We initially evaluated SOBI 2 when we were looking at rolling out a directory system, but ran into snags as we were 1.5 early adopters and it wasn't 1.5 compatible yet.

We were also a bit put off by the costs associated with several of the plugins/modules, and really didn't get a warm/fuzzy feeling that development would continue at any kind of pace/support level.

Well, we went with a non-J! directory system, and the upgrades and hoop jumping we've had to go though has been a total nightmare. Looking to re-invent the directory in a new form as a more integrated part of the rest of the site, we took another look at SOBI2 and it's a lot better than I remembered :-). The ability to define listing templates for individual categories, and the new ability to create a custom entry template are quite nice. The overall flexibility is excellent, and though we will probably have to use multiple installs to handle functionally different parts of the directory (for entry creation purposes more than anything else), I think it's going to work well for us, and be a substantially better solution than the "Dedicated" directory system we've been using.

:-)

This is a great component for joomla, it's core and the code is easy to work through and alter to your needs, the community at jobdone.ie is helpfull and gratefull for the sobi component.

Thanks again

I tried SOBI2 now for a couple of weeks to figure out what it can do for me. And I must say that I am astonished! After trying some other so called cck extensions I must say that there is no alternative to SOBI2 (not for me).

I started with the standard installation. Later I tried to build some kind of microblogging component. And in the meanwhile I am building a multilingual community webpage with a product catalog and reviews like the Joomla! extensions directory, a weblog and an address directory. All the mentioned applications are based on only one component besides Community Builder and Joomfish! - SOBI2.

A very big advantage is the possibility to build almost everything with only one component which will help you to save many hours of time that you would need to learn different interfaces and rules for a weblog component, a directory component and more.

The flexible template system allows you to integrate almost everything in your SOBI2 pages. In my case I display some informations from Community Builder on the entries - but, with some php and database knowlegde you can even build relational database applications that combine two or more clones of SOBI2 with other extensions' data if you like.

A big advantage is that you can get many many additions that will help you to form your site as you wish.

Last, but not least I must confess, that I would not be able to use it like I do without the great community of SOBI2 users. There seems to be no unanswered question in their forum and it contains so many great ideas... :)

SOBI2 is an excellent directory/listing component and very easy to use. Support at forum is very good as well (due to that support I am able to run Joomfish with sobiSEF and SOBI2 successfully). Search module when coupled with Qtabs worked prefectly I can have different search modules (with different createria like yellowpages have) in one module position. Allover a great contribution.

I like this component and it is working great.

Thanks to the developer of Sobi2.

When I've been using CMS systems and forum systems and what ever ready made code, I've gotten used to accepting certain limitations and just decide that this or that can't be done. BUT. With SOBI 2, the limitations are minimal. I haven't even gone through all the available plugins yet, but while I already use it on 3 different sites - with completely different uses, Sobi works for all of them.

There are some features that are a bit complicated at first, like the templates, but when ever you add options and flexibility, you have to add a bit of complications to things and in the end you just love the complicated bits, because they allow you to do so much more than what you're used to.

Fantastic work.

The only thing; the English translation is a bit clumsy and could use some polishing up by a native speaker. (Which I'm not either.)

After struggling with and using Mosets Tree, SOBI2 is a breath of fresh air! Thank you so much for creating this quality component for FREE! It does what Mosets does even better. Easy to configure, easy to template, anti-spamming, commenting, claim, report bad entry, and custom fields. Only thing it lacks is a add to favorites and bookmarking plugins.

A very good component backed up with an extensive community and support network, plus many available plugins and enhancements. Very flexible, but as a warning, to really turn it into something special you will need the knowledge to edit your own templates to really get what you need -- that is a a bit of a learning curve.

I use SOBI2 for my Ads and directory site and it works like a charm. When i have a question or a problem, i'm going on the forum and i always find a solution. There is a important community of users and you can find always a solution.
To make a directory or a ads service, i think that it is the best component because of its qualities and for the support.

Sobi2 is an absolute must have if you are going to organize any sort of information on your site.
It's classification as a business directory only brushes the surface of what this application is capable of. The application is highly flexible and if a feature doesn't exist it is designed with comprehensive support for plugins to add it.
Support is provided by a dedicated community of users and the application is actively developed and enhanced by its designers.

This is a brilliant component. I'm working with it on my PC (local server on Windows platform) so far. But I see and appreciate its huge potential and fantastic work of its developers.
However, I have some problems (no way to upload media files, etc.). As far as I undestood, this product works much better on Linux. So I hope everything will be OK if I upload my whole website onto web hosting server. We'll see.
Thanks a lot!
Regards,
Serrus

In a word, powerful! I have been working with SOBI2 for the past three months, creating a couple of key directories. It is only now that I can fully appreciate the power of SOBI2 and how amazing it is. SOBI2 is perfect for the novice Joomla user all the way up to the complete power user that wants to customise their install.

SOBI does have some limitations and quirks, once you get to know these you have to sit and work out around them. However there is almost always a way. What adds to the power is the simple templating system, the way you can manipulate the information and fields is just simple and magic making deployments quick and easy to slow and complex. The choice of how far you want to take it is purely limited by how much time you want to invest.

I rate SOBI2 a 10/10.

I have been using SOBI as a de facto CCK for ages. Works really well once you grasp the templating logic (which is well documented).

I have SOBI sites that display content based on user's Community Builder profiles, access level etc.
I have SOBI templates that conditionally display content based on category and other field values.
The options are endless.

Sobi2 is a excellent component, it has a many kinds of use.

I have tried a number of directory components for my production site and so far the one which comes up as the most versatile is Sobi2.

I am still exploring its full capabilities but so far configuring it has been relatively easy, although a basic undertstanding of html, css and Joomla! is required (and without those you wouldn't be reading this anyway!)

I'm impressed by the activity levels of the developers and their apparent responsiveness to requests.

For my site, I am looking to run several instances of Sobi2, and a future development which obviates the need to clone or makes cloning easier in a Windows environment would be very helpful.

Well done, Sigsiu!

Sobi2 is a very great component. I use it for 2 websites as a kind of catalog component. I use Sobi together with the gallery- and backup-plugin.
Sobi2 is easy to handle, the configuration is logical even for non-IT specialists like me.
There is only one function I miss: the print-out from the detail view...

Please do not stop Sobi2-development.

Best regards
Frank

really good component for a webcatalogue...with forum support and many plugins, languages,... go on!

The high quality of this extension makes itself obvious the moment it is installed. Extensive documentation, meticulously organized in easy to digest segments, is available right on your back end! This makes the plethora of customizable options easy to understand and implement. At first the enormous amount of changeable parameters may seem overwhelming, but defaults are set so that you can be up and running quickly. Additionally, it includes a way of collecting money from your site without the added expense of additional plug-ins, which is perfect for a website that is just getting off the ground.

If all this wasn't enough, just take a look at the additional information available on their site. The website is so well designed and organized that I am planning on using it as an example of the "perfect website" for my students.

The only item on my wish list is to be able to place the currency symbol to the left of the price. Instead of $4.50 I have to use 4.50$. There may be a way to accomplish this that I have not yet discovered as it allows you to customize not only the templates, but the registry as well.

After seeing the amount of effort that was put into this free product, including excellent working demos and support, I would not hesitate to buy the other products this developer has to offer. In fact there are at least 2 items there that I will be back to purchase.

This does so much and it takes a while to learn, but at the same time you can figure it out and feel like you have accomplished a lot. usually i give advice and details about the ext im reviewing, but i wouldnt know where to begin. i am using it to have listings of companies with company profiles and other companies can create a profile for free or pay extra for premium info, like to include their direct phone number or website link.

I would rate this a 4.75 of 5
Its free and worth hundreds and works very well.
Great support

HOWEVER, just so you know in advance.
The good features cost BIG time. You might as well plan on spending atleast 75.00 to 100.00 on plugins.

Its still amazing and i have only used 20% of what it is able to do.

I'm relatively new to Joomla and many of the extensions. This one by far has been the easiest to install and manage. I was up and running in no time. The forum for this product is extremely helpful.