Contributors: A-Z Index

A

Name	Photograph	Title / Role	Contributions / Notes
Allen Ellis		Founder	Original designer for ocPortal Also conceived and coded the Theme Wizard and Point Store Son of one of the early inventors of Internet protocols (Usenet, aka Internet newsgroups) Token non-brit	View

C

Name	Photograph	Title / Role	Contributions / Notes
Chris Graham		Founder	Original developer of ocPortal, former lead developer of Composr CMS Masters degree in Computer Science from The University Of Sheffield Undertaken work for over 15 FTSE-100 companies, as well as many small and mid-sized organisations. Includes a number of banks and major brands.	View
Chris Warburton		developer for ocProducts	Made some key contributions to ocPortal	View

H

Name	Photograph	Title / Role	Contributions / Notes
Haydn Maidment		project manager for ocProducts	None available	View

J

Name	Photograph	Title / Role	Contributions / Notes
Jim Davidson		contributor	written many tutorials via Arvixe	View

P

Name	Photograph	Title / Role	Contributions / Notes
Patrick Schmalstig		Lead Developer	Joined Chris Graham behind the scenes in the development of Composr CMS in 2016. Took on the lead developer role in 2023 when Chris Graham stepped back to attend to his new lifestyle changes. Spearheaded the development of Composr CMS v11 and the new website, Composr.app. Formed the company PDStig, LLC to take on professional support and development for Composr CMS users especially after the discontinuation of ocProducts, Ltd.	View
Philip Withnall		Early Developer	Coded the chatroom, blogging support, the analytics system, and OcCLE (now Commandr) Masters Degree in Computer Science degree from The University Of Cambridge Other work has included helping out with Firefox, and ongoing work on GNOME	View

R

Name	Photograph	Title / Role	Contributions / Notes
Robert Goacher		Founder	Ran some of the early websites where ocPortal came from Technically the original developer of ocPortal, in that he wrote the first few lines of code Heavily involved in the feature design process Hosted some of our early meet-ups	View

S

Name	Photograph	Title / Role	Contributions / Notes
Steve Jarvis		project manager for ocProducts	Wrote many tutorials via Arvixe	View

Newest 10 Entries

Question	What is Wiki+?
Answer	Wiki+ is a feature in Composr that allows you to create a collaborative, tree-structured database of information. It functions similarly to a traditional wiki but offers enhanced features such as post contributions, a hierarchical structure, and moderation capabilities.

Question	Are there other Composr features helpful for support?
Answer	Yes, features like: Staff-only replies in the Support Ticket system enable private communication among support staff. Notifications for new tickets, replies, or feedback ensure timely responses. Blocks like main_contact_us provide a simplified front-end for ticket creation. Forum moderation tools help manage support discussions effectively.

Question	Can I integrate a dedicated issue management system with Composr?
Answer	While Composr doesn't have a built-in issue tracker, a non-bundled addon (cms_homesite_tracker) provides an integrated, modified version of Mantis. Additionally, the Support Ticket system can function as a basic private issue tracker using features like Post Templates.

Question	How can I restrict access to the support system to specific users?
Answer	Utilize Composr's page access permissions to control who can access the Support Ticket page. This ensures only authorized users can submit support requests. You can also control permissions based on ticket type when adding or editing a ticket type. Make sure if you go this route that the Support Ticket page permissions are very liberal (e.g. allow anyone to access, or just restrict to guests if you will never allow guests to make tickets). Otherwise, some people cannot make tickets even if they have permission on the type.

Question	What are Post Templates and how are they beneficial for support?
Answer	Post Templates are predefined text blocks that can be used as templates for new forum posts. They are particularly useful in support scenarios by: Providing quick responses to common questions. Ensuring consistency in staff responses. Saving time and effort for staff. Post Templates can be configured to be the default post in specific forums or restricted to certain user groups. Go to Admin Zone > Structure > Forums > Post Templates.

Question	How does Composr handle email integration for support?
Answer	Composr can integrate with email for ticket management, assuming certain requirements are met: PHP IMAP extension installed. Functional PHP mail command (local SMTP server or configured Windows SMTP settings). Active system scheduler (Cron). With email integration, users can submit tickets via email, and staff can reply through the system. Composr cleans up email text for ticket clarity and allows forwarding emails to the integrated address for efficient handling.

Question	How can I categorize and prioritize support requests?
Answer	Support Ticket System: Utilize support ticket types, managed in the Admin Zone > Setup > Support tickets. Staff can set individual notifications for different types. Discussion Forums: Create dedicated subforums for different support categories or priority levels. Feedback System: The content to which the feedback is attached implicitly categorizes it. For prioritization, subforums can be used.

Question	What are the advantages of using the Support Ticket system over the Discussion Forums?
Answer	While both systems can be used for support, the Support Ticket system provides advantages like: Separating replies into individual tickets. Ticket assignment to specific staff members. Tracking who has read a ticket. Private replies between staff members. Filtering tickets by type. Automatic ticket creation, unlike manually creating forum topics. Conflict detection when multiple staff are working on the same ticket. Real-time alerts and display updates upon ticket replies.

Question	How can Composr be used as a support desk tool?
Answer	Composr offers three main systems for providing online support: 1. Support Ticket System: This system allows users to submit tickets and staff to respond, track, and resolve them. It features email notifications, ticket categorization and prioritization, staff assignment, and attachment support. 2. Discussion Forums: Conversr, Composr's built-in forum software, can be utilized for support by creating dedicated forums or subforums. Features like post templates and multi-moderations enhance support capabilities. 3. Feedback System: This system allows for comments on various content types, facilitating support directly related to that content.

Question	How can I access the raw data behind the statistics graphs?
Answer	Every graph in Composr offers a spreadsheet export option. This allows you to download the data in a spreadsheet format, enabling detailed manual review or further analysis using third-party tools.

Top 10 Entries

Question	How can potential conflicts between staff members be avoided (regarding content moderation)?
Answer	Composr incorporates "conflict detection" features to prevent staff from accidentally overwriting each other's work. When multiple staff members attempt to edit the same resource simultaneously, a warning message appears, prompting communication and coordination. Open communication and transparency are crucial. Encourage staff to share their ongoing tasks and plans with each other to prevent overlaps and potential conflicts. Utilizing shared tools like the staff checklist and private forums can further facilitate coordination.

Question	What should be considered when assigning roles and responsibilities to staff?
Answer	When assigning roles, it's recommended to start new staff with limited responsibilities and gradually increase their authority based on performance and dedication. This fosters a sense of progression and prevents discouragement among existing staff. Always consider the individual's skills and interests when assigning tasks. For example, someone with strong writing skills might be well-suited for managing content creation, while a technically-minded person could excel at site maintenance.

Question	How can staff be effectively managed in a Composr community?
Answer	Successful staff management requires a mindful approach that prioritizes fostering a positive and productive environment. Key recommendations include: Respect staff limitations: Avoid overwhelming staff with excessive workload or overly ambitious site expansions. Active involvement: Maintain active involvement in overseeing staff activities and ensuring their effective functioning. Open communication: Engage in regular communication, providing feedback, addressing concerns, and recognizing achievements. Foster teamwork: Encourage collaboration and information sharing among staff members. Lead by example: Ensure staff adhere to community rules and demonstrate expected behavior. Empowerment and trust: Grant sufficient freedom and control to enable staff to excel in their roles. By fostering a supportive and empowering environment, community managers can enable staff to contribute their best efforts and drive the community's success.

Question	How should staff members be chosen for a Composr-based online community?
Answer	Choosing staff for online communities differs from traditional hiring processes due to factors like unpaid positions, varying time commitments, and remote interactions. Focus should be placed on identifying individuals with: Genuine interest: Look for members passionate about the community and its goals. Available time: Ensure potential staff can dedicate sufficient time to fulfill their responsibilities. Relevant skills: Prioritize skills and experience aligned with the specific role requirements. Maturity and discipline: Seek individuals who demonstrate responsible behavior and commitment. Recruitment methods like directly approaching active community members or allowing the Composr points system (or the karma non-bundled addon) to identify dedicated contributors can be more effective than traditional advertising.

Question	How can content issues be reported and addressed by staff?
Answer	Composr's content reporting system, powered by the Tickets addon, allows users to report problematic content to staff. Key features include: Report links: "Report this" links embedded throughout the site enable users to flag content for review. Custom reporting interface: Forums offer a dedicated interface for reporting individual posts. Anonymous reporting: Logged-in users can choose to report content anonymously. Ticket-based management: Reports are automatically created as support tickets, facilitating staff collaboration and record-keeping. Comprehensive report details: Tickets include content title, type, ID, submitter information, an embedded rendering of the reported content, and the reporter's explanation. This system ensures efficient handling of content issues, allowing staff to address concerns effectively while maintaining a transparent record of actions taken.

Question	How can staff members collaborate effectively in Composr?
Answer	Composr offers various tools to facilitate staff collaboration: Private forums: Dedicated forums with restricted access enable staff to discuss site operations and coordinate activities. Composr installs a staff forum by default in Conversr. Conflict detection: When multiple staff members attempt to edit the same resource simultaneously, Composr displays warnings at the top to prevent accidental overwrites. Staff checklist & dashboard: The Admin Zone dashboard provides a shared checklist for task management, along with space for notes and links. Staff notifications and tickets system: Staff receive notifications about various site events, including support tickets from the "Contact Us" page, allowing for efficient issue handling. Content notes: Staff can embed notes within Comcode or use dedicated "staff notes" fields for various content types to share information and context. Validation and workflows: Content can be intentionally left unvalidated even by staff, enabling secondary checks before publishing. A dedicated workflows addon allows for complex approval processes with multiple stages involving different staff groups.

Question	What defines a staff member in Composr?
Answer	There are two ways to define "staff" in Composr: System-defined staff: This includes administrators and super moderators who have specific privileges within the forum/member system (Conversr). Privilege-based staff: Anyone granted the necessary permissions for a particular situation is considered staff for that context. Composr prioritizes flexibility by utilizing privileges over fixed roles, allowing for customized staff responsibilities. However, certain features like "staff reply" in tickets inherently rely on a pre-existing understanding of "staff."

Question	What steps should I take if my website has been hacked?
Answer	If you suspect a security breach, take immediate action: Identify the Cause: Analyze access logs for suspicious activity and pinpoint the vulnerability. Clean and Restore: Restore your website from a clean backup and thoroughly remove any malicious code. Address Vulnerabilities: Patch security holes, update software, and strengthen security configurations. Seek Expert Help: If needed, consult security professionals for assistance with cleanup and prevention.

Question	What additional security measures can I implement for my Composr website?
Answer	SSL: Enable HTTPS for encrypted communication and improved user trust. Secure Zones: Configure sensitive zones to require confirmed sessions. Restrict Logins: Enforce IP address confirmation for enhanced account security. Maintenance Scripts: Restrict access to maintenance scripts like upgrader.php via IP restrictions. Server Hardening: Disable unnecessary services, change default ports, enable automatic updates, and more. Robots.txt: Use the robots.txt file to prevent search engine indexing of sensitive areas.

Question	How does Content Security Policy (CSP) contribute to Composr security?
Answer	CSP adds a layer of protection by controlling the resources the browser is allowed to load. It helps prevent: XSS Attacks: By restricting inline scripts and limiting script sources. Data Injection Attacks: By controlling the allowed origins for data requests. Clickjacking: By specifying allowed framing sources. Composr's CSP implementation utilizes "Trusted partner sites" and nonces for fine-grained control.

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