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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	Why does Composr use pre-computed statistics?
Answer	Composr generates statistics from pre-computed data for several reasons: GDPR compliance: Prevents indefinite storage of raw (potentially personal) data while preserving historical statistics. Computational efficiency: Avoids real-time execution of complex calculations, ensuring optimal performance. Scalability: Handles vast amounts of data without performance degradation. Responsiveness: Enables quick and seamless statistics browsing and filtering. Data accessibility: Makes generated data readily available for other Composr components.

Question	What are KPIs and how are they used in Composr?
Answer	KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) are specific measurements selected for marketing analysis. In Composr, time-series graphs can be added as KPIs. They offer several benefits: Quick reference: Available on the Admin Zone dashboard staff checklist. Target setting: Allows setting targets against KPIs, visualized on graphs and in overview summaries. Notifications: Staff members receive regular notifications regarding target achievement status.

Question	How can I perform split testing in Composr?
Answer	Split testing in Composr involves combining tracking codes with events. The simplest approach utilizes Tempcode: Random tracking code: Choose a random tracking code from a set and activate it for the user session. Conditional output: Generate different content variations based on the active tracking code. Subsequently, you can analyze event success rates based on the assigned tracking codes, utilizing both inbuilt events and custom-created events.

Question	What is the purpose of tracking codes in Composr?
Answer	Tracking codes help you identify the sources driving user sessions to your website or associate specific split testing variations with users. Composr offers integrated referral tracking through various means: URL parameter: The _t URL parameter can contain any custom tracking code, automatically registered by the stats addon. Recommend addon: This addon automatically includes tracking codes for the referral source, referring member, and the referred page. Member joining: When a referred member joins, the referring member receives points and a friend request. Referrals addon: Allows manual tracking code input upon joining and facilitates a referrer reward system. Stats addon: Generates graphs of tracking codes, including conversion rate measurements. User lookup tool: Allows checking if a user accessed the site via a tracking code. Tempcode integration: Inject tracking codes into Tempcode using symbols like `{$SET_TRACKING_CODE,some code}` or `{$SPLIT_TEST,some code,some other code}`.

Question	What are the different ways to track events in Composr?
Answer	Composr offers various methods for tracking events: Inbuilt events: Automatically recorded for actions like form submissions, purchases, newsletter signups, etc. Tempcode symbol: Use the `{$LOG_STATS_EVENT,event}` symbol within your templates to track events when the template is displayed. JavaScript function: Employ the `$cms.statsEventTrack` JavaScript function to track events from within your JavaScript code. HTML data attribute: Add `data-click-stats-event-track="{ category: 'some event', nativeTracking: true }"` to HTML elements. This method acts as a wrapper for the JavaScript function. URL wrapping: Wrap URLs in links using the `{$STATS_TRACK_URL,URL,event}` symbol. This approach records events via a redirection script and doesn't rely on JavaScript. The JavaScript and HTML data attribute methods can also be integrated with Google Analytics events.

Question	How do I install geo-location data for Composr statistics?
Answer	Geo-location data installation is usually automatic during the Composr installation process. If not, you can manually install it by navigating to Admin Zone > Audit > Site statistics > Install geolocation data. This action will reschedule the installation task. If you don't see this option, the geo-location data is already installed.

Question	What are the key differences between Google Analytics and Composr statistics?
Answer	While there is some overlap, Composr statistics and Google Analytics are complementary tools. Google Analytics Pros: Offers sophisticated functionality for professional marketers. Integrates with other Google products like AdSense and Search Console. Provides insights based on Google's marketing data, such as visitor demographics. Google Analytics Cons: Limited to web visit data unless custom programming or complex configuration is implemented. Relies on JavaScript for tracking, which can be blocked by users. Uses tracking cookies, raising privacy concerns and potential GDPR compliance issues. Data is potentially sold to third-party data brokers or used for targeted advertising by Google. Closed-source platform. Composr Statistics Pros: Server-side tracking, independent of JavaScript and browser configurations. Contextual information and graphs for data beyond web visits (e.g., sales). Enhanced privacy as it only uses IP addresses, session IDs, and member IDs. Complete data control as it is hosted on your website. Open-source addon, fully customizable. Basic users may find Composr statistics sufficient, while expert marketers might prefer the power of Google Analytics.

Question	What tools and strategies can be used for staff training and development?
Answer	While Composr itself doesn't provide built-in training features, several approaches can be used for staff development: Documentation & Tutorials: Utilize the extensive Composr documentation and tutorials available online to familiarize staff with the platform's functionalities. Mentorship: Pair experienced staff with newcomers to provide guidance and support during the initial learning phase. Private Forums & Chat: Create dedicated communication channels where staff can exchange knowledge, ask questions, and share best practices. Regular Meetings: Conduct regular staff meetings to discuss updates, share information, and address any arising challenges. External Resources: Leverage external resources like online courses or workshops focused on relevant skills, such as content management or community moderation. By investing in ongoing staff training and development, communities can ensure their teams possess the necessary knowledge and skills to perform their roles effectively and contribute to the platform's overall success.

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.

Top 10 Entries

Question	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.`

Question	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."

Question	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.

Question	What are the different ways to control access in Composr?
Answer	Composr offers a robust permission system with various methods for controlling access: Zones, Pages, and Categories: Control which usergroups can view specific zones, pages, and categories (permissions). Admin Zone > Security > Permissions Tree Editor, or on the UI for the Zone / Page / Category. Global Privileges: Define permissions for actions like using advanced Comcode or bypassing the word filter, applicable across the entire site. Admin Zone > Security > Global privileges Module/Page Overrides: Tailor privileges for particular content types by overriding them on the controlling module or page. Admin Zone > Security > Permissions Tree Editor [> Content permissions] Category Overrides: Modify privileges for specific categories, allowing fine-grained control over actions within those categories. Admin Zone > Security > Permissions Tree Editor Match-key Permissions: Implement ad-hoc access control based on specific match-keys, offering flexibility beyond traditional permission structures. Admin Zone > Security > Match-key page restrictions

Question	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.

Question	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.

Question	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.

Question	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.

Question	Can I display different content to different usergroups?
Answer	Yes, you can achieve this by leveraging Tempcode within your templates. By using conditional statements like `{$IS_IN_GROUP}` and `{$HAS_PRIVILEGE}`, you can show or hide specific content sections based on the user's group membership or privileges. This technique allows you to "tease" premium content to non-paying users or tailor the user experience based on their access level.

Question	What are match-key permissions and why would I use them?
Answer	Match-key permissions provide a more granular level of access control beyond the standard zone, page, and category permissions. They allow you to restrict access based on specific "match-keys", which are unique identifiers for different actions or content within Composr. For instance, you could use match-key permissions to prevent guests from submitting banners or to restrict access to the member directory for all but specific usergroups. You can also specify custom access denied errors for each match-key. A "match-key" is typically a page-link, such as `cms:cms_banners:add`.

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