phpCoin Web Hosting

phpCoin Web Hosting

The phpCOIN (appropriately abbreviated as Clients, Order, Invoices, and Notes) application was in effect created for small to medium sized web hosting resellers. However, this package can now be used for any kind of business. The main function and purpose of phpCOIN is to display information to clients (potential or existing) via miscellaneous content, provide an interface for collecting client and order information, direct the client to a “pay link” for billing, and provide a means to monitor these items. Therefore, the primary aim is to offer an integrated environment; wherein the admin and the client can perform tasks within a single interface.

phpCoin can be effectively utilized for the following purposes:

• Site Content: Ability to create and manage web site information for display to clients. This content is searchable, with the “Search” module.
• Order Processing: Ability to provide configurable of forms for collecting client information during order process, and provide a single “paylink” at the end of the process to direct the client to third party billing. Search orders feature is also available.
• Invoices: Offers an option of invoicing clients for orders or services in either a one-go invoice or as a recurring invoice. Search of invoices or/and transactions feature is also available.
• Client Management: Ability to manage and store client information profile, order history, invoice / payment history, support helpdesk ticket history. Search clients feature available.
• Support: An integrated support helpdesk trouble ticket system is also available. Also, search of trouble tickets is also offered.
• Contact: Clients can contact the Admin either through ticket system or contact forms, and a means for the admin contacting the clients is available.
• phpCoin offers several options or modes to create and effectively present or display information or site content to its clients. This can achieved through the following components:
• AuxPages: the package provides a content module called “Auxpages” which permits the admin to load single coded pages into the system by simply creating the page and calling accordingly. This powerful feature is used to provide capability; more advanced than the standard “Pages” or “SiteInfo” content.
• FAQ: The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) module can be created from the browser interface and addresses queries or issues related to the website. Multiple FAQ’s with questions/answers can be created. The “FAQ” can be assigned to be viewed by all visitors, existing clients, or admins only and can features on/off for each item to permit “work in progress”. The FAQ content is also included in the “Search” content options.
• Menu System: phpCoin offers a top menu and a separate login in user menu that can be configured through the admin interface. These settings include an on/off feature, which images to use, and the desired link for each button. Left/right menu columns are also available for additional menu functions.
• Pages: This package comes with a content module called “pages” which allows Admin to create content for the respective web site, from the browser interface. The content can be in the form of plain text, or common html with images, tables, etc. The “Pages” feature also includes footer menu navigation options for “flowing” documentation (prev / main / next buttons are configurable for each page). The content of these pages is also included in the “search” content feature.
• SiteInfo: A content module termed as “SiteInfo” also allows the Admin to create website related content from the browser interface. he content can be in the form of plain text, or common html with images, tables, etc. Although the function is similar to Pages as mentioned above; the focus here is to provide content aptly pertaining to web site information like policies, about, main index, announcement, etc. and offers an on/off “Return” footer menu.

phpCOIN can be as flexible as a utilizable package can get. It is innovatively designed to operate as a standalone application (own domain) or as an add-on to an existing domain (subdirectory). It supports the following items; thereby enriching user experience and making it an indispensable and flexible tool:

• Theme Support: The package is designed to work with “themes” or “skins” that can be developed by the end user or by developers who possess an artistic streak; to bring out the intent of the website and aptly determine its feel and look. All fonts and color characteristics are defined in style sheets (entire application via styles). The button images and additional layout items can all be included in the specific them.
• Language File Support: The package comes with a language file system in which no text exists within the code that is not editable within the language files. If a desired language translation does not exist, one can translate by simply editing the proper language files.
• Localization: The localization settings include currency prefix / suffix, number formatting, locale selection and format strings for date / time display.
• Wrapper Enabled: For websites that have the standard header and footer files; the package supports html type files for “wrapping” around the phpCOIN content. This feature can be set to on or off, as required.
• Flip of the Switch: phpCoin comprises of various configuration options or showing / hiding items, adjusting layout, optional viewing items, etc. These options can be simply controlled by the “flip of a config switch”.
• phpCoin is a free WebWare package is used by over thirty five thousand people worldwide including web-hosts, designers, lawyers, accountants, and a school band.

The following requirements need to be met to run phpCoin:

• A web server (apache, MS IIS, etc.)
• A MySQL v3.x.x or higher database.
• php v4.1.2 or higher

The Add-on modules are created and are available either free of cost or for a particular fee. phpCoin plans to introduce the following add-on modules:

• Expenditure and Bank Reconciliation
• Stock Control
• Brokerage and Charter
• Sales/Financial Reporting

The forthcoming version of phpCoin called phpCOIN v2 will be free to use for up to ten active clients, but more then ten active clients will require a fee.