[Alexandra Prats]

Hi Steven,

Maybe you have answered this somewhere, but I’ve been looking at the forum topics for a while and still have doubts.

I have installed:

• Connections
• Connections Circled-Template
• Connections Face Detect
• Connections Form
• Connections Link
• Connections Login
• Connections ROT13

We’re preparing a conference’s website, it is still in construction but almost finished. The idea is that participants register through an external payment platform and then they receive an user (email address) and a password. At the same time I create with this information the wordpress users in the conference’s website.

Afterwards, they can go to this webpage (http://19deac.mmb.cat/participantes/), click the “REGÍSTRATE EN EL DIRECTORIO” button, login with the user and password we gave them and then they access the form, fill in the form and create a new entry in the directory. Access to the form is private (they have to login), but directory is public.

After some attempts and reading some Forum topics I could do this:
– Creating a public directory page with this shortcode: [connections enable_search=true enable_pagination=true show_profile_link=false show_org=true]
– And a form page with these shortcodes: [connections_login][connections_form]

However, I read somewhere that connections_form shortcode have been deprecated, and I’m not sure whether this is fine or not. I also found this topic (http://connections-pro.com/support/topic/embedding-form-on-different-page/), but I’m not sure whether it can help me or not.

Moreover, I have done some tests and entries are correctly created, but afterwards, I don’t know how to edit entries. If I enter again with the same email and password, the form appears empty and a new entry is created (even if I’m using same email and password), so “Link” is not working. I also tried to include the login widget in the sidebar, but it doesn’t appear, it’s also not working, I don’t know why. And I’m not able to include the login form anywhere else.

I think the best solution is having the login widget in the sidebar (or a login form somewhere in the directory page) but just to add/edit entries, not to see the directory, because if I use “View my entry”, “Edit Entry” or “Add a new entry” links everything works well. However I don’t know how to do it, I just see these links as admin, but not as user. I’m trying and trying and don’t find the way. “Require registered users to login before showing the entry submission form.”, “When this option is enabled a “View My Directory Entry” or “Add My Directory Entry” link will be displayed.”, and “Login Form” are checked, but it doesn’t work as I expect.

I have some more doubts related to “Connections Circled-Template” and “Form”. I don’t know whether I should ask here or in a new topic:
– I have used this shortcode [connections enable_search=true enable_pagination=true show_profile_link=false show_org=true] because I don’t want to show the profile link in the directory, but I want to show the organization. However, organization doesn’t appear. What should I do to see organization below title?
– In “Form” the only field required is name, but email should also be required, because is necessary to work properly with “Link”. How can I mark email as required?
– It’s possible not to have to choose between “home email” and “work email”. I think people won’t understand this. And having less social networks in the list? Most of the social networks in the list are totally unknown in Spain, and is quite confusing as well.

Thank you!

Alexandra

[Alexandra Prats]

I found this for social media ids: http://connections-pro.com/support/topic/removing-options-from-social-media-ids/
I suppose it’s possible to do something similar with emails, isn’t?

Thank you,

Alexandra

[Steven Zahm]

@ Alexandra

There’s a lot here, I’ll do my best top answer every question thoroughly.

re: We’re preparing a conference’s website, it is still in construction but almost finished. The idea is that participants register through an external payment platform and then they receive an user (email address) and a password. At the same time I create with this information the wordpress users in the conference’s website.

Sounds like this workflow will work work with Connections Form and Link fine.

re: Afterwards, they can go to this webpage (http://19deac.mmb.cat/participantes/), click the “REGÍSTRATE EN EL DIRECTORIO” button, login with the user and password we gave them and then they access the form, fill in the form and create a new entry in the directory. Access to the form is private (they have to login), but directory is public.

Ok, this you will not want to do because this will not link the user to an entry they create. Rather, they will be able to add an unlimited number of entries, none of which will be linked to them.

Here’s my suggestion, steps 1 and 2 are optional, but could make it easier for your users to find the link to edit the directory entry.

1. Add the new shortcode using the method I describe in this post.
2. Create a new page for a member’s “dashboard” and add the [connections_edit_link] to it with instructions for your user to follow.
3. Alternative to step 2 you could add the shortcode to a text widget and place it in a theme sidebar on the http://19deac.mmb.cat/participantes/ page.
4. The http://19deac.mmb.cat/registro/ page is not necessary and complicates matters. On the http://19deac.mmb.cat/participantes/ page I suggest adding the login widget to a theme’s sidebar. This would work well with step 3. After your user logins in. There will be a “Add My Entry” link as long as your enabled it under the result list action. Clicking this link will take the user to the form where they can submit their entry. You would configure Form on the Connections : Settings admin page under the Form tab.

re: [connections_form] Shortcode.

This will not be removed and is safe to use but I would not suggest using it because it will not work with linking users to entries.

re: I also tried to include the login widget in the sidebar, but it doesn’t appear, it’s also not working, I don’t know why. And I’m not able to include the login form anywhere else.

The login widget will not display if you are logged in. My best guess is when you added it to the sidebar to test, you were logged in. Try adding it again and then login out or visit the page in a private browsing window.

re: I think the best solution is having the login widget in the sidebar (or a login form somewhere in the directory page) but just to add/edit entries, not to see the directory, because if I use “View my entry”, “Edit Entry” or “Add a new entry” links everything works well.

I’m guessing you have the Form “Submit New Entry” link enabled. As suggested in the docs, when using Form with Link, it is recommended that you disable this option. This way the user will only ever see the “Add My entry” link or “View My Entry” links when they are logged in.

re: However I don’t know how to do it, I just see these links as admin, but not as user.

Make sure you enabled the add/edit or add moderated/edit moderated capabilities to the correct user role that your users will be assigned when you add them.

re: I have some more doubts related to “Connections Circled-Template” and “Form”. I don’t know whether I should ask here or in a new topic:

Here will be fine. It will be easier for us both to keep the conversation in a single forum thread.

re: I have used this shortcode [connections enable_search=true enable_pagination=true show_profile_link=false show_org=true] because I don’t want to show the profile link in the directory, but I want to show the organization. However, organization doesn’t appear. What should I do to see organization below title?

The org is only shown on the profile page. The only way to show it where you want is to add code to the Circled template to display it where you want. Do you know some basic PHP? I can provide directions if you do.

re: In “Form” the only field required is name, but email should also be required, because is necessary to work properly with “Link”. How can I mark email as required?

When the user adds their entry using the “Add My Entry” link the email is not required. There is no way to make an email required at this time.

re: It’s possible not to have to choose between “home email” and “work email”. I think people won’t understand this.

An email option could be removed using PHP if you do not mind work with WordPress filters. See this, it explain how to filter addresses, phone and email.

re: And having less social networks in the list? Most of the social networks in the list are totally unknown in Spain, and is quite confusing as well.

This can also be done using PHP and WordPress filters. This explains how to limit the list to a select few.

I think that covers everything. Please let me know if I missed anything or if your need further guidance or clarification on my answers.

[Alexandra]

Hi Steven,

Thank you very much for your kind answer. I didn’t say anything before because I wanted to try the different options and had not enough time until today.

I have created the snippet and deleted the http://19deac.mmb.cat/registro/ page and now I’m using the sidebar. If I use the “connections login form widget” doesn’t work, but if I add the shortcode to a text widget (as you suggested) works fine.

I also tried the other option (Create a new page for a member’s “dashboard” and add the [connections_edit_link] to it with instructions for your user to follow.), but I did something wrong because the new page I created was always empty (logged in and logged out).

However, using the sidebar option everything works, I just have two doubts:

• Your login plugin hasn’t a logout option, isn’t ? If this option is
  not possible I will try some other plugin. I have done a search but
  now want to check which one works better for me. If you have some
  suggestion will be welcome.
• [connections_edit_link] is useful to add the “edit my entry” link to the sidebar, but not the “add my directory entry”. If I use the
  http://19deac.mmb.cat/participantes/submit/ link in the sidebar, it
  will work well or I will have the problem I had before (the new entry
  was created but the user was not linked to the entry). I guess this
  way It will work well now, but I’m not 100% sure. Could you confirm
  this point?

About the other questions, thanks to your suggestions, everything is already modified. I even found a topic useful for my question about add organization below title (http://connections-pro.com/support/topic/add-org-field/), and I already modified it as well.

Thanks for your help!

[Steven Zahm]

re: If I use the “connections login form widget” doesn’t work, but if I add the shortcode to a text widget (as you suggested) works fine.

Yes, pretty much exactly as it says in the description “Alternatively, you could use the widget which will only be displayed on the single entry page when a user is not logged in.” The widget is designed to only be displayed on the profile page of the entry if the user is not logged in. The shortcode method should work fine.

re: Your login plugin hasn’t a logout option, isn’t ? If this option is
not possible I will try some other plugin. I have done a search but
now want to check which one works better for me. If you have some
suggestion will be welcome.

Correct, it does not show a logout link. That is how it is designed. The Connections Login widget is really only intended to be used in the few places described in the description. If you want a site login and not one limited to Connections, then a generic login is all you need. You could even use the widget built into WordPress. I think it is the “Meta” widget.

re: [connections_edit_link] is useful to add the “edit my entry” link to the sidebar, but not the “add my directory entry”. If I use the
http://19deac.mmb.cat/participantes/submit/ link in the sidebar, it
will work well or I will have the problem I had before (the new entry
was created but the user was not linked to the entry). I guess this
way It will work well now, but I’m not 100% sure. Could you confirm
this point?

Do not provide a link directly to the /submit/ page. That will cause you trouble. You users should only use the link shown above the directory when adding their entry.

Now, all this said…

Looking at the login widget and taking your questions into consideration, I do feel it could use an update. Here’s what I’m thinking to add/change:

1. Add the “View My Directory Entry” link if Link is installed and the user has not been linked to an entry.
2. Add the “Edit My Entry” link if Link is installed and the user has been linked to an entry. If Form is installed, it’ll take them to the frontend editing rather than the admin profile edit entry page.
3. Add a logout link when a user is logged in.
4. If the user has an image or logo, show it as a thumbnail with their entry name which will link to their directory entry if the user has been linked.
5. Remove the limitation to display only on the entry profile page.
6. All the above be optional and configurable on the Widgets admin page.

Would all the above enhancements make it easier for you? And more importantly, function as you would have expected when using the widget?

Would you be willing to test these enhancements? If you are, can you provide a temp admin login? I’ll provide the installation and configuration support as a thank you for providing testing and feedback.

[Alexandra Prats]

Hi Steven,

Thank you for you offer, although at this moment, everything is working as I need it. I’ve been doing some tests and introducing the first entries and works perfect.
If I had to ask for some extra features these would be:

• Logout link, recover password link, error messages instead of linking
  to “wordpress login page”. I’ve installed a login plugin in order to
  get these functions, but this really would be an enhancement for your login plugin. However, it’s true that there are a lot of plugins of this kind.
• “Add my entry shortcode”, working with “Link”. Now I’m using this link “http://19deac.mmb.cat/participantes/submit/”, I’ve done a lot
  of tests and it’s working perfect, because the form is only showed
  after login.
• Or maybe better, a shortcode that shows the “Add my Directory entry” link when the user hasn’t any entry, and changes to “Edit my entry” when the user has already created one.
• A “Go back to directory” shortcode (as I’m using the sidebar for login, is useful if I have these links in the sidebar. I created
  manually one, but could be useful.

And I think that’s all. Probably, the most necessary would be this “Add/Edit” shortcode, instead of the [connections_edit_link], because now I have to use two links, one to add and one to edit, and the “Add my entry link” don’t disappear when the user has created the entry, and this is a bit annoying. And including the “Go back” link as a part of this shortcode would be great, because when I’m adding/editing my entry I can’t go back to the directory. I have included this link in the sidebar, but it’s always there, not just when it’s necessary. If all this functions were part of a shortcode I could use it wherever I want, for example in the sidebar, as in my case.

Thanks!

[Steven Zahm]

@ Alexandra

That I would loop back on this topic to let you know that Link has been updated to include easy ways to create the add/edit entry links. See these:

• http://connections-pro.com/documentation/link/#Shortcodes
• http://connections-pro.com/documentation/link/#Can_I_add_the_ViewAdd_and_Edit_links_to_my_menu

The Login extension also received a major update which tightly integrates with Link.

Here are the release announcements:

• http://connections-pro.com/2016/03/02/update-announcement-link-3-0/
• http://connections-pro.com/2016/03/02/login-2-0/

[Alexandra Prats]

Thank you for your message! I will take a look.

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