Simple Review
Simple Review contains many features including:
*Community Builder, Kunena, JomSocial integration and phpBB via JFusion (currently limited to comment avatars)
*Star ratings
*Tag reviews with keywords
*User comments and ratings. Support for comments using Disqus.
*A powerful template system
*Multiple categories
*User submitted reviews (beta)
*Top reviews
*hReview support
*Free
*Captcha using Security Images 5 or reCAPTCHA.
*and more...
28/01/2012: Version 3.0.13 release. Supports Joomla 2.5 and includes some minor bug fixes.
7/11/2011: Version 3.0.12 released. Removes the restriction of comments requiring a rating and comment text.
26/09/2011: Version 3.0.11 released. Removes the restriction of reviews requiring a rating.
07/08/2011: Version 3.0.10 released. Adds support for Joomla 1.7 and other features and fixes.
But, I found too many errors and problems. For example, clicking on a category to see the reviews ends up with a 404 screen.
Also, in the config, it references extra fields and lets you select how many, but there isn't a way to define those fields or use them.
This is a great module, and I would like to see a later version. At this point, at least for me, there is too much I would have to change to make it work for my specific needs.
Hi,
I am not sure about the 404 problem as it has been tested to work. Please contact our support forum.
You can define the custom fields when creating your category and you then assign them values when creating a review.
My only issue is with the comments feature. It would be a real bonus to have this extension work with JComments, instead of/as well as having its own comments feature. Cool for a free extension however. many thanks to the developer.
I have found a problem upgrading from v3.0.6 to 3.0.7 - there are no instructions on how to do this, and it appears the wrong download is listed at the website (it is the full component).
Support is not commercial, therefore it is understandable that the developer does not want individual emails. However, we are told to post in the forum - but it is (at time of writing) not possible to register for an account.
So a bit frustrating, despite the usefulness of the component. If I can get these issues resolved I will definitely look to continue using Simple Review.
Hi,
Sorry I posted the wrong upgrade link on the blog (the correct file was on the JoomlaCode homepage), I have corrected the blog post to point to the correct file. You can unzip it and follow the instructions. There are some nice new features, so I hope you can upgrade to 3.0.7 and then to 3.0.8 without issue.
The forum registration is a case of bad timing, I only disabled it yesterday and it will be back up within a week. I was experiencing a very, very large amount of spam. It takes a large amount of time to deal with spam and the new attacks made it impossible for me to keep up and work on the component. I hope you can understand this temporary measure.
Hi,
If you are having any problems with getting user reviews working please follow this guide:
http://simple-review.com/315-user-reviews-beta.html
If that does not help then please visit the forum.
We are working on ways to make editing templates easier as well as providing more prettier templates. Removing the image is very easy and we would be happy to point anyone wishing to do so in the right direction.
Thanks.
The developer says he is currently developing the component so registered users can leave reviews from the frontend of the site, I can't wait.
This is one to keep an eye on!
Hi,
From the sounds of it you forgot to hit the rating button (please update your review's rating if this is the case).
User reviews do work in the current version - but it is in the early stages of development, so please try it out and provide any feedback in the forum.
Thanks.
Good idea but very poorly implemented at this stage (vs3.0.1).
Good the idea of the customizable fields but again... very badly implemented: e.g. you can add fields easely to the frontend but then you have to edit the templates and in order to get it to work properly a lot of manual tweaking is required.
Furthermore, i found it very unstable and quite buggy. Personally I believe this product is currently in a pre-alpha conceptual development stage, definitively not to be used in a production environment.
I believe version 3.0.2 fixed some of the bugs you may have experienced as well at simplified some of the GUI. Myself and others use it on production sites without issues, so if you have any specific bugs/issues then please report them in the support forum so that they can be fixed.
The custom fields must be manually put into a template as the component does not know where you would like to place them in your review. This is comparable to having to specify your module positions in Joomla templates.
I would disagree that a lot of manual work to get them working, all you have to do is put {Review:Field:1} somewhere in your template or review.
Thanks.
Though it still lack few things I find necessary (ability to write reviews for articles and CSV import - these features are planned for future versions), I have to give highest grade.
Just keep up the good work :)
I just have one question if you would be kind enough to help me, the only thing I would like to change is the way the TOP REVIEWS are shown. My site works on a rating system of 1 being lowest and 10 being highest when reviewing games, and because there are so many reviews (hundreds) lots of them have a rating of 10, but it seems as though only the first ones which were rated 10 can be displayed in the TOP REVIEWS section, is there any way of randomizing lots of reviews that all rated their respective games with a 10?
Any help much appreciated, thank you
Thank you for your feedback.
If you post your request on http://simple-review.com/forum I will be more than happy to assist you with this. Thanks.
Hi,
I have just released version 2.2.0 which fixes this template issue.
Template are now file based (so if you update a template this will be reflected in your reviews).
An image uploader would be nice, but more important things need doing first :)
The only way I can see around this is create a review. Try to link to that review (or category) manually. Use a component like JComments to let users submit their rating and comments about the review.
I haven't tested this out so not sure if that will work as I theorize.
I have just released 2.2.0 and now any back-end user can add reviews - adding reviews from the front-end is almost done and will be released shortly.
You must first create and publish a review category and then the link to simple review will show that category (and any others). Once you create and publish reviews they will be listed under their category.
Front-end submission is coming very shortly.
When I check the language files, I noticed that the author used php format for language files, NOT ini format, which should be respected as the J1.5 standard. This is the first fault.
The second fault is, there are two duplicate language files respectively in folder languages and Language_Module. I made a Chinese language translation and uploaded it to the languages folder, but it can't be detected. This component can ONLY detect the language file in Language_Module folder. So, why you created the languages folder?
The third fault is, even after I put my translation language file into Language_Module folder, it can't pick up my translation automatically. I had to choose the language manually at backend settings page of this component. You know, J1.5 has parameter to allow extensions pick up correct php format language files, why didn't you use it?
The fourth and the largest fault is, I can't find the advantage of this component. Imagine this: I create a new section in the Joomla com_content and title it as Reviews, then I can create Categories inside this section. Next, I can write reviews just like new article(content). And the visitors can rating and comment my article(review) via my commenting component. You know, there are many commenting component which can also offer the rating stars feature.
So, what is the advantage of installing a new component to write reviews?
You are reviewing an alpha version i.e. very early build for Joomla 1.5. As you noticed the language is currently incomplete and in two parts which makes it far from ideal. In it's current state it is only there as a place holder while the component is being fully converted from Joomla 1.0 -> Joomla 1.5. The ini format will most likely not be used while compatibility is maintained with 1.0. Myself and others find the component useful, if you don't then that is fine.
Thing I do not like, only the admin can create reviews. I suppose members could reply on a review you create, but its not what my member will want. Nice program, and it is simple.
I like option to make my on template for display-ing reviews. This meen you have full control over layout. This component have own SEF system and works realy good. I am yust waiting now for 1.5 Native. :)
Thanks for this great and FREE component!