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[bertmc Friend bertmcJoin date: May 2010Posts: 33Downloads:63Uploads:2 Thanks: 2 Thanked: 3 times in 1 posts]

#157709

JA Comments has some great features that make it NEARLY suitable for use as a REVIEWS system. Other REVIEWS extensions cost from $50 – $250 they are not open source, and are locked to a single domain. I have looked at other commenting systems and they dont seem as good as JA Comments for this purpose. I have looked pretty hard at this, and it seems that the following features would be required to bridge the gap.

1. Configuration option to allow Child Comments to be used exclusively as Author Response System – available only to the article author or admin to reply to Reviews.

2. Stars/Ratings – single rating (1-5 stars) or multiple ratings? This could be a separate data field with a simple pull down in the form, or just insert an HTML image link (2stars.gif, 3stars.gif etc) inside the comment text.

3. Title above input form (currently if comment form is at the top, there is no title – ie “Reviews” or “Comments”) perhaps adding a Header Message (like the Footer message) would do the trick.

4. Need to Easily control which Sections/Categories will use JA Comment – {jacomment off} seems to work, but I cannot seem to get {jacomment on} to function as one would expect. There is no way to set the system to default OFF, other than to go offline completely.

5. Show IP addresses to monitor Review Spam (front end and back end). Others have requested this.

6. Custom register link. The RPXnow / facebook / twitter login is great, but CB or Jomsocial integration is very important for a REVIEWS site. For example, getting this link to work in the popup window would be great. index.php?option=com_comprofiler&task=registers&tmpl=component It looks like this issue was previously identified, but it does not seem to be resolved. http://pm.joomlart.com/browse/JACOMMENT-228 I know that there are several complications such as with double opt in, etc. But perhaps it should be left to the webmaster to figure those out (turn off double opt in).

I feel JA Comments is already one of the best extensions of its kind out there, but with the addition of this relatively small feature set, I think JA Comments can rise to a new level.

Any thoughts?

[bertmc Friend bertmcJoin date: May 2010Posts: 33Downloads:63Uploads:2 Thanks: 2 Thanked: 3 times in 1 posts]

#367878

Allow me to clarify. I think that if these features were added, many JA extension subscribers could use JA Comments for a Review site. But for myself, I think I can do it with much less support from the Dev team.

1. I have not looked at the code yet, but I think I can easily hack this by making the links visible only under certain conditions.

2. If a new data field is required, I would not want to hack this in over and over again with updates. I would like to see this as a new feature

3. I can easily hack this

4. I have a solid workaround for this. Not an issue for me.

5. Merely a convenience, no big deal

6. I might be able to hack this, but I think it is something that the product needs on the whole.

So, in truth, if this is to be considered a “support request” I am only asking for some solution to #2. It would only be needed on PARENT COMMENTS not on Child Comments. The method of inserting an image into the body of the comment might be the easiest tweak, but comment editing would have to be prohibited in order to preserve the image (this can already be controlled in the back end)

I just wanted to clarify the scope of my request.

Thanks

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