements `IPersonalizedFragmentMarkupGenerator` instead of `ISecuredFragmentMarkupGenerator`. Property `RoleSecurityDescriptor` replaced with `RoleIdentities`. Constructor overloads accepting `IRoleSecurityDescriptor` removed. Constructor parameter `IVisitorGroupRoleRepository` removed. - `EPiServer.Core.Html.TextIndexer` – Removed because it is no longer used. ## ScriptParser changes - `EPiServer.Core.Html.StringParsing.ScriptParserOptions` – - Default value for property `LoadingMode` changed to `ScriptParserMode.Remove`, meaning illegal URIs, HTML elements, and HTML attributes are removed during content loading. - Default value for property `SavingMode` changed to `ScriptParserMode.ThrowException`, meaning saving content with illegal URIs, HTML elements, or HTML attributes causes an `InvalidPropertyValueException`. - New settings `MediaUploadMode` and `MediaExtensionsToParse` specify which extensions for media files should be parsed during upload, and which action should be taken for illegal elements/attributes. Default values are that extensions `.svg`, `.svgz`, `.html`, and `.htm` are parsed and that an exception is thrown for illegal attributes/elements. - The `AttributeNames` property was removed. Use `ElementAttributes`, which lets you define attributes for elements. By default, `ElementAttributes` covers attributes that start with `on*` for elements. ## Property changes ### PropertyString and PropertyLongString - `EPiServer.Core.PropertyString` – Property `String` changed accessibility to public. Property `PublicString` was removed. - `EPiServer.Core.PropertyLongString` – Property `LongString` changed accessibility to public. Property `PublicLongString` was removed. Property `PageLink` was removed in favor of `Parent.OwnerLink`. ### PropertyUrl and related types - `EPiServer.SpecializedProperties.PropertyUrl` – Property `LinkEditorType` was removed. Property `String` was replaced with `LongString` property. Base class changed from `PropertyString` to `PropertyLongString` to support longer URLs. - `EPiServer.SpecializedProperties.PropertyDocumentUrl` – Property `LinkEditorType` was removed. - `EPiServer.SpecializedProperties.PropertyImageUrl` – Property `LinkEditorType` was removed. ### PropertyBlock and PropertyXhtmlString - `EPiServer.SpecializedProperties.PropertyBlock` – No longer implements `IPersonalizedRoles` interface. Method `GetRoles()` was removed. Property `ItemTypeReference` changed type from `BlockTypeReference` to `ContentTypeReference`. - `EPiServer.SpecializedProperties.PropertyXhtmlString` – No longer implements `IPersonalizedRoles` interface. Method `GetRoles()` was removed. Constructor accepting `(string value, IPrincipalAccessor principalAccessor)` was removed. - `EPiServer.SpecializedProperties.IPropertyBlock` – Property `BlockPropertyDefinitionTypeID` was replaced with `BlockPropertyDefinitionID`. Property `ItemTypeReference` changed type from `BlockTypeReference` to `ContentTypeReference`. ### LinkItem - `EPiServer.SpecializedProperties.LinkItem` – Overrides `object.Equals` and `object.GetHashCode`. Property `Attributes` changed type from `Dictionary` to `IDictionary`. The `Attributes` dictionary is no longer case-sensitive. Type implements `IReadOnly`. ### Other property changes - `EPiServer.Core.PropertyData` – The `Locate` property is obsolete and is no longer available for retrieving services. The `Clear` method is no longer virtual. To override clear behavior, override method `ClearImplementation` instead. - `EPiServer.Core.PropertyDataCollection` – Property `LanguageBranch` is obsolete and is no longer assigned. - `EPiServer.Core.PropertyCriteriaCollection` – Type no longer inherits `System.Collections.CollectionBase`, but instead implements `IList`. - `EPiServer.Core.RawContent` – Public fields were changed to public properties. - `EPiServer.Core.RawNameAndXml` – Public fields were changed to public properties. - `EPiServer.Core.RawProperty` – Property `PageDefinitionID` was removed in favor of `PropertyDefinitionID`. Public fields were changed to public properties. Property `BlockTypeReference` changed type from `BlockTypeReference` to `ContentTypeReference`. - `EPiServer.Core.RequiredPropertyValueException` – No longer used. `System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations.ValidationException` is thrown instead if a required property is missing. - `EPiServer.Web.PropertyControls.MultipleOptionsListSettings` – Moved to `EPiServer.SpecializedProperties.PropertySettings` namespace in the `EPiServer` assembly. ## Content versioning - `EPiServer.Core.IContentVersionRepository` – A new event `CommonDraftAssigned` was added. A new overloaded `Delete` method with an `AccessLevel` parameter was added. New overloaded `LoadCommonDraft` and `LoadPublished` methods with a `variationKey` parameter were added. - `EPiServer.Core.IContentVersionRepository.List` – No longer automatically counts and assigns the out parameter `totalCount`. To get `totalCount` counted, you must explicitly assign `EPiServer.Core.VersionFilter.IncludeTotalCount` to `true`. If `IncludeTotalCount` is not assigned, `totalCount` is assigned the value `-1`. - `EPiServer.Core.IContentVersionRepositoryEx` – Obsoleted. Method `ListObsolete` moved to `IContentVersionRepository`. - `EPiServer.Core.IVersionable` – A new property `Variation` was added to support variations of content versions. - `EPiServer.Core.IContentCacheKeyCreator` – A new method `CreateGuidCacheKey` was added to support GUID-based cache keys. - `EPiServer.Core.IStatusTransitionEvaluator` – A new overloaded method was added that takes an optional parameter of existing `ContentVersion`. - `EPiServer.Core.StatusTransition` – This struct is now `readonly`. ## Validation system overhaul ### New validation skip options - `EPiServer.DataAccess.SaveAction` – Three new validation skip flags were added: - `SkipReferenceValidation` – Skips reference validation during save. - `SkipApprovalValidation` – Skips approval validation during save (requires Administer rights). - `SkipDataValidation` – Skips data validation during save. - `SkipValidation` – Composite flag combining all three skip options. - The `Patch` action now uses `ForceCurrentVersion | SkipValidation` to update content without any validation. - `EPiServer.DataAccess.SaveAction` – Value `None` was removed in favor of `Default`. Value `DelayedPublish` was removed in favor of `Schedule`. ### Content save validation - `EPiServer.Validation.IContentSaveValidate` – A new interface property `SkipOption` of type `ContentValidationSkipOption` was added. Existing implementations must implement this property. Use `ContentValidatorBase` which provides default implementations. - `EPiServer.Validation.ContentValidationSkipOption` – New enum defining which parts of content validation can be skipped: `None`, `Data`, `Approval`, `References`. - `EPiServer.Validation.IContentValidationService` – New service interface providing content-specific validation with support for granular skip options. - `EPiServer.Validation.ContentSaveValidationContext` – A new constructor argument with the content being validated was added. - `EPiServer.Framework.Validation.IContextValidationService` – A new overload of `Validate` was added that accepts a predicate parameter to filter which validators should be called. ### Behavioral changes - Validators implementing `IValidate` (without `IContentSaveValidateOptions`) are now treated as supporting `SkipDataValidation` for backward compatibility, meaning they are skipped when `SaveAction.SkipDataValidation` is used. - References for content (from ContentReference, ContentArea, Url properties) are now validated for existence during save. Use `SaveAction.SkipReferenceValidation` to suppress this validation. - CMS 13 enforces validation attributes (`RequiredForPublish`, `MinElements`) on block creation from ContentArea, not just during publish. This may cause silent failures for custom validation attributes. ## Content language and language settings - `EPiServer.Core.LanguageLoaderOption` – Property `EvaluatePublishDates` changed default value to `true`. This change makes content routing and content loading consistent. - `EPiServer.Core.LanguageSelectionSource` – Value `Master` was removed because it is no longer used. - `EPiServer.Core.LanguageSelector` – The constructor `LanguageSelector(string languageBranch, IContentLanguageSettingsHandler languageSettingsHandler)` was removed in favor of `LanguageSelector(string languageBranch)`. - `EPiServer.Core.ContentLanguageSettingsHandler` – The static `ContentLanguageSettingsHandler` is obsolete. Retrieve the `IContentLanguageSettingsHandler` instance from the service container. - `EPiServer.IContentEvents` – Two new events were added, `ConvertingContentLanguage` and `ConvertedContentLanguage`. - `EPiServer.Core.ContentOptions.AllowModifiedMasterLanguageProperties` – When saving content in a non-master language, modifications to non-culture specific properties now throw `InvalidOperationException` unless explicitly allowed through configuration. ## Other content changes - `EPiServer.Core.ContentMediaResolver` – Method `Initialize` was removed. The constructor parameter of type `IContentTypeBaseResolver` was removed. - `EPiServer.Core.EditTab` – Values `Category`, `Link`, and `Scheduling` were removed because they are no longer used. - `EPiServer.Core.PageData` – Property `IsModified` is only exposed explicitly through the `EPiServer.Core.IModifiedTrackable` interface. Property `ACL` and the constructor accepting `ContentAccessControlList` were obsoleted. Use `IContentAccessEvaluator` to check access rights, or `GetContentSecurityDescriptor()` to get the security descriptor. - `EPiServer.PageEventArgs` – Removed as it was no longer in use. - `EPiServer.EPiServerCancelException` – Constructor taking a `PageEventArgs` argument was removed. - `EPiServer.Construction.ConstructorParameterResolver` – The static `Instance` property is obsolete. Retrieve the singleton instance from the service container. - `EPiServer.Construction.IPropertyDefinitionTypeResolver` – Method `ResolveType` has an additional out parameter. - `EPiServer.Core.IBlockPropertyFactory` – New overloads for `Create` accepting integer-based content type identifiers. - `EPiServer.Core.Transfer.IContentCopyHandler` – Replaced the existing `Copy` method with a `Copy` method that has a `CopyContentOptions` parameter. The old `Copy(ContentReference, ContentReference, AccessLevel, bool)` overload was removed. - `EPiServer.Core.Transfer.ITransferPageData` – Interface removed. Use `ITransferContentData` instead. - `EPiServer.Core.Transfer.TransferPageData` – Class removed. Use `TransferContentData` instead. - `EPiServer.Core.RawPage` – Class removed. Use `RawContent` instead for import/export. - `EPiServer.DataAbstraction.MetaDataProperties` – Constant `PageFolderID` was removed. Virtual Path Providers are no longer supported. - `EPiServer.Core.Transfer.IContentTransferContext` – Property `ContentTypesMap` changed from `IDictionary` to `Dictionary`. - `EPiServer.Core.Transfer.IFileTransfer` – An additional parameter `displayName` was added to method `TryAddBlob`. - `EPiServer.Core.Transfer.TransferImportOptions` – Property `ContentLanguages` was removed in favor of property `SelectedLanguage`. - `EPiServer.Cms.Shell.Service.Internal.ContentService` – The `Copy` method no longer automatically publishes content. - `EPiServer.Cms.Shell.UI.Rest.Internal.ContentChangeManager` – The `Copy` method no longer automatically publishes content. ## Audiences (Visitor Groups) Audiences (formerly Visitor Groups) are not enabled by default. Enable them by calling `.AddVisitorGroupsMvc()` and `.AddVisitorGroupsUI()` to register MVC and UI services. The `EPiServer.Cms` composition package no longer includes Visitor Groups as a dependency. - `EPiServer.Personalization.VisitorGroups.DojoWidgetAttribute` – Removed because Dojo is no longer supported for Audiences UI. Use `CriterionPropertyEditor` instead. - `EPiServer.Personalization.IPersonalizedRoles` – Interface removed. Functionality is now part of `IPersonalizedGroup` interface. - `EPiServer.Personalization.PageDataPersonalizationExtension` – Class and its extension method `GetUsedPersonalizedGroupIds` removed. - `EPiServer.Security.IRoleSecurityDescriptor` – Interface removed. Use `IEnumerable` for role identities instead. - `EPiServer.Personalization.IPersonalizedContentFactory` – Method signatures changed; `ISecuredFragmentMarkupGenerator` replaced with `IPersonalizedFragmentMarkupGenerator`.