pre sale customisation queries

I have been researching PHP classifieds scripts and 68 classifieds looks the best option, but I would like to check if a few things are possible:

1. One of the main things I will need to customise is the print friendly listings version. I will want to put extra content on this page, and change the look and feel, and make the pop-up window bigger. I may also need to change the print friendly links etc so that they work for visitors without javascript. Are these types of changes possible, and fairly easy to do?

2. I'll also need to change some of the wording used throughout the site. For example, I won't be using the script for a classifieds site as such, so I'll need to change all references to ads to something like notices. I can't see a way of updating phrases in the Admin. Is all the wording databased or in one PHP file, or is it a matter of editing lots of files?

3. I can see an option in Admin to easily deactivate ads. I am wondering if it is possible to give this functionality to users on the front end, so that they can deactivate and activate their own listings?

For the changes that are possible, it would be great to know which would need the developer edition. If these types of changes are possible even with the designer edition, is it possible to buy the designer version and then upgrade to the developer edition down the line if I find that customisations I need to make involve editing the core files?

Thanks for your time.

[Mike-N-Tosh +]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

1. One of the main things I will need to customise is the print friendly listings version. I will want to put extra content on this page, and change the look and feel, and make the pop-up window bigger. I may also need to change the print friendly links etc so that they work for visitors without javascript. Are these types of changes possible, and fairly easy to do?

The printlisting.tpl file is a template file and can be changed and all of the javascript files are also unencrypted as well in the Designer version, however the ajax.php is a core file and you would need the Developer version to modify that.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

2. I'll also need to change some of the wording used throughout the site. For example, I won't be using the script for a classifieds site as such, so I'll need to change all references to ads to something like notices. I can't see a way of updating phrases in the Admin. Is all the wording databased or in one PHP file, or is it a matter of editing lots of files?

As I don't know specifically what wording that you are referring to, I can' say exactly. However I believe that you may be referring to the language file calls (eg: {$smarty.const.LANG}) which are in the language file and can be edited. Most any other text will be in the template files which again are editable with the Designer version.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

3. I can see an option in Admin to easily deactivate ads. I am wondering if it is possible to give this functionality to users on the front end, so that they can deactivate and activate their own listings?

Registered users with listing won't be able to activate/deactivate their ads, but they can delete them. Of course just about anything is possible if you know how to code and have the developers version.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

For the changes that are possible, it would be great to know which would need the developer edition. If these types of changes are possible even with the designer edition, is it possible to buy the designer version and then upgrade to the developer edition down the line if I find that customisations I need to make involve editing the core files?

As far as having visitors that don't have javascript is concerned, there are many things within the software script that uses javascript. In this day and age, you would be hard pressed to find a site that doesn't use javascript in some way. I am not aware of any bank website that doesn't use javascript in some form or another for part of their authentication process. Same with Microsoft, in fact many of Microsoft's sites won't even load if you don't have javascript or it's not active.

You can upgrade from Designer to the Developer version for $125.00 (I believe that is the current rate).

Many thanks for the quick reply. It's great that such changes may be possible with the designer version. I'll probably still opt for the dev version as it gives max freedom for just an extra 100 dollars.

One other query I have is on the search engine friendly URLs mod at Search Engine Friendly URL's.
Does the standard version have problems getting indexed/ranked by Google?

The demo URLs don't look that monstrous to me, and the mod page gives no info on the URL changes this gives you i.e. examples of standard URLs and what they become with the mod. If the site would have major SEO problems without this mod, I'd need to get this mod, but with no info on it, it's hard to compare.

[Mike-N-Tosh +]

I don't use the Friendly urls mod and very few of my clients have use it either. This is one of those types of items that there will be arguments on both sides of the fence. I have personally had no issues with any of my sites or my clients sites getting index by the major search engines without the mod.

Having good content, fresh content and other SEO optimization is key. Such as good descriptions and content with words that match the keywords, outside links to your site from other reputable sites, etc.

As far as the type of urls that the friendly urls produce is eliminating the php [get] type of urls, such as yoursite.com/viewlisting.php?view=124 with something more human readable such as yoursite.com/my-widget-for-sale.html

Thanks for this info Mike. It's good to know that there is nothing too search engine unfriendly about the standard version