A few days back I was asked by a client to set up a hotel reservation form in his WordPress powered website. The problem is easy to solve and implement. This tutorial consists of setting up a WordPress custom page template and some php for a Hotel reservation page.

By the end of this tutorial you will know hot to set up a hotel reservation page, a restaurant reservation page or anything that requires a reservation inside WordPress.

Step #1 – Set up a WordPress custom page template

This is fairly easy to do. Go inside your WP theme root and simply duplicate the page.php file and name it anything you want. I renamed my file reservation.php.

Next you need to delete everything in the page loop. So head over open up your reservations.php and delete this:

<?php if (have_posts()) : while (have_posts()) : the_post(); ?>
		<div class="post" id="post-<?php the_ID(); ?>">
		<h2><?php the_title(); ?></h2>
			<div class="entry">
				<?php the_content('<p class="serif">Read the rest of this page &raquo;</p>'); ?>
 
				<?php wp_link_pages(array('before' => '<p><strong>Pages:</strong> ', 'after' => '</p>', 'next_or_number' => 'number')); ?>
 
			</div>
		</div>
		<?php endwhile; endif; ?>
	<?php edit_post_link('Edit this entry.', '<p>', '</p>'); ?>

The next thing to do is to tell WordPress there is a custom page template named reservations.php. To do this simply copy and paste the following before the get_header(); tag.

<?php
    /*
    Template Name: RESERVATION
 
    */
    ?>

So you got something like this:

    <?php
    /*
    Template Name: REZERVARI
 
    */
    ?>
 
<?php get_header(); ?>

Next go inside your WordPress dashboard and add a new page, on the right you will have a option to select a custom page template. Select RESERVATIONS like in the image below.

Step #2 Setting up the reservation php code

Now the only place you will need to work is the reservation php file. Go and edit the file and copy/paste this code where the page loop was.

<script>
function checkform2 ( form )
{
 
  if (form.nume.value == "") {
    alert( "Va rugam completati campul: Nume!" );
    form.nume.focus();
    return false ;
  }
 
  if (form.prenume.value == "") {
    alert( "Va rugam completati campul: Prenume!" );
    form.prenume.focus();
    return false ;
  }
 
  if (form.telefon.value == "") {
    alert( "Va rugam completati campul: Telefon!" );
    form.telefon.focus();
    return false ;
  }
 
 
 
  return true ;
}
</script>
		<h2>Online Reservation</h2> 
<form name="tstest" method="post" action="/reservation" onsubmit="return checkform2(this)">
 
 
To make a online reservation to one of our hotel rooms please fill out the form below:
 
 
                    <table class="BodyTXT" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" width="100%">
 
                      <tbody><tr>
 
                        <td width="22%"><div align="left">First Name:*</div></td>
 
                        <td><input name="nume" id="nume" type="text"></td>
 
                        </tr>
 
                      <tr>
 
                        <td><div align="left">Last Name:*</div></td>
 
                        <td><input name="prenume" id="prenume" type="text"></td>
                      </tr>
 
                      <tr>
 
                        <td><div align="left">Phone:*</div></td>
 
                        <td><input name="telefon" id="telefon" type="text"></td>
                      </tr>
 
                      <tr>
 
                        <td><div align="left">E-mail:</div></td>
 
                        <td><input name="email" id="email" type="text"></td>
                      </tr>
 
                      <tr>
 
                        <td><div align="left">Room number:</div></td>
 
                        <td>
 
						<select name="nr_camere" id="nr_camere">
							<option selected="selected" value="1">1</option>
							<option value="2">2</option>
							<option value="3">3</option>
							<option value="4">4</option>
						</select>						</td>
                      </tr>
 
                      <tr>
 
                        <td><div align="left">Room: </div></td>
 
                        <td>
						<select name="camera">
							<option value="Double">Double</option>
							<option value="Matrimoniala">Apartment</option>
							<option value="Matrimoniala cu jacuzzi">Apartment with jacuzzi</option>
						</select>						</td>
                      </tr>
 
                      <tr>
 
                        <td><div align="left">Arrival date: </div></td>
 
                        <td width="47%"><input name="data_intrare" id="data_intrare" type="text"><script language="JavaScript">
	var o_cal = new tcal ({
		// form name
		'formname': 'tstest',
		// input name
		'controlname': 'data_intrare'
	});
 
	// individual template parameters can be modified via the calendar variable
	o_cal.a_tpl.yearscroll = false;
	o_cal.a_tpl.weekstart = 1;
 
	</script></td>
                        </tr>
 
                      <tr>
 
                        <td><div align="left">Departure Date: </div></td>
 
                        <td width="47%"><input name="data_iesire" id="data_iesire" type="text"><script language="JavaScript">
	var o_cal = new tcal ({
		// form name
		'formname': 'tstest',
		// input name
		'controlname': 'data_iesire'
	});
 
	// individual template parameters can be modified via the calendar variable
	o_cal.a_tpl.yearscroll = false;
	o_cal.a_tpl.weekstart = 1;
 
	</script></td>
                        </tr>
 
                      <tr>
 
                        <td><div align="left">Other comments: </div></td>
 
                        <td><textarea name="observatii" cols="40" rows="4" id="observatii"></textarea></td>
                        </tr>
                      <tr>
                        <td>&nbsp;</td>
                        <td>* required fields</td>
                        </tr>
 
                      <tr>
 
                        <td></td>
 
                        <td><input name="trimitecontact" id="trimitecontact" value="yes" type="hidden">
 
 
                            <input name="Submit" class="RedButton" value="Send" type="submit"></td>
                        </tr>
                    </tbody></table>
 
 
      </form>
 
 
 <?
if ($_POST['trimitecontact'] == "yes")
{
	$nume = $_POST['nume'];
	$prenume = $_POST['prenume'];
	$telefon = $_POST['telefon'];
	$email = $_POST['email'];
	$cam = $_POST['nr_camere'];
	$tip = $_POST['camera'];
	$di = $_POST['data_intrare'];
	$die = $_POST['data_intrare'];
	$mesaj = $_POST['observatii'];
 
	$message = "This reservation is from:\n" .
	"------------------------------------------------------------\n" .
	"First Name: $nume\n" .
	"Last Name: $prenume\n" .
	"Phone: $telefon\n" .
	"Email : $email\n".
	"Room Number: $cam\n" .
	"Room: $tip\n" .
	"Arrival Date: $di\n" .
	"Departure Date: $die\n" .
	"Other Comments : $mesaj\n".
	"\n\n------------------------------------------------------------\n" ;
	$uself = 1;
	$subject = "New room reservation at your hotel";
$headersep = (!isset( $uself ) || ($uself == 0)) ? "\r\n" : "\n" ;
$http_referrer = getenv( "HTTP_REFERER" );
$mailto = 'CHANGE@THIS.TOYOUREMAIL' ;
$ip = getenv(REMOTE_ADDR);
mail($mailto, $subject, $message,
	"From: \"$nume\" <$email>" . $headersep . "Reply-To: \"$nume\" <$email>" . $headersep . "X-Mailer: chfeedback.php 2.08" );
echo '<strong> Quote sent</strong>';				
}
?>
 
   <span class="text_contact">
 
The reservation will be considered after receiving payment.
                  </span>

And this is the result:

Note: You must set the action=”/reservation” of the form imput to match your custom page php name. Ex. if I have a custom page php called joomla.php i would rename the action to action=”/joomla”.

Remember to chage the $mailto = ‘CHANGE@THIS.TOYOUREMAIL’ ; to your desiered email where the messages will come.

When you develop a new blog, often, the big question that comes in to the mind is where and how can you get readers and trusted visitors to read your blog posts. Well, recently I found a great plugin for WordPress that helps you achieve and increase your blog readers.

WP Greet Box is a wordpress plugin that greets your blog visitors on every post page based on what place they are coming from.

This is how it works: let`s say a visitor comes from google on one of your blog posts, then the plugin enables a message to be displayed informing the google user to subscribe to the RSS feed to stay updated.

Here is one of the messages for a Google visitor:

There are different types of greeting messages based on the place that the visitor is coming from. For example if a visitor comes from Twitter, the message is asking the visitor if it would like to retweet the post just like in the image below:

The great thing about the plugin is that it really increase blog exposure and readers, so it`s a new must on my wordpress plugin list.

Customizing and configuration

There are plenti of customization options for this plugin. You can disable/enable greeting messages on posts/pages, you can detect the visitor’s search keywords from major search engines and automatically display related posts under the greeting message and many more.

Here is a list of all the plugin`s features

Also, you can create new greeting messages

You can personalize your greeting message by creating a new one for any referrer you like just like in the picture below:

Enough said, just go ahead and download the plugin. Also you can find the documentation for the plugin on the developer`s page and if you would like to donate a coffe for this amazing plugin just make your way here.

Over the past days, the team @ RocketTheme released a great and cool free Joomla Theme. Afterburner is the fastest Joomla theme ever produced, it has no load bar, and it pops right in front of you like a surprise. It`s very lightweight, very clean with great features for increased usability. Also it is SEO ready by a refined main column that shows first in the code so that the SE bots can crawl it first.

Fast loading Joomla Template

Performance is a key aspect in RT theme development so single image and compressed CSS make Afterburner the most fastest Joomla template in business.

SEO Optimized

Main column refeinment make Afterburner`s main column apear first for search engine crawling. This makes indexing faster and better.

Color Variations

8 distinct inbuilt style variations, Light and Dark, to maximise the possibilities when using the Afterburner template. All Controllable by template manager parameters.

Download

If you want to download Afterburner you can do it so from the RT Webpage.

A very interesting fact about joomla is that you can’t have separate module styles all the time. You need to work your way with module class suffix. Well, how do you have the right sidebar modules with rounded corners whyle the left sidebar menu has a different style?

The answer is simple, with a little help of javascript. And here si how you can get it done.

First step is to include the code

Open up your template`s index.php file and paste this code before the end of the head tag.

After that include this js inside your template folder. (Right click -> “Save As”). Then navigate to your module and set up a suffix in the module like in the picture below.

Next step is to change within the pasted code we inserted earlyer the new class name of the module. If the module class suffix is “_john” within the code we replace it like this:

And presto, you have instant rounded corners even in IE. NOTE that for a menu module the prefix for the menu class is “module“. So the code will be like “module_menuname“.

Other rounded corners resources for Joomla:

• Creating rounded corners in Joomla Modules
• CSS: border-radius and -moz-border-radius
• Joomla Class Suffix guide

The credits for the Javascript code go to CurvyCorners.

In this article some of you will learn what mods, components and plugins to install in your Joomla website to make it more spicy. These will include SEF urls, sitemap generators, comments, google adsense integration, theme implementation, theme development, e-commerce implementation, newsletters, analytics with Google Analytics, backup, multilingual implementation, WYSIWYG editor implimentation, community features, and many more…

SEF URL by sh404sef

Sh404sef is an extension designed for the 1.0.x and Joomla 1.5.x CMS. The component rewrites Joomla non-sef urls (index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12) to more human-readables urls (/my-beautiful-page.html). It can do this not only for Joomla core urls, but also for many of Joomla 3rd-party supplied extensions.

Also it can manage page title and meta tags, as well through the use of plugins, to adapt to the output of 3rd-party extensions and it does perform various security-related checks, to improve prevention of some common hacking techniques.

This is a very valuable extension to have, it is one of the most important extensions for the Joomla CMS, not only for SEO issues but also for friendly URL generation.

External help and resources

• sh404sef explanations – more than 60 pages of explaining sh404sef joomla extension
• Install sh404SEF Guide for Joomla

Easy to use : a traditionnal operating mode using mod_rewrite and a .htaccess file, but also a new mode which does not require .htaccess file at all.

Sitemap generators with Joomap

Joomap is a sitemap component for Joomla that shows the normal Menu Structure, Content Categories, Sections and Virtuemart Categories in a hierarchical tree or a Google Sitemaps list. A plugin system and translation support make it easy to expand the range of supported content and localization!

Joomla Extension directory user reviews:

“I have installed this component and it works perfectly. Since the hidden advertisement is disabled, I will recommend it if you want to have a simple sitemap.” by megtork

“Very easy to install and use. I haven’t gotten any errors from Google about this sitemap, which is a good thing!!” by paulb2009

• This extension has additional addons listed in Joomla Extension directory
• Download this extension

More information about this extension you can find on the developer`s webpage.

Comment implementation with !JoomlaComment

This is the best free comment extension for Joomla 1.5 and 1.0.x from Compojoom.com. !JoomlaComment(!JoComment, joscomment or josc) is a beautiful and useful comment extension for the Open-Source CMS Joomla. Fast and easy to install and configure, with AJAX functionality, captcha protection, template based design and multiple language support.

mail, website input
Let your users input a little more information then just an username
THREADED / nested comments
Nested (or threaded) comments have been added to a lot of blog platforms lately (including WordPress 2.7), and it is a major feature on a lot of community websites. Threaded comments make longer posts with lots of comments make a lot more sense.
multilanguage support
We use UTF-8 to store all comments – this way you can be sure that all your comments are going to be readable! We are not afraid from Greek, Bulgarian or Chinese. Our comment system works with all languages out there!
antispam protection
Captcha, Ban, Censorship – everything is there!
Import your old comments
!jocomment offers you easy import from AkoComment, jomcomment , JReaction, mxComment … If the component you use is not in the list then we offer you an importer function. all you have to do is use the graphical interface and mach the necessary tables.
Ajax-based
Comments are added on the fly without reloading the whole page saving web server’s bandwidth..
UBB code support, image support, emoticon support, quote support
All these features are well known in forums, now you can use them also in Joomla

Joomla extension directory user reviews

“I installed JoomlaComment 3.26 and I’m a very newbie with Joomla. It’s working great with Joomla 1.5.8 and has an amazing Back and Front-End. Congratulations to the developer! It’s really easy to install and configure the way you want. The couple doubts I had, was solved by the support very quickly and in a kind way. Thanks a lot to Daniel! There is the Front-end pack Language for Portuguese-Br (Brazilian Portuguese).
I really recommend it, you won’t regret! Download it now! The new version 4.0 has interesting feature, it’s worthwhile to check it!” by lucato

• Improvements, changes and news on the developers blog
• A demo of the comment extension
• You can download your copy of !Joomla comment

You can acces the FAQ pages of the component for detailed joomla extension information.

Google adsense integration

We know that a website also involves monetizing features and ROI. For that there is a simple module and a simple plugin that does all the work for you in a joomla website.

Joomlaspan Google AdSense module (with clicksafe)

Google AdSense is the Premier provider of contextual advertisements enabling all webmasters to generate revenue from their sites. If you haven’t already done so, signup for AdSense.

Google AdSense Clicksafe Module from Joomlaspan has been the most popular option to implement These contextual advertisements within Joomla! It is used on thousands of Joomla! based websites and is also the Editor’s Pick at the official Joomla! Extensions Directory!

Supports Joomla 1.5

• Download the modules:  Joomla 1.5 or Joomla 1.0.x
• Installation tutorial with step by step walktrough
  

The updated version 3.0 has been rewritten completely, and this module brings more options than ever.

1. 100% compatible with Google AdSense Policy
2. 100% configurable
3. XHTML compliant
4. All options available with Google AdSense are available with this module
   • All ad formats, including the recently introduced 200×200 square
   • Round corners are also possible now
   • Both content ads and adlinks are available in the same module
5. Chameleon codes are also available as an option. Using this, you can select colors for ad units that change with each pageload (Only with ClickSafe Version).
6. Advanced feature (optional): You can select to block certain IP numbers from seeing Google AdSense ads on your site – the ClickSafe feature (Only with ClickSafe Version).
7. You can have as many  copies on your site as you want, just keep the Google policies in mind:
   • Up to three ad units may be displayed on each page
   • Up to three link units may also be placed on each page

MultiAds Adsense plugin

MultiAds is a powerful Joomla extension allowing you to easily insert advertisements into your websites’s articles.
MultiAds supports display of Google Adsense, other advertising formats, and virtually any kind of html code, in each of the four main content areas of an article:

Before Content (i.e. between an article’s Title and the rest of an article’s content).
Top of the Content.
Bottom of Content.
After Content (i.e. below the display area of all article’s content).

• Joomla MultiAds set-up tutorial
• Download this plugin for Joomla

Joomla Extension directory user reviews

“Multiads is an awesome plugin. Very easy to install.
The developer of this plugin is very helpful and replies to the queries in pretty less time.
All an all its really wonderful plugin.
The best part is
1. Its free
2. Even though its free the developer of plugin responds very well.

Hats Off” by puneet310

Theme implementation and development for Joomla

Joomla24, the Downloadbase for Joomla Templates. In collaboration with the biggest german Downloadbase “www.joomlaos.de” we offer more than 2200 Templates with live preview for Joomla. If you would like to offer your Template or other News for Download please submit it. Our Downloadbase is waiting for your offers.

• Templates for Joomla 1.0.x, 1.5(legacy mode) and Mambo 4.5.1 or higher
• Templates for Joomla 1.0.x and Mambo 4.5.0 or higher
• Backend Templates
• Templates for Joomla 1.5

Artisteer Joomla template developer

Artisteer is the first and only Web design automation product that instantly creates fantastic looking, unique website templates and blog themes.

• A demo for Artisteer web designer
• Download free trial run
• Buy the program
  

The Joomla part of the program costs $129.95, but you receive 70+ Number of Color and Font Schemes and 300+ Number of Photo Objects.

E-Commerce implementation with VirtueMart

The complete e-Commerce shopping cart solution for Joomla! – used by thousands of store owners. It can be run in Store- and Catalog-Mode. With its powerful Administration Tool you can handle an unlimited Number of Categories, Products, Orders, Discounts, Shopper Groups and Customers.

Getting Started: Installation & First Steps!

• VirtueMart Downloads
• Installation and Upgrade
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Video Tutorials
• Troubleshooting: Session & Login Problems
• Migrate Joomla! 1.0 (incl. VirtueMart) to Joomla! 1.5
• User Manual

VirtueMart is free! You can download, use and modify it without any restrictions (License: GNU/GPL) – just as Joomla.

VirtueMart is no stand-alone script, but a Plug-in and requires the PHP Content Management System Joomla! (or Mambo). So you must install Joomla first, then VirtueMart. The easiest way is to install the Joomla! eCommerce Edition: a ready-steady-go bundle of Joomla! & a pre-installed VirtueMart. A lot of translations are available: addtional language files can be found in the Language Pack.

Other usefull links for VirtueMart:

• VM Community
• Features
• FAQ
• Download
• Demo
  

Joomla extension directory user review

“I have set up two online shops based on Virtuemart and want to say big “thank you” to all developers that built it. VM is definitely the most mature e-commerce solution for joomla and with some additional work one can create quality, well functioning online shops with it.” by artwebmedia.

Newsletter implementation and development

One of the simplest newsletter component for joomla is ccNewsletter. Easy to implement, install and use, excelent support and many other cool features.

Features:

• CSV import/export
• Import from other newsletter extensions (Letterman, Yanc, Communicator)
• Community Builder plugin
• Synchronization with Joomla! User database
• The only hack-free Virtuemart 1.1 integration
• Batch sending of e-mails (with AJAX), no more time-outs More than 15 languages already added!
• And more, check out the manual!

Note: This extension requires registration to download.

Download here

Google Analytics implementation

Google Analytics Tracking Module is a simple module for Joomla! 1.0.x. and Joomla! 1.5 (legacy mode) used for inserting Google Analytics tracking code to the Joomla site as a module.

This module makes it possible to add the tracking code before the closing body tag in template, which is recommended by Google. Module tracks all pages of Joomla cms including 3rd party components.

Module track also Virtuemart transactions. Supported payment methods are at the moment: Paypal, Cash on delivery, credit card and purchase order.

Features

• The use of ssl is optional
• subdomain tracking is optional
• user tracking with __utmSetVar is optional
• VirtueMart E-commerce Tracking
• Setting Joomla! registration as a Google Analytics goal is optional

Note: This extension requires registration to download.

• Documentation
• Download

Joomla Backup manager-Editor`s pick

JoomlaPack is an open-source backup component for the Joomla! CMS, quite a bit different than its competition. Its mission is simple: create a site backup that can be restored on any Joomla!-capable server. Its possibilities: endless It creates a full backup of your site in a single archive. The archive contains all the files, a database snapshot and an installer derived from the standard Joomla! installer. The backup and restore process is AJAX powered to avoid server timeouts, even with huge sites. Alternatively, you can make a backup of only your database. If you want a reliable, easy to use, open source backup solution for your Joomla! site, try it out.

Features:

• AJAX powered backup (site and database or database only)
• able to exclude specific folders
• able to exclude specific database tables
• AJAX powered restore
• “KickStart” restore: restore without unpacking backup
• Unattended backup mode
• Move your site between hosts

Useful JoomlaPack resources:

• Documentation and support
• Download
• Support forums
• Official blog

Joom!Fish – multilingual content manager

Joom!Fish is the solution for your multilingual website if control over the translations matters for you. The extension is totally free of charge available and allows translation of any content within your Joomla system. With an easy extension it is also possible to translate any 3rd party extension available for your favored CMS.

Joom!Fish 2.0 is the full featured release including several addons such as a simple Router for your SEO URL’s and automatic search within the core extensions of Joomla. It comes with an integrated one step installer that allows you to get started very simple.

Free documentation including video tutorials, first step documentations and additional material is available on our website. The site also includes an open forum for community support and additional resources.

The Joom!Fish project also offers a subscriptions based club membership that gives you additional first level support and extensions. With that you can provide an even extended user experience for your multilingual website.

• This extension has additional addons listed in Joomla Extension Directory.
• Download the extension
  
• Support
• Demo

JCE-Joomla Content Editor

Add a set of tools to your Joomla!® environment that give you the power to create the kind of content you want, without limitations, and without needing to know or learn HTML, XHTML, CSS.

• Office-like functions and familiar buttons make formatting simple
• Upload, rename, delete, cut/copy/paste images and insert them into your articles using an intuitive and familiar interface
• Create Links to other Sections, Categories, Articles, Weblinks and Contacts¹ in your site using a unique and practical Link Browser
• Take control of your code with syntax highlighting in the Advanced Code editor and advanced style and element attribute editing
• Integrated Spellchecking using Google™ Spellchecker (or PSpell and ASpell)

Install additional plugins to extend JCE’s abilities

• File Manager – Insert links to files of any type with customizable descriptions that include file date, size and icon.
• Media Manager – Upload and insert media files (flash, windows media, quicktime etc), embed Youtube movies and create popups to any media type! The Media Manager also includes a custom built FLV Player!
• Image Manager Extended – Resize, rotate and thumbnail images on upload or after, and create create image popups³ with just a few clicks!
• Captions – Create captions around images with control over the caption container and text styling

JCE is released under the GNU/GPL licence (the same as Joomla!®) and the core system, the Administration Component and Editor Plugin, are available immediately and without charge. Access to additional plugins is granted with the purchase of a JCE Subscription.

• Documentation
• Download the extension
• Support
• Demo

About the author

G. Alex is the leading writer of designstrike.net and if you are interested in guest posting send me a quote on grigore.alex22 [at] gmail [dot] com