Comments System

The Comments System binds a comments form with a text page or a site collection page. When activated it appears as an additional module at the end of the page on the website front-end.

The comments system plugin operates on both the back and web-front. On the web-front, it displays a form for comments to be submitted making this plugin suitable for blog sites where visitors can submit comments. On the admin end, the pligin allows the site owner to select which pages will accept comments, monitor comments submitted, delete, edit comments and check details of the submitter.

Details submitted are visible on the admin-end and include the comments submitted from visitors to a specific page, collection or plain text page, along with their rating, visitor's IP address, visitor's name and visitor's URL. Configuration switches allow this plugin to operate for a certain content type as well as auto-activate the comments display functionality, or wait for an administrator manual approval. There is code to protect comments form been submitted multiple times with the same content and there is protection against automated form submission.

There are two database tables the comments system installs.

• TABLE_COMMENTS
• TABLE_COMMENTS_TO_CONTENT

The TABLE_COMMENTS holds the comments submitted. The  TABLE_COMMENTS_TO_CONTENT is an association of text and collection entries which may accept comments or being excluded from receiving comments, all subject to the configuration used.

On the web-front the Comments System plugin hooks the following HTML entry points:

• plugin_form_process - Processes the form data
• html_main_content_end and - Displays the Form and Comments submitted/approved
• html_start - Prepares the form to be submitted

On the back-end the plugin hooks the Site Content box and displays an additional entry under it called Comments. This where the administrator can control the text pages or collections assigned to the comments system as well as list details of the comments submitted and edit the comments.