Viztech IT Solutions Limited » Blog

activeCollab – Change default project visibility to “Normal” instead of “Private”

Viztech — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:01:08 +0000

You just created a new project and it is not visible to your team members and other authorized users. There are access issues in the project, you wonder how? Reason is simple, you created project with default PRIVATE visibility.

We believe that every activeCollab user arrives at this moment at least for once and start feeling if there could be a way to resolve this. We also felt the same way so here is an easy and quick way for activeCollab verson 2.3.x to set default project visibility to NORMAL instead of PRIVATE. Please follow below steps:

Go to your activeCollab installation/applications/modules/system/controllers/ and open file ProjectController.class.php

Look for below piece of code between line 256 and 261 (it may be slightly changed based on your activeCollab version):

        if(!is_array($project_data)) {
	 $project_data = array(
	 'leader_id' => $this->logged_user->getId(),
	 'default_visibility' => VISIBILITY_PRIVATE,
	 );
	} // if

Change this code as below so that “VISIBILITY_PRIVATE” becomes “VISIBILITY_NORMAL” and it’s done:

	if(!is_array($project_data)) {
	 $project_data = array(
	 'leader_id' => $this->logged_user->getId(),
	 'default_visibility' => VISIBILITY_NORMAL,
	 );
	 } // if

Now, clear your cache files and try to create a sample project. You would notice that now default project visibility is set to NORMAL – it works.

NOTE: Please note that it is a custom hack to activeCollab hence it will be lost during every upgrade of activeCollab and you might need to handle it again, if needed.

We are really interested to know if you need project to be private more and why? activeCollab version 3.x is believed to remove such visibility option at all and we are intetested to learn more it’s need because there are already private objects and no person can access the project unless a member of it so what is the need of a private project concept? Any idea?

Please share your thoughts in the comment section below. Thanks!

How to rename tabs or items in activeCollab easily?

Viztech — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 09:54:06 +0000

We have noticed that most of the time when you are working with an open source system, you really want to get it customize to most of your needs and activeCollab has been a really easy to customize open source system which provides multi-language support too.

In the recent past, we noticed that couple of our clients wanted their tabs or item names to be changed to something more unique or specific to their work environment and yes, it is completely fine so we tried to analyzed more into this and came up with a situation that it can be directly changed in the code but that approach was very much time taking and not upgrade friendly which means if you will make an upgrade to your activeCollab installation then you will loose such changes in the code or you will be required to maintain extra caution for this which is again time consuming.

Finally, we thought of an idea which made is really a matter of minutes and implementation very easy, please follow below steps to rename your tabs/items in activeCollab easily.

1. Enable localization support:

You can do this by opening your config.php file. It usually resides at YOUR_SITE/activecollab/config/config.php. Please open this file and find below line:

define(‘LOCALIZATION_ENABLED’, false);

Now, make it true as below:

define(‘LOCALIZATION_ENABLED’, true);

NOTE: You need not to follow this step as if you have this enabled already.

2. Create a new language:

Now, login to your activeCollab installation and go to Administration > Languages page. Using the “New Language” form, please create a new language. Please do not use en_US.UTF-8 or en_US locale name as those are default names of activeCollab system. We used en_IN.UTF-8 to make it different but still English version.

3. Edit new language:

Now, a new language will be created and appear at left side. Please click on the name of that language to edit further and select dictionary. For example, if you want to change name of PROJECTS tab and DISCUSSIONS tab then please select system dictionary.

4. Rename tabs or items:

Above step will open a new form where you can find the strings to be changed, next to them you can put their new name. You are not supposed to fill the whole form as if you will not enter a string then its default name will be shown else your entered name will be shown. For example, if you will rename PROJECTS to FUN then only it will be shown as renamed items while rest of the strings will use their default name

5. Choose new language as default language to see changes:

Now, here is the final step to see it in action. Please set newly created language as default language. To set this language as default, click on the checkbox on the left of the language on Administration > Languages page. It’s done – sounds quite easy

Now, you should be able to see the changes or your renaming process.

NOTE: If you don’t see your changes immediately then please do not worry and clear your CACHE and COMPILE folders of your activeCollab installation. It will clear the cache and upon page refresh, you will be able to see the changes immediately.

Don’t use en_US or en_US.UTF-8 locale

When creating a new language, please don’t use en_US or en_US.UTF-8 locale. That locale is reserved for default language only and if you use it for custom language, all translations you make will be ignored by default.

If you need a professional support to handle this for you then please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to assit you!

Thank you!

Inline File Viewer Module for activeCollab released

Viztech — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 10:58:22 +0000

This module is very useful for activeCollab users as you can view Audio, Video, MS-Word, MS-Powerpoint and PDF files without need of downloading them. It saves a lot of time in downloading and viewing the contents.

Main Features:

View different kind of files in Inline Viewer without need of downloading them
You can play videos, view images, see html (including presentation) and documents i.e. Doc, PPT and PDF are compatible for now via the base version
We have integrated Google Reader in it and using that you can read Doc, PPT files too as the inline contents without need of downloading them
You can upload any file using default mechanism of activeCollab and at the bottom side of every file which can be seen in inline viewer, you will see an icon to play the file in inline viewer
PDF, PPT and Doc files are shown with the help of Google reader so that you can read them easily without need of downloading, using google reader support – you can change pages too as if the documents is multi-pages.
Bigger contents will have scrolls so that you can read and see contents easily
No need of downloading almost anything

We use Google Reader to view the files without the need of downloading, you can see DOC, PDF and PPT files for documents viewing purpose online. It supports different kind of audio and video files too. This module is very effective as it removes the need of flash or any other specific item. You can upload any type of file and if it is supported and relevant player is available then it will easily show the file as inline content.

Upgrades:

Every package covers one year of free updates and technical support.

Screenshots:
1. Inline-viewer.png:
It shows upload of a file in a comment as per the normal uploading feature of activeCollab – for now, we have placed a PLAY button just under the file as if you don’t want to download it and view as inline content – we might come up with a better option as if we get some good ideas else we will keep it this way for now.

2. Inline-viewer-view.png:
This file shows the view of a PDF file with the use of Google Reader to read the file online as inline content. You will be able to see the first page of CAPM handbook in the screen shot

3. inline-viewer-view-more-pages.png:
This is another screen shot for further pages in the same file. Using Google reader, you will be able to switch to more pages and see details.

Purchase and Download:
Please visit here on our marketplace website.

Quick scroll to top of the pages – activeCollab Patch

Viztech — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 09:23:06 +0000

This is a small patch to provide a button in the bottom-right side of the browser screen toeasily and quickly scroll to the top of any page in the activeCollab.

It is really useful when you have a long discussion, lots of comments on a ticket and you want to go to top of the page. Just click the TOP button and you will be scrolled to the top.

Price:
FREE

Download:
Please download this package for FREE from here.

Please follow below steps to do the installation.

STEP 1:
======

Please copy the provided files as per the given directory structure (within the installation package) on the given path as below:

- YOUR_SITE/public/assets/javascript/

Please copy and paste the jumptop.js file in above folder location.

STEP 2:
========

Please go to YOUR_SITE/public/assets/ and open js.php file in your favorite editor and add below line to $files = array

ASSETS_PATH . ‘/javascript/jumptop.js’,

That’s all login in your system and you will find the TOP button in the bottom-right corner to scroll to top easily.

Cheers – please report if you face any issue with this

Thank you!

Incremental Backup Module for activeCollab

Viztech — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 09:21:50 +0000

Hi Friends,

We started using the Active Collab very recently but in the short span, as I was moving around the forum and developer docs, I found couple of things in my notice and one of them is Incremental Backup of the user data and database.

I also feel the TRUE need of it therefore I was playing with some of the files in the code and I assume that I can come up with a small module to perform this work. As per my understanding, I am going to create a module for incremental backup of user files and complete backup of database.

As I see the code now, I like Active Collab and might come up with a link to download the module in next 3 days so stay tuned here. I know there is already a module there but being a small startup, we can not afford too many purchases except the core so why not make an easy solution to this.

I will post more details here as I progress.

Thanks ActiveCollab team for such a nice system and the rest of the community too for being supportive

Quick Project Updates Patch for activeCollab

Viztech — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 09:20:20 +0000

Hi Friends,

As I just configured the active collab for my own working and found that sometimes, it is really too much to find specific activity updates in the long queue on dashboard especially when there are so many projects with you so I came up with an idea as below:

- I decided to develop a small patch for the recent version of ActiveCollab and I am excited as it is progressing because it is fulfilling the needs.

For now, this patch will add another tab on the dashboard called “Project Updates” or anything (as we decide before release) and clicking on this tab will show the last 5 updates from each of the active project.

For the first release, I have this much only in my plans being Agile but for next version, I will try to order the project list too so that the latest updated projects stays on the top – lets see how it comes. I hope, I will be able to release it in next 3 days with the incremental backup module as discussed in other post.

Thank you for your cooperation – stay tuned for the updates

How to add menu and sub menu in the Joomla! administration menu for a Component

Viztech — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 09:17:56 +0000

Yesterday, I was talking to one of my friend and then during the discussion, we realized that there is no easily available document which can provide quick information how to add menus with their sub menus in the back end of Joomla! for a component at the moment of developing the component and/or afterwards so here is a quick tutorial about this:

A) If you are developing a Joomla! component and wants to have menu & sub menu automatically created with the installation of component then follow below:

1. Please add menu and sub menu details in the back end top bar using below code in the componentname.xml file (Please add similar code with your own details in the administration block of the xml file):

<!--administration files are included here-->

Main Menu Name/Component Name

Menu Item 1

Menu Item 2

Menu Item 3

Menu Item 4

Menu Item 5

B) If you are developing a Joomla! component and have not completed the development yet then create menu & sub menus manually using below method – this method is also useful if your component does not have quick links and you want to add them:

Please open your database using phpMyAdmin or any other easy database management tool and then open jos_components table. Please copy the below sql query and change it to meet with your details and run it, it will add menu & sub menus for your component:

INSERT INTO `jos_components` (`id`, `name`, `link`, `menuid`, `parent`,

`admin_menu_link`, `admin_menu_alt`, `option`, `ordering`, `admin_menu_img`,

`iscore`, `params`, `enabled`) VALUES

(1, 'Main Menu Name/Component Name', 'option=com_componentname', 0, 0,

'option= com_componentname', 'Main Menu Name/Component Name',

'com_componentname', 0, 'path to icon file', 0, '', 1),

(2, 'Menu Item 1', '', 0, 1, 'option= com_componentname&view=menuitem1',

'Menu Item 1', 'com_componentname', 2, 'path to icon file', 0, '', 1),

(3, 'Menu Item 2', '', 0, 1, 'option= com_componentname&view=menuitem2',

'Menu Item 2', 'com_componentname', 1, 'path to icon file', 0, '', 1),

(4, 'Menu Item 3', '', 0, 1, 'option= com_componentname&view=menuitem3',

'Menu Item 3', 'com_componentname', 3, 'path to icon file', 0, '', 1),

(5, 'Menu Item 4', '', 0, 1, 'option= com_componentname&view=menuitem4',

'Menu Item 4', 'com_componentname', 4, 'path to icon file', 0, '', 1),

(6, 'Menu Item 5', '', 0, 1, 'option= com_componentname&view=menuitem5',

'Menu Item 5', 'com_componentname', 5, 'path to icon file', 0, '', 1);

NOTE:

1) Entry in the XML file ensures this to be taken care while installing the Joomla Component and then it adds the menu and sub menu at the same time automatically to Joomla! administration menu by making entry into __components DB table
2) Manual entry in the db is required to make it possible as if installation was not done using XML file or you are developing a component but after completion of such component, please make sure to include this in the XML file so that user can do the complete automated installation easily

3) Please note, here path to icon file could be like as below:

components/com_componentname/assets/icons/icon-name.gif

Here, it is always useful to put all the icons files in the assets folder of the component which is used to store all the additional files to provide them as needed.

4) Sub menus will be linked as if you enter proper parent Id for them in the above DB table.

5) Please make sure to update corresponding names with your component details.

Of course, for any query or further assistance – just write your message and I will be happy to respond ASAP – enjoy!!!

Dedicated Joomla Developer Program

Viztech — Thu, 27 May 2010 09:16:16 +0000

We are pleased to inform all our pride customers that now we are starting our Dedicated Developer Program especially for Joomla! too. Over the past few years, Joomla! has gained a big coverage for different kind of websites from Small business presence website to enough size & complex E-commerce projects. This growing need from our customers has bought us into a nice moment where apart from our regular Joomla customization and extension services, we are ready to provide cost effective dedicated Joomla! developer program too.

We are ready to offer dedicated Joomla Developer program for the most reasonable price on monthly basis from 1st June 2010. Main features of dedicated Joomla developer program is as below:

1. Total control on developer’s activities
2. Entire Project Management
3. Direct Tasks Assignments
4. Direct Communication
5. Supervision by technically capable and smart project managers (on need basis)
6. Performance Management
7. Substitute Availability (depending upon pre-information)
8. and more

If you are interested then please refer to our contact us page and act now to avail 10% discount till 31st July 2010.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 and other older browsers will not be supported any longer

Viztech — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 09:15:13 +0000

In order to continue to improve our products and deliver more sophisticated services, we are harnessing some of the latest improvements in web browser technology. This includes faster JavaScript processing and new standards like HTML5. As a result, over the course of 2010, we will be phasing out support for Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 as well as other older browsers that are not supported by their own manufacturers.

We plan to begin phasing out support of these older browsers on all the completed & under execution projects so far from March 1, 2010. Later in 2010, we will start to phase out support for these browsers for our open source system like DreamCollab (www.dreamcollab.com) and other open source based extension and themes too – this process will be fully implemented in action from May 1, 2010 and support for such older browsers will not be available.

We will continue to support Internet Explorer 7.0 and above, Firefox 3.0 and above, Google Chrome 4.0 and above, and Safari 3.0 and above as per our standard web design and development practice

Thank you for your continued support!

Sincerely,

The Viztech Info team

How to add breadcrumbs in Joomla!

Viztech — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 09:14:19 +0000

Breadcrumbs are nice way to display the connection from the root. It gives you a hierarchical representation with click able links so that user can visit upper links easily. Breadcrumbs can be added in templates by using the object returned by $mainframe->getPathWay(). The member function addItem() allows to add a breadcrumb with the title of choice.

There are two parameters used for breadcrumbs creation process, and the first parameter is the title for the breadcrumb and the second parameter is the URL. If we do not need the breadcrumb to work like a link then we need to simply pass a blank string and then it will not work like a click able URL. This term is useful for hierarchical components where we have subcategories: we can generate a link to each and then end with the title of the current record or category.