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 redirects and how can I use them for subsites?
Answer	Redirects let you create custom URL paths that point to different zones and pages within your site. Examples: Sharing modules across zones: Create a redirect to make a module in one zone appear in another. Creating shortcuts: Use a redirect to point a short URL to a longer, more complex URL. Moving pages: Use a redirect to ensure old links still work after moving a page to a new location. Go to Admin Zone > Structure > Redirects.

Question	What are virtual roots and how do I use them?
Answer	Virtual roots let you make a sub-category within a Composr module (e.g., downloads) appear as the top-level category. This is useful for creating separate "databases" of content for different subcommunities. To create a virtual root: Enable "Virtual root links" in the Admin Zone > Setup > Configuration > Feature options > Advanced. Navigate to the desired category while logged in as staff. Click the rightmost link in the breadcrumbs (it will be an anchor for virtual root creation). Use the resulting URL in your menus to link to the "virtualized" category.

Question	Can I have subsites and subcommunities within a single Composr installation?
Answer	Yes, Composr offers various tools to create subsites and subcommunities within a single installation: Zones: Create separate sections under different URLs with their own pages and content. Redirects: Make modules appear in different zones without actually moving them. Categories & Virtual Roots: Organize content like galleries, downloads, and catalogs into sub-trees that appear as separate entities. Usergroups & Permissions: Group members into subcommunities and control their access to specific content. Themes: Customize the look of different zones.

Question	What is the difference between a central site and a satellite site in an M.S.N.?
Answer	The central site hosts the shared forum, member database, and netlink system. It is the core of your M.S.N. Satellite sites are the additional websites within your network. They connect to the central site for member information and forum access.

Question	What are the advantages and disadvantages of using an M.S.N.?
Answer	Advantages: Full control: You have complete control over each site's settings and content. Administrative separation: Managing staff and content for each site is more organized. Special M.S.N. features: Composr provides specific features like the 'netlink' system for easy navigation between network sites. Disadvantages: Configuration and maintenance: Setting up and maintaining multiple sites can be more complex.

Question	What is a multi-site network (M.S.N.) in Composr?
Answer	An M.S.N. allows you to run multiple Composr websites (installations) that share a common forum and member database. It's ideal for website networks with shared communities but segmented content, staff, or branding. In essence, members who join one site automatically have accounts on all sites within the network.

Question	What are the key classes and utilities provided by Composr Mobile SDK?
Answer	CMS SDK provides several classes with utility functions mirroring PHP and Composr APIs, including: CMS_Arrays: Array operations (e.g., implode, explode, list_to_map). CMS_Strings: String manipulation (e.g., strip_tags, html_entity_decode, strpos). CMS_Langs: Localization functions (e.g., do_lang). CMS_Preferences: User preference management. CMS_Timestamps: Timestamp functions (e.g., get_timezoned_date_time, time). CMS_HTTP: Web service interactions (e.g., rawurlencode, json_decode, http_get_contents). CMS_Users: User data and permission checks (e.g., has_page_access, is_staff). CMS_Flow: App flow control (e.g., access_denied, attach_message). CMS_Forms: Form building and management. CMS_Database: SQLite database access and manipulation. CMS_Notification: Push notification handling. CMSNetworkManager: Network request execution and response handling.

Question	How do I set up Composr Mobile SDK in my iOS and Android projects?
Answer	iOS (Xcode): Create a new project or open an existing one. Add a Prefix Header file (.pch) if you don't have one, following the provided instructions. Add required frameworks to your project's Build Phases. Add the CMS SDK to your project, then remove references to unwanted files. Set the header search path to the CMS SDK folder in build settings. Add a compiler option for the JsonKit library. Import CMS_SDK.h in your .pch file. Android (Eclipse): Create a new project or open an existing one. Import CMS SDK into your workspace as an Android project. Ensure "Is Library" is checked in the CMS SDK's "Android" properties tab. Add CMS SDK as a dependent library in your project's properties. Clean and rebuild your project.

Question	What are some key concepts related to mobile app development with Composr?
Answer	Essential concepts include: SDK (Software Development Kit): An API implementation, typically as a library. API (Application Programming Interface): A set of rules for software interaction. JSON (JavaScript Object Notation): A common language for structured data transfer over REST. REST (Representational State Transfer): An architectural style for web services. Push notification: A notification sent to a mobile device.

Question	What other approaches exist for mobile integration with Composr?
Answer	Other approaches, in various stages of development, include: Tapatalk: A third-party forum app with an official Composr addon, offering a high-quality "out-of-the-box" Composr app experience. Further Composr Mobile SDK development: Plans and issues relating to the SDK's evolution can be found on the Composr tracker, driven by commercial projects and feature sponsorship.

Top 10 Entries

Question	What other methods exist for featuring content in Composr?
Answer	Random Quotes: The quotes feature allows you to display a rotating selection of quotes on your site. Community Billboard (Requires Addon): The Community Billboard addon provides a dedicated space for displaying important announcements or community messages.

Question	How can I create countdowns or display hit counters on my Composr website?
Answer	Composr offers blocks for both functionalities: Countdowns: Use the main_countdown block to add countdowns to specific dates and times. Hit Counters: While generally considered outdated, you can use the main_count block to display hit counters for specific content.

Question	Can I display forum content in a prominent way on my Composr site?
Answer	Absolutely! Composr provides several blocks designed for featuring forum content: News-Style Blocks: side_forum_news, main_forum_news, and bottom_forum_news display forum topics in a news format, ideal for forums used for news posting. Topic-Focused Block: main_forum_topics showcases recent topics from specific forums, allowing you to highlight active discussions or important announcements.

Question	What is the difference between using the main_awards block and directly selecting content with the main_content block?
Answer	Both blocks can feature content, but they offer different approaches: main_awards: Provides a structured system for managing featured content through award assignment, archives, and optional point rewards. Requires active management to update award holders. main_content: Offers direct control over specific content or allows random selection from chosen categories. May require manual updates or adjustments.

Question	What is the Composr Award system, and how do I use it?
Answer	The Award system is a powerful tool for highlighting and promoting specific content. Here's how it works: Award Types: Define awards associated with specific content types (e.g., "Download of the Week" for downloads). Award Assignment: When editing content, designate it as the current holder of a relevant award. Display: Use the main_awards block to showcase current award holders on your site. Archive: Awarded content is automatically archived for easy access and historical reference. Points: If you use points, recipients of awards can also receive points as a reward.

Question	How do I feature specific content items on my Composr site?
Answer	You can feature content using various methods: Blocks: The main_content block allows you to display specific items by content type and ID or randomize content from selected categories. Awards: Create awards for different content types and assign them to specific items. You can then use the main_awards block to display current award holders. Awards also integrate with points to credit points to award holders. And you can be reminded on the staff checklist to assign a new award every configurable amount of time. Advanced Embedding: For greater control, use the main_include_module block to embed entire module screens within other content.

Question	What are the benefits of featuring content on my Composr website?
Answer	Featuring content provides several advantages: Freshness and Activity: It gives your site a dynamic feel, showcasing updates and encouraging return visits. Effortless Variety: Featuring content introduces diversity without extensive effort. User Engagement: It draws users in and motivates them to check back for new featured items. Prominent Placement: Featured content receives prime visibility, highlighting its importance or rewarding its creator.

Question	How can I handle bounced emails?
Answer	Composr includes a bounce filter tool that helps you remove bounced email addresses from your subscriber list. To use this tool, you'll need: The PHP IMAP extension enabled on your server. A dedicated folder on your email server to collect bounced emails. The bounce filter tool scans the specified folder for bounce messages and lets you remove the corresponding addresses from your newsletter list. Composr will also halt attempts sending e-mails to those addresses to help prevent you from getting listed on spam blocklists.

Question	How can I customize the appearance of my newsletters?
Answer	You can customize the look of your newsletters by editing the following templates: NEWSLETTER_DEFAULT_FCOMCODE.txt: This template defines the default content and layout for newsletters. MAIL.tpl: This template controls the overall appearance of emails sent from Composr. Custom mail templates: You can create custom HTML templates for specific newsletters.

Question	How can I ensure my newsletters comply with data privacy regulations?
Answer	Composr provides built-in mechanisms for compliance: Unsubscribe links: Newsletters include an unsubscribe link, allowing recipients to opt out of the newsletters. Global unsubscribe: All Composr emails include a link to a global unsubscribe page (data/unsubscribe.php), letting users unsubscribe from all site emails.

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