JDownload Latest / Top - show all content?

[ScubaGuy]

Hi All,

I really like the modules for statistics, latest downloads, and top downloads! Thanks for them. I realise, however, that they show only publicly available downloads, but not those that are restricted (e.g. to registered users). Is there a way to show all top and latest downloads, regardless of their access restrictions? I'd like to show this information to the public, which might entice more registrations when people see that they can't get at the downloads without registering... 

Is this possible?

Thanks!

[ColinM]

Hi
Yes that can be done quite easy.  If you set any Download with Access Level as Public then anyone can 'see' the Download.  But they can only download if the relevant User group has download permission allowed.  That also means if you set some of the Downloads with say a view access level of registered then you can give your registered users more choices.

Because of the way permissions and access levels cascade the have three different top level categories called say Anyone, Logged-In and Private. 

First ensure that all the Permissions at the Component level are set to inherited (you can see these by using the Options button on the jD control page)
Ensure Logged-In and Private categories have Allowed for the Download permission in the Registered Group.  Ensure that the Anyone category has Inherited permission  for the Download Permission in the Public Group.

Set the Private Category to have an Access level of Registered, and the other two top level cats to have Access Level of Public.

See pics below for result.

Colin

[gelöscht durch Administrator]

[ScubaGuy]

Many thanks, Colin!

I'm a relative Newbie to Joomla and, even though, your permissioning makes sense, I'm not sure I've got it all...

For example, are you saying I need to create categories in JDownloads to match the permissioning level of the user group? I have categories set up now, but they're more of a classification of the files that are available (or not) for download.

Right now, I have the permissions for each file set to 'Registered', which is why the files don't show to non-registered users. If I follow your idea, I'd have to create new categories and make them visible to all, but downloadable to registered users, only. Is that correct?

Thanks!

[ColinM]

Hi
The categories I used we just illustrative.  In Joomla the permissions control what a user can do.  View Access levels denote what the can see.

An organisation based upon subject matter is quite natural to use for categories.  I was presuming that there were some subject matters (categories) from which you would want the public to be able to download and others which you want them to register before download.

If all you want is that only  registered can download then as you have at present set permissions for Registered Group in each top level category to allow and the Public permission for download to Inherit - do not set to Deny as then no one will be able to download.  For categories you want users to see then set Access Level to Public.  If you only want Registered users to see then put Access level to Registered.

Colin

[ScubaGuy]

If all you want is that only  registered can download then as you have at present set permissions for Registered Group in each top level category to allow and the Public permission for download to Inherit - do not set to Deny as then no one will be able to download.  For categories you want users to see then set Access Level to Public.  If you only want Registered users to see then put Access level to Registered.

Hi (again) Colin,

Thanks for your information ... I'm learning a lot, even if I'm not quite there, yet  I (think I) have tried your suggestion above, but it's not showing the downloads to the public (in the stats and latest downloads modules). Allow me to reiterate what I'm after:

• the public should be able to see all downloads, but download only those with 'Access' set to public ... which should help "entice them" into registering
• registered users should be able to see and download all available files

I've tried setting top level category access as you mention above, but this doesn't show all downloads, much less include them in the stats and the latest download modules.

Thanks for any further help!

[ColinM]

Hi

he public should be able to see all downloads, but download only those with 'Access' set to public ... which should help "entice them" into registering

That is not correct.  Public Access allows everyone to see them.  Whether or not they can download depends on the Permissions.  {Permissions control actions -Access Levels control visibility}

Please make a menu item with List all Categories and see if that is OK before we look at modules.  It is possible that there is a 'challenge' with modules, and looking through the tests I do not seem to have checked that aspect out.

Colin

[ColinM]

Hi
I have checked the Stats module extensively. The other modules use the same logic.

The numbers shown for categories and downloads only depends on the Category Access Levels.  The access level of the Downloads themselves is, correctly,  not taken into account. If the user cannot 'see' the containing Category (directory) then the access level of the Download (file) is immaterial.  This also allows if required a direct link to the download in say an article by using the jD Content plugin.

The permission do not have any effect on what is seen.

Colin

[ScubaGuy]

I think I've finally cracked it!

I've set the categories to public, allowing all to see them, then set the individual downloads to public and their permissions to deny public downloads (registered =inherited). Now the files show up in the stats and the latest downloads and are shown with a "no download disclaimer"...

Thanks!

[ColinM]

Hi
Pleased you have a working solution.  But you should not have needed to set Individual permissions on each Download to 'deny' for the Public User group.  I suspect that you have 'allow' download permissions for Public user group in the Component permissions - you can see these permissions by clicking on Options on the menu bar on the jD Control Panel... If it is then set it to 'inherit'.  That means when you add more Downloads the permissions will work automatically for the new one.  If that does work fine then personally I would change the existing 'deny' permissions in the Public UG for each individual Download back to 'inherit'.

Colin

[ScubaGuy]

I suspect that you have 'allow' download permissions for Public user group in the Component permissions

Hi Colin,

Nope, component permissions for Public care set to 'Inherited' ... v strange.

[ColinM]

Hmm!  Curious - wonder what I am not understanding!
To get a handle on this I would need to have super admin access to your site.  If you would like me to look a bit more then please PM me a suitable login etc.

Colin