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Plugins

Plugins are programs with which the functionality of CMSimple_XH can be extended, supplemented or changed.

Plugins can take over the most different tasks. The download of CMSimple_XH already includes some plugins for important CMS functions, for example for page management (Pagemanager), for content editing (Editor TinyMCE) or for checking the up-to-dateness (Updatecheck).

Also, for the output on the pages are many plugins available. For example, calendar, web shop, image galleries, visitor counters … and much more.

Find a plugin

Again, sometimes some searching might be necessary if you are looking for a specific plugin, a specific functionality. Because of our decentralized, free open source structure, developers can publish their plugins where, how and under which conditions they want to.

 

The always guaranteed up-to-date source for CMSimple_XH plugins is our plugin repository:

https://www.cmsimple-xh.org/?Plugin-Repository

Searching with a search engine and the search terms “CMSimple_XH” plugin, may return other hits.

Install plugin

Due to the variety of plugins offered, only a general installation procedure can be offered here. It is possible that for certain plugins different measures are specified by the plugin developer.
This means: Always read the plugin documentation!

 

If you have found the desired plugin, you will usually be offered a ZIP archive for download. You first unpack this on your computer. Normally (see previous paragraph), the unzipped ZIP contains at least one folder named after the plugin. Upload this folder to your server (in your CMSimple_XH installation) into the directory plugins/. CMSimple_XH knows from this point on that this new plugin exists and will react accordingly.

Configure plugin

There are plugins that take effect immediately without any configuration. However, most plugins offer at least a plugin configuration, language-dependent texts, stylesheet editing, plugin manual (help), a system check (check requirements) and sometimes other options (data entry). Call:

Admin menuPlugins[Plugin name]

Call plugin

As said, some plugins do not require any further activity to work. Most, however, require a plugin call, possibly with parameters. If the functionality of a plugin is required on all pages, then the plugin call is made in the template. If the plugin is only to be used on individual pages, then the plugin call is made in the page content.

Example: Plugin call in the template:

<?php echo pluginName(parameter);?>

Example: Plugin call in the page content:

<div>{{{pluginName(parameter);}}}</div>

(See also this article)

If you copy a plugin call from somewhere, don't just paste it in the editor using Ctrl-V. You may copy interfering formatting that makes the call unusable.
Almost all browsers support pasting without formatting using Ctrl-Shift-V. (This is recommended for all text insertions in the editor anyway, no matter what source the text comes from: Website, PDF, Word document …)

The alternative would be: Paste the copied text in the editor's source view at the appropriate place.

Admin menu

The Admin menu is the control center of the system. All CMS actions are controlled via this menu. It appears only in the backend, that is, only when you are logged in to the system.

CMS

CMS = Content Management System

A CMS is a software system that allows you to edit websites in the browser.

Pagemanager

The Pagemanager is the standard page management program in CMSimple_XH.

System check

The System check checks various states and settings of the CMS and issues messages about them. See also the detailed description.

Templates

Templates are design patterns for websites that behave like masks. They determine the place where elements appear and influence their appearance.

ZIP

The ZIP file format allows lossless compression of files incl. entire directories. The reduced file sizes are well suited for archiving or online data transfer (upload/download).