Hi, I've noticed an interesting plugin in the trial version called "personal_folder" From first glance it looks as if after a customer signup, amember can create a personal folder on the server & possibly populate the folder with a set of predefined (template) files? I looked thru the pro documentation & searched the forums with no results. Anyone using this? if so can you elaborate on the function?
Yeah we use it on one of our sites. You can set up a subscription type / product to automatically create a personal folder for each user in addition to the standard content of that product OR you can set up the personal folder as a separate product which the customer can sign up for. It will, when subscribed to create a personal folder called "username", which will automatically populate with a predefined set of files from a template directory you have set up. So each subscriber to the directory get the same "templated" set of files. You may then add personal files for any particular user at will over and above those added by default from the templated directory, which only they may access In our application which is a teaching program we use it for Premium subscribers who get personal coaching over and above the normal product. It allows us to provided user specific data to the subscriber being personally mentored. There's also a neat little addition to this plugin provided by "davidm1" (a hell of a nice guy) from this forum in his www.membershipacademy.com membership site (not connected with Amember developers and not free - but a worthwhile resource if you are a serious user of amember) which automatically sets up an automatic menu system for the personal folder also that you might find useful with this plugin. In a teaching environment or an environment where you have need to supply specific data on a CUSTOMIZED PER USER basis, the plugin is a nice addition.
Ahh, Great info, thanks! Is this an included plugin, or an addon plugin? So it not only creates the personal folder, but provides a vehicle (to the subscriber) to add additional files to the folder? What method? HTTP upload, FTP? I'm curious. When the files are copied over from the template directory to the personal one, does it preserve the existing file permissions? for example read & write access, like CHMODding a file via FTP? Thanks again.
Sorry I wasnt thinking clearly when I replied. I had a thought about a modification scenario that Id previously considered. re: the user having the ability to also upload data to a personal directory (as in a "homework submission scenario) and my mind ran off at a tangent, thinking of all the "what ifs", as is fairly normal for me. As a result I amended my previous post. The answer is the user cannot upload their own files to the personal directory, although that modification could be a very nice and useful addition in certain scenarios.It is used for you to add user specific files to give them access to, only, so permissions are not a consideration, as the directory can only be accessed (read) by themselves and an admin (read/write). The plugin is not in the plugin list for sale on the members page and to be honest I cannot recall if we paid for it or simply asked for it. You would have to ask Customer Support on that issue.
Understood, Thank you! One intended use was to offer hosting of a particular script (zencart) on our server, customized with relevant layout templates that suit my clients product market. (I run a community of craftsmen who have been begging for a simple way to retail their handmade product/s) I know I could always setup hosting accounts thru the WHM & have them install a script thru the Fantastico panel, but I want to keep support at a minimum & fantastico offers a sizable list of scripts I have no experience with. I might be able to disable all fantastico scripts except zencart, but not sure if I can pre-load the auto installer with my custom layout templates. (I'll look into that, Im on a VPS with root access, but will likely go dedicated soon, as recommended in here due to security concerns) So anyway, I figured the Personal_folder plugin would be a good way of offering an instant setup of zencart only on a single domain, as I have good working support knowledge of the script & all client stores are located in the same domain for easy & fast support. But you say the personal_folder plugin is automatically protected & not publicly accessible (makes sense "Personal folder") so thats not a good method for my need. These guys want to have the store made public, of course. Anyone using the aMember program for reselling hosting? I'd love to hear your methods. My need is targeted to a very specific niche clientale, so I promise no competition here. I tried general cPanel reseller hosting a few years ago....... Night m a r e I did a search here prior, but most of the threads here in the forum are related to hosting providers who are compatible with amember. not using aMember as a hosting subscription solution. I may look into X-cart Pro, which offers multi-vendor mode, but I'm not sure if aMember can assign subscribers as a vendor or not. Amazing looking script, Props to the developers, active p2p support here in the forums, I'm nearly sold! just need to get a lil more familiar & I thank you for those who are holding my hand. I tout my forums as one of the most generous & helpful groups of people online, but you guys are impressing me. TY ALL!
Have you looked at something like Sphere in place of cPanel hosting? I know Plesk has a similar product also, cant for the life of me remeber the name (tried HARD to forget it.) I found it a pig but I have heard some decent reports on Sphere but haven't verified them