Aardvertiser Free
Version
2.1.1 (last update on Sep 8, 2010)
Rating
Compatibility
Votes
Favoured
12
License
GPLv2 or later
Non-Commercial
Type
Views
65101
Date Added
8 September 2009
Editor's Note
- Please upgrade to version 2.1.1 for security update
The Aardvertiser Classifieds extension enables developers to create a user-friendly Classifieds section in their Joomla website; the Aardvertiser has been developed and released as open-source by Aardpress Ltd, the UK-based digital publishing company. Aardpress specialises in the development of bespoke functionality for a range of open-source applications (including Moodle and Joomla) and can provide clients with a commercial support contract if required.
Please Update to the newest version 2.1.1. Its a security Update, all users should update.
New in Version 2.1:
- Many, many minor bug fixes, please report some more if found
- Deleted some no longer used files
- Added css id's in the code so it is easier to customize looks - Added more currency options
- Updated Google Maps V3
- Added much needed contact form
- Improved mailer options so it integrates with joomla
- Improved the Configuration options
New in Version 2.0:
- Minor Bug Fixes
- Changed Maps to Google Maps V3 API
- No longer need to sign up for google maps to work - works off-the-shelf
- Maps are No longer UK only
- All postcodes around the world should work with maps
- Distance finder can now be disabled without turning off google maps
- Compressed example images for a smaller download size
- Email cloaking now on the ads to prevent spambots
- Images now on the Category views
- Integrated JQuery for images
New Version 1.1:
- Now includes the use of images where users can upload their own
- + many more minor bugs
Aardvertiser Features :
- Ads can show a variety of details including contact details
- Unlimited number of categories with images
- Fully Configurable options including :
- Distance finder On/Off
- Colours for ad pages
- Prune time for ads
- Access Levels
- Ad Expiration
- CSS stylesheet can be edited from within the backend of Joomla!
- Google maps API (UK Only)
- Distance finder (UK only)
- Currency can be changed.
- Users can edit/delete their ads once submitted
- A search plugin is available
- A Latest Ads module
and many more... try it and see!
Images
It really works good, the Google direction map works for US too. One minus would be - no search engine. Otherwise I would give this component FIVE STARS
My inability to work with this component left me disappointed. The product is seemingly incomplete. There has been so little thought put into what the user might want and even the demo stuff doesn't work when you install the application. I'm no beginner but I was left with little alternative but to remove the product after working with it for 30 minutes. I would have given it longer but its not that good.
Installed and setup fine but -
Even when I create a category/item or edit the existing demo categories and items, the category lists show all the categories as having 0 items from the main page, and when you go to them, no items are listed, and I've made sure everything is Published, etc.
There's really nothing to set up or get wrong here - I made an item, set it to a category, set them both to published, but it isn't there, no special happenings in between - the script just isn't acknowledging anything.
Even when I create a category/item or edit the existing demo categories and items, the category lists show all the categories as having 0 items from the main page, and when you go to them, no items are listed, and I've made sure everything is Published, etc.
There's really nothing to set up or get wrong here - I made an item, set it to a category, set them both to published, but it isn't there, no special happenings in between - the script just isn't acknowledging anything.
Owner's reply
Can you please email me for support before posting bad reviews.
I have tried to replicate the problem and cant seem to. When you create a new ad what dates are you putting in? and how long have you set the ad length in the general config
To many issues with the component. It says that there is 2 items in a certain category and when you click to go in there nothing shows up.
Not sure what is going on here, but I am not happy with this component.
Not sure what is going on here, but I am not happy with this component.
Owner's reply
Please Give me time to respond to your email before reviewing the component. Please provide more detail when reporting a bug as well e.g. Screenshots
As said before, when the users puts an ad with a photo, they get access to all of your photos and media files on your joomla server. If this issue where fixed, I think it would be usable as a easy and simple classified-ad module. However a few more settings would make it better.
Owner's reply
This is to do witht he set up of your web server. Please try to contact me for help before posting a review!
Aardertiser loaded easily and is fairly straight forward to set up. Documentation isn't the best but it is pretty intuitive. Only concern is apparent lack of support. Looking at the product forum, it appears that no one that has posted a question has ever gotten an answer (including me) I like the app but will likely keep looking until I can find an app with product support.
It is nice to see a classifieds app native to 1.5, but unfortunately its lack of security features make it impossible for me to use.
1. The UI looks just like Joomla - it should have a different interface with security permissions around who can create or publish an ad. (like IDOblog)
2. The images are dumped into the "stories" folder where all of the website images and other classified images are located. Each user should have their own folder (i.e. images/aardvertiser/user1 & images/aardvertiser/user2).
3. Shouldn't have to hack the files to change the currency format.
I am really looking for something robust like Noah's, looks like I may have to pay for it. I am ooking forward to seeing future versions of this product.
1. The UI looks just like Joomla - it should have a different interface with security permissions around who can create or publish an ad. (like IDOblog)
2. The images are dumped into the "stories" folder where all of the website images and other classified images are located. Each user should have their own folder (i.e. images/aardvertiser/user1 & images/aardvertiser/user2).
3. Shouldn't have to hack the files to change the currency format.
I am really looking for something robust like Noah's, looks like I may have to pay for it. I am ooking forward to seeing future versions of this product.
Owner's reply
To change currency simply use the administrative panel in the back end - No hacking required.
This component did install gracefully but did NOT detect that my system has changed the default table prefix from "jos_" to something else.
Net result: two manual hacks were required.
1. Change the database table name prefix on four (4) tables from "jos_" to whatever the system expects.
2. Change the embedded calls in two (2) of the components scripts where the database.table names are hard-coded.
It's my understanding that neither hack should be necessary if the component was truly 100% native compliant.
Net result: two manual hacks were required.
1. Change the database table name prefix on four (4) tables from "jos_" to whatever the system expects.
2. Change the embedded calls in two (2) of the components scripts where the database.table names are hard-coded.
It's my understanding that neither hack should be necessary if the component was truly 100% native compliant.
Owner's reply
These bugs have been fixed and will be available in the next release
Nice and simple to install and use. My only quibble is that there doesn't seem to be a way of changing the order of the categories so you need to input them in the order you want them displayed. That is find for now but could cause real headaches when I want to put in new ones.
Owner's reply
This feature has now been implemented and will be available in the next release
This extension is very good. Is it possible to modify the code so it could also be used to list gagage sales on a web site?
We have a community site and would like for residents to be able to list garage sales for free.
We have a community site and would like for residents to be able to list garage sales for free.
Owner's reply
The code could be modified to allow this but would require quite a lot of code changing
After looking through the available modules for a decent Ads Manager, I thought I would try Aardvertiser. here are a few points:-
Good points:-
1) Installed very easy, no problem
2) Straight forward for basic use
Things that could be improved:-
1) Euro/GBP symbol beside price
2) Sub-catagories (I know this was mentioned)
3) CSS text colour code change?? Can't find it??
4) Post code field required - y/n option
5) Distance field required - y/n option
6) Left justification auto when no image is
being used
7) Payment option i.e. Paypal
8) Auto Ad expiry/renewal notice (time defined by admin)
9) Link to company website with support documentation (It pay's to advertise!)
10) Backend admin option to change the above fields
Otherwise, it does the job from a basic point of view.
I would love to see it developed into a really good Ads manager.
Maybe a pro-version would have more options on top of what I mentioned.
Keep up the good work!
Good points:-
1) Installed very easy, no problem
2) Straight forward for basic use
Things that could be improved:-
1) Euro/GBP symbol beside price
2) Sub-catagories (I know this was mentioned)
3) CSS text colour code change?? Can't find it??
4) Post code field required - y/n option
5) Distance field required - y/n option
6) Left justification auto when no image is
being used
7) Payment option i.e. Paypal
8) Auto Ad expiry/renewal notice (time defined by admin)
9) Link to company website with support documentation (It pay's to advertise!)
10) Backend admin option to change the above fields
Otherwise, it does the job from a basic point of view.
I would love to see it developed into a really good Ads manager.
Maybe a pro-version would have more options on top of what I mentioned.
Keep up the good work!
This is a quick and easy fantastic solution to putting classified ads on your site - far easier than anything else I have found and the display format is very easy to navigate and use for end users. Adding an entry is easy too.
Wish list
Distances finder in Miles (this feature only works in the UK and Kilometers are a foreign concept for the UK)
Cloak email address and make it a clickable label "email"
Sub-categories - I said this is a wish list.
Specialised photo directory rather than the general images directory - would be nice if this could tie in to the user name.
A way of charging advertisers for ads would make this a perfect commercial product that I would happily pay for. It would be great to have a free version without being able to charge and a commercial version that does. You would need to be able to charge for renewals as well.
This is a brilliantly simple component to use. Thank you so much for it.
Wish list
Distances finder in Miles (this feature only works in the UK and Kilometers are a foreign concept for the UK)
Cloak email address and make it a clickable label "email"
Sub-categories - I said this is a wish list.
Specialised photo directory rather than the general images directory - would be nice if this could tie in to the user name.
A way of charging advertisers for ads would make this a perfect commercial product that I would happily pay for. It would be great to have a free version without being able to charge and a commercial version that does. You would need to be able to charge for renewals as well.
This is a brilliantly simple component to use. Thank you so much for it.
Owner's reply
Thanks for the review. I'll look at implementing some of those features within a couple of weeks