TYPO3 Fractor Skill Skill

TYPO3 Fractor Skill

Fractor is a generic file refactoring tool that automates non-PHP migrations for TYPO3 upgrades. It complements Rector (which handles PHP) by migrating FlexForms, TypoScript, Fluid templates, YAML, Htaccess files, and composer.json.

Target: TYPO3 v14.x for this skill collection. Upstream Fractor sets may still be named TYPO3_12, TYPO3_13, etc. — those are historical bundle identifiers for rules you apply while moving code toward a v14 codebase.

TYPO3 API First: Always use TYPO3's built-in APIs, core features, and established conventions before creating custom implementations. Always verify that the APIs and methods you use exist and are not deprecated in TYPO3 v14 by checking the official TYPO3 documentation.

Safety: Never run Fractor on production. Always run on a development environment with version control. Review and test changes before releasing.

Fractor vs Rector

| Tool | Handles | Package | |------|---------|---------| | Rector | PHP code (classes, TCA PHP, ext_localconf, etc.) | ssch/typo3-rector | | Fractor | Non-PHP files (FlexForms, TypoScript, Fluid, YAML, Htaccess, composer.json) | a9f/typo3-fractor |

Use both together for complete TYPO3 upgrades. See the typo3-extension-upgrade skill for the full workflow.

1. Installation

composer require --dev a9f/typo3-fractor
# or with DDEV:
ddev composer require --dev a9f/typo3-fractor

Important: Like Rector, Fractor loads the project autoloader and requires a PHP version that can parse the installed TYPO3 packages. For TYPO3 v14 targets, run Fractor with PHP 8.2+. Use DDEV or a container if your local PHP is older.

Always run Fractor, never skip it. Non-PHP files (FlexForms, TypoScript, Fluid) contain version-specific patterns that are easy to miss in manual review. Fractor rules are maintained by the TYPO3 community and cover edge cases.

This meta-package installs all TYPO3-specific file processors:

a9f/fractor (core engine)
a9f/fractor-xml (FlexForm/XML processing)
a9f/fractor-fluid (Fluid template processing)
a9f/fractor-typoscript (TypoScript/TSconfig processing)
a9f/fractor-yaml (YAML processing)
a9f/fractor-htaccess (Htaccess processing)
a9f/fractor-composer-json (composer.json processing — not installed as a dependency of a9f/typo3-fractor; add composer require --dev a9f/fractor-composer-json if you need it)

2. Configuration

Quick Start

Generate a default config:

vendor/bin/typo3-fractor-init

Manual Configuration

Create fractor.php in your project root:

<?php
declare(strict_types=1);

use a9f\Fractor\Configuration\FractorConfiguration;
use a9f\Typo3Fractor\Set\Typo3LevelSetList;

return FractorConfiguration::configure()
    ->withPaths([
        __DIR__ . '/packages/',
    ])
    ->withSets([
        Typo3LevelSetList::UP_TO_TYPO3_14,
    ]);

Configuration for v14

<?php
declare(strict_types=1);

use a9f\Fractor\Configuration\FractorConfiguration;
use a9f\Typo3Fractor\Set\Typo3LevelSetList;

return FractorConfiguration::configure()
    ->withPaths([
        __DIR__ . '/Configuration/',
        __DIR__ . '/Resources/',
    ])
    ->withSets([
        Typo3LevelSetList::UP_TO_TYPO3_14,
    ]);

Skip Rules or Files

<?php
declare(strict_types=1);

use a9f\Fractor\Configuration\FractorConfiguration;
use a9f\Typo3Fractor\Set\Typo3LevelSetList;
use a9f\Typo3Fractor\TYPO3v12\FlexForm\MigrateRequiredFlagFlexFormFractor;

return FractorConfiguration::configure()
    ->withPaths([__DIR__ . '/packages/'])
    ->withSkip([
        MigrateRequiredFlagFlexFormFractor::class,
        __DIR__ . '/packages/legacy_ext/',
        __DIR__ . '/packages/my_ext/Resources/Private/Templates/Old.html' => [
            \a9f\Typo3Fractor\TYPO3v14\Fluid\ChangeLogoutHandlingInFeLoginFractor::class,
        ],
    ])
    ->withSets([
        Typo3LevelSetList::UP_TO_TYPO3_14,
    ]);

Apply Single Rules

<?php
declare(strict_types=1);

use a9f\Fractor\Configuration\FractorConfiguration;
use a9f\Typo3Fractor\TYPO3v12\FlexForm\MigrateItemsIndexedKeysToAssociativeFractor;

return FractorConfiguration::configure()
    ->withPaths([__DIR__ . '/packages/'])
    ->withRules([
        MigrateItemsIndexedKeysToAssociativeFractor::class,
    ]);

3. Running Fractor

Dry Run (Preview)

vendor/bin/fractor process --dry-run

Apply Changes

vendor/bin/fractor process

Run Single Rule from Set

vendor/bin/fractor process --only="a9f\Typo3Fractor\TYPO3v14\TypoScript\RemoveExternalOptionFromTypoScriptFractor"

With DDEV

ddev exec vendor/bin/fractor process --dry-run
ddev exec vendor/bin/fractor process

4. Available Set Lists

Level Sets (Cumulative)

Apply all rules up to a target version:

| Set List | Includes | |----------|----------| | Typo3LevelSetList::UP_TO_TYPO3_10 | Imports UP_TO_TYPO3_9 plus TYPO3_10 rules only (see package config/level/up-to-typo3-10.php) | | Typo3LevelSetList::UP_TO_TYPO3_11 | ... + v11 | | Typo3LevelSetList::UP_TO_TYPO3_12 | ... + v12 | | Typo3LevelSetList::UP_TO_TYPO3_13 | ... + v13 | | Typo3LevelSetList::UP_TO_TYPO3_14 | ... + v14 |

Version-Specific Sets

Apply rules for a single version only:

| Set List | Description | |----------|-------------| | Typo3SetList::TYPO3_12 | v12 rules only | | Typo3SetList::TYPO3_13 | v13 rules only | | Typo3SetList::TYPO3_14 | v14 rules only |

5. Rules by File Type and Version

FlexForm Rules (v12)

| Rule | Migration | |------|-----------| | MigrateEmailFlagToEmailTypeFlexFormFractor | eval=email → type=email | | MigrateEvalIntAndDouble2ToTypeNumberFlexFormFractor | eval=int/double2 → type=number | | MigrateInternalTypeFolderToTypeFolderFlexFormFractor | internalType=folder → type=folder | | MigrateItemsIndexedKeysToAssociativeFractor | Indexed items → label/value keys | | MigrateNullFlagFlexFormFractor | eval=null → nullable=true | | MigratePasswordAndSaltedPasswordToPasswordTypeFlexFormFractor | Password eval → type=password | | MigrateRenderTypeColorpickerToTypeColorFlexFormFractor | renderType=colorPicker → type=color | | MigrateRequiredFlagFlexFormFractor | eval=required → required=1 | | MigrateTypeNoneColsToSizeFlexFormFractor | cols → size for type=none | | RemoveTceFormsDomElementFlexFormFractor | Remove <TCEforms> wrapper |

TypoScript Rules (v12)

| Rule | Migration | |------|-----------| | MigrateTypoScriptLoginUserAndUsergroupConditionsFractor | Legacy conditions → Symfony expressions | | MigrateDeprecatedTypoScriptConditionsFractor | Deprecated TypoScript [compatVersion] / old condition syntax → supported forms | | RemoveConfigDisablePageExternalUrlFractor | Remove config.disablePageExternalUrl | | RemoveConfigDoctypeSwitchFractor | Remove config.doctypeSwitch | | RemoveConfigMetaCharsetFractor | Remove config.metaCharset | | RemoveConfigSendCacheHeadersOnlyWhenLoginDeniedInBranchFractor | Remove deprecated cache header config | | RemoveConfigSpamProtectEmailAddressesAsciiOptionFractor | Remove ascii option | | RemoveNewContentElementWizardOptionsFractor | Remove legacy CE wizard TSconfig | | RemoveWorkspaceModeOptionsFractor | Remove workspace mode options | | RenameConfigXhtmlDoctypeToDoctypeFractor | xhtmlDoctype → doctype | | RenameTcemainLinkHandlerMailKeyFractor | Rename mail link handler key | | UseConfigArrayForTSFEPropertiesFractor | TSFE properties → config array |

Fluid Rules (v12)

| Rule | Migration | |------|-----------| | AbstractMessageGetSeverityFluidFractor | Migrate severity constants in Fluid |

TypoScript rules (bundle id `TYPO3_13`)

These rules are published under the historical set name Typo3SetList::TYPO3_13 (v13-targeted rules). They still run when you apply the cumulative Typo3LevelSetList::UP_TO_TYPO3_14 level set on a v14 codebase.

| Rule | Migration | |------|-----------| | MigrateIncludeTypoScriptSyntaxFractor | <INCLUDE_TYPOSCRIPT: → @import | | RemovePageDoktypeRecyclerFromUserTsConfigFractor | Remove recycler doktype from TSconfig |

TypoScript Rules (v14)

| Rule | Migration | |------|-----------| | MigrateTypoScriptConditionGetTSFEFractor | getTSFE() conditions → new API | | MigrateTypoScriptGetDataPathFractor | getData path changes | | RemoveDuplicateDoktypeRestrictionConfigurationFractor | Remove duplicate doktype restrictions | | RemoveExposeNonexistentUserInForgotPasswordDialogSettingInFeLoginFractor | Remove deprecated fe_login setting | | RemoveExternalOptionFromTypoScriptFractor | Remove external option | | RemoveFrontendAssetConcatenationAndCompressionFractor | Remove asset concatenation/compression settings | | RemoveModWebLayoutDefLangBindingFractor | Remove mod.web_layout.defLangBinding | | RemoveUserTSConfigAuthBeRedirectToURLFractor | Remove auth.BE.redirectToURL |

Fluid Rules (v14)

| Rule | Migration | |------|-----------| | ChangeLogoutHandlingInFeLoginFractor | Migrate fe_login logout handling |

YAML Rules (v14)

| Rule | Migration | |------|-----------| | MigrateLegacyFormTemplatesFractor | Migrate legacy EXT:form templates |

Htaccess Rules (v14)

| Rule | Migration | |------|-----------| | RemoveUploadsFromDefaultHtaccessFractor | Remove /uploads/ from .htaccess |

6. Code Style Configuration

TypoScript Formatting

<?php
use a9f\Fractor\Configuration\FractorConfiguration;
use a9f\FractorTypoScript\Configuration\TypoScriptProcessorOption;
use Helmich\TypoScriptParser\Parser\Printer\PrettyPrinterConfiguration;
use Helmich\TypoScriptParser\Parser\Printer\PrettyPrinterConditionTermination;

return FractorConfiguration::configure()
    ->withPaths([__DIR__ . '/Configuration/'])
    ->withOptions([
        TypoScriptProcessorOption::INDENT_SIZE => 2,
        TypoScriptProcessorOption::INDENT_CHARACTER => PrettyPrinterConfiguration::INDENTATION_STYLE_SPACES,
        TypoScriptProcessorOption::ADD_CLOSING_GLOBAL => false,
        TypoScriptProcessorOption::INCLUDE_EMPTY_LINE_BREAKS => true,
        TypoScriptProcessorOption::INDENT_CONDITIONS => true,
        TypoScriptProcessorOption::CONDITION_TERMINATION => PrettyPrinterConditionTermination::Keep,
    ]);

Indent character options:

PrettyPrinterConfiguration::INDENTATION_STYLE_SPACES -- use spaces
PrettyPrinterConfiguration::INDENTATION_STYLE_TABS -- use tabs
'auto' -- detect from file and keep existing

Condition termination options:

PrettyPrinterConditionTermination::Keep -- keep existing
PrettyPrinterConditionTermination::EnforceGlobal -- always [global]
PrettyPrinterConditionTermination::EnforceEnd -- always [end]

XML/FlexForm Formatting

<?php
use a9f\Fractor\Configuration\FractorConfiguration;
use a9f\FractorXml\Configuration\XmlProcessorOption;
use a9f\Fractor\ValueObject\Indent;

return FractorConfiguration::configure()
    ->withPaths([__DIR__ . '/Configuration/'])
    ->withOptions([
        XmlProcessorOption::INDENT_CHARACTER => Indent::STYLE_TAB,
        XmlProcessorOption::INDENT_SIZE => 1,
    ]);

File Extension Filtering

Control which file extensions each processor handles:

<?php
use a9f\Fractor\Configuration\FractorConfiguration;
use a9f\FractorFluid\Configuration\FluidProcessorOption;
use a9f\FractorTypoScript\Configuration\TypoScriptProcessorOption;
use a9f\FractorXml\Configuration\XmlProcessorOption;
use a9f\FractorYaml\Configuration\YamlProcessorOption;

return FractorConfiguration::configure()
    ->withPaths([__DIR__ . '/packages/'])
    ->withOptions([
        FluidProcessorOption::ALLOWED_FILE_EXTENSIONS => ['html'],
        TypoScriptProcessorOption::ALLOWED_FILE_EXTENSIONS => ['typoscript', 'tsconfig'],
        XmlProcessorOption::ALLOWED_FILE_EXTENSIONS => ['xml', 'xlf'],
        YamlProcessorOption::ALLOWED_FILE_EXTENSIONS => ['yaml', 'yml'],
    ]);

Default extensions:

Fluid: html, xml, txt
TypoScript: typoscript, tsconfig, ts
XML: xml
YAML: yaml, yml

7. Writing Custom Rules

Custom XML/FlexForm Rule

Extend AbstractXmlFractor (in package a9f/fractor-xml). XmlFractor in a9f\FractorXml\Contract is the interface; the abstract base provides the DOM visitor wiring.

<?php
declare(strict_types=1);

namespace Vendor\MyExtension\Fractor;

use a9f\FractorXml\AbstractXmlFractor;
use DOMNode;
use Symplify\RuleDocGenerator\ValueObject\RuleDefinition;

final class MyCustomFlexFormFractor extends AbstractXmlFractor
{
    public function canHandle(\DOMNode $node): bool
    {
        return $node->nodeName === 'config'
            && $node->parentNode instanceof \DOMElement;
    }

    public function refactor(DOMNode $node): DOMNode|int|null
    {
        // Modify the DOM node
        return $node;
    }

    public function getRuleDefinition(): RuleDefinition
    {
        return new RuleDefinition('Migrate custom FlexForm configuration', []);
    }
}

Register Custom Rule

<?php
// fractor.php
use a9f\Fractor\Configuration\FractorConfiguration;
use Vendor\MyExtension\Fractor\MyCustomFlexFormFractor;

return FractorConfiguration::configure()
    ->withPaths([__DIR__ . '/packages/'])
    ->withRules([
        MyCustomFlexFormFractor::class,
    ]);

8. Upgrade Workflow Integration

Recommended Order

1. git checkout -b feature/typo3-upgrade
2. Run Rector (PHP migrations)        → vendor/bin/rector process
3. Run Fractor (non-PHP migrations)   → vendor/bin/fractor process
4. Run PHP-CS-Fixer (code style)      → vendor/bin/php-cs-fixer fix
5. Run PHPStan (static analysis)      → vendor/bin/phpstan analyse
6. Run Tests                          → vendor/bin/phpunit
7. Manual testing in target version

Combined fractor.php for Extension Development

<?php
declare(strict_types=1);

use a9f\Fractor\Configuration\FractorConfiguration;
use a9f\Typo3Fractor\Set\Typo3LevelSetList;
use a9f\FractorTypoScript\Configuration\TypoScriptProcessorOption;
use Helmich\TypoScriptParser\Parser\Printer\PrettyPrinterConfiguration;

return FractorConfiguration::configure()
    ->withPaths([
        __DIR__ . '/Configuration/',
        __DIR__ . '/Resources/',
    ])
    ->withSkip([
        __DIR__ . '/Resources/Public/',
    ])
    ->withSets([
        Typo3LevelSetList::UP_TO_TYPO3_14,
    ])
    ->withOptions([
        TypoScriptProcessorOption::INDENT_SIZE => 4,
        TypoScriptProcessorOption::INDENT_CHARACTER => PrettyPrinterConfiguration::INDENTATION_STYLE_SPACES,
    ]);

9. Troubleshooting

Fractor Fails to Parse TypoScript

# Check for syntax errors in TypoScript first
# Fractor uses helmich/typo3-typoscript-parser which requires valid TypoScript

# Skip problematic files
vendor/bin/fractor process --dry-run
# Then add them to withSkip() in fractor.php

FlexForm Changes Not Applied

# Ensure XML files are in the configured paths
# Check ALLOWED_FILE_EXTENSIONS includes 'xml'
# Verify the FlexForm has the expected structure (<T3DataStructure>)

Formatting Changes Unexpected

# Configure code style explicitly in fractor.php
# Use 'auto' indent detection to preserve existing formatting
# Review withOptions() settings

Running Fractor in CI

# .github/workflows/fractor.yml
- name: Check Fractor
  run: vendor/bin/fractor process --dry-run
  # Fails if any rules would apply = outdated code

Appendix

For Fractor resource links and TYPO3 v14-specific migration notes, see references/resources-and-v14.md.

Credits & Attribution

Thanks to Andreas Wolf for creating and maintaining Fractor. Thanks to Netresearch DTT GmbH for their contributions to the TYPO3 community.

Agent Skills: TYPO3 Fractor Skill

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