Web Design Company, Hampshire UK

Things have moved ahead apace this week. Whilst still working on 4myboat we have decided to start developing another directory to extend campinginfo.org. This is on the back of the BBC using a campinginfo article as a further info link on one of their programs.

As I mentioned, we are going to be using Zoo Business Directory a solution developed by Yoo Themes. I stumbled across a problem this week and found finding a solution time comsuming. Here is a quick fix.

When installing Zoo 2.1, you attempt to upload the file and after a long wait, the screen turns white. After navigating to the backend you realise that although the system is not broken, the updated file has not been installed.  I tried this a few times but had no luck and so begins the arduous task of trying to work out why. There is a smattering of information on this topic but most of it is confused or at least it confused me. These are the 3 likely causes as I found them.

• The server is not equipped with mbstrpos
• The maximum execution time of the installation (which is 30 seconds) has been exceeded.
• Zoo 2.1 is in Beta development. Use Zoo 2.0 until a stable release appears.

In the end I contact support and they provided this quick and effective solution.

• Download the latest Zoo Version and unpack it.
• Upload this directory to your server. They advised using the /tmp directory.
• Navigate to the extentions installer in the backend and specify the directory where you uploaded the files.
• Click on install and Bob’s your uncle.

It worked! In actual fact a simple workaround for something that initially appeared to be quite tricky.

Hope this helps.

Currently contracting at boxChilli Media, I have been asked to create an international yacht directory. The first step was to test out various sollutions available on the market, to ensure the finished product meets boxChilli’s needs and those of their clients.

The first product that I tried was DirectoryPress which I have talked in a previous post. The second was Sobi2. Sobi is an extension for Joomla and decribes itself as being ‘one of the first components for Joomla! with content construction support.’ After tinkering with Sobi for a day, it became apparent that to really get the best from the system it would take the addition a number of a few reasonably priced extensions which I quickly purchased.

sigsiu.net

Just as I was about to jump into designing the final directory, I was introduced to Zoo 2.0 from Yoo Themes. I instantly was unsure of my inital decision. Zoo 2.0 ‘is a flexible and powerful content application builder to manage your content’, a similar claim to that of Sobi2. We immediately purchased the App Bundle which included the business directory as well as other useful apps. Again, I have tinkered with Zoo for a day and have managed to make a good looking, effective directory in just a couple of hours. The support seems good so far and the documentation appears to meet the needs of beginners and developers alike.

A few of the things that I really like about Zoo are that the CSS is already set up to look good. The modules are included with the installation, so that there is very little to research into or buy. Just turn everything on, work out what you need and style it…… Easy. I will report back in a couple of weeks when the directory is finished.