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 |
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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. |
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| Chris Warburton | developer for ocProducts |
Made some key contributions to ocPortal |
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H
| Name | Photograph | Title / Role | Contributions / Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haydn Maidment | project manager for ocProducts |
None available |
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J
| Name | Photograph | Title / Role | Contributions / Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Davidson | contributor |
written many tutorials via Arvixe |
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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. |
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| 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 |
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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 |
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S
| Name | Photograph | Title / Role | Contributions / Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Jarvis | project manager for ocProducts |
Wrote many tutorials via Arvixe |
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Newest 10 Entries
| Question | What is the Composr Repository? |
|---|---|
| Answer | The Composr repository is a user-friendly representation of Composr's data, which is typically stored in a database and on the filesystem. It presents the data in an easily accessible format using the JSON standard and can be accessed as a folder on your computer via WebDAV. |
| Question | What is Commandr? |
|---|---|
| Answer | Commandr is a command-line interface designed for experienced system administrators who prefer using a command line over a GUI. It supplements the Composr Admin Zone, allowing you to execute commands in the form of:
You can access Commandr via the Admin Zone > Tools > Commandr or using the Commandr button in the footer. |
| Question | Are there alternative chat solutions that integrate with Composr? |
|---|---|
| Answer | Yes, you can integrate third-party chat solutions with Composr. For example, CometChat is a commercial chat system that provides a Composr integration. You can also leverage video chat services like Talky, Jitsi, or appear.in by embedding links within your chat templates. For sales-chat needs, consider integrating a dedicated live chat platform like Comm100. |
| Question | Are there any limitations to the Composr Chat system? |
|---|---|
| Answer | While the Composr Chat system provides robust chat and IM features, it does have some limitations. Currently, it does not support video chat, sales-focused chat features, desktop app integration, or optimal performance for very high volumes of concurrent users. Additionally, it is only near real-time as Composr queries for new messages using AJAX at a set interval. |
| Question | Are there any safety guidelines for younger users? |
|---|---|
| Answer | It's crucial to emphasize safety, especially for younger users. Encourage them to follow these guidelines: never arrange to meet anyone from a chatroom in person, be cautious about sharing personal information, and report any suspicious behavior to moderators. |
| Question | Can I download chat logs? |
|---|---|
| Answer | Yes, you can download logs of any chat conversation. Simply navigate to the chatroom, click on the "Download chat logs" link, specify the desired date/time range, and the system will generate a downloadable log file for you. |
| Question | How can I moderate the chatrooms? |
|---|---|
| Answer | Composr offers a range of moderation features. Moderators can edit or delete messages, ban disruptive users, and delete entire chatrooms if necessary. Inline moderation links are available within chatrooms for quick actions, while the Admin Zone provides comprehensive moderation tools for managing chat content and user behavior. |
| Question | What is Chatcode and how can I use it? |
|---|---|
| Answer | Chatcode is a system of simple commands that you can embed within your chat messages to perform advanced actions. These actions include sending private messages to specific users within a chatroom, interacting with automated bots, sending chatroom invitations, and even creating new chatrooms. |
| Question | How does the chat system work? |
|---|---|
| Answer | The chat system utilizes AJAX technology, enabling dynamic updates without requiring page reloads. It includes a "Chat Lobby" where users can view available chatrooms and manage their friend lists for instant messaging. Users can join chatrooms to participate in group conversations or engage in private conversations with friends. |
| Question | What is the Composr Chat system? |
|---|---|
| Answer | Composr Chat is a feature built into the Composr CMS that provides both chatrooms and instant messaging capabilities. It offers real-time, text-based communication for users on your website. |
Top 10 Entries
| Question | How do I add dynamic content to my Comcode pages? |
|---|---|
| Answer | Composr utilizes "blocks" to embed dynamic content and functionality within Comcode pages. These blocks can range from displaying recent forum posts to showing information about the logged-in user. To add a block, you can use the "block construction assistant" accessible via a button above the editor. This tool provides a user-friendly way to:
|
| Question | How do I create a new Comcode page? |
|---|---|
| Answer | Composr provides two easy ways to create a new Comcode page: Method 1: Direct URL Entry Type the desired URL of your new page into your browser's address bar. Since the page doesn't exist yet, Composr will present you with a 404 error and a link to create it. Click the link to open the Comcode page editor. Method 2: Admin Zone Navigate to Admin Zone > Content > Pages (Comcode pages). Scroll down to the list of existing pages and enter the name of your new page using the ":" (page-link) format. For example, a new page in the Welcome zone named "about" would be entered as ":about", or a new page in the "site" zone named "foobar" would be entered as "site:foobar". |
| Question | What are Comcode pages? |
|---|---|
| Answer | Comcode pages are standalone content pages within the Composr system that you can create and edit using either a WYSIWYG editor, a simple markup language called Comcode, or a combination of both. Think of them as documents within your website, offering flexibility beyond the structured content provided by modules like forums or news. You can use them to build landing pages, about us sections, contact pages, and more. |
| Question | Can I create custom Comcode tags? |
|---|---|
| Answer | Yes, you can create custom Comcode tags through the Admin Zone > Setup > Custom Comcode. This allows you to add unique functionality or wrap specific HTML code (especially if you use a certain block of HTML frequently on your site) for easier use. Custom Comcode tags can be tailored to your needs and even include your own parameters. You can also specify if the Comcode is dangerous so only those with elevated privileges can use it. |
| Question | What are the security considerations when using Comcode? |
|---|---|
| Answer | Composr has a multi-tiered security system for Comcode. HTML code is filtered based on user permissions to prevent XSS attacks. Content is parsed with different credentials depending on who is editing or adding it, ensuring users can't elevate their privileges by modifying existing content. |
| Question | What is oEmbed and how does it work with Comcode? |
|---|---|
| Answer | oEmbed is a system that allows you to embed content from other websites simply by pasting its URL. When you paste a supported link in Comcode, oEmbed will automatically embed the content for you in a nicely-formatted box. For example, pasting a YouTube video link will embed the video directly into your content so it can be played on your website. |
| Question | How do I add attachments to my content? |
|---|---|
| Answer | Composr has an integrated attachment system. You can upload files, like images or documents, via the attachments section (or the image button if using the WYSIWYG editor with simplified attachments UI), and they will be automatically added to your Comcode using the attachment tag. You can then move this tag within your content to position the attachment as needed. |
| Question | How do I use Comcode tags? |
|---|---|
| Answer | Comcode tags are similar to HTML tags, but use square brackets [] instead of angle brackets <>. Each tag has an opening and closing tag, with content in between. Example: [b]This text would be bold.[/b] Tags can also have parameters: Example: [img src="image.jpg" alt="Image description"] A shorthand exists for the param parameter (the primary parameter of Comcode tags): Example: [page="_SEARCH:howdy_do"]Howdy do[/page] |
| Question | What are the advantages of using Comcode? |
|---|---|
| Answer | Comcode offers several advantages: Intuitive content authoring: It's written like plain text, making it easy to learn and use. Dynamic functionality: You can embed dynamic content like blocks, comments, and forms using Comcode. Special effects: You can easily add prebuilt graphical features like tabs, carousels, and more. Basic styling and layout: Comcode allows for basic website styling and page layout. HTML integration: For advanced styling and layout, you can embed HTML code within Comcode with the semihtml tag. |
| Question | What is Comcode? |
|---|---|
| Answer | Comcode is Composr's markup language, similar to BBCode used in forums. It allows you to create formatted text, embed dynamic content like blocks and attachments, and even mix in HTML for advanced styling. It's user-friendly and designed to work alongside standard web technologies. |