Online Business or Member Directory: SOBI2

SOBI 2 - Sigsiu Online Business Index 2 is a directory component for Joomla to show entries of companies, clubs, persons, shops, products, etc. similar to yellow pages or the Yahoo! directory. There are several useful plugins available to extend the SOBI2 functions.

Features

• Individual listings include name, logo, phone, address, website link, email, description.
• Optional plugins can include unlimited photos, media such as audio/video, file downloads, Google map of location, plus ratings and reviews by website visitors.
• Layout and design of the individual listings can be customized.
• Online accounts can be set up for the listed member/business that allows them to create or modify their own listing.
• Offer listing features for free or fee.
• Categories and subcategories. Each listing can be placed in up to 5 categories.

A variety of useful plug-ins are available to extend SOBI2 functionality. Some are free and some require a licensing fee.

Free Plugins

Searchbot

• The Searchbot extends the standard Joomla! search function to find SOBI2 entries.

Download Plugin

• The SOBI2 Download Plugin allows adding an unlimited number of files to every entry. The number of allowed files for an entry, maximum file size and allowed extensions are adjustable in the back-end.
• You can assign a license to a file that the user must agree to before it can be downloaded.
• The list of available files for an entry can be displayed in the details view and/or in the category view.

Gallery Plugin

• The Gallery Plugin allows adding an unlimited number of images to an entry. Without it, SOBI2 limits uploaded images to 2 per entry.
• Thumbnails are shown in the Details View vertically or horizontally, (configurable in back-end). By clicking on a thumbnail, a big image will be shown in a pop-up lightbox viewer.
• In the Category View (on each V-Card) the number of images of an entry and/or the first thumbnail of the Gallery can be shown. If no Gallery images are available for an entry a "no images available" text can be shown.
• A description can be added to each image. The description will be shown in the Lightbox.
• Adding images to the Gallery only by administrator is also possible.
• The number of images per row is adjustable, so the Gallery can be shown in multiple columns and rows. The table sizes are calculated automatically depending on the thumbnail size (if adjusted).

Media Plugin

• The Media Plugin allows adding an unlimited number of audio or video files to each SOBI2 entry.
• Every file can be added for free or for a fee (adjustable in the back-end).
• To play MP3 files it is a good idea to install the Flash MP3 Player plugin also.

Rating & Review Plugin

• This plugin allows adding reviews and ratings (votes) from users (registered or public - adjustable in the back-end) to the SOBI2 entries.

Modules display a summary of various information types in the side columns of your website:

Most Reviewed Module

• Displays listings with the highest number of reviews - works with Reviews & Ratings Plugin

Top Rated Module

• Displays listings with the highest ratings - works with Reviews & Ratings Plugin

Latest Entries Module

• This plugin show the newest entries of the SOBI2 directory in a module.

Menu Module

• A module to show all SOBI2 categories in either a tree view or in a flat view.

Module for SOBI2 RSS Feeds

• With this Joomla! module the SOBI2 RSS feeds can be shown on the site like a normal module.
• Using the standard Joomla! module for RSS, all links will be opened in a new window. With this plugin all links can be opened in the same window, plus the titles are shortened.

Featured Entries Module

(a Featured Listings Module with more features is available for a fee.)

A simple Featured Entries Module to display SOBI2 Entries in a Module.

• This Module does not create or modify any SOBI2 or Joomla Database tables.
• The value of a user-specified SOBI2 Custom Field is used to select which SOBI2 entries are eligible for display by this Module.
• The maximum number of 'Featured' entries to be displayed is specified in the Module configuration.
• User-specified Sort Order of' Featured Entries' display - Random, Date Created, Title or User-specified Custom Field.
• Optional display of the standard SOBI2 fields 'Title', 'Icon' and 'Image'.
• Optional display of an unlimited number of user-specified SOBI2 Custom Data fields. The order in which the Custom Data fields are output is specified in the Module configuration.
• Optional display of Custom Data Field Labels.
• Optional linking of Title, and/or Icon, and/or Image to the detailed view of each SOBI2 'featured' entry.
• Optional display of a link, with user-specified 'link text', to the detailed view of each SOBI2 'featured' entry.
• Optional 'Category Filter' - 'Featured Entries' displayed can be restricted to those 'Featured Entries' that 'belong' to the category being displayed in the current SOBI2 'Category View'.
• Module output is 'tableless', (data to be displayed is output in <div>'s).
• User-specified styling in site Template(s) to style module output.
• The Module can be copied to enable SOBI2 entries with different user-specified SOBI2 entry selection criteria to be displayed in different Module positions.
• A user-specified Module Class suffix allows user-specified CSS styling in the Site Template(s) for each instance of the Module.

SOBI2 Plugins Available For A Fee

Featured Listings Plugin

69 EUR (including 19% tax)

• Show entries on a featured position in category view and/or on SOBI2 frontpage.
• Expiration of the featured presentation can be controlled by different settings like a number of days, a number of impressions in the category view or on frontpage, or a number of click-throughs to the details view of the featured entry. Also an entry can be set up to be always featured without expiration.
• Featured presentation on frontpage and in category view can be handled separately.
• An unlimited number of payment scenarios can be created.
• An additional module can be placed anywhere on your site.
• Documentatation, support and free updates for 12 months from SOBI2.

Expiration Plugin

20 EUR (including 19% tax)

• This Joomla! plugin sends email to authors and/or administrators of SOBI2 entries that are expired or will expire soon.

Plugin Settings:

• Send email for entries which are expired in the recent x days
• Send email for entries which will expire in the next x days
• Use Joomla! user data or SOBI2 user data
• Field for 'Email From'
• Field for 'From Name'
• Field for 'Reply To'
• Field for 'Reply To Name'
• Field for 'Send CC to'
• Field for 'Send BCC to'
• Free defineable message subject
• Free defineable message text

Email Text Placeholders:

• Real author name
• User nickname
• Title of the entry
• SOBI2 ID number of entry
• Name of the site
• URL of the site
• Expiration date
• Actual number of hits

Visit the SOBI 2 - Sigsiu Online Business Index 2 website for more information.

View SOBI 2 demo.