Joomla Extensions , Joomla Components

The Factory anounces the brand new Auction Factory 1.4. The incredible new versions brings ultimative features that completes the auction platform, fulfilling all the requirements for a professional corporate system.

The new version is build already on the high developed 1.0.3 version but it's extending the features far beyond.

First of all one of the major features is Templating adding a Smarty-engine to obtain a very easy modifiable layout. With this display features the Auction Suite can be easily integrated in a certain template or corporate design.

After Templating another very important web feature is the ability to generate RSS Feeds from the:

• Latest Auctions
• Categories present on the platform
• User Filter.

and the ability to set Tags (Blog Style) for each Auction which can be also used as filters. The system has now also support for a Unique Auction Number, a searchable UAN and SEF implemented.

User Groups ACL are implemented. The groups of Sellers and Bidders which have access to the platform can be generated from the:

• Native Joomla Groups or
• CB Community Builder Custom Fields.

To bring also real-time flavour the auction platform there is now a Minutes Countdown. This option can be enabled or disabled from the admin in the back-end of the component and brings itself two settings of the Cron: minute/daily.

Since there was allot of feedback from different site administrators a certain level of productivity was required except the subscriptions mode. Studying this issue the platform has now a integrated Payment Method which brings support for PayPal payments. This option is integrated into the system after the bidding process ends and can also be used to pay for Featured Auctions. Surely the administrator has an overview on the payment list and in order to cover a large area of payment processors, more payment modules will follow.

Powerseller and Verified User are also a new addition to the Auction Factory platform. They can be set by the admin together with other important admin options like:

• Delete - Purge Auctions
• Allow / Disable Messages between Bidder/Seller
• Editing Categories of each auction
• Setting Featured auctions

The Featured Auctions are payable with PayPal and they are three types:

• Gold (this auctions will be available on the top of the list)
• Silver (for example a highlighted background)
• Bronze (as Silver can be setted different, for example they are presented with bold)

The Rating System is now also displayable in the Template and has separated counting for the Auctioneer, for the Bidder and also avarage value. Regarding the usage the system has also further improvements like:

• a new Menu Item = My Won Bids
• Search by Location; the informations are taken from the User fields and they can be also displayed in the list of auctions due to the Template adding.
• a confirmation window on the BIN button
• new notification to the user when he was outbidded
• new notification to the auctioneer when an auction ends and they are no winners
• new icons in the list of auctions by editing the template
• module option to display an image before the auction.

Regarding the CB plugins the most important new addition is the Task Pad tab, where all the important Auctions tasks are present. Other additions are the new My Won Bids tab and the notifying when outbidded function on the My Bid tab.

Here we described just the important new features of the auction framework. Other tweaks are also implemented in the new version of Auction Factory 1.4 one of the most complete e-commerce platform available.

Since we just added all the latest features to Article Factory Manager 1.3 just for our customers to have complete benefits, it was now time to just redevelope the component with the existing features to be a native Joomla 1.5.x component. So the new available version is Article Factory Manager 1.5 and brings compatibility with the latest Joomla Version.

Maintaining the pace we are offerring now also our VM Virtuemart Tree Factory Module for Joomla 1.5. This unique add-on for VirtueMart is absolutely free!

Also we would like to introduce to the new changes regarding the ECB Exchange Rates Factory Module. The latest version of Exchange Rates ECB 2.1 uses a new JavaScript model. This means that when the page loads the list is locked and the text "Click to choose new currency" appears.

If the user clicks in the list the text "Click to lock the currencylist" appears and the list will update so the currency where the mouse is placed will be the new refernce currency and alsothe progosis values are updated. If the user moves the mousepointer the list updates and changes the reference currency to the one where the mousepointer is placed and again all prognosis values are updated. If the user clicks again the first text appears. In this mode will the user be able to drag the mousepointer over the prognosis symbols (up-, down- or an arrow to the side) to see the currencyvalue from the cache for that day.

Our Joomla Lava Factory Menu was newly integrated into several templates developed by www.CREAJoomla.com

Here a screenshot from the CJ Slidy Mars 2 Template:

The Factory just released a brand new product for the Joomla world which also bring diversify to the RSS Factory Suite which include at this moment the top viewer RSS Factory and RSS Context Factory. The new product is called rss to image Factory and displays images taken from RSS feeds. The module is compatible with rss Factory 1.5.x.

The module is able to display only the feeds containing images or all the feeds. The orientation can be set up vertical or horizontal and there is a minimal required size for search and display images in order not to display images like spacer 1x1 px.

rss to image Factory is also capable of image resizing. The image caption can be choosen from "alt" or "title" attributes or disabled and in case of missing caption the text can be predefined by the admin (ex. "No caption"). Regarding the caption there is an option to set up the lenght (first x characters) and the position (up or above the image). Here the complete list of features at this moment:

• display images taken from RSS Feeds
• takes images from the cache of rss Factory 1.5.x
• is able to display only the feeds containing images or all the feeds
• orientation can be set up vertical or horizontal
• search and display images with a required size (in order not to display images like spacer 1x1 px)
• image resizing
• image caption can be choosen from "alt" or "title" attributes or disabled
• in case of missing caption the text can be predefined by the admin (ex. "No caption")
• set up lenght of caption (first x characters)
• caption can be displayed up or above the image

There is also an ETA for the next RSS Context Factory Module - next week! The new version will bring also compatibility to the Joomla 1.5.x and will fit perfect into the RSS Factory Suite.

We released last month a couple of updates just in order to incorporate a couple of new functions on the Joomla 1.0.x version. We wanted to offer existing customers features that are already planned for the Joomla 1.5.x version. Soon we will release also a new product for the new Joomla platform. Here the last changes on the Joomla 1.0.x version:

article Factory Manager 1.3.0 released on April 14, 2008.

• Restricted groups; groups can be restricted not to publish in selecteted sections, categories.
• fixed issue regarding frontpage checkbox (checked/unchecked) in conformity with the article state (published, unpublished, ...) and the article 's front page publishing state
• fixed issue regarding the counting of the number of links on article submission
• Save as draft - custom message
• fixed issue regarding the pathway in frontend when doing a selction on my article
• fixed issue regarding the display of options when approving articles
  

article Factory Manager 1.2.0 released on April 1, 2008.

• Scheduled articles; posters can choose the date when articles should be published.
  
• added German Language file

article Factory Manager 1.1.2 released on March 26, 2008.

• fixed an issue where the config value _ART_SET_publish_on_frontpage is ignored in saving a new article in fronend

article Factory Manager 1.1.1 released on March 24, 2008.

• fixed Layout, bigger size main text in article edit
• fixed JS Validation on save draft task
• fixed Reject from articles list
• fixed metakey and metadescription values are now visible

• Main currency is now changeble allowing comparisons with all available currencies
• Prognosis function showing the tendency of each currency based on the last quote
• Overlib
• changes regarding the cache files
• all flags included in the pack (which currencies are listed on ECB)
• swedish language added

Last week we launched a new Ticket Support System. The solution is called "Trellis Desk" and it's been provided by the ACCORD5 company, which we like to thank them for offering this framework.

Due to our growing customer base it was necesssary to induct the new system in order to keep and develop an overview and maintain the same higher level of customer satisfaction.

The process steps are the followings:

• customer is filling out the contact form placed on our "Contact Us" tab with his issues; please provide a valid email adress in order to receive the answer; if you are already a customer then please provide us also your name and order number.
• confirmation email will be received that the form has entered successfully the Ticket System.
  
• a member of our staff will replay to the ticket providing the requested informations.
• if the customer has further issues then just replay back without changing the email subject, so the system would be able to recognize it as a followup to your ticket or enter in our system with your ID.
• after 24 hours of non-activity from the customer, the ticket will be closed.
  

I would like also to remind here that we are answering as soon as possible but please have in mind the different timzones. Thank you!

In the last period of time we launched a couple of product updates for our Joomla Components. Most of them are involving the native support for the latest Joomla core 1.5.x.

With rss Factory 1.5.2 we decided to step up again with a high quality product and offer a fully native Joomla 1.5.X component. Here the latest changes:

rss Factory 1.5.3 released on April 10, 2008.

• fixed "save config" issue
  

rss Factory 1.5.2 released on March 25, 2008.

• Redeveloped to be a native Joomla 1.5.X component (only rss Factory versions 1.0.x till 1.1.x will support further Joomla 1.0.X)
• several major improvements 

rss Factory 1.1.1 released on April 10, 2008.

• fixed "save config" issue
  

rss Factory 1.1.0 released on March 24, 2008.

• several minor and major improvements
• fixed issue regarding the pseudocron