How to Pimp Your JomSocial (part 1)

JomSocial 2.0.x is the most popular commerial social networking solution for Joomla! which gives you all the tools needed to build and manage your website community. It is still not perfect web software, although it is difficult to equally satisfy the needs of all people. It comes with a large number of modules (14) and plugins (26) and a fairly complex presentation. Because is distributed under the GNU / GPL, anyone can modify the appearance of individual elements.

Question #1

How to adjust the appearance of the Latest Members Module (which lists the most recent members) to one of the modules which displays Facebook Fanbox into Joomla 1.5 websites ?

Tools needed: none, just simple HTML editor. Tasks: enlarge thumbnail avatars, add the user name under the photo, cut the long names using CSS.

Open mod_latestmembers/tmpl/default.php file. Because this module has two options use Tooltips or not. I advise you to choose “not”. By the way, orginal avatars from facebook have 50px × 50px. Find line 32 in your default.php file with this code:

     
     $html = '
<li style="display: inline; padding: 0 3px 3px 0; background: none;">';
     
     

Now add some changes to it:

     
     
     $html = '
     <div style="width: 50px;height:72px;float: left; overflow: hidden;padding: 0 5px 5px 0; background: none;text-decoration: none;">
     ';
     
     
     

Go to line 32 with this code:

     
     
     $html .= ' <img width="32" src="'.$user->getThumbAvatar().'" alt="'. $userName.'" title="'.$userName.'" style="padding: 2px; border: solid 1px #ccc;" />';
     
     
     

I changed a little bit, see code below:

     
     
     $html .= <img width="50" src="'.$user->getThumbAvatar().'" alt="'.$userName.'" title="'.$userName.'" style="padding: 2px;" />';
     $html .= '
     <div style="line-height: 13px;color: #808080;font-size: 9px;overflow: hidden;text-align: center;white-space: nowrap;">'.$userName.'</div>
     ';
     
     
     

Remember that I put CSS style in HTML because that was the original file. But if you like to can add this to CSS file. However, it will be profitable only if the module will be used more than 2-3 times on the site. If less migration of styles does not make much sense and can remain in such form as it is now.

Question #2

How to maximize the potential types of profiles in JomSocial, so how do the standard account, VIP and Premium account etc.. ?

Since, JomSocial 2.0 has included Profile types natively. However, beyond the diversity of form fields (eg, registration, and profile) does not offer the functionality to create a ground breaking (differentiate) VIP account, and therefore those that will eventually be paid. Because of limits I use JSPT (joomlaxi.com) which is integrated with AEC i.e If you want to offer paid membership in your JomSocial based community website then user’s profile type can be automatically forced as per plan selected. You can control the visibility and requirement of any Profile field.

You can control default avatar for any created profile type. The most Important and exciting feature which adds a flavor in JSPT is Access Control Rules (Limit Number of friends, Restrict Events, Groups, Albums, Videos etc). Admin Approval feature allows you to select which Profile Type needs admin confirmation. Admin can set Allow, Visible, Editable During Registration, Editable After Registration, Required feature on each Profile Fields. Profile type selection can be added like menu links and much more.

edit configuration

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This article was first published March 8th, 2011