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	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`.

Question	How can I control who can view specific pages or categories?
Answer	You can manage access control for zones, pages, and categories primarily through the Permissions Tree Editor (Admin Zone > Security > Permissions Tree Editor). This tool provides a central location to set view permissions for different usergroups. You can also edit individual zone and category permissions through their respective editing interfaces, but the Permissions Tree Editor offers a more streamlined and efficient approach.

Question	What is the difference between access permissions and privileges in Composr?
Answer	Access permissions control whether members of a certain usergroup can view specific areas of your site, such as zones, pages, and categories. A member only needs one of their usergroups to have access permission to view the content. But permissions work on a deny-first policy; if one of the permissions applicable to viewing something is denied for a usergroup, then the whole thing is denied for that usergroup (e.g. even if a download itself grants access, access will be denied if its category denies access). Privileges, on the other hand, dictate what actions a usergroup is allowed to perform across the website, like using advanced Comcode or bypassing the word filter.

Question	How can I change the news archive display to show summaries instead of just headlines?
Answer	By default, the news archive screen shows only headlines. To display summaries like the news block, add :inline=1 to the page-link. For example, if your news archive page-link is site:news, modify it to site:news:inline=1. This will show summaries instead of just the headlines in the archive view.

Question	What are Trackbacks and how do they work in Composr?
Answer	Trackbacks are a blogging feature that creates a link from an article on one blog to an article on another, acting as a citation mechanism. How Trackbacks Work: The original article includes a "trackback" link in its HTML. When another blogger writes an article referencing the original, their software uses the trackback link to inform the original site. Composr receives the trackback and displays a list of articles linking back to the original. To enable trackbacks, go to Admin Zone > Setup > Configuration > Feature options and check the "Trackbacks" option. You can then enable trackbacks for individual content items.

Question	How can I filter the news archive to show specific content?
Answer	The news system allows advanced filtering: Blog vs. Non-Blog Posts: Choose to display blog posts only, regular news posts only, or both. Category Filtering: Limit results to specific news categories. Double Filtering: Apply a second category filter for a two-level categorization system (useful for large sites). These filters are controlled through parameters passed to the news blocks and carried through navigation links. When viewing a news post, you can also filter by the categories associated with that post.

Question	How do I display external RSS feeds on my Composr website?
Answer	Composr offers two blocks for displaying RSS and Atom feeds in a news-like format: main_rss block: Suitable for main content areas side_rss block: Designed for sidebars and smaller spaces To add a block, use the Block Construction Assistant or insert the following Comcode into your page: `[block="http://example.com/feed.xml"]main_rss[/block]` `[block="http://example.com/feed.xml"]side_rss[/block]` Replace "http://example.com/feed.xml" with the actual feed URL. Important: Exercise caution when using external feeds. Ensure the source is trustworthy, as malicious feeds can contain harmful code.

Question	What are RSS/Atom feeds and how do they benefit my website?
Answer	Feeds, in formats like RSS and Atom, are XML files that syndicate your website content, making it accessible beyond your website. They can be viewed using feed reader applications (e.g., Feedly, Vienna) or integrated into other websites or web browsers. Composr supports both RSS and Atom for syndicating news and other content. While RSS is more common, Atom is a cleaner, standardized format. Both effectively share your content updates. Benefits: Wider audience reach: Your content becomes accessible to those using feed readers and aggregators. Content repurposing: Other websites can incorporate your feed, increasing visibility. Increased traffic: Users discovering your content in feeds may visit your website directly. Staying on top: Those who use your RSS feeds will see when you post new news articles.

Question	What are Personal Categories/Blogs in Composr? How do I create one?
Answer	Composr allows members of permitted usergroups to have their own personal news categories, also known as "blogs". These blogs appear as a tab on the member's profile (Conversr-only) and may also appear in the main news block depending on your configuration. To create a blog, a member simply adds a news post and selects their personal category. If the category doesn't exist, it will be automatically created upon submission. A dedicated "Blogs" CMS module (Admin Zone > Content > Blogs) is available if the "Separate blogs" configuration option is enabled. This simplified module focuses on blog posting and can be used to restrict members from submitting to general website news.

Top 10 Entries

Question	What web technologies does Composr use beyond HTML, CSS, and JavaScript?
Answer	Composr relies on a wide range of web technologies (depending on what features and settings you use), including: Protocols: HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, SFTP, SMTP, IMAP, POP3, DNS, and others Data formats: XML, JSON, CSV, PHP's serialized format, iCalendar, and various image and archive formats Standards: Accessibility standards (WCAG, WAI-ARIA), metadata standards (Open Graph, schema.org, Dublin Core), and microformats Server-side technologies: PHP, SQL (for database interaction) Composr-specific technologies: Tempcode (template system), Comcode (content language), Page-links, Filtercode, Selectcode, and Language packs

Question	How does Composr ensure printed web pages look appropriate?
Answer	Composr uses a combination of approaches to ensure printed web pages have a suitable layout: Automatic browser behavior: Browsers typically disable background images when printing. CSS print stylesheets: Composr utilizes CSS to define specific display rules for printed versions of pages, such as removing margins and hiding social media links. wide_print parameter: This parameter, activated through specific links or specifying it in the URL, further influences page layout for printing.

Question	How can I test my website's compatibility across different browsers and devices?
Answer	Testing your website on different browsers and devices can be challenging due to operating system limitations and device availability. Here are some solutions: Virtual Machines: Use virtual machines to run different operating systems and test various Internet Explorer versions. Device Emulation: Use built-in device emulation features in browsers like Chrome to simulate mobile devices. Online Testing Services: Employ commercial online testing services like BrowserStack to access a wide range of browsers and devices hosted in the cloud. Real Devices: Conduct testing on physical mobile devices for a more realistic user experience.

Question	What are the recommended desktop settings for viewing a Composr website?
Answer	A minimum screen resolution of 1024x768 is strongly recommended for viewing a Composr website. This is the minimum resolution for which the default theme is designed. Using a lower resolution might lead to display issues or an unsatisfactory browsing experience. As of version 11, smaller resolutions will often trigger the mobile layout automatically (responsiveness) to ensure a better UI for smaller displays.

Question	How does Composr handle browser compatibility?
Answer	Composr aims to support all modern browsers, including the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Internet Explorer 11. It is designed to work seamlessly with browsers that automatically update, like Chrome and Firefox. For browsers with manual updates, Composr generally supports the last two releases. While not explicitly supported, Composr will often address bug reports for other popular browsers like Opera, Chromium, and Konqueror. Additionally, Composr strives to provide an accessible experience for text-mode browsers and those designed for users with disabilities.

Question	What is CSS and how does it impact website design?
Answer	CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is a language used to describe the visual presentation of a web page written in HTML or XHTML. It controls aspects like: Fonts and typography: Defining font families, sizes, weights, and styles. Colors and backgrounds: Setting colors for text, backgrounds, borders, and other elements. Layout and positioning: Controlling the placement and arrangement of elements on a page. Visual effects: Adding shadows, gradients, transitions, and other visual enhancements. By separating content structure (XHTML) from visual presentation (CSS), websites become easier to maintain and update. Changes to the design can be made without altering the underlying HTML structure. Composr utilizes CSS extensively for theming, allowing users to manipulate the website's visual appearance.

Question	Why is understanding XHTML important for website customization?
Answer	XHTML (Extensible HyperText Markup Language) is the language used to structure web page content. It defines the various elements of a webpage, such as headings, paragraphs, images, and links. Understanding XHTML is crucial for website customization because it allows you to: Modify page layout: Change the arrangement and positioning of elements on a page. Add new content: Insert additional text, images, or other multimedia elements. Customize the appearance of existing elements: Change fonts, colors, sizes, and other visual styles. Integrate interactive features: Embed JavaScript code for dynamic functionality. Composr uses XHTML for its templates, allowing users to extensively customize the website's design and layout.

Question	How does JavaScript enhance website interactivity?
Answer	JavaScript is a programming language that runs in web browsers, allowing for dynamic and interactive elements on web pages. It enables features like: Dynamic content updates: Modifying page content without requiring a full page reload. User interface enhancements: Creating interactive elements like dropdown menus, image sliders, and form validation. Animations and visual effects: Adding visual appeal and engaging user experiences. Asynchronous communication: Fetching data from, or sending data to, servers in the background without disrupting user interaction. Composr relies on JavaScript for its default theme and administrative features.

Question	What is the difference between cookies and sessions?
Answer	While both cookies and sessions are used for user identification and maintaining state, there are key differences: Storage: Cookies are stored on the user's computer, while sessions are stored on the server. Expiration: Session cookies expire when the browser is closed, while persistent cookies have a set expiration date. Sessions typically expire after a period of inactivity. Data sensitivity: Sessions are generally used for more sensitive data, as the information is not stored on the user's computer and therefore less likely to be stolen by a hacker. Composr uses both cookies and sessions. Session cookies are primarily used for user identification (such as anonymously matching a user to a session in the server database), while persistent cookies can be used for remembering login details if the user chooses.

Question	What are cookies and how do they work?
Answer	A cookie is a small piece of data that a website stores on a user's computer. It is sent from the user's web browser to the web server each time a page is viewed. Cookies are used for various purposes, including: User identification: Cookies can be used to identify a specific user, even if they are not logged in. This allows websites to remember user preferences, shopping cart contents, and other information. Tracking user behavior: Cookies can be used to track user behavior on a website, such as the pages they visit and the links they click. This information can be used to improve the website's design and content. Advertising: Cookies can be used to deliver targeted advertising to users based on their browsing history. There are two main types of cookies: Session cookies: These cookies are temporary and are deleted when the user closes their web browser. They are often used to store information about the user's current session, such as the items in their shopping cart. Persistent cookies: These cookies are stored on the user's computer for a longer period. They can be used to remember user preferences, such as their login details or language settings.

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