AContact Manager ComponentPluginLanguage

AContact Manager is a Joomla 1.5 native component that exetend the core contact manager component capabilities.The extenions features:on each contact item you can add a presentation video from youtube, a map from GoogleMap, there are two levels of antispam tecnique, the classic Captcha form protection using the accessible ajax captcha plugin, and the second level track harvesters and other malicious web robots using the HoneyPot Project and with the geographical location of an IP address a geolocation services from ipinfodb.com, with the help of these free project in the email message there is a spam report and geolocation information. The contact information are showed in a new tabbed layout look. Using the same MySql table you are able to use the previous contactdata without the need to import or syncronize nothing you only need to configure the new features parameter.

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Editor's Note
  • This extension requires registration to download.
bywfigari on October 3, 2009
I need to know how add google maps to my contact, there is no easy and no instructions for user. Please tell me how do it. thanks
Owner's reply

get your google map api key from http://code.google.com/intl/it-IT/apis/maps/signup.html
set that code on the googlemap plugin parameter field, on contact item enter the full address on the proper parameter field

I've liked the honeypot project spam report on contact email. For fully usefullnes it can be better if a spam indicator is on subject too, in this way is more easy to configure an email client to filter spam mail. There are some other little things that need to be enhanced, but in my opinion this extenions is a good point of start
by1tech on August 23, 2009
I tried this out but the lack of documentation made it impossible to set up to its full extent with all the additional API's. The captcha is buggy and unintuitive, user has to hit enter after typing captcha not click straight on the button which is strangely named "login" rather than "send". The captcha was also disappointing in comparison to the popular recaptcha which better caters for access issues with both text and audio captures available to the user. The contact name is also displaced by the positioning of the form. The google map is so zoomed in that the terrain could almost be anywhere. This was a great shame as the anti spam intentions seemed admirable. Couldn't see any ability to add custom extra fields but then I couldn't find any documentation which may have helped. To top this the uninstall of the related plugins complained about the removal of some files which always leaves a bad feeling. Would also be better if tabs that are not required because feature is not enabled were hidden. In my opinion not yet ready for distribution especially without documentation. Would have contact support but the buggy captcha I mentioned earlier kept getting stuck on calculating even on their own site.
I like the video option, i've used it with customer satisfaction. Very good extension.
This does what it advertises, and takes the basic contact form a step further as it needs to be. The only problem I had was trying to find a registration link to download the plugin. There is half a dozen different websites all linked together, some with no login form to be found, others requiring a registration for each part of the website... It should be easier for people to find an advertised product.
I was pleasantly surprised once I installed and setup this component. It is the only solution that allows you to make different contact forms - that you can link to different menu items. Quite configurable as well.

It will be great if this also allows additional - optional fields that can be included - like contactor's phone and country of origin.
Owner's reply

country of origin is now 156 autodetected by ip and sended in the email

byburnout on January 1, 2009
The forms of your component don't accept accents in alphanumeric fields, but in many languages, like mine (Portuguese), names contain accents.

It's irritating for anyone that tries to write your name correctly, and the form requires that the person write it wrong or will not send the message.

Please allow accents in alphanumeric fields.
Owner's reply

A quick solution is avaible on support forum http://www.alikonweb.it/smf/index.php?topic=433.0

I installed AContacts, created a menu item linked to my contact, and website does not work anymore, simply I have a blank page.. Removing or unpublishing the menu item, site return to work. Maybe because I have enabled Friendly URL and mod_rewrite (standard Joomla 1.5 options).
Owner's reply

The Sef problem was solved first with a patch,and now with the new 1.5.4 version

bydpk on October 22, 2008
This is a replacement for the core contact manager. Since the core contact manager cannot be uninstalled, you are forced to have two components serving the same purpose if you install AContact.

Since AContact uses the same database tables as the core contact manager (plus a few of its own), any changes made to contact information in either component will affect the other except when it comes to contact categories. AContact categories do not carry over to the core contact categories and vice versa. This causes problems and appears to be a bug or oversight.

There is also a problem with component title redundancy so you get "A - A" as the title if the menu item for an AContent page is "A".

AContact's plugins supply its main value: allowing you to link a contact item to a video from a variety of sources and/or a google map. These can only be displayed in popup windows from a link. You can also add visual and/or audio confirmation codes on contact forms.
Owner's reply

The category bug solved in new 1.5.4 release.
Thank's

bybergmannn on August 20, 2008
This plugin gives some improvements to Joomla! contact management. The original one has ever been a little poor in my oppinion.
Nice plugin, thank's a lot
I tested this component today. There is an obvious bug in this component: when I choose category for an contact, it can't list the category created by itself in the drop down menu, but show me the categories from the Original Joomla! Contact component.

Another problem is, this component uses many language strings that similar to the Original Joomla Contact component, so why re-creat the wheel? Why not just use those language strings in the language file for Original Contact component? You know that this will save many time for translators.

Embeding video and Google Map inside the contact page is a good idea, but there is no instructions for how to do this. It just make users more confused.
Owner's reply

Thanks's a lot for your feedback

. Solved the category bug you'll need to redownload.

. Translators are wellcome ,
only few strings are added to the original,sorry for the extra work,

. You are right again configuration instructions are needed
I'm writing something.