Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q. What is WP Symposium?
A. A set of plugins for WordPress, that will allow you to run a social network on your WordPress website.

Q. Where do I start?
A. Try the Getting Started page or the admin guide.

Q. Is it free?
A. There are a core set of plugins that will always be free, available on the WordPress plugin repository. Also included are some additional Bronze plugins that can be used and tested on your site, but will display a polite banner at the top of your website. Once you become a Bronze member, you can get an activation code from the membership page to enter into Symposium->Installation.

Q. What is the difference between free and Bronze version?
A. The feature set of the free and “Bronze” versions are the same, the only difference is the polite warning at the top of the site if Bronze plugins are activated. Plugins are labelled as “Bronze” on the WordPress plugins page so they can be identified. The Bronze plugins are included so that they can be tested on your site prior to any financial commitment.

Q. How do I become a Bronze member?
A. Once you’ve registered at www.wpsymposium.com, go to the membership page. You also get access to a helpdesk for a guaranteed responses, and a private forum category on www.wpsymposium.com.

Q. How do I get guaranteed personal support from the WPS developers?
A. Sign up as a bronze member, via the membership page, and you can log helpdesk tickets (see the forum page). To have your tickets prioritised on the helpdesk, subscribe as a silver member – note, this is in addition to the bronze membership.

Q. Are there any other support options?
A. The forum is very lively. Support is provided whenever time allows, but unfortunately can’t be guaranteed.

Q. Is the official release the latest version?
A. In addition to the official release, the current development version (either nightly build or release candidate) is available at all times as a download, however please bear in mind that this may include new features that aren’t referred to officially until release, and is not recommended for live sites (although it will be in use on www.wpsymposium.com).

Q. How often is WP Symposium updated?
A. Officially, every month or two, which will include any bug fixes since the last release, and new features as per the roadmap. Holidays or big developments may mean the schedule may be flexible. Across the top of the site a link to the current release information and status will always be available. Releases may be more frequent if required!

Q. How can I influence the priority of developments?
A. Bronze members can vote on what’s in the development queue on the voting page. If you have an idea or want to discuss developments, feedback is most welcome on the forum.

Q. How can I log a ticket on the helpdesk?
A. Once you are a bronze member, visit the forum page where you will see a link, or go directly to here.

Q. What is Silver membership?
A. Silver membership is in addition to Bronze membership, it does not get you the activation code (you need Bronze for that). However silver members can consider themselves VIP customers – they get priority on the helpdesk and the offer to install WP Symposium on their website and set up the initial set of pages.

Q. Will you install WP Symposium on my website for me?
A. See the above answer on silver members! Don’t forget this is in addition to Bronze membership (which is required for an activation code).

Problems?

Q. Things are not right, buttons don’t respond, the flashing square won’t go away. Why?
A. This is probably a javascript problem, this is the most common problem. Try this first.

Q. How do I remove the Powered by WP Symposium in my footer?
A. Symposium->Templates (Page Footer). Put in something else, or some spaces (do not leave empty).

Q. Why are permissions on the forum not allowing users to see, post or reply?
A. Decide who gets to do what on Symposium->Forum (check who gets what access), and individual forum categories at Symposium->Forum Categories.

Q. Activity/Info/Friends box on Profile page causing layout issue
A. Go into the ‘Profile’ settings area under ‘Symposium’ and uncheck the box ‘Recently Active Friends Box’. That setting says ‘Show Recently Active Friends box on side of wall (may take up space, depending on page template)’. Your theme page template is causing the crowding.

In that situation, the recently active friends box can’t be used. However, you can go into ‘Widgets’ under ‘Appearence’ and drag ‘Symposium: Your Friends’ widget onto the sidebar. There are several options in that widget to show last active, online/offline. There is another widget that shows ‘Symposium: Latest Forum Posts, one that shows ‘Symposium: Latest Activity’. So, it is not necessary to have that box active in the profile activity area.

Q. I’ve got another problem, what should I try first?
A. Try this first…

Q. I’m having a bad day, nothing seems to be working. What should I do?
A. Have a nice cup of tea.