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	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.

Question	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."

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.

Top 10 Entries

Question	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: Code (`PHP`) $SITE_INFO['rate_limiting'] = '1'; $SITE_INFO['rate_limit_time_window'] = '10'; $SITE_INFO['rate_limit_hits_per_window'] = '5'; This configuration limits each IP to 5 requests every 10 seconds. This feature generates soft errors early in the process before Composr fully loads.

Question	How can I reduce disk activity to improve performance?
Answer	If your hard disk is slow, you can implement the following settings in your _config.php file to minimize disk access: $SITE_INFO['disable_smart_decaching'] = '1'; $SITE_INFO['no_disk_sanity_checks'] = '1'; $SITE_INFO['hardcode_common_module_zones'] = '1'; $SITE_INFO['prefer_direct_code_call'] = '1'; $SITE_INFO['charset'] = 'utf-8'; $SITE_INFO['known_suexec'] = '1'; $SITE_INFO['dev_mode'] = '0'; $SITE_INFO['no_extra_logs'] = '1'; $SITE_INFO['no_extra_bots'] = '1'; $SITE_INFO['no_extra_closed_file'] = '1'; $SITE_INFO['no_installer_checks'] = '1'; $SITE_INFO['assume_full_mobile_support'] = '1'; $SITE_INFO['no_extra_mobiles'] = '1'; Note: These settings override default behaviors and may have unintended consequences. Use with caution.

Question	What is static caching and how do I enable it?
Answer	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.

Question	What are Composr caches and how do they improve website performance?
Answer	Composr utilizes various types of caches to enhance performance by storing pre-calculated results and reducing repetitive tasks. These caches include: Language cache: Eliminates the need to parse language files on each page load. Template cache: Avoids reparsing template files repeatedly. Comcode page cache & Comcode cache: Reduces the need to parse Comcode pages and general Comcode usage. Block cache: Caches blocks based on their parameters, minimizing execution. Theme image cache: Prevents redundant searches for theme images. Values caches: Stores calculated values like member post counts. Persistent cache: Keeps frequently used data in memory for faster access. Advanced admin cache: Allows admins to view cached pages while the server generates updates. Static cache: Serves static pages to bots and guests, bypassing much of the framework. Self learning cache: Optimizes resource loading by learning which resources each page requires.

Question	How can I troubleshoot notification problems?
Answer	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.

Question	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.

Question	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.

Question	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.

Question	What should I consider when managing usergroups for subcommunities?
Answer	Rank ladders: Use the default rank ladder for main site ranks and secondary usergroups for subcommunity memberships. New member status: Set default usergroups for new members to grant them initial access while allowing removal if necessary. Leadership: Assign leaders to usergroups to allow members to manage subcommunities. Clubs: Consider using Clubs for member-driven subcommunities with their own forums.

Question	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. Provide a dedicated forum for the club.

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