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 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.

Top 10 Entries

Question	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.

Question	What are some alternatives to Photoshop for web design?
Answer	While Photoshop is a popular choice, there are other excellent options available, including: GIMP/GIMPShop: These free, open-source image editors provide a robust set of features comparable to Photoshop. Paint.NET: This free, Windows-only software offers a user-friendly interface and essential image editing tools. Corel Paint Shop Pro: A more affordable alternative to Photoshop, Corel Paint Shop Pro delivers a good balance of features and ease of use.

Question	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.

Question	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.

Question	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.

Question	What precautions should I take when using the Composr Repository?
Answer	Exercise caution when working with the repository: Avoid using it as the sole backup method; rely on regular database backups. Work primarily under the "var" meta-filesystem and copy specific folders/files rather than the entire repository. Do not use tools like "rsync" or Git on the whole repository without careful consideration.

Question	What are the limitations of the Composr Repository?
Answer	While powerful, the repository has limitations: Automatic syndication is not performed for content added via the repository. Multi-language content translations are not retained. Transferring complex data schemas between staging sites may have limitations. Merging separate websites into one is not supported through the repository. You should use Composr's import tool instead.

Question	How can I access the Composr Repository?
Answer	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.

Question	How is the Composr Repository structured?
Answer	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.

Question	What are the benefits of using the Composr Repository?
Answer	The repository offers several benefits: Opacity: Provides a clear view of Composr's content and resource data. Tactility: Allows easy manipulation of data through drag-and-drop operations. Data transfer: Simplifies transferring data between sites. Desktop application integration: Enables using text editors and file-search tools for tasks like mass search and replace. Configuration management: Tracks changes to options and facilitates transfer between sites. Backups: Allows backing up portions of the repository. Revision control: Supports built-in and advanced revision control. Filesystem for Commandr: Acts as a file system for the Commandr command line. Resource API: Offers an abstract resource API for programmers. API for external apps: Provides an API for mobile apps and other external applications.

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