Incentives
With all the work done on UserPoints it seemed time to use it here. You can introduce people to the Remository site. While logged in, look for the link to UserPoints Invitation in the main menu and fill in the details. Or just look at your own UserPoints Profile and copy the referral link. If your referral results in a new user, you will be credited with 0.5 points. But if the new user signs up for an All Software, Support and Upgrades plan another 9.5 points will be added to your account. Each point is worth a dollar that you can use to pay for your own subscription. Spread the word!
User Points
It has been exciting to see UserPoints in action. It started out based on the old Alpha User Points, via the Alta variant. The features are similar, although with some additions. The code has been radically overhauled. Not just to make it compliant with any of Joomla 3.10.x or 4.x or 5.x but also to make it more efficient and more maintainable. Now, the latest version is compatible with Joomla 6.
Additions include allowing users to buy points (using the complementary free Payage payment handler), a built in rule to incentivise logins, the possibility of buying Membership Pro subscriptions using points, and integration with Remository.
Standard features include the creation of coupons that can be converted to points, rewards for inviting new members. You can award a bonus or add custom points to a user, and add incentives to do with the articles on your site. Integrations exist for other Joomla extensions - if there is something you particularly want, contact us to see if we can handle it.
NOW AVAILABLE - a new plugin that awards points to people who read your articles. Fully configurable for each article, you can specify how long the user must look at the article, and how many points they will receive.
The software is looking robust now, and the UserPoints component is NOW COMPLETELY FREE!
New Remository interface, new features
Remository has been developed over a number of years. But it has undergone a big overhaul. It retains rich functionality,
but now has a new, modern user interface. Recently added features in the current version are
Enhanced Interfaces
- Terrific new interfaces, both client side and admin side
- A fully integrated comment facility
- All screens support template overrides for customisation
- New language files also support overrides
- Control of the configuration through "Options"
- Integration with UserPoints (coming very soon)
Familiar features:
- Structure your file repository in folders, nested to any depth you like
- Store files in the file system, the database or Amazon AWS
- Flexible, easy to use role based access control system
Remository as Joomla Update Server
The new Remository can be used as a Joomla Update Server. Its powerful role based access controls limit who can get updates, and can be combined with products such as Membership Pro. A pairing like this provides the tools for anyone selling downloads by subscription. Or you can set prices for Remository files and require UserPoints to pay for them - points can be bought for cash if desired. No need to mess with XML files - Remository handles it all. And you can complement it with our Joomla compatible Changelog Manager.
New File Storage for Remository
Remository has long provided database storage for the files in the repository. This gives excellent security, since the files do not exist in the file system, and so cannot be directly used for any exploit. It also allows Remository to be migrated to another server entirely by moving the database tables. Now, in a further innovation, Remository offers file storage using any S3 cloud service. This can overcome hosting limitations. It also means that files from the repository are delivered at high speed, with no overhead on the web server running Remository. Other storage options will be developed if there is a demand for them.
Traditional Remository Features
Files can be arranged in folders (or containers) that can be nested to any depth you need.
Each folder has independent access controls, separately for uploads, downloads, editing and auto-approve. The controls allow for any combination of user groups to have each permission.
Fast and efficient searching of the file repository, on either the file titles or the descriptions, or both.
Text descriptions for both folders and files
Optional user ratings for files, as well as the comment system
A selection of modules to give information about the repository such as newest files
Plugins including Quickdown - a plugin that allows information from the repository to be inserted into articles
Optional thumbnail images for files, with larger popups of the image
Numerous configuration options
Security Advisory - Please Act Now
A critical security vulnerability was discovered on 7 October in Remository that requires immediate action. See the advisory.
What Happened
A SQL injection vulnerability was found in the classify view that could allow attackers to execute unauthorized database queries.
What You Need To Do
Update to Remository version 4.5.0 IMMEDIATELY.
Why This is Urgent
This vulnerability is being actively exploited in the wild. Your site may be at risk until you apply this update.
Support Services
Subscribers have access to professional
support services, backed by a ticket system. Contact us if you need custom developments.
We run our own mail server, but we have front ended it with a spam blocker by MX Guard Dog. This enables us to run our mail server with much lower resources, because it does not need anti-spam or anti-virus software. If you want help to do the same, get in touch.