Are there any limitations to importing forum data?
Answer
Yes, some limitations exist, particularly with specific forum platforms.
General: Private messages are often combined into private topics.
phpBB: Usergroup configuration and HTML entities may require manual adjustments after import.
vBulletin: Calendar recurrences, ratings (karma), and 'goes to coventry' are not imported perfectly. Attachments may need to be extracted directly from the live database due to potential corruption in SQL dumps.
Simple Machine Forum: Banning features may not import perfectly due to differences in how Composr handles bans.
Composr primarily uses database connections for importing. However, it also supports neutral data formats like CSV spreadsheet files and importing downloads from a directory.
Moving a Composr site involves transferring both the files and the database.
Files:
On the old server, ZIP the entire Composr directory.
Download the ZIP file to your computer.
Upload the ZIP file to the new server using SFTP/FTP.
On the new server, unzip the file.
Database:
On the old server, create an SQL dump of your database using the mysqldump command or phpMyAdmin.
Download the SQL dump file.
If your URL is changing, search and replace the old URL with the new one in the SQL dump file.
Upload the SQL dump file to the new server.
Restore the database on the new server using the mysql command or phpMyAdmin.
Important Steps:
File Permissions: After transferring files, ensure correct file permissions are set on the new server. You can use the fixperms.php script, the upgrader script, or manually adjust them.
Configuration: If database settings are different on the new server, update the _config.php file or use the config_editor.php script to change the settings for both the site and forum databases.
Base URL: If your URL has changed, update the base URL setting in the Installation Options editor (config_editor.php).
Caches: Clear the block cache using the upgrader.php script.
How does Composr handle user authentication with external systems like LDAP or HTTP authentication?
Answer
Composr can integrate with LDAP and HTTP authentication, but these features are considered complex and may require programming experience to set up correctly. Both methods allow users to log in to Composr using their existing credentials from the external system, streamlining access and management.
What are the limitations of using a third-party forum driver?
Answer
Using a third-party forum driver can lead to limitations. Custom profile fields of type LONG_TEXT are limited to TEXT length, cookie integration is not officially supported and can be complex, and some forum drivers have specific quirks detailed in the nuances tutorial.
What are the implications of using the "none-forum" driver?
Answer
Using the "none-forum" driver disables or limits many Composr features, including commenting, points, and user interactions. Consider using Conversr instead and restricting access to the forum zone, join module, and personal zone.
How can I integrate my forum visually into my website?
Answer
Composr allows you to integrate your forum visually into your website. Enable "Show forum within website" in the Admin Zone configuration module and update the forum link in your menu to pass through the "forums" embedding module. You may need to adjust CSS to achieve a seamless look.
What are "breadcrumbs," and how can I customize them?
Answer
Breadcrumbs are a navigation aid that shows the user their current location within the website's hierarchy. In Composr, breadcrumbs are customizable through an XML file.
You can override default breadcrumbs using "match-keys" to target specific pages and define the desired breadcrumb structure. This allows you to adjust the breadcrumb trail to better match your website's organization.
To edit, go to Admin Zone > Structure > Configure breadcrumb overrides.
How can I control which panels are displayed on specific pages?
Answer
Panels are the areas around your main content area where you can place menus, blocks, and other dynamic elements. You can control panel visibility using display rules within your panel's Comcode:
{+START,IF,{$NEQ,{$PAGE},example_page_1,example_page_2,example_page_3}}
... panel content ...
{+END}
This example prevents the panel from showing on pages named "example_page_1," "example_page_2," and "example_page_3."
What is a "page-link," and how does it differ from a URL?
Answer
A page-link is a Composr-specific way to reference a page or screen within your website. It's a simplified, local representation of a URL, independent of the URL scheme you might be using.
For example, the page-link site:downloads:browse:10 points to the download category with ID 10 in the site zone. This page-link remains consistent even if your URL scheme changes the way URLs are structured. Page-links also do not consider monikers, so if a URL moniker changes, page-links will stay the same.
This is a powerful feature as you can use the Comcode [page="page-link"]Page title[/page] tag to generate URLs of local content. And these will always work regardless of URL scheme or moniker.
How do menus work in Composr, and can I customize them?
Answer
Composr has a flexible menu system that can be customized to your needs.
Default Menu: Generated automatically from the Sitemap, reflecting the structure of your content.
Editable Menus: You can create and fully customize these menus, adding links to specific content or external websites.
Menus can be added to panels (sidebars, headers, footers) or embedded directly within Comcode pages. The menu editor provides tools for adding branches, setting captions, tooltips, and URLs, and even defining context-sensitive behavior using "match-keys."
What are "zones" in Composr, and what are they used for?
Answer
Zones are like sub-sites within your Composr website. They provide a way to organize content and apply different settings, like permissions, themes, and navigation. Some default zones include:
Welcome Zone: The initial landing page, often used for login/signup.
Site Zone: Your main website content, with features for viewing, submitting, editing, and deleting content on the member level.
Admin Zone: For site administrators to manage the website.
Content Management Zone: Where content is added, edited, and deleted, typically by site staff.
Forum Zone (if using Conversr): Houses the forum section of your site.
What happens when I add a new usergroup to a third-party forum integrated with Composr?
Answer
If you are not using Conversr as your forum, Composr won't automatically assign any permissions to the new usergroup. To rectify this, you can use the "Absorb usergroup-permissions" feature in the Admin Zone. This tool allows you to copy the permissions from an existing usergroup to the newly created one, ensuring consistent access and functionality.
What are some security considerations regarding super-moderators and super-administrators?
Answer
While super-moderators have extensive access to manage your site, certain sensitive privileges are reserved for super-administrators. This includes the ability to impersonate other users, execute arbitrary code, and view private content. These restrictions help prevent potential privilege escalation and ensure the overall security of your website. Exercise caution when granting super-moderator status and trust only reliable individuals.
What are some useful tools for debugging permission issues?
Answer
Composr provides a couple of tools to help pinpoint permission problems:
FirePHP: This browser add-on allows you to view detailed logs of permission checks performed by Composr. By analyzing these logs, you can identify which checks are failing and adjust your settings accordingly.
Permission Check Logging: Enable logging of failed permission checks to a file (data_custom/permission_checks.log). This provides a persistent record of permission issues that you can review and troubleshoot.
How can I test if my permission settings are working correctly?
Answer
Composr's "SU" feature allows administrators to temporarily assume the identity of another user, enabling you to experience the site as they would. Simply enter the desired username in the "SU" box in the footer. You can also use "Guest" to browse as an unauthenticated visitor. Remember that using "SU" doesn't accurately reflect online status and retains administrator access to sensitive areas.
