Sigsiu Online Business Index 2

SOBI 2 - Sigsiu Online Business Index 2 is a directory component for the WCMS Mambo and Joomla! to show entries of companies, clubs, persons, shops, products, aso.
The entries are divided into categories, which can contain subcategories. One entry can be entered in several categories. The companies/clubs/persons enter themselves in the index. Registered users can modify or delete their entries. Entries can be renewed by the user if they expire.

Using the integrated Category & Entry Manager in the back-end, all categories and entries can be managed comfortably. Entries and categories can be deleted, unpublished and moved.

A Fields Manager can be used to configure each field entirely. This concerns the ordering, obligatory fields, fees, field length (width of field and number of characters), field type (textfield, textarea, checkbox, checkbox group, select list, text code or calendar), search methods, in which view a field should be shown (Category View and/or Details View), and much more. An unlimited number of new custom fields can be added.

For each entry two images can be uploaded (besides the linked images in the description). The images will be resized to a predefined size. With the URL field "image" it is possible to add fields for linked images.

An alpha index is available to show only entries starting with a specified letter. Also only the most popular entries and categories, the recently updated entries, the new entries or entries by tags (mata keywords) can be shown.

To let the customer pay for the not for free options easily, a connection to PayPal is integrated.

In a menu module all categories can be shown in tree view or all main categories in a flat view. An extended search function gives the possibility to search within the existing values of one or more fields or within a specific category.

SOBI 2 works with "Register Globals" and "Register Globals Emulation" off.
SOBI 2 is the big brother of SOBI and suitable for those users, which need the wide possibilities of configuration and subcategories.

Features:

• Multi-Level Categories (unlimited nesting depth)
• Adding Multiple Subcategories at once
• User definable fields (textarea/inputbox/checkbox/checkbox group/select list/calendar)
• Wide possibilities of configuration
• Dynamic Page Titles (SEO)
• RSS Feeds (configurable to show latest, random, etc. entries)
• Configurable Way Search (Routing) Function
• Integrated Google Maps connection
• Security Image for spam protection (not Joomla! 1.5.x)
• Extended Search Function
• Category Search
• Integrated Version Checker
• Anonymous entry and/or for registered users (only)
• Edit and delete functions for the user (via front-end)
• Quick Edit/Edit in Place function
• Show all entries of one user
• Integrated Wysiwyg-Editor (front-end)
• Meta Keywords & Description (SEO)
• Show entries by tags (meta keys)
• Image Upload (max size configurable)
• Supports field URLs http, email, linked image and linked media file (video/audio)
• Text code field for Add/Edit Entry form to show individual information
• Connection to Paypal
• Category & Entry Manager
• Fast Sigsiu Tree for categories selection
• CSS file editable within back-end (w/o Codepress)
• Templates for Details View and V-Card, editable within back-end (w/o Codepress)
• Template for Add/Edit Entry form, editable within back-end (w/o Codepress)
• Template Parser with Syntax Checking
• Language Manager to install new languages
• Confirmation emails for author and/or system operator
• User group for system emails selectable (multiple selection possible)
• Email Templates with placeholders for various data, editable via back-end
• Alphabetical index for category and entry selection
• Show most popular entries and categories (or entries only)
• Show new & recently updated entries
• Cache Function for acceleration
• Debug Mode
• Plugin Manager and Plugin Interface for 3rd party plugins
• Extension for OpenSEF available
• Menu module (tree or flat view) available
• Searchbot (plugin) for standard Joomla! Search function available
• Various plugins available
• Various modules available

SOBI 2 is released under the GNU/LGPL license.

Realization

SOBI 2 is not based on SOBI 1, but it is build up new from the bottom. This was necessary because the table structure of SOBI 1 was not suited for the features "sub-categories", "one entry in multi-categories" and "user definable fields". SOBI 2 uses a relational database structure. The table layout was designed graphically using the Clay Database Modeling UI.
SOBI 2 is build up almost object oriented, but still runs under PHP4 and MySQL4.
Front-end and back-end are separated. For example there are two separate language files available. This simplifies changing only the front-end texts.

Unfortunately, with this SOBI 2 isn't compatible to SOBI 1.
We have realized a lot of the whishes. We haven't seized all ideas because we have the opinion, that some of them go beyond the scope of this component. Indeed, SOBI 2 isn't longer only a business index, but also a directory component for almost everything, but we had to come to a compromise between possible features and complexity of the configuration.

Category function

• Multi-Level Categories. That is, each sub-category may have sub-categories. Unlimited nesting depth.
• One entry can be entered in several categories (by default 5 categories, extendable by configuration file).
• Fee required for categories is adjustable, with price scaling.
• Entries can be entered optionally only in the lowest or in all categories.

Entries

• Adding an image/logo, which will be shown in the V-Card and/or in the Details View.
• Adding an icon/symbol, which will be shown by default in the upper right corner of the V-Card and/or in the Details View.
• Meta-Keywords and Meta-Description can be set up by the user. Used for the Tags feature.
• Entries can be published immediately or not before an administrator has checked them.
• Within the back-end it is selectable which fields are obligatory.
• Standard fields can be switched off or deleted and own fields can be defined (Custom Fields).

Front-End-View

SOBI 2 is divided into three views: the General View (SOBI2 main page), the Category View and the Details View. A category view shows all subcategories and entries of a category. A Details View shows only one entry.
The views are almost entirely configurable within the back-end and additionally by changing the view templates.

• In the General View all main categories can be shown together with an image and a short description.
• Already in the general view all entries can be shown as V-Cards.
• A Category View shows the corresponding sub categories and the entries within the category as V-Card.
• The sorting order of the categories is adjustable within the back-end.
• The sorting order of the fields is also adjustable (e.g. to change postal code and city for some countries).
• For each entry two images can be added. One small picture (icon/symbol), which will be shown by default in the V-Cards and the logo image, which will be shown by default in the Details View.
• The sorting order of the entries is adjustable in the back-end.
• Templates, editable within the back-end, for Details View and V-Card to design the appearance individually.
• CSS file, editable within the back-end, for changing the layout easily.
• Connection to Google Maps possible and routing function.
• Details View can be configured to be shown only to registered users.

User Edit Function

• Edit and delete functions for the user.
  If a user is logged in, he can edit and delete his own entries. Also he is able to move his entry to another category. This functionality can be switched off within the back-end.
• The user is able to add his entry afterwards to additional categories.
• If the user selects additional paid options while editing his entry, these fees will be charged.
• It is adjustable within the back-end, if the delete function really deletes an entry or sets it only to unpublish.
• User IP addresses of set up and changing will be saved.

Fee Requirement and Payment

• All fields (besides the title field) can be set for free or not.
• Base fee for whole entry.
• Adding an entry in more than one category can be set for free or not.
• Currency unit and currency separator are adjustable.
• Summary of the prices of all selected options at the end of adding an entry.
• Payment via Paypal and/or showing bank account info.
• Confirmation email for paid entries.

Email Processing

• Optional sending of different emails to the user/author depending on the action (on add entry, on change entry, on approve by administrators).
• Sending an email with payment terms to the user/author and optional to the administrators.
• Optional sending of different emails to the administrators depending on the action (on add entry, on change entry).
• User group for system emails selectable.
• Defining email texts via templates within the back-end.
• Individualized emails using placeholders.
• Separate emails for all installed SOBI2 languages.

Search

• Extended search function using one single search field.
• Drop Down Lists with all already entered values for all fields possible.
• Separate drop down lists also for user defined custom fields.
• Searching within a specific category possible
• Search parameters are saved within a cookie.
• Auto search with parameters given in the URL.
• Searchbot (Plugin) for Standard Mambo/Joomla! search function.

Administration Panel of SOBI2

The back-end layout of SOBI 2 is divided into several areas, which can be chosen using the left-sided menu. One area is the "Category and Entry Manager". Other areas are the Configuration menu, the Template & CSS, the Plugins and the About section.

Category and Entry Manager

The category and Entry Manager in the back-end is used to administrate your categories and entries.
Selection of a category is done via a tree view of all categories. The Manager shows all sub categories and entries of the selected category. If an entry is being edited, it will be checked out.

• Separate listing of all entries
• Copying and moving categories and entries
• Adding new categories and entries
• Adding multiple subcategories at once
• Editing categories and entries
• Deleting categories and entries
• Removing all or single entries from one category
• Changing the order of categories and entries
• Setting categories and entries to publish/unpublish
• Setting entries to approve/unapprove (verification)
• Sorting and filtering options for entries

Configuration Menu

The configuration menu is divided in several sub menus.

• Custom Fields Manager
• General Configuration
• Entry Configuration
• View Configuration
• Payment Options
• Language Manager
• Registry Editor
• Uninstall SOBI2

Custom Fields Manager

With the Fields Manager custom fields can be added, standard fields deleted and the behaviour of the different fields can be adjusted.

• Seven different field types: textfield, textarea, checkbox, checkbox group, select list, calendar and text code.
• Adjusting the length and type of a field: inputbox or textarea, textarea w/o Wysiwig.
• Field content as standard text or URL, Email address, linked image or linked media file (video/audio).
• Setting up fields in that manner, that they are only shown in the add/edit function but not visible for the visitors. This is for example for statistic functions or for a contact form.
• Administrative field. Only the administrator may add content.
• Setting up which fields are obligatory.
• Setting up if a field is for free or not. Adjusting the fee amount.
• Adjusting the sorting order of the fields (e.g. to change postal code and city for some countries).
• Adjusting, in which view a field should be shown (Category View (V-Card) and/or Details View).

General Configuration
In the General Configuration the general behaviour of SOBI2 will be adjusted. These are settings for the main page and the categories view, behaviour of the search functionality, settings for system emails, the cache and file system configuration, the debug mode and tree behaviour and the background selection.

• The language is selectable (independent of the language setting of the CMS or use the setting of the CMS).
• Behaviour of the SOBI2 menu and the Alpha Index.
• Behaviour of entries and categories on SOBI2 main page.
• Selection of Yahoo style category format.
• Number and sorting order of categories.
• Image/Icon display in Category View.
• Usage of Meta tags and RSS feeds.
• User editing permissions.
• Main page description and behaviour.
• Behaviour and usage of the extended search functionality (fading and sorting adjustments).
• Settings for sending system emails.
• Administration of the SOBI2 cache functionality.
• Adjustments for file and directory permissions behaviour.
• Debug mode and template parsing settings.
• Selection of background and the border color for V-Card and Details View.
• Usage of Sigsiu Tree and tree images.

Entry Configuration
In this section the Add Entry related options are shown. These are the fields and category related settings, the renewal and the saftey options.

• Constant Fields Configuration (Title, Image and Icon).
• Entries may have an expiration date.
• Basic entry and title lable settings.
• Selection if user may choose its background for the entry.
• Permissions for adding entries.
• Category visibility and pricing.
• Settings for the renewal function.
• Adjustments for the terms of use
• Safety settings.

View Configuration
In the View Configuration the behaviour for the Details View is adjusted.

• Showing of entry date and hits
• Showing of icon and image.
• Google Maps settings.
• Way Search settings.

Templates & CSS

To adapt SOBI2 to your CMS's template (style, color, etc.) and to the desired design you can change the default templates to fit your needs.
In the Templates & CSS section you are able to edit all SOBI2 templates w/o Codepress editor.

• Details View Template
• V-Card Template
• Entry Form Template
• CSS File
• Email Templates

Plugin Manager

Plugin manager to install SOBI2 plugins. SOBI2 plugins enhance the functionality of SOBI2. There are plugins available to add an image or media gallery or to use SOBI2 as a download directory.
Several plugins can be installed together. In the Plugin Manager all installed plugins and their used database tables are listed.
If a plugin has its own administration panel, it is available within the plugins section.

Further Functionality

• Possibility to uninstall the SOBI2 tables from the database. Uninstalling of the component (without tables) will be done using the standard Mambo/Joomla! uninstall function.
• Version checker to check for the newest SOBI2 version.
• Possibility to set a debug mode on. In this case all warnings and notices are written to a file or to the screen. The file will be displayed in the back-end. Possibility to delete the log file.

Requirements

• Joomla! 1.0.12+ or Mambo 4.6.2+, PHP4, MySQL4
• Apache Webserver
• Safe Mode off
• GD library installed
• ECMA standard encoding (ISO/IEC 8859 and UTF-8)
• For Non-UTF-8 sites with special characters: Iconv library or mbstring module installed
• Java Script activated

Modules available

• Module showing all categories in tree view or all main categories in flat view.
• Module showing the latest entries.
• Module showing entries of a category on a Google map.

Mambots available

• Expiration plugin.
• Searchbot.

Plugins available

• SOBI Gallery - a plugin to show an "unlimited" number of uploaded images in Details View (horizontally or vertically) with Lightbox effect.
• SOBI Review & Rating - a plugin to vote and comment an entry.
• SOBI Media - a plugin to show audio or video files (Youtube support).
• SOBI Radius Search - a plugin to search within a radius of cities.
• SOBI Download - a plugin to upload and download files.
• SOBI OpenSEF - a plugin to generate SEF URLs with OpenSEF component.
• SOBI Featured Listings - a plugin to show entries on a featured position.