Posted 8 years ago #
My first plugin. I have created a plugin that inserts a contact form onto a page. It is based on Ryan Duff's layout but with a lot of improvements. It has Multi-point verification of entered email addresses, optional redirect on successful send and intuitive error reporting on events such as empty fields and invalid data.
I will try to fix any errors that come up.
phrixus - assuming it could be done, what would it take to modify this to make it work on a non-WP blog...just a regular web page?
I'm no php whiz, so if it can be done please give it to me in very basic terms. Thanks! :)
Posted 8 years ago #
This works in a regular .php page, and is really easy to install:
http://jimsun.linxnet.com/SCForm.html
Cool -- thanks podz!
Posted 8 years ago #
If you want the functionality of my plugin, let me know and I will try to modify it for you... if I can find the time!!!
phrixus - thanks for the offer. I'll keep that in mind. :)
Posted 8 years ago #
I am also working on an e-mail plugin, it replaces wp-mail.php and checks if the user's e-mail address is in the database before allowing the message to be posted.
Posted 8 years ago #
John, that is a bit different to the 'Contact Me' email plugin I have put up here. Looks like a great plugin though!!!
Why was this forked for 2 measley changes. Granted, its allowed under the GPL, but not good practice. Especially when you don't contact the other owner and claim it as your own plugin.
You added a redirect and some better error checking for the email. That doesn't warrent forking to a new plugin.
Oh well.. my bugs are now your bugs. As for me, I'll be continuing wp-contactform with most of the bugs fixed. Remember, you now have a fork, which is its own. Don't copy my bug fixes to your plugin and claim them as your own.
Refering to claiming... http://www.phrixus.co.uk/posts/2005/03/my-first-plugin/
Posted 8 years ago #
Calm down... I sent you a message about these features and you never responded. I figured you had no interest in my mods so I re-wrote the logic and expanded the control panel to accomodate the features. I only released it as a different plugin because it is now very different to wp-contactform and I thought other people might be interested, which from my download stats, they are.
Please feel free to merge my code into yours as I am happy to direct everyone to your site (As suggested in my email).
At the end of the day its a mail form that has all of the features I would expect. I really do have more important things to worry about in life.
Also, if its only 2 'measley' changes... why aren't they in your script?? And in response to your 'Refering to claiming' above, please read every other page, file post about the script and you will find you are clearly mentioned...
Posted 8 years ago #
Having been in contact with Ryan via email I would like to suggest that if anyone wishes to use this plugin they visit his site in the first instance and look at wp-contactform.
The plugin that I have developed will still be available on my page for the time being whilst it still has the more advanced features for anyone that wants to use it.
As it turns out, there was a communication problem between us (Email was not delivered/accidentally missed) and so Ryan was not able to let me know he wanted the feature set I had made. Under GPL, I was within my right to use his code and redistribute it. Having rewritten a lot of the code, my version of the contact form turned out very different and had improved features and display properties so I released it as a seperate plugin for everyone else, again, perfectly acceptable under GPL. I was not trying to take all credit which is why I made references on all material to the original author, as stated above by Ryan, I forgot that detail on my homepage... now rectified!
Posted 8 years ago #
@ryanduff
I am currently using your plugin. I was searching for a plugin like this for a long time and, as far as I know, you were the first to come up with a wordpress contact form plugin. And, as busy as you were with your new plugin, you also made it a point to answer my emails. You even added some small changes that I was looking for and I thank you for that.
Personally, when I read the words "I have written my first plugin" I would interpret that as meaning a person started from scratch and wrote the thing. In my honest opinion, there's a big difference between "writing" something versus "adding to" something, regardless of how good the additions are. Doing that may be legal, but I think it's really unfair. If anyone has any suggestions on how to make "your" plugin better, then they should work with you.
Posted 8 years ago #
That is a fair comment and I did use the form layouts as a basis... this is why I added an edit to my homepage to clarify the point. As stated I was not trying to rip anything off which is why I have referenced the original author everywhere... on that post though... have you never had difficulty thinking of interesting titles for your blog?? I struggle with that field every time I want to write something!!
Posted 8 years ago #
Also what you dont seem to have considered or are unaware of in your reply is that I sent details to Ryan initially about the code I had made so that they could use it in their plugin. Only on no reply and brcause some friends of mine wanted a copy did I released it as another plugin.
I would also like to offer a small poke to people that seem fixated on the post I made on my home page... by clicking the link that takes you the info page about the plugin, Ryan is mentioned on the first line of the overview which hardly seems like I am trying to take credit... you have to go to this page for the download link. Its amazing how people can lose sight of the big picture and only focus on obstacles... I have received a lot of emails thanking me for the added benefits which at the end of the day is all I wanted to provide... if you dont like/need them, you dont use them... simple!
If anyone thinks GPL is unfair, please buy Microsoft products and argue at home, this is not an argument for this forum. God forbid we should have 100+ version of Linux running off the same core with different features and names!!
Posted 8 years ago #
@phrixus
Your first response was cool - but the second showed your inability to resist the temptation - but hey, I'm not looking for an argument either - I was just making a point.
But, your second response left me little choice but to make a final comment. Yes, I did follow the link on your website and I did read the relevant posts - I also downloaded "your first plugin" to have a look at it prior to posting my comment here.
This is what bothered me when I compared the code:
GPL gives people the right to use code as one pleases - that's cool.
And, adding additional code to improve a plugin - that's cool too.
But how does changing this code:
$title = __('Contact Form Options');
To this code:
$title = __('PXS-Mail Options');
improve how the plugin works ?? Did it not work with the original code intact ??
Or, this: $wpcf_email = $_POST['wpcf_email'];
To this: $pxs_email = $_POST['pxs_email'];
Or, this: $wpcf_subject = $_POST['wpcf_subject'];
To this: $pxs_subject = $_POST['pxs_subject'];
Or, this: $wpcf_success_msg = $_POST['wpcf_success_msg'];
To this: $pxs_success_msg = $_POST['pxs_success_msg'];
etc, etc, etc .....
In my humble opinion, I just think that if the orginal code that you used was working ok, why would you have to change it to look like the code is yours ??
Posted 8 years ago #
Well, if you insist I will have to answer your final point with my final comment!!!
It was initially modified with the original code intact which I was using on my site quite happily... when it was released as a different plugin because people wanted it, I had to change the function names and db options so that they would not intefere with people running/comparing both scripts. Thats all!! ;-)
Posted 8 years ago #
Is there any way of using this plugin with Markdown? it just spits out the code:
<div class="contactright"><input class="y_name" type="text" name="your_name" size="30" maxlength="50" value="" /> (required)</div>
<div class="contactleft">Your Email: </div>
<div class="contactright"><input class="y_email" type="text" name="email" size="30" maxlength="50" value="" /> (required)</div>
<div class="contactleft">Your Website: </div>
<div class="contactright"><input type="text" name="blog" size="30" maxlength="100" value="" /></div>
<div class="contactleft">Your Message: </div>
<div class="contactright"><textarea class="y_msg" name="msg" cols="35" rows="8" ></textarea></div>
<div class="contactright">
<input type="submit" name="Submit" value="Submit" />
<input type="hidden" name="stage" value="process" />
</div>
</form>
</div>
<div style="clear:both; height:1px;"> </div>
Posted 8 years ago #
@neurofluoro
The original author of this plugin has posted an updated version 1.1
Get it here:
http://ryanduff.net/projects/wp-contactform/
See markdown bug fix here:
Posted 8 years ago #
Hi neurofluoro,
I suggest you follow rvblog's advice and get the plugin from the link above.
Posted 8 years ago #
If only ryanduff.net was available... It's been giving errors for the last day or so...
@Raster
My host lost everything back to march 27th. I'm in the process of movning to a new host. Hopefully most should be restored by this evening.
I think this is another instance of "much ado about nothing".
Granted phrixus had an interesting title which indicated that he had himself developed the plugin.
However his explanation is something I can associate with. Creating titles for posts is a royal pain.
Have you ever given an elevator speech? I have. And ideally writing a title is a 2 second version of elevator pitch.
Anyway the rest of the explanations look reasonable to me.
Though I admit I would have kept the same code without name changes) and mentioned that people cannot use both plugins(or forks) at the same time.
Give him some latitude. He has started working on WordPress plugins, an area which I admit lacks some good guidance materials. Yes, I have read the tutorials but they are mostly like bikinis.
For me the best guidance was actually looking at the source code of different plugins including the (in)famous HelloDolly.
I just installed the wp-contactform plugin and found that it had one conflict with wp-advanced-stats. Apparently they both used the same function. I renamed the one in wp-contactform and it worked fine.
Posted 7 years ago #
Posted 7 years ago #
ended up at this thread and thought i'd post my 3 cents :))
first of all GPL and every other so called common web license are not only useless but worthless, therefore its best not to rely too heavy on it.
a rule of thumb, if your stuff is on the web it's free game otherwise don't put it on the web :)
To debate GPL is silly it holds no weight in the real world so why cry about weather or not someone gets their acknowledgement. In actually, nothing is ever original and what one person creates has already been created by someone else so enough with the GPL crap please.
who's the idiots who created GPL, it's well written of course and a good scam as we all know are always well written.
If you are looking for some form of acknowledgement then sell your stuff otherwise don't offer it for free with silly rules to acknowledge your work, if something is given freely, then its just that free aka (no restrictions)
why do so many morons turn to GPL it's doesn't hold any weight and never will, the egos of the net need to be stomped!
Posted 7 years ago #
Hey everyone,
I just downloaded PXS Mail. But I'm confused as to where I am supposed to insert <!--mail-->. Does it go in either the header or sidebar templates of my current theme? Or is it supposed to go someplace else? I've been trying to insert that line of code into my sidebar template and header template, but nothing happens.
Thanks for your help.
Lisa
Posted 7 years ago #
Who's the idiots who created GPL, it's well written of course and a good scam as we all know are always well written.
GPL was created by GNU, see http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html for details. In essence, it's there to ensure that others, who inherit your software, have the freedom to:
* Run the program, for any purpose.
* Study how the program works, and adapt it to their own needs.
* Redistribute copies.
* Improve the program, and release their improvements to the public.
That being the case, there should be no problem with "forking" a plugin, unless (1) you pretend you wrote it in the first place or (2) you take away the freedom which was granted to you in the first place under the GPL agreement. This is true even if you were to charge money for your version, which you are completely entitled to do.
There's nothing idiotic about GPL. The fact that you also (clumsily) assert that it's a "good scam" suggests that perhaps you haven't read it properly?
Posted 7 years ago #
i read it and understand how it works, it gives me warm fuzzy's all over, its the hidden agenda behind GNU i was refering to, its how people/companies are utilizing GNU to get a free promo. One only has to ask the question why are many programs being designed as GNU if there were no profit/promo motive in it ? WITFM, obviously there is profit in GNU otherwise no one in their right mind would even consider GNU. Businesses uses GNU then turn around and sell it in their packages. Companies charge their customers for something they get for nothing (this is a scam). GNU was made for a purpose and there's alot more behind it then people realize it.
ha ha, i read some more from GNU site they are so full of ##%#, amazing what people can do with online presentation
Posted 7 years ago #
Businesses uses GNU then turn around and sell it in their packages. Companies charge their customers for something they get for nothing (this is a scam).
I don't think you understand. Charging is completely acceptable. For that matter, it's expected. I have been writing applications using GPL software for some six years and I have always charged for it. I charge for installation. I charge for design. I charge for customisation. I charge for testing. I charge for training. Plenty of others do too. That's what GPL is all about.
You seem to fail to grasp that GPL does not equal no profit. It never has.
GPL is about liberty, not price. There is no agenda, apart from what you seem to perceive.
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