LBD - The Local Business Directory Component for the F3 Content Management System
LBD (Local Business Directory) is an open source directory component for the F3 eBusiness Content Management System (CMS). Using LBD a CMS user can have a fully functioning directory of contacts, members, distributors, manufacturers, locations, products, or whatever very quickly with little or no "coding" - most or all of the set-up may be done using only the configuration interface. Add your data, and you have a working directory on your web site. LBD is also designed to be very flexible, enabling users to configure LBD in many different ways.
Features
Local Business Directory (LBD) is an addon to the F3 CMS that makes it possible to run and manage a directory in your website. The entries are divided into categories, which can contain subcategories. One entry can be entered in several categories. The companies/clubs/persons enter themselves in the index. Registered users can modify or delete their entries. Entries can be renewed by the user if they expire.
A Fields Manager can be used to configure each field entirely. This concerns the ordering, obligatory fields, fees, field length (width of field and number of characters), field type (textfield, textarea, checkbox, checkbox group, select list, text code or calendar), search methods, in which view a field should be shown (Category View and/or Details View), and much more. An unlimited number of new custom fields can be added.
For each entry two images can be uploaded (besides the linked images in the description). The images will be resized to a predefined size. With the URL field "image" it is possible to add fields for linked images.
An alpha index is available to show only entries starting with a specified letter. Also only the most popular entries and categories, the recently updated entries, the new entries or entries by tags (meta keywords) can be shown.
You also have the option of making certain features of the listing paid for or free. You could make listings free but charge for links to the websites. You have the option to decide all of this when you setup and manage the component. This is an extremely powerful component that could be used more many functions and is frequently updated.
LBD is divided into three views: the General View (LBD main page), the Category View and the Details View. A category view shows all subcategories and entries of a category. A Details View shows only one entry. The views are almost entirely configurable within the back-end and additionally by changing the view templates.
- In the General View all main categories can be shown together with an image and a short description.
- Already in the general view all entries can be shown as V-Cards.
- A Category View shows the corresponding sub categories and the entries within the category as V-Card.
- The sorting order of the categories is adjustable within the back-end.
- The sorting order of the fields is also adjustable (e.g. to change postal code and city for some countries).
- For each entry two images can be added. One small picture (icon/symbol), which will be shown by default in the V-Cards and the logo image, which will be shown by default in the Details View.
- The sorting order of the entries is adjustable in the back-end.
- Templates, editable within the back-end, for Details View and V-Card to design the appearance individually.
- CSS file, editable within the back-end, for changing the layout easily.
- Connection to Google Maps possible and routing function.
- Details View can be configured to be shown only to registered users.
Plugin Interface
LBD plugins enhance the functionality of LBD. There are plugins available to add an image or media gallery or to use LBD as a download directory.
Some of the plugins to LBD include a Review & Rating Plugin and Gallery Plugin. They make it possible for you to create and run a complete rating and review directory where people can submit listings, submit reviews and upload photos. Even if you don’t run the Community builder component LBD can allow people to build entire web pages about their listing.
Available plugins:
- Auto Geocoding Plugin - a plugin to geocode automaticaly LBD existing entries from the address set in each entries.
- Download Plugin - a plugin to upload and download files.
- Gallery Plugin - a plugin to show an "unlimited" number of uploaded images in Details View (horizontally or vertically) with Lightbox effect.
- Featured Listings Plugin - a plugin to show entries on a featured position.
- Flash MP3 Player Plugin
- Import and Backup Plugin - a plugin for LBD, to import and export data into/from a CSV file.
- Media Plugin - a plugin to show audio or video files (Youtube support).
- OpenSEF Plugin - a plugin to generate SEF URLs with OpenSEF component.
- Payments Plugin - a plugin to view payments that have been done by users on their website.
- Radius Distance Search Plugin - a plugin to search within a radius of cities.
- Report Listing Plugin - a plugin which allows visitors or users to send a report (e.g about SPAM or rules violation) about an entry.
- Review & Rating Plugin - a plugin to vote and comment an entry.
- SEF Plugin - a plugin which creates Search Engine Friendly (SEF) URLs for LBD in WCMS 1.5 (without 3rd party SEF components).
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