How can I customize Composr without modifying the core files?
Answer
Composr offers a robust override system. Instead of altering the original files, create a parallel structure within _custom directories. For example, to modify site/pages/modules/polls.php, place your customized version in site/pages/modules_custom/polls.php.
The tutorials outline additional information on how to utilise overrides.
How can I embed third-party widgets into my Composr pages?
Answer
Composr supports embedding widgets from various websites, like Google Maps, Vimeo, and YouTube, by simply pasting the URL. For manually embedding widget code, you can paste it into the HTML source view of the WYSIWYG editor or within Comcode html tags if not using the WYSIWYG editor.
What is the difference between blocks and boxes in Composr?
Answer
Boxes are visual elements that provide a container for content, while blocks are functional units that generate and display dynamic content. Although blocks often appear within boxes in the default templates, they are not inherently tied to any visual representation.
Yes, you can style blocks by editing the associated templates and CSS. Templates are typically named after the block they represent. For example, the main_news block uses the BLOCK_MAIN_NEWS.tpl template.
How do I create custom filter forms for my content?
Answer
The main_content_filtering block can help you generate filter forms automatically. You can use it to create a default form and then customize the generated Filtercode string to refine the filtering options. Once satisfied, you can either continue using the block or extract the HTML and modify it further.
Where can I use Filtercode and Selectcode in Composr?
Answer
Filtercode is supported in various blocks, such as main_multi_content, main_gallery_embed, and main_cc_embed. It's also actively used in modules like catalogues, downloads, galleries, members, and news.
Selectcode is supported in blocks and Comcode tags that explicitly mention it, including the main_multi_content block and the if_in_group Comcode tag.
What is the difference between Filtercode and Selectcode?
Answer
Filtercode is used for querying content based on properties and values, while Selectcode is used for directly specifying a list of IDs or categories to include or exclude. Filtercode offers more complex filtering options, while Selectcode is more straightforward for simple selections.
Composr provides two filtering systems: Filtercode and Selectcode.
Filtercode is used for selecting content based on defined filters, such as field values, ratings, or keywords. It utilizes a syntax of comparisons, separated by commas, where each comparison specifies a field and a matching condition.
Selectcode is a simpler syntax for specifying a list of IDs or categories to include or exclude from the results. It uses a comma-separated list of match-specifier tokens, such as individual IDs, ranges, or wildcard characters.
What are blocks in Composr and how can I use them?
Answer
Blocks are dynamic elements that can be inserted into Comcode pages to add interactive and data-bound functionality to your website. They are essentially reusable components that automatically generate content, such as recent forum posts or information about the logged-in user.
You can add blocks to your pages using the block construction assistant, which allows you to select from a list of available blocks, set their parameters, preview them, and generate the necessary Comcode.
What is rate limiting and how can I enable it in Composr?
Answer
Rate limiting prevents server overload by restricting the number of requests allowed from a single IP address within a specific timeframe. To enable Composr's built-in rate limiting, add the following to your _config.php file:
Static caching drastically improves performance by serving pre-generated pages to bots and guests. This works because these users typically don't require dynamic content. To enable it:
Go to the Installation Options editor (yourbaseurl/config_editor.php). You will need your maintenance password.
Activate the static cache option.
Composr intelligently determines what to cache, and you can further control this via options within the Installation Options. Be aware that enabling static caching may disable eCommerce features for guests unless specifically configured.
If you're having issues with notifications, here are some troubleshooting steps:
Check Email Logs: View the email log (Admin Zone > Audit > E-mail queue/log) to see what notifications have been sent.
Use the SU Feature: Impersonate a member using the SU feature (described in the "Testing access and privileges" tutorial) to view their notification settings and confirm they are set up correctly.
Enable Carbon-copy Email: Configure a "Carbon-copy e-mail address" in the configuration settings to receive copies of all outgoing emails, including notifications. This helps you monitor email delivery.
Verify System Scheduler: Ensure the system scheduler is configured correctly if members are not receiving digest emails.
Check Digest Settings: Confirm that "Enable digest notifications" is enabled in the Messages configuration settings.
Review "Safety listing limit": If a notification has too many categories, members might not see the full selection tree. Adjust the "Safety listing limit" in the configuration settings if necessary.
Can I control which notifications members receive?
Answer
Yes, you can control notification settings through two mechanisms:
Notification Defaults: You can set default notification preferences for all members. You can enable or disable specific notifications and choose the delivery method (Admin Zone > Setup > Notification defaults).
Notification Lock-down: You can force members to receive or prevent them from receiving certain notifications (Admin Zone > Setup > Notification lock-down). This allows you to enforce specific notification policies and manage email volume.
What notification options are available to members?
Answer
Members can choose from a wide range of notifications, including:
Content Updates: Notifications for new or updated content, such as news articles, forum posts, and gallery images.
Private Messages: Alerts for new private messages received.
Friend Requests: Notifications for new friend requests.
Administrative Actions: Alerts for actions taken by site administrators, such as account approvals or content moderation decisions.
Members can choose to receive notifications via:
Email: Notifications sent directly to their email address.
Digest Email: Combined summaries of activity sent in batched emails. This requires the system scheduler and the digest e-mails configuration option to be enabled.
Private Topics: Notifications delivered as private forum topics.
SMS: Notifications sent as text messages (requires configuration and incurs costs).
Web Notifications: Real-time alerts displayed within the Composr interface.
Can I share content like news and banners across the M.S.N.?
Answer
Yes, you can share news by placing it on the central site and using RSS blocks on satellite sites to display it. Banners can be shared by adding them to the central site and configuring satellite sites to use the central site's banner.php script.
What are Composr Clubs and how are they useful for subcommunities?
Answer
Clubs are special usergroups in Conversr (Composr's forum system) designed for creating subcommunities. They come with their own dedicated forums and are managed by members, taking pressure off site staff.
Key features:
No special permissions by default, simplifying permission management.
Members can join and leave like regular usergroups.
