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	Where are download galleries located, and can I move them?
Answer	By default, download galleries (to contain screenshots of a download) are placed under the root gallery. You can move them to a different gallery for better organization. Here's how: Create a new container gallery (e.g., with codename "downloads"). Change the "Create download galleries under" configuration option to your new gallery's codename. Use Commandr to move existing galleries to the new location.

Question	Can I sell downloads on my Composr site?
Answer	Yes, the download system integrates with the points system, allowing you to charge for downloads. This is particularly useful for communities where members create and share content, like game modifications. You can set prices for downloads and creators earn points when users purchase them. Additionally, you can create a subscription-based system by requiring points for downloads, which users can purchase via methods like PayPal.

Question	What does it mean to "outmode" a download?
Answer	Outmoding means marking a download as superseded or replaced by a newer version. When editing the older download, you link it to the new one in the "outmode" field. This makes it clear to users that there is a newer version available. This is handy especially if you provide software.

Question	What are the different ways to add downloads to my Composr site?
Answer	Composr offers several methods for adding files to the download system: Uploading via web form (when adding a download in the Content Management Zone): This is the simplest method, where you attach the file directly when defining the download details. However, it's not suitable for large files and can be affected by unreliable internet connections. Uploading and referencing the URL: You can manually upload the file using FTP/SFTP/SCP and then provide the URL to the file in the 'Add download' form. While this is better for large files, it requires additional access, and the file isn't managed directly by Composr. Batch adding from an FTP server: This allows staff to add multiple downloads from an FTP server in one go using FTP URLs. It's efficient for bulk uploads but requires separate addition of descriptions. Batch adding from a directory: Similar to the FTP method, staff can add downloads from a web server directory accessible by URL. File/media library (filedump): Webmasters can use any of the above methods to upload a file to `uploads/filedump` and then reference it in a download. This is especially handy if you are going to reference the file more than once on your site.

Question	What is the Composr Setup Wizard and what does it do?
Answer	The Setup Wizard is a guided process to help you configure essential settings for your Composr website after installation. It can: Generate a default theme and logo Set initial site options Remove predefined content and unnecessary addons Place initial blocks on your pages While convenient, be aware that re-running the Setup Wizard may overwrite existing settings and customizations if you already configured your site.

Question	How can I change the structure of my Composr website's pages?
Answer	You can delete and move pages using the Admin Zone > Structure > Sitemap editor. However, moving pages between zones might invalidate existing page-links unless specified using the _SEARCH zone in the link. To avoid issues with existing links and search engine indexing, consider setting up redirects when moving pages. This can be done through Admin Zone > Structure > Redirects. It is recommended not to move default Composr pages as it can complicate future upgrades.

Question	What are Installation Options and how can I change them?
Answer	Installation Options are low-level settings for Composr, such as database details and default language. You can access the Installation Options editor through: The script: `http://yourbaseurl/config_editor.php` The Admin Zone: Admin Zone > Setup > Configuration > Installation Options Remember that you'll need your maintenance password, specified during installation, to access and modify these options.

Question	How do I open or close my Composr website to the public?
Answer	By default, your Composr site is closed after installation. To open it to the public (or to close an opened site), go to Admin Zone > Setup > Configuration > Site options > Closed site and adjust the setting accordingly. You can also configure a closed site message. While a closed site prevents public access, it's worth noting that users can still join a closed Conversr-powered site if they have access to the join module URL. However, they won't be able to log in unless they're assigned to a usergroup with "Access closed site" permissions. You can modify the join module's permissions to restrict access further.

Question	What is the .htaccess file and how does it relate to Composr?
Answer	The .htaccess file is a configuration file for the Apache web server. It allows you to define settings that apply to the directory where it's located and its subdirectories. Composr can leverage .htaccess to enhance security and enable features like "URL Schemes." You can try renaming the provided recommended.htaccess file to .htaccess. This file includes recommended options that tighten security and ensure Composr has necessary PHP and Apache features activated. Note that some web hosts might restrict the use of .htaccess files. You should regularly review recommended.htaccess for changes between Composr updates.

Question	How do Composr permissions work?
Answer	Composr employs a multi-layered permission system with two main types: privileges and access permissions. The system grants users the best possible access based on the combination of their usergroups. Privileges define broad permissions, such as accessing a closed site or content manipulation abilities based on impact level (low, medium, high). You can set privileges for usergroups via checkboxes, with the option to override them for specific pages or categories. Go to Admin Zone > Security > Global privileges. Access permissions control what content users can view. These permissions are layered: Zone access permissions Page (or content entry) access permissions Catalogue access permissions Category access permissions To configure access permissions, you can edit the specific resource or utilize the Permissions Tree Editor under Admin Zone > Security > Permissions Tree Editor.

Top 10 Entries

Question	What is post history and why is it important?
Answer	Post history tracks changes made to forum posts, including edits and deletions. This feature helps monitor for inappropriate edits or attempts to cover up spam or rule violations. Staff can review the history, restore deleted content, or even permanently erase it.

Question	Can I moderate content in Composr forums?
Answer	Yes, Composr provides various moderation tools for managing forum content. Moderators can edit or delete posts and topics, move topics between forums, close or open discussions, and validate content submitted by users who require approval. These are done in an actions dropdown on a topic, or through buttons on individual posts.

Question	What is the "black hole" technique and how does it work?
Answer	The "black hole" technique involves adding hidden fields to forms. While invisible to human users, bots often detect and fill these fields, revealing their nature. Composr uses this information to flag and block suspected spam submissions.

Question	How can I report spam in Composr?
Answer	You can report spam using the "report this" link or "report" (forum post button) feature. This alerts staff to the issue, allowing them to investigate and take appropriate action, such as deleting the spam, warning the user, or banning them. It also creates a Support Ticket between the reporter and staff in case the staff need further information.

Question	What are Remote Block Lists (RBLs)?
Answer	RBLs are third-party lists that track IP addresses associated with spamming activity. Composr can be configured to consult these lists and block or flag requests from suspicious IPs. However, relying solely on RBLs may lead to false positives, as some lists are overly broad.

Question	What are CAPTCHAs and how do they work?
Answer	CAPTCHAs are tests designed to differentiate between human users and bots. Composr's unique CAPTCHA method uses CSS and JavaScript to generate images or audio challenges that are difficult for bots to solve. While effective, some spammers use human workers to bypass CAPTCHAs, leading to the need for additional anti-spam measures.

Question	How does Composr prevent spam?
Answer	Composr offers several tools and techniques to combat spam, including: CAPTCHA: A visual or audio test that humans can easily pass but bots struggle with. This helps prevent automated spam submissions. Heuristics: If Composr thinks an action is spam based off of configurable criteria, it can either flag the content for validation, block the attempt, or ban the IP address outright. Public block lists: Composr can utilize the Stop Forum Spam system or other block list systems to identify and block known spammers based on IP addresses, usernames, and email addresses. Link posting restrictions: Disallowing links in member profiles for users with no posts and adding "nofollow" attributes to links discourages spammers seeking backlinks. Black hole fields: Hidden form fields that should remain empty. Bots often fill these in, allowing Composr to identify them. Project Honey Pot integration: A system that places hidden links on pages, attracting and identifying spam bots. Content/post reporting: Users can report spam, enabling staff to take action. Guest posting limitations: Restricting guest permissions raises the bar for spammers. Advanced techniques: Developer addons like "antispam_question" or probation systems provide additional layers of protection.

Question	What is the "Sitemap" in Composr, and how is it used?
Answer	The Sitemap is a hierarchical representation of your website's content, including zones, pages, categories, and entries. Composr generates the Sitemap dynamically and uses it for various purposes: Generating menus. Creating the user-facing sitemap page. Generating the XML Sitemap for search engines. Providing a visual representation of your website structure in the Sitemap editor and Permissions tree editor. You can edit the sitemap under Admin Zone > Structure > Sitemap editor.

Question	Can I change the URL scheme after my website is already live?
Answer	Yes, you can enable or change a URL scheme on an existing website. Old URLs will redirect to the new format, ensuring that your SEO isn't negatively impacted. The canonical URL will also be specified in your website's HTML, further protecting your search rankings.

Question	How do URL schemes work, and what are the benefits of using them?
Answer	URL schemes allow you to control the structure of your website's URLs. Composr offers several schemes that create shorter, more user-friendly URLs: /pg/ (e.g., /pg/home) .htm (e.g., /home.htm) Simple unadorned URLs (e.g., /home) Benefits of using URL schemes include: Improved user experience with more readable URLs. Potential SEO benefits, as some believe search engines favor cleaner URLs. Easier sharing on social media and other platforms.

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