Fabrik 
Version
3.0.7 (last update on Mar 30, 2013)
Rating
Compatibility
Reviews
221
License
GPLv2 or later
Non-Commercial
Type
Date Added
19 January 2007
Fabrik gives you the power to create forms and tables that run inside Joomla without requiring knowledge of mySQL and PHP. Then feed your data into Google Maps, Charts or an AJAX based calendar
With Fabrik you can create applications that range in complexity from simple contact forms to complex applications such as a job application site or bug tracking systems.
Images
We use fabrik to create several forms.
It needs a lot of learning but after that it is possible to create structured data and forms without knowledge of SQL-queries.
As mentioned by others this component has one issue. The update service is not the best and to download the updates from github is not the best solution. But i guess that the developers will support Joomla update functionality in near future ;) At least I hope for this feature :)
I give this component 4 stars for a fantastic product, but missing update feature. Great job please continue with it!
It needs a lot of learning but after that it is possible to create structured data and forms without knowledge of SQL-queries.
As mentioned by others this component has one issue. The update service is not the best and to download the updates from github is not the best solution. But i guess that the developers will support Joomla update functionality in near future ;) At least I hope for this feature :)
I give this component 4 stars for a fantastic product, but missing update feature. Great job please continue with it!
This package is quite powerful for creating somewhat complicated applications within Joomla! Without a doubt it is one of the more advanced plugins for creating plugins.
However being a developer. I was quite disappointed by the update/maintenance of the code. Once this is installed in your Joomla install - there is no updating it using Joomla. The developers recommend using git to do updates. I have followed their update procedures as closely as I could - searched forever in the user forums... each time i did the update according to their procedures. The Joomla install was either hosed OR I downloaded a larger set of bugs.
Is this a powerful package? yes absolutely. Would I ever use it in a production environment? Absolutely not.
However being a developer. I was quite disappointed by the update/maintenance of the code. Once this is installed in your Joomla install - there is no updating it using Joomla. The developers recommend using git to do updates. I have followed their update procedures as closely as I could - searched forever in the user forums... each time i did the update according to their procedures. The Joomla install was either hosed OR I downloaded a larger set of bugs.
Is this a powerful package? yes absolutely. Would I ever use it in a production environment? Absolutely not.
Owner's reply
Just to clarify, official point releases are available via the Joomla updater. But if there are fixes in the github repository then these need to be applied manually. We have a detailed out line of upgrading code via github - http://fabrikar.com/wiki/index.php/3.x_Update_from_GitHub. If you are updating from the repository then you must expect potential bugs, as its a work in progress towards a point release. I find it rather unfair to advise users not to use Fabrik in a production environment due to the troubles you had updating.
I attempted to use Fabrik to create a fairly simple event listing website, but have been bogged down in frustrating problems for several weeks now. Fabrik is probably great if you are a serious developer, with extensive knowledge of MySQL, PHP, Javascript, J! and CSS. The statement in the extension description " without requiring knowledge of mySQL and PHP" is extrememly misleading. Yes, you can produce a very minimalist site this way, but many of the features and plugins don't seem to work without additional backend tweaking.
Basic functions like being able to delete database rows or pre-filters seem to stop working randomly, and searching the forum for some of the issues I've had revealed plenty of other users with the same problems, but the developers simply replying that it works fine for them.
It's also very ugly looking in the front end - again, probably all customisable if you know what you're doing, but otherwise very frustrating.
Basic functions like being able to delete database rows or pre-filters seem to stop working randomly, and searching the forum for some of the issues I've had revealed plenty of other users with the same problems, but the developers simply replying that it works fine for them.
It's also very ugly looking in the front end - again, probably all customisable if you know what you're doing, but otherwise very frustrating.
I have administered several CMS platforms, and have used Joomla since it was Mambo in the early 2000s. While I have used several Forms extensions, Fabrik is the most powerful and fairly easy to use, even more so after reading the documentation. The greatest selling point of Fabrik is its ability to take data submitted and present it as data tables on the site. This allows for live-time reporting of submitted data, as well as the ability for logged-in users to review and edit their own rows in the data table.
Recently, I discovered a minor bug in one of the field plugins. I purchased the "Bronze" membership subscription to access a number of these specialized extensions, and it also includes more expedited support on their forums. I was not disappointed. A number of developers/helpers responded, and the chief developer himself investigated, and fixed the bug personally.
For all of these reasons, Fabrik has become one of my favorite Joomla extensions for all the value this product and its associated services provides.
Recently, I discovered a minor bug in one of the field plugins. I purchased the "Bronze" membership subscription to access a number of these specialized extensions, and it also includes more expedited support on their forums. I was not disappointed. A number of developers/helpers responded, and the chief developer himself investigated, and fixed the bug personally.
For all of these reasons, Fabrik has become one of my favorite Joomla extensions for all the value this product and its associated services provides.
After stuffing around with all manner commercial and non-commercial list managers and directory components for months on end and hitting the inevitable brick wall with each and everyone of them, I came across Fabrik.
I wish I had found it sooner. It would have saved me so much time and a little money. I took a paid for subscription...
I wish I had found it sooner. It would have saved me so much time and a little money. I took a paid for subscription...
After a recent update, I became stuck during an upgrade and the forms didn't show on the website. I think a file had become corrupted during transfer, but with a quick post on the developers website, the developer actually took time out of his busy schedule to help me, and he fixed the problem. Amazing, customer service and support. Would highly recommend, and I think a lot of developers should take a leaf out of his book. Thanks Hugh :)
I have used this extension for a test site and so far all I can say is that this is app helps Joomla become a full development framework for web based applications. We have built similar db centered web apps using Yii and Ruby on Rails and with Fabrik you can have a features comparable application in a couple of hours with little or no custom code.
Documentation Wiki is good, my only recommendation is to add more configuration & custom code examples.
Keep up the good work guys!
Documentation Wiki is good, my only recommendation is to add more configuration & custom code examples.
Keep up the good work guys!
Why use many words, when the title says it all? This is one of those extensions that have to be always on top Joomla extensions. Who makes a site in Joomla, who never needed to create and perform operations with data tables or forms? This extension does it all with a huge amount of options and possibilities. At first glance the amount of options is daunting, but you only need to configure the options strictly necessary for the data table or form to do what you wants. Worth spending a little time to read the documentation, because it will save considerable time in the future when you want to use the component. And subscribe to have access to video tutorials! When you understand how to operate the component in the future can do both simple and complex forms in the twinkling of an eye.
It is an impressive component!
And best of all ... it's free!
Thank you Rob Clayburn! Congratulations on wonderful work!
It is an impressive component!
And best of all ... it's free!
Thank you Rob Clayburn! Congratulations on wonderful work!
The component is one of the most useful components that I have tried in recent years. My project was to convert an ACCESS application to the web. The support on the forum was fabulous. Well worth the support price. The PDF document, although tied to the previous 2.0 version, works well for 3.0. The WIKI is very helpful. This is a very strong component. The only gap is the lack of PDF support in 2.5. Strongly recommended.
Used to be a very good extension. However, I tried using it recently on a project (v3) but the attachment filed type doesn't seem to work properly. Sometimes it uploads the file but it doesn't show in the form itself or in the list view.
Might try to contact the developer for this, but judging from the forum, there are many unanswered questions...I know it is non-Commercial, but even if I was asked to pay I would have, but I need good support...
Might try to contact the developer for this, but judging from the forum, there are many unanswered questions...I know it is non-Commercial, but even if I was asked to pay I would have, but I need good support...
A fine piece of FREE software.
I am playing with this for 15 minutes now and I am very impressed.
Thank you so much for your contribution!
I am playing with this for 15 minutes now and I am very impressed.
Thank you so much for your contribution!
This is my first review in JED. I'm using Joomla! from about two years and I've tried many extensions. Fabrik is perhaps the best and more powerfull of all. It's not easy to understand how to work with it, but once you have known it you can make everything and build your site with every kind of features. The extension is free and has a lot of plugins and others addons. The support is good alsa for free users and the forum is a mine of informations. In the beginning I suggest to subscribe a plan: it's cheap and you can have a better and faster support.
Thanks to Rob and all the folks of Fabrikar for this outstanding product!!
Thanks to Rob and all the folks of Fabrikar for this outstanding product!!
After looking at other form options I settled on Fabrik. I'm glad I did. I needed simple forms for a 2.5.2 Joomla website.
The documentation in Fabrik's Wiki is fantastic. It is EXTREMELY detailed as most intricate software should be.
The designed templates are not so great but if you a familiar with CSS or have a CSS Editor (if you are not familiar with CSS) then style modification is doable and easy.
The documentation in Fabrik's Wiki is fantastic. It is EXTREMELY detailed as most intricate software should be.
The designed templates are not so great but if you a familiar with CSS or have a CSS Editor (if you are not familiar with CSS) then style modification is doable and easy.
I am using Fabrik for simple purposes, but I am planning to do more with it, because it is just an awesome tool. Creating tables is easy and when you have a table, it is easy to show it in a calendar, Google Maps, Chart.
I just started to use Joomla and Fabrik is quite easy to understand, especially the tutorials make it easy.
I did have a problem with something and I posted it on a forum, but I did not get reply, pity, but I found a workaround.
I just started to use Joomla and Fabrik is quite easy to understand, especially the tutorials make it easy.
I did have a problem with something and I posted it on a forum, but I did not get reply, pity, but I found a workaround.
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