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What is Joomla’s Community Builder extension?

Posted on May 12, 2009
Filed Under Software, open source | 3 Comments

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This is the 2nd part to my post entitled Getting Joomla excited! In this post I will write about the popular Community Builder extension and how to install the extension.

In Part 3 I will look at implementation of the extension and how to add Community Builder plug-ins and finally I will also showcase what I have done on my website with the Community Builder extension. All of this was done without a line of extra coding so Joomla enthusiasts can implement the Community Builder extension without having to be a coder.

The Community Builder extension

The Community Builder extension is the brainchild of the guys at www.joomlapolis.com. It extends the capability of Joomla’s membership module and transforms the Joomla CMS into a full-fledged membership and community site. If you are using Joomla CMS without the Community Builder extension and try to build a community website or portal, you will experience a lot of limitations.

What Community Builder provides
1. Better User Management module.
2. Ability to add additional user fields which is not possible using Joomla’s standard User Management module.
3. Ability to add and manage tabs.
4. Supports various plugins written for the Community Builder extension.
5. List management
6. Utility to synchronize the Joomla/Mambo User table with the Joomla/Mambo Community Builder User Table and perform a series of tests on the Community Builder database, user fields and user database.

cb1

Community Builder is not a free extension
For the goodies that Community Builder will bring to your Joomla website, there is a fee to pay to download, install and implement Community Builder. I paid something like 35 EUR for the download and if you want to obtain the documentation, you will have to pay more. They call it subscriptions. Here is the link www.joomlapolis.com

Installing Community Builder extension

Summary of Installation and Initial Setup Steps:
1. Install com_comprofiler component
2. Install mod_cblogin module
3. Install mod_comprofilerModerator module
4. Install mod_comprofilerOnline module
5. Enable CB Login, CB Workflows and CB Online modules
6. Select Name Style parameter from Community Builder Configuration and Save. Run Community Builder Synchronize Users tool.
7. Disable Joomla/Mambo login modules
8. Add new Public menu item to Community Builder component
9. Add new User List menu item
10. Run Load Sample Data tool (optional)
11. Adjust Community Builder and Joomla/Mambo CMS settings to allow registrations only through Community Builder
12. Done!

In this part I will cover step 1 through 4. The rest of the other steps will be covered in part 3.

1. Install com_comprofiler component
a) To install com_comprofiler.zip, click on Extensions > Install/Uninstall from the Joomla Administration menu.

cb2

c) Install – you can either upload the package (zip file) and install or copy the unzipped files to the tmp folder to install or install from a remote URL.

cb3

As the install file size is large, it will take time to install com_comprofiler.zip.

My suggestion is to unzip the file and ftp the files to the tmp directory and install it using the second option described above.

2. Install mod_cblogin module

a) To install mod_cblogin.zip, click on Extensions > Install/Uninstall from the Joomla Administration menu.

cb2

c) Install – you can either upload the package (zip file) and install or copy the unzipped files to the tmp folder to install or install from a remote URL.

cb3

IMPORTANT if you use the core Joomla or Mambo login module the users will become out of sync with community builder. I will show you in part 3 how to synchronize the users to avoid this problem from happening.

3. Install mod_comprofilerModerator module
a) Install mod_comprofilerModerator.zip as a module
b) This is an optional module and it is only needed if using moderator features but I suggest that you continue to install this in case you wish to use the moderator features in the future.

You install the mod_comprofilerModerator module exactly the same way as step 1 and step 2.

4. Install mod_comprofilerOnline module

a) Install mod_comprofilerOnline.zip as a module.
b) This is an optional module which displays list of online users. I suggest you proceed to install this module.

You install the mod_comprofilerOnline module exactly the same way as step 1, step 2 and step 3.

Summary of Part 2
In this part, I have written about the Community Builder extension, what it is and what it can do to enhance Joomla as a membership system. I have also covered the installation of Community Builder extension.

In part 3, I will go through step 5 through to step 12 and enabling Community Builder plugins.

If you missed Part 1, you can read it here – Getting Joomla excited!

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    Comments

    3 Responses to “What is Joomla’s Community Builder extension?”

    1. Pet Strollers on June 20th, 2009 8:31 pm

      I have provided a couple of builders with copies of the drawings and structural engineers report and asked them for a detailed quote, ie a breakdown of costs for building works, electrical, plumbing, kitchens, bathrooms etc but all seem reluctant to provide this.

    2. Timothy Sutton on June 22nd, 2009 4:43 pm

      I followed your instructions fine until I got to:

      Add new Public menu item to Community Builder component

      Please illuminate.

    3. heshan on December 22nd, 2009 3:37 pm

      sir, where is part 2 or part 3 ???? this is bloody userfriendly

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