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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Server issues: Your server might be on a spam blacklist, or there may be problems with your server's reverse DNS or HELO settings.
Content issues: Your email content might trigger spam filters due to factors like an unreasonable image-to-text ratio, broken reply-to addresses, or inconsistent text and HTML versions.
SPF records: Your "Website email address" might be hosted on a different server with an SPF record that doesn't authorize your web server to send emails from that address.
Composr can use either its own SMTP connection code or PHP's built-in SMTP functionality. Using PHP's SMTP settings is generally recommended and can be managed at the server level. However, if your SMTP server requires authentication (which PHP doesn't support natively) or if your server lacks an SMTP server, you'll need to use Composr's SMTP connection code, configurable in the Configuration module.
Composr constructs emails using language strings and templates written in Comcode. It sends emails in both HTML and plain text formats to ensure compatibility with different email clients. To minimize the chance of emails being marked as spam, Composr embeds CSS and images directly into the email instead of linking to them externally.
How can I make my website design more appealing to different thinking styles?
Answer
Different individuals process information differently. Some are more visual, while others are more analytical. To appeal to diverse thinking styles, a website design should incorporate a balance of elements. For instance, using a striking header image coupled with well-structured, informative text can cater to both visual and analytical thinkers. Understanding your target audience and their thinking styles is key to creating a design that resonates with them.
What considerations are necessary when designing for different user levels on a website?
Answer
User levels often necessitate different content or functionalities. For instance, administrators might need access to content creation tools, while regular visitors only view published content. Consider these factors during design:
Visibility: Some elements might need to be hidden or displayed based on user roles (e.g., admin-only links).
Permissions: Design elements and interactive features should reflect the permissions granted to different user levels.
Customization: Consider allowing users to customize their experience based on their preferences and roles.
Remember, a well-designed website should cater to all user levels while maintaining security and a cohesive experience.
How do I make my website theme mobile-friendly in Composr?
Answer
Composr offers several features to optimize themes for mobile:
Mobile mode: You can design separate layouts and CSS styles specifically for mobile devices, which Composr automatically activates when a mobile user visits your site.
Tempcode's 0 symbol: This symbol helps conditionally display content based on whether the user is on a mobile device or desktop.
CSS media queries: By using media queries, you can target specific screen sizes and adjust styles accordingly, making your theme responsive.
Viewport meta tag: This tag controls how the browser scales and displays the webpage on mobile devices, ensuring a properly sized and zoomable experience.
What is responsive design, and why is it essential for mobile devices?
Answer
Responsive design ensures a website adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes, providing an optimal viewing experience across devices, particularly mobile phones and tablets. It utilizes techniques like flexible grids, fluid images, and CSS media queries to adjust layout and content based on screen dimensions.
This is crucial because mobile device usage is significant, and a non-responsive site leads to a poor user experience on smaller screens, potentially driving visitors away.
How can I create a theme pack for release in Composr?
Answer
After designing your theme, go to the admin panel's "Addons" section. You'll find an option to export your current theme as an addon. Composr will package the necessary files into a downloadable archive, ready to be shared with others or submitted to the Composr community for installation on other sites.
