Questions

[angler]

New Questions on Page 2!!

I'm of course evaluating 68Classifieds and some others. I've done some searching and got some answers to my questions but still have some.

1. I found this post regarding the SOLD being put on ads.
http://www.68classifieds.com/forums/...highlight=sold

I see that "juven14" has a module to place "SOLD" before or after the sale price, or just replace the sale price. I was wondering if this module (or if there is another) that puts "SOLD" across the actual thumbnail and can replace the sale price with "sold"?

2. I understand custom fields can be added for each category. Would these fields also be searchable? I saw a post describing some issue with them being searchable due to not knowing which custom fields to display as we don't know what what the user is going to search for. So how is this handled currently? Is there a limit on how many custom fields can be created? I would assume an easy way around this would be to just include a categories drop down box on the search page which will show fields accordingly to which category is selected to search in.

3. If I have an ads group for free ad placements for a category, I can then later on change the ads group to a fee and the won't mess anything up will it?

4. Can specific users be assigned for a 1 time fee that allows unlimited ad submissions?

5. I assume with the designer version, the banners/graphics can be changed correct?

6. Is there a hard limit of how many images can be uploaded for an ad or is this configurable?

7. Can ads be renewed after expired and that will lead them thru payment again?

8. Is there an integrated banner system that keeps track of clicks and view? Does this have individual logins or only admin can view? If there is no banner implementation, can phpadsnew(or others) be used with the designer version?

9. Can fee's be applied for bold letters or highlighting?

10. I assume ads can be moved from 1 category to another without an issue.

11. Can City, State, Country, Zip all be removed from the search in the Design version?

Thats it for now. Thanks for any info.

[Chaslie +]

1. I found this post regarding the SOLD being put on ads.
http://www.68classifieds.com/forums/...highlight=sold

I see that "juven14" has a module to place "SOLD" before or after the sale price, or just replace the sale price. I was wondering if this module (or if there is another) that puts "SOLD" across the actual thumbnail and can replace the sale price with "sold"?

I remember someone working on a watermark in the past but not sure if it ever worked. Do a keyword search in the forums with 'watermark' as a key word.

3. If I have an ads group for free ad placements for a category, I can then later on change the ads group to a fee and the won't mess anything up will it?

Correct - won't mess it up. See 'admin' section is the demo.

4. Can specific users be assigned for a 1 time fee that allows unlimited ad submissions?

'Memberships' allow a user to add up to x amount of ads for $x upfront payment over x period of days (eg: 365 days). See 'admin' section is the demo.

5. I assume with the designer version, the banners/graphics can be changed correct?

Correct.

6. Is there a hard limit of how many images can be uploaded for an ad or is this configurable?

See admin demo - think it may be 10 pics but could be more.

8. Is there an integrated banner system that keeps track of clicks and view? Does this have individual logins or only admin can view? If there is no banner implementation, can phpadsnew(or others) be used with the designer version?

Do a key word search for 'banner' in the forums. This has been discussed extensively and a solution is available.

9. Can fee's be applied for bold letters or highlighting?

Correct - see admin demo (packages)

10. I assume ads can be moved from 1 category to another without an issue.

Correct - by site administrator only

11. Can City, State, Country, Zip all be removed from the search in the Design version?

Correct - see admin demo.

[juven14 +]

Originally Posted by angler

I see that "juven14" has a module to place "SOLD" before or after the sale price, or just replace the sale price. I was wondering if this module (or if there is another) that puts "SOLD" across the actual thumbnail and can replace the sale price with "sold"?

I've actually seen a 68 site do this but haven't made anything like it. Larry posted some code that allowed you to place another image over the image. I don't think it would be too difficult to do this since the hard part has already been done by Larry.

Originally Posted by angler

2. I understand custom fields can be added for each category. Would these fields also be searchable? I saw a post describing some issue with them being searchable due to not knowing which custom fields to display as we don't know what what the user is going to search for. So how is this handled currently? Is there a limit on how many custom fields can be created? I would assume an easy way around this would be to just include a categories drop down box on the search page which will show fields accordingly to which category is selected to search in.

I'll have to pass on this, I don't use the extra fields myself, just create them via modules. I don't think there is a limit, and they are supposed to be searchable.

Originally Posted by angler

3. If I have an ads group for free ad placements for a category, I can then later on change the ads group to a fee and the won't mess anything up will it?

I'll have to check again, but as long as you are changing the price all new listings will take on the new price. What I am not sure about is if the renewal process will take the old renewal from the product or if it will take the new one from the package. Sorry, again this isn't code that I have ever really looked at in depth.

Originally Posted by angler

4. Can specific users be assigned for a 1 time fee that allows unlimited ad submissions?

No, but you can set this up, there is a coupon/discount set that will allow you to give flat rates or percentages. All that would need to be done is to generate this coupon after the initial purchase. You could also use the membership feature to bulk sell ads, they pay an initial price and then have a user determined amount of listings to place. This also allows you to define credits for highlight/bold/featured for these ads.

Originally Posted by angler

5. I assume with the designer version, the banners/graphics can be changed correct?

Yes, it is totally rebrandable.

[quote=angler] 6. Is there a hard limit of how many images can be uploaded for an ad or is this configurable?[/qutoe]

Very easy, you define the amount of images that are allowed for upload when you create packages. Also, there is an image settings page that allows you to define the max file size and image demensions.

Originally Posted by angler

7. Can ads be renewed after expired and that will lead them thru payment again?

Yes, there is a renewal system.

Originally Posted by angler

8. Is there an integrated banner system that keeps track of clicks and view? Does this have individual logins or only admin can view? If there is no banner implementation, can phpadsnew(or others) be used with the designer version?

No, but you can use phpadsnew or adpeeps. Also, Maffo has created a banner module.

Originally Posted by angler

9. Can fee's be applied for bold letters or highlighting?

Yes, you can set the amount for each package.

Originally Posted by angler

10. I assume ads can be moved from 1 category to another without an issue.

Yes, but this is an admin only feature.

Originally Posted by angler

11. Can City, State, Country, Zip all be removed from the search in the Design version?

Yes, you have full access to the templates and can remove anything you'd like.

Originally Posted by angler

Thats it for now. Thanks for any info.

No problem. I might suggest that you take a lengthy look in the live demo. You have access to the admin section and can place listings, create packages and etc. This will probably answer most of your questions.

EDIT: Dang it Chaslie, all that typing for nothing, lol

[angler]

Thanks for the responses! In regards to the watermarking, all I could find was a reference to a module "Lhotch" had created that watermarked an image while it was being uploaded. This is a nice feature, however doesn't allow for placing a SOLD over the image. I wonder how much it would cost to have it developed? Any ideas?

Everything else looks good. Is there any anyone out there that has switch from geoclassifieds to 68classifieds?

[juven14 +]

Yes, you just watermark the image with a sold text image after it is identified as sold.

[angler]

Originally Posted by juven14

Yes, you just watermark the image with a sold text image after it is identified as sold.

Is this built in? I didn't see it in the demo...

[juven14 +]

No, this is something you have to make or hire out. I'm playing around with a module for this right now. Will keep you posted.

[angler]

I think these are my last couple questions. How easy are the upgrades? Is there a step by step process through the web interface? Also if I was to purchase a module from whoever and then I upgrade the classifieds and the module stops working, would I turn to the people that developed the module or to 68classifieds support? If its up to the module devs, how quickly do they usually fix the modules to work with latest versions?

[juven14 +]

Upgrades are rather painless, however when templates are updated, if you have a bunch of custom changes these will need to be copied over to the new templates. So the amount of pain involved really depends on the amount of changes you make as well as the tools, methods you use to keep track of what you've changed.

The module system for the most part doesn't get effected by upgrades unless some process is completely rewritten. Further, the hooks will stay in place and more than likely the module will still work. The module code is kept seperate from the core files and is just included, so you won't run into much trouble with upgrades.

As for support, 68 Classifieds doesn't trouble shoot custom modules, you will have to depend on upgrades to custom modules as well as support by the module maker. With every upgrade I have kept our modules up to date, being none of them were effected since 3.1.3, when we started writting them. At anycase we do go through them with a file compare and looking at specific areas of code to ensure they are compatible with the latest version. We like to provide support like you find it here in the forum.

[Chaslie +]

Could I also add that it is wise to backup all files and archive these before upgrading your site. That way, you have working code to fall back on if something goes amiss.

When the core 68 script is updated, a changelog is provided meaning you only need to update those files listed in the changelog - not the whole set of files.

It is also wise to keep your own changelog as well. Keep you own record of files you have modified or that have been modified as a result of adding a module/custom code. Then check against this before updating your site.