v4-0-0-alpha.5

Notion-to-md v4.0.0-alpha.5 introduces several enhancements aimed at improving flexibility and developer experience. Here’s a breakdown of the key updates:

Notion Child Database Support

This release introduces powerful new features for customizing how Notion databases are rendered.

What This Means

• Property Transformers: Create custom renderers for specific database properties using createPropertyTransformer chain function.
• Query Database: The notion database can be queried similar to how it’s done in Notion’s official SDK, allowing to render filtered data.
• Database Layout Control: Completely customize database appearance with database block transformers
• Rich Property Types: Full support for all Notion property types including select, multi-select, people, files, and more

Dive Deeper

• Database Customization Guide
• Property Types Reference
• Database Configuration

Enhanced Frontmatter Configuration

This release significantly improves frontmatter handling, making it easier to manage and modify metadata derived from Notion properties.

What This Means

• Powerful Value Transformation: Need to format a date differently, convert tags to lowercase, or even generate a URL-friendly slug from your page title? The new transform option lets you apply custom logic to property values before they are added to the frontmatter, giving you complete control over the final output format.

Dive Deeper

• See frontmatter transform in action
• Refer to the Renderer API reference.

Direct Media Strategy with In-Memory Buffering

This release introduces a powerful new media handling strategy that enables in-memory processing of media files.

What This Means

• In-Memory Media Processing: Process images, PDFs, and other media files directly in memory without saving to disk
• Flexible Media Handling: Choose which types of media to buffer and set size limits
• Enhanced Control: Access media content as Node.js Buffers for custom transformations
• Optimized Performance: Avoid unnecessary disk I/O when working with media files

Dive Deeper

• Using Direct Media Strategy Guide
• Handling Documents and PDFs
• Direct Strategy API Reference

Expanded Media Handling Scope

Media handlers (Direct, Download, Upload) can now process media found in Notion page properties (like Files & Media) and page-level elements (cover images and icons).

What This Means

• Comprehensive Media Management: Apply your chosen media strategy consistently across all Notion content, including page covers, icons, and file properties.
• Unified Workflow: Simplify your setup by handling all media types (block, property, page) with the same configuration.
• Controlled Scope: Use the enableFor configuration option within your media strategy to specify whether to process media from block, database_property, and/or page elements.

Dive Deeper

• Mastering Media Handling Guide
• Media Handling Configuration (See the enableFor option)

These improvements aim to make Notion an even more powerful CMS by bridging the gap between your Notion workspace and your final publication format.