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	How can I contribute to translating Composr?
Answer	You can contribute to Composr's internationalization by: Joining the translation team on Transifex: Translate language strings collaboratively with other volunteers. Becoming a language maintainer: Take responsibility for the translation and support of Composr in your native language. Reporting translation issues: If you encounter unclear, incorrect, or duplicated language strings, file bug reports. Providing feedback and suggestions: Share your thoughts on improving the translation process through feature suggestions. Your contributions are valuable and help make Composr accessible to a wider audience.

Question	What is Transifex, and how does it help with translation?
Answer	Transifex is a collaborative online platform used by the Composr community for translation. Its benefits include: Centralized translation efforts: Multiple translators can work on the same project. Improved translation quality: The platform facilitates consistency and accuracy. Simplified language pack creation: You can generate downloadable language pack addons directly from Transifex. We encourage using Transifex for translation to foster collaboration and maintain high-quality translations.

Question	Can I translate images with text on them?
Answer	Yes, you can translate images containing text. In the themes/default/images/ directory, you'll find an EN folder containing images with English text. Copy the EN folder: Create a new folder with the ISO code of your target language (e.g., FR for French). Replace the images: Replace the English images with translated versions. Ensure correct image paths: Update any references to these images in your templates or content to point to the translated versions.

Question	How do I translate the content on my Composr website?
Answer	Once you've installed a new language pack, you can translate existing content by: Editing the content directly: Go to the specific content item (page, news post, etc.) and edit it in the new language. Using the language editor: Access the language editor from Admin Zone > Style > Translate/rephrase Composr to modify language strings used on specific pages. Note that some elements like forum names are not designed to be translated directly. Instead, you should create separate forums for each language.

Question	How do I change the language of my Composr website?
Answer	Composr comes with English as the default language. To change to a different language: Download the language pack: You can download language packs from the Composr website. Install the language pack: Upload the downloaded language pack addon through Admin Zone > Structure > Addons > Import non-bundled addon(s). Change the default language: Go to `http://yourbaseurl/config_editor.php` and set the desired language. Update your profile: If you had a previous language set in your profile, update it to the new language. You can test a language without changing settings by appending &keep_lang=XX to the URL, where XX is the language code (e.g., FR for French).

Question	What should I do after successfully importing data into Composr?
Answer	After importing, if all files like avatars, photos, and attachments have been copied to Composr's directories, you can remove the imported product's directory. However, it's advisable to keep the directory, database, and import session for a few weeks in case any data was not correctly imported and needs further attention. Importing is a complex process, so keeping backups and sources for a while is a good practice.

Question	Where can I get help with the import process?
Answer	The Composr documentation provides extensive information. Additionally, you can seek assistance from experienced Composr developers, including the Composr team if your project allows for professional support.

Question	Can I switch from a third-party forum to Conversr (Composr's built-in forum)?
Answer	Yes, if an importer exists for your current forum software, you can switch to Conversr during the import process. Composr will handle the forum driver switch and remap user IDs, but it's recommended to double-check permissions afterward.

Question	How does the HTML website importer work?
Answer	The HTML website importer is an advanced tool for migrating static HTML websites to Composr. It analyzes the HTML structure to create zones, Comcode pages, and a basic template. It also attempts to fix links and file paths for Composr compatibility.

Question	What is a Composr import session?
Answer	Import sessions track the progress and ID remapping for each import, allowing you to merge multiple sites or resume interrupted imports. This is particularly useful when merging multiple Composr sites into one.

Top 10 Entries

Question	What other methods exist for featuring content in Composr?
Answer	Random Quotes: The quotes feature allows you to display a rotating selection of quotes on your site. Community Billboard (Requires Addon): The Community Billboard addon provides a dedicated space for displaying important announcements or community messages.

Question	How can I create countdowns or display hit counters on my Composr website?
Answer	Composr offers blocks for both functionalities: Countdowns: Use the main_countdown block to add countdowns to specific dates and times. Hit Counters: While generally considered outdated, you can use the main_count block to display hit counters for specific content.

Question	Can I display forum content in a prominent way on my Composr site?
Answer	Absolutely! Composr provides several blocks designed for featuring forum content: News-Style Blocks: side_forum_news, main_forum_news, and bottom_forum_news display forum topics in a news format, ideal for forums used for news posting. Topic-Focused Block: main_forum_topics showcases recent topics from specific forums, allowing you to highlight active discussions or important announcements.

Question	What is the difference between using the main_awards block and directly selecting content with the main_content block?
Answer	Both blocks can feature content, but they offer different approaches: main_awards: Provides a structured system for managing featured content through award assignment, archives, and optional point rewards. Requires active management to update award holders. main_content: Offers direct control over specific content or allows random selection from chosen categories. May require manual updates or adjustments.

Question	What is the Composr Award system, and how do I use it?
Answer	The Award system is a powerful tool for highlighting and promoting specific content. Here's how it works: Award Types: Define awards associated with specific content types (e.g., "Download of the Week" for downloads). Award Assignment: When editing content, designate it as the current holder of a relevant award. Display: Use the main_awards block to showcase current award holders on your site. Archive: Awarded content is automatically archived for easy access and historical reference. Points: If you use points, recipients of awards can also receive points as a reward.

Question	How do I feature specific content items on my Composr site?
Answer	You can feature content using various methods: Blocks: The main_content block allows you to display specific items by content type and ID or randomize content from selected categories. Awards: Create awards for different content types and assign them to specific items. You can then use the main_awards block to display current award holders. Awards also integrate with points to credit points to award holders. And you can be reminded on the staff checklist to assign a new award every configurable amount of time. Advanced Embedding: For greater control, use the main_include_module block to embed entire module screens within other content.

Question	What are the benefits of featuring content on my Composr website?
Answer	Featuring content provides several advantages: Freshness and Activity: It gives your site a dynamic feel, showcasing updates and encouraging return visits. Effortless Variety: Featuring content introduces diversity without extensive effort. User Engagement: It draws users in and motivates them to check back for new featured items. Prominent Placement: Featured content receives prime visibility, highlighting its importance or rewarding its creator.

Question	How can I handle bounced emails?
Answer	Composr includes a bounce filter tool that helps you remove bounced email addresses from your subscriber list. To use this tool, you'll need: The PHP IMAP extension enabled on your server. A dedicated folder on your email server to collect bounced emails. The bounce filter tool scans the specified folder for bounce messages and lets you remove the corresponding addresses from your newsletter list. Composr will also halt attempts sending e-mails to those addresses to help prevent you from getting listed on spam blocklists.

Question	How can I customize the appearance of my newsletters?
Answer	You can customize the look of your newsletters by editing the following templates: NEWSLETTER_DEFAULT_FCOMCODE.txt: This template defines the default content and layout for newsletters. MAIL.tpl: This template controls the overall appearance of emails sent from Composr. Custom mail templates: You can create custom HTML templates for specific newsletters.

Question	How can I ensure my newsletters comply with data privacy regulations?
Answer	Composr provides built-in mechanisms for compliance: Unsubscribe links: Newsletters include an unsubscribe link, allowing recipients to opt out of the newsletters. Global unsubscribe: All Composr emails include a link to a global unsubscribe page (data/unsubscribe.php), letting users unsubscribe from all site emails.

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