andrew55
02-18-2010, 09:36 PM
Glad to find your program. We are expanding our site and looking for the right directory solution (we have been for quite some time now). I have several questions if you would be so kind to answer.
1. I see that you offer integration for phpbb3. I see that you do this integration as custom work. Would the script have to be in the same directory as our current phpbb board? Can you make comments in the code so we have the option to made our own edits down the road?
2. Can a user have multiple listings (or at least 2)? It looks like they can, but I wanted to check.
3. After purchasing the program, can your tech support coach us through creating a search/filter bar visible at the top of the template? We wanted a search/filter feature that integrates by keyword, by category, by location, and and possibly by distance. So if users type in just a keyword, it pulls up all the listings that have that keyword, If they also type in location, it filters the keyword search only to that location, etc. I assume we would have to create a couple extra custom fields for the submit link page (city, state, zip code) and then tie in the search fields (of the custom search/filter bar) with these custom fields (which seems relativey easy to do). As you've probably noticed, one of your main competitive scripts has this type of search feature (you can pm me if you are curious - don't won't to put competitor link in your forums). I see there are mods that somewhat do these types of things, and I found a tutorial for creating searches for custom fields (from Boby). I have moderate php skills and can easily modify code, and I'm comfortable with smarty templates, so I would rather get help with it (support forums, etc) than get a custom job. This way, I can make minor changes down the road on my own. If it can only be done as a custom job, can you give me a ballpark figure of what this would cost? Please let me know if I need to submit this proposal to your custom jobs section instead.
4. We are creating a directory that has listings for "services" but also has "community member" listings. We aren't trying to create a dating site, but a community site where others can contact each other for local events, outings, etc. It would be great if the drop down for the submit button could have the options "submit business website" and also "submit personal listing." When user goes to submit personal listing page, we need to have a slightly modified version of the submit site page, with "personal" being the only category (could even submit this category through a hidden form field). This way, when another user is searching/browsing our directory, they could choose to view business or personal listings, or both (with an additional drop down field in the search feature detailed in the previous question). Is this something as easy as creating a modified version of the submit page (call it submit2.php, etc)? Would this feature be possible with your script and is this something you could coach us through (on the forums or a custom job with code comments)? If it can only be done as a custom job, can you give me a ballpark figure of what this would cost?
5. If the script integrates with phpbb, would it be possible to have a link in the listings leading to the authors phpbb profile? For example, could we put something like <a href="{postrow.U_POST_AUTHOR}"> in the directory listing so user could go to phpbb profile? I guess this depends on how the sessions work in your program. Also, would this work vice versa? Could I create links in the authors phpbb profile that lead to their articles and directory listings? Depending on how the sessions are shared, my guess is this could be an easy code edit to phpbb (I would just need to do what the url string would be to query the search in your script).
I appreciate you taking the time to view my questions. Not trying to be a pest. We are just trying to create an addition to our site that serves a specific purpose. We need a program with some flexibility and decent tech support guidance to help us through the customization. Your script seems like the best option I've found after a long and painful search! Let me know if you have any questions about my questions.
1. I see that you offer integration for phpbb3. I see that you do this integration as custom work. Would the script have to be in the same directory as our current phpbb board? Can you make comments in the code so we have the option to made our own edits down the road?
2. Can a user have multiple listings (or at least 2)? It looks like they can, but I wanted to check.
3. After purchasing the program, can your tech support coach us through creating a search/filter bar visible at the top of the template? We wanted a search/filter feature that integrates by keyword, by category, by location, and and possibly by distance. So if users type in just a keyword, it pulls up all the listings that have that keyword, If they also type in location, it filters the keyword search only to that location, etc. I assume we would have to create a couple extra custom fields for the submit link page (city, state, zip code) and then tie in the search fields (of the custom search/filter bar) with these custom fields (which seems relativey easy to do). As you've probably noticed, one of your main competitive scripts has this type of search feature (you can pm me if you are curious - don't won't to put competitor link in your forums). I see there are mods that somewhat do these types of things, and I found a tutorial for creating searches for custom fields (from Boby). I have moderate php skills and can easily modify code, and I'm comfortable with smarty templates, so I would rather get help with it (support forums, etc) than get a custom job. This way, I can make minor changes down the road on my own. If it can only be done as a custom job, can you give me a ballpark figure of what this would cost? Please let me know if I need to submit this proposal to your custom jobs section instead.
4. We are creating a directory that has listings for "services" but also has "community member" listings. We aren't trying to create a dating site, but a community site where others can contact each other for local events, outings, etc. It would be great if the drop down for the submit button could have the options "submit business website" and also "submit personal listing." When user goes to submit personal listing page, we need to have a slightly modified version of the submit site page, with "personal" being the only category (could even submit this category through a hidden form field). This way, when another user is searching/browsing our directory, they could choose to view business or personal listings, or both (with an additional drop down field in the search feature detailed in the previous question). Is this something as easy as creating a modified version of the submit page (call it submit2.php, etc)? Would this feature be possible with your script and is this something you could coach us through (on the forums or a custom job with code comments)? If it can only be done as a custom job, can you give me a ballpark figure of what this would cost?
5. If the script integrates with phpbb, would it be possible to have a link in the listings leading to the authors phpbb profile? For example, could we put something like <a href="{postrow.U_POST_AUTHOR}"> in the directory listing so user could go to phpbb profile? I guess this depends on how the sessions work in your program. Also, would this work vice versa? Could I create links in the authors phpbb profile that lead to their articles and directory listings? Depending on how the sessions are shared, my guess is this could be an easy code edit to phpbb (I would just need to do what the url string would be to query the search in your script).
I appreciate you taking the time to view my questions. Not trying to be a pest. We are just trying to create an addition to our site that serves a specific purpose. We need a program with some flexibility and decent tech support guidance to help us through the customization. Your script seems like the best option I've found after a long and painful search! Let me know if you have any questions about my questions.