Customizing SMF > Portals, Bridges, and Integrations
New tools to help integrating SMF with something else
keyrocks:
I am fairly new to SMF 2.0.2 and have just completed configuring it with 320 Member-Groups and corresponding Forum Boards for each Member-Group. All of my work to-date has been accomplished offline on my localhost (home office) XP-Pro server running with XAMPP.
The next step:
To integrate this package with a client's WordPress + BuddyPress powered website already online at (ficticious domain) mainsite.com. The client wants the SMF package installed at mainsite.com/smf (located in a new smf directory within the site's root).
The Client's system:
When someone registers for an account at mainsite.com, the registration form collects the registrant's name, email, postal code, and a password. Once submitted, scratch-built functions (compatible with and in the WordPress site at mainsite.com) query an external d-base which contains the organization's master membership data.
A query checks the external d-base for a name and email match. If the match is positive (they exist), another query pulls the registrant's Member ID and Regional ID from the external d-base and adds them to his/her user profile for mainsite.com when the user's account is created and activated.
The Mission:
I do not have access to the client's servers or databases (their security policy), and the client's IT guy doesn't have time to figure out how to integrate the SMF package so that it is compatible with their WP + BuddyPress package already running on mainsite.com. The SMF package also needs to pull member information from their external d-base.
When a member logs into mainsite.com, they need to be automatically logged in to the SMF site at mainsite.com/SMF at the same time. Once logged in, the link to the SMF Forums will be added to the main menu-bar at mainsite.com. Clicking the "Forums" link in the main menu bar will land them on the main SMF Forum Boards page.
The SMF package will also need to pull the member's Regional ID from the client's external d-base and use that to:
1) automatically set the member's Member-Group already created (named identical to the Regional ID)
2) assign the same-named (Regional ID) Forum Board to be visible to the member when they are on the main Forums page.
Question:
Am I right to assume that I would need to use the API to accomplish all of that?
And, if so, what would be involved in getting there (broadly speaking of course). 8)
nathanmc:
Hi there,
I've utilised the API to integrate the forum with my website. All seems to function ok now.
Except, the user logs into my site, which logs the user into the forum ok using the API. The forum menu shows just fine, as does the forum.
However, there seems to be a session issue going on, because when the user clicks on one of the forum menu items, it doesn't recognise that they are logged in and throws an error.
If one of the legends of the SMF community could take a look I'd be very grateful :)
If there is any code snippets you'd like, please let me know.
The link to the site is: www.inventerest.com [nofollow]
Thanks very much.
ADDENDUM: The issue I recalled was that the link to the website must be full and complete. During the installation by Installatron (VIA Control Panel) the settings.php doesn't get allocated the full website address. In this case it contained "http://inventerest.com/forum [nofollow]" instead of the correct "http://www.inventerest.com/forum [nofollow]"
Perhaps this should be addressed as an issue to be fixed??
Kindred:
it's not an issue on our side, since we don't control any automated installation scripts called Installatron... That sounds like a problem with how you host has configured the installation script that they set up.
Of course, many people are using the (no-www) address these days anyway, but if you turn ON subdomaind independent cookies, it should also fix the problem.
nathanmc:
Hi Kindred,
Good point about it not being your issue and Installatron.
And thanks for the heads up about the subdomain independent cookies.
Much appreciated!!
Rajohan:
How can i check if the user is logged in? I got a login to work perfectly, but i cant quite figure out how to check if the user i online. WHat i got now is
--- Code: ---if(!smfapi_isOnline($user_info[username])) {
// show login
}
else {
//show user menu
}
--- End code ---
it works but it seams like the username still is stored in smfapi_loadUserSettings(); when i try echo it out after ive logged out i still returns my username but the login shows and user menu gets hidden.
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