NLSTART : News

EPM EasyPaidMembers v1.1

nlstart — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:18:22 -0600

EPM EasyPaidMembers plugin v1.1 has just been released.
It is capable of handling multilingual sites better with one installation of the EPM plugin. Furthermore some fixes have been applied, so handling user classes from the EPM member section is even smoother.

Easy signup for the EPM plugin (by using the EPM plugin, of course).

Voted best resource on UK convention

nlstart — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:37:47 -0500

At the end of the first UK CMS convention the official presentation of the awards was revealed.
Surprise; it turned out my website was chosen the best e107 resource!

Needless to say I'm all proud!

My plugins BanHelper and EasyShop became 2nd and 3rd place in the 'best plugin' category! Which makes me even more proud!

EPM - Easy Paid Members plugin for e107 CMS

nlstart — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 03:22:49 -0500

Looking to create a paid subscription-based portal? EPM EasyPaidMember plugin is a hassle free solution by NLSTART. Combined with the e107 CMS this plugin will help you to create a subscription based website with user accounts, user classes and online content accessible only by paid subscribers.

The Easy Paid Members (EPM) plugin enables your e107 website to accept all major credit cards and PayPal to have members buy a subscription or membership to one or more area(s) of your website.

With the EPM plugin you don't have to be a programmer or a web guru to set up a subscription-based website. With this plugin you can subscribe your visitors to existing services you provide or to an exclusive part of your website. Use the EPM plugin to offer easy PayPal subscription services.

The ability to combine the user profiles and registration with the EPM plugin allows you to show some sections of your website only to paid subscribers. Even better, you can have various subscription plans and settings.

Plugin key features:

Ability to view a list of all subscribers, view their profiles and statuses
Full automatic integration with e107 user profiles
Full automatic integration with e107 registration/sign-up
Ability to offer up to 2 additional trial periods per subscription
Full subscription customization
Seamless subscriptions administration and initial set-up
Create your own 'subscribe' buttons and set up unlimited multiple recurring payments profiles
Paypal Sandbox testing mode
Full theme integration possible with e107 template behavior
Button to unsubscribe from PayPal subscription
EPM plugin works with e107 v0.7.25 and newer
Security: e107 e-TOKEN functionality implemented in subscription application

Prerequisites
Before actually using PayPal Easy Paid Member plugin functionality on your website, you will need the following:

e107 core v0.7.25 (or newer) installed
A PayPal Premier or Business account
The PayPal verified email address at which you will receive payments
At least one specific user class setup in Admin > User Classes
At least one active subscription group defined in EPM plugin

NOTE: the EPM plugin is licensed protected software; NOT open source!

See for more details and examples the 'Sneak preview' article.

Pick the best license for your own EPM plugin:

	Basic	Pro	Ultra
Unlimited subscriptions
Multiple classes per subscription
Member overview
Templating possible
2 additional trial periods per subscription
# URL's^*	1	max. 3	max. 10
Price 1st year	€ 20,-	€ 45,-	€ 60,-
Price following years^**	€ 15,- /year	€ 40,- /year	€ 55,- /year
	Order now!	Order now!	Order now!

^* = License valid on all sub-domains on same domain
^** = Price each year

DNSBL: refuse signups based on block lists

nlstart — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 05:33:12 -0500

At e107 the devs are always looking at ways to improve your e107 website safety. As a trial I have developed DNSBL functionality. It's not a plugin, so if you upload it you will overwrite some e107 core files. The DNSBL package can be used with e107 v0.7.25 or v0.7.26svn.

What is DNSBL exactly? As Wikipedia states it: "A DNSBL (DNS-based Blackhole List, Block List, or Blacklist) is a list of IP addresses published through the Internet Domain Name Service (DNS) either as a zone file that can be used by DNS server software, or as a live DNS zone that can be queried in real-time."

The idea is as follows: in Admin Area > User Registration/Posting you will get two new preferences:
1. "Check IP address against DNS black list during sign-up" to switch the DNSBL checking on or off;
2. "Use DNS check list" selection box which can be blank, one of the supported DNSBL lists or 'All'.

Currently supported DNSBL's are: spamhaus, spamcop, sorbs and njabl.

When you do switch DNSBL checking on, but do not provide a DNSBL checker, the default 'Spamhaus' will be used.
If the DNSBL check is 'On', each time a new user is trying to sign up the IP address will be looked up at the specified DNSBL.
If the DNSBL returns the IP address as being registered, the sign-up will fail, and line will be added to the Admin Log that the signup was refused (with date/time stamp and mention of the IP address that was attempting to be signed up).

Credits go to Alexey A. Znayev from http://xbsoft.org who's release was the base of the dnsbl_handler.

NOTE: This is not a plugin; it is an experimental core addition and will overwrite some of your core files. However, if you do not want to use it at some point, you can easily adjust your e107 preferences and disable it. Based on the feedback on this the e107 dev team might implement it permanently in a future release.

EasyShop v1.61

nlstart — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 06:16:27 -0500

EasyShop v1.61 has been released to fix an error (caused by a typo) with discounts.

Downloadable from:
NLSTART download section or
plugins.e107.org or
e107coders.org

For detailed upgrade instructions and change log see the EasyShop Wiki page.

Happy shopping!

EasyShop v1.6

nlstart — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:47:35 -0500

EasyShop v1.6 has been released.

New features:

improved security
reduce number of admin application files
support secondary PayPal address as the EasyShop address

Downloadable from:
NLSTART download section or
plugins.e107.org or
e107coders.org

For detailed upgrade instructions and change log see the EasyShop Wiki page.

Happy shopping!

Editorial design

nlstart — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 09:24:12 -0500

You're not used to having an e107 dev talk about design. Well, since today I do.

Not so long ago web designers were wrestling with the restrictions of Internet design. Now they can dazzle us with the possibilities. Websites can be so more appealing and memorable when they are graphical attractive. Like picking up a magazine. With the arrival of speed Internet, HTML5, CSS3 and tablets we will see endless possibilities. It's about time for web design without borders.

This article will discuss why now is the time to change your attitude about designing and focus on 'editorial design'. I will show some inspiring examples and give some hints about tools to use.

This article is intended for e107 designers, designers wannabe's and everybody else taking an interest in web design in general.
A lot of websites are pretty much the same. Boring! Once you have seen one page, you have seen them all. For a website that is very uncanny; it does not appeal visitors to come back or to stay longer. And that's what every website should aim for.

Most designers probably have heard of the grid 960 system; it is an excellent way to streamline web development design by providing commonly used dimensions, based on a width of 960 pixels. However, it is what it is: a grid.

The time is ripe for something else!
The latest developments of CSS3, HTML5 and Webfonts -including a steady increase of support of it in modern browsers- create more and more possibilities from a graphics design point of view. The web will just look nicer! If there was ever a time to start with modern web design; now is the time!

Past: 1200 kBaud modem? Now: broadband internet. Past: small images as big as a stamp. Now: one image filling the whole wide screen. Past: server was expensive. Now: powerful servers are cheaper and even more powerful.
All the above should make it clear that viewing a website designed like a magazine is not a problem anymore.

The only drawback could be if one is forced within the constraints of a Content Management System (CMS). The CMS must be flexible enough to style individual pages. Even better, the CMS should be capable to have different styles for various pages. The good news: e107 is capable of doing so right out-of-the-box! Designers can apply different styles for all kind of pages.

Editorial design
Within 'editorial design' the subject of publication determines the format, colors, design, photography and typography. By doing so the contents and presentation will form a unity; making the message to the visitor as clear as possible. The results: an appealing, commercial effective and successful website.

Inspiration

The Daily delivers this as an app. My expectation is in the (near) future we will just browse like this.

Some websites where nice designs have been done:

Wired
Dance/theater school Alvin Ailey
Group travel agency Shoestring (website in Dutch language)

How to do it?
I admit; it is definitely more work to deliver websites like that. And yes, more effort means more time and/or a bigger budget. However, if you want to keep ahead of the competition; I think creating appealing content is the way to go.
Also, I recently found out about this opportunity: Treesaver® is on the recue. It is is a JavaScript framework for creating magazine-style layouts using standards-compliant HTML and CSS. I'm curious to see some e107 webdesigns using this or similar techniques.

Useful links

If you have ideas or suggestions we would love to read about it in the comments. Also your feedback about future design subjects is highly appreciated.

New plugin: ARPS v2.0

nlstart — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 08:02:36 -0500

A new plugin has been released: ARPS v2.0. The ARPS (Advanced Raid Planner System) plugin is designed to be used for any type of clan oriented game.
It was originally created by Marc Peppler. It did not seem to have any active developments for it any more. I noticed a need of a better version.

It has been rewritten completely. Many thanks to MysterF for testing!

Features:
* Char Database:
- overview of a complete char list from all users
- search chars by charname or username
- add/edit/delete own chars
* Raid Management:
- create/delete raids
- overview of raids
- signup to raids
- instant signup to raids
* Possible to show server time (admin configurable)
* Possible to show freeze time (admin configurable)
* Integrated help system and an individual color theme, that can be set for every user
* Integrated with the 'Advanced Medal System' http://e107coders.org/download.php?view.1861 for giving medals to users after a raid is over
* Integrated with user e107 user classes for 'Class that can view raids', 'Class that can add raids' and 'Class that can signup to raids'
* Integrated with e107 notify functionality for new raid creation
* Integrated with e107 comment functionality for raid comments
* Integrated with e107 event calendar plugin for new raid creation

Download ARPS v2.0

BanHelper v1.5

nlstart — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 11:39:37 -0600

BanHelper v1.5 has been released on February 27, 2011.

Read the changes on the BanHelper Wiki page.

BanHelper v1.5 is available at these locations:
plugins.e107.org
e107coders.org
e107.webstartinternet.com

Enjoy and happy ban hunting!