What is Tempcode, and how is it used in website themeing?
Answer
Tempcode is a templating language used within Composr. It offers a powerful way to control the output of dynamic content and design elements on a website. It works by using:
Parameters: Placeholders for content passed to the template from Composr / PHP.
Symbols: Global functions that perform operations, calculations, or retrieve information.
Directives: Instructions that control the flow or logic of content, such as conditional statements and loops.
Language strings: References to pre-defined text stored in language files for easy translation.
Escaping: Ensures the content generated is properly escaped according to its use case.
Tempcode empowers theme designers to create highly customizable and dynamic websites, allowing for logic, conditional rendering, and manipulation of various website elements.
How can design elements like dominance and attention to detail improve a website?
Answer
Dominance and attention to detail are key to a balanced and engaging website. Important elements can be emphasized using techniques like larger text, unique colors, and increased spacing. Conversely, less crucial elements should receive less emphasis. This interplay helps guide the visitor's eye and ensures a visually harmonious layout.
Attention to detail involves eliminating inconsistencies and distractions, such as typos, misaligned elements, and low-quality images, that can detract from the overall aesthetics and message of the website.
What is the importance of color schemes in website design?
Answer
Color schemes are crucial as they convey emotions and brand identity. Choosing colors that align with your website's purpose can evoke desired feelings in visitors. For example, a website selling chocolates might use shades of brown to subconsciously trigger associations with chocolate. However, an environmental website would be better suited using green, aligning with pre-existing perceptions of environmentalism.
It is also important to maintain consistency with your color scheme, limiting the number of colors used to avoid a conflicting and cluttered appearance.
Can I use Comcode / resource IDs directly when working with the repository?
Answer
Using Comcode / resource IDs directly is not recommended as they may not match between different sites. Use GUIDs instead, which Composr automatically substitutes for IDs before parsing Comcode. You can use Commandr commands like find_guid_via_id to find the GUID for specific resources.
You can access the repository using WebDAV (non-bundled addon), which allows you to view it as a folder on your computer. Composr uses the SabreDAV PHP library for WebDAV functionality. However, please be aware that SabreDAV is deprecated and may not function correctly on newer PHP versions.
The repository is structured as a filesystem with various meta-filesystems mounted under a root directory. These meta-filesystems include:
bin: Stores Commandr scripts.
database: Provides access to the raw database.
etc: Allows access to Composr configuration options.
home or filedump: Provides access to the File/Media Library.
home contains the files in a special JSON format with metadata
filedump contains the raw files
members: Lists registered members with their settings and user groups.
raw or root: Provides access to the Composr installation directory.
raw contains the raw files without overrides, and modifying any file modifies them directly without automatic override handling
root contains the files with applicable overrides applied automatically, and Composr will automatically handle overrides and utilizing _custom directories when these files are modified
var: Contains structured website resources and content.
Gift points are a separate points balance that can only be sent to other members as gifts. They cannot be spent directly or used in escrow transactions.
Gift points are earned daily based on usergroup membership and replenish independently of the regular points balance. When a member sends gift points, they become regular points for the recipient.
Yes, members can send points to each other as a token of appreciation, reward for a service, or as part of an agreement using the Points Escrow system.
Points are typically awarded immediately upon content submission to encourage participation. However, forum posts requiring validation only earn points after approval to deter spam. To further encourage high-quality content, consider using the "awards" addon to reward exceptional contributions.
Can I reward members who use specific browsers or operating systems?
Answer
Yes, Composr allows you to configure bonus points based on browser/platform criteria. You can set bonus points for members using Open Source browsers, specific operating systems, or even those who have enabled privacy features like "Do Not Track" (DNT) or "Global Privacy Control" (GPC).
What's the difference between points balance and rank points?
Answer
Points balance refers to the number of points a member currently has available to spend. This is the 'liquid' currency they can use for various actions.
Rank points represent the total points a member has accumulated throughout their time on the website. These points determine the member's rank, which can grant access to additional privileges and act as a status symbol.
What are cleanup tools in Composr and how do I use them?
Answer
Cleanup tools assist with website maintenance by deleting unnecessary data and optimizing database tables. They are divided into "De-cachers" and "Optimizers". You can access them through:
PHP-Info provides a comprehensive overview of your PHP configuration. You can access it within Composr by navigating to Admin Zone > Tools > PHP-Info / Server Checks.
This page also provides additional useful server information.
What is the purpose of the Health Check feature in Composr?
Answer
The Health Check feature in Composr proactively identifies potential issues that may affect your website's performance, security, and overall health. It performs various checks and alerts you to problems like:
Broken links and forms
Security vulnerabilities
Outdated software versions
Server performance issues
Email configuration problems
The Health Check can be run manually or scheduled to run automatically and send e-mail notifications of results.
How can I use Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) to enhance my website?
Answer
CDNs improve website performance by serving content from geographically distributed servers, reducing latency and server load. You can leverage CDNs for your Composr website by:
Configuring the CDN option in Composr with a comma-separated list of CDN domain names.
Ensuring your files are mirrored on the CDN servers.
Utilizing the CDN_FILTER directive and symbol to control what content is served via CDN.
