Support: AVChat Documentation

Documentation for the AVChat Integration Kit for Joomla! 1.0-3.0 ( +JomSocial and CommunityBuilder )

The AVChat Integration Kit for Joomla! handles the integration between your Joomla! 1.0, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 2.5 and 3.0 web site and our AVChat 3 software.

Here's what the Integration Kit will do:

  • user name integration
  • profile URL integration
  • profile image integration (when JomSocial or Community Builder is present)
  • placement of video chat within the web site (user and admin interface)
  • allow you to setup different features/permissions for different Joomla! user groups
  • etc.

Joomla! is actually the first CMS with which AVChat was ever integrated, and to this day it's the one we devote the most time to.

If you like the AVChat Video Chat Component for Joomla! don't forget to rate it and review it in the Joomla Extensions Directory!

If you cannot find the answer you’re looking for here, we encourage you to try our FAQ or forums. There's also more documentation regarding AVChat in the documentation area for the main standalone version.

All the specific documentation regarding Joomla! is on this page so if you're looking for something specific just hit Ctrl+F on your browser.

Here are the Joomla! related topics we will cover on this page:

1. Installing the AVChat Component for Joomla!

First you have to download 2 archives from your private client/trial area on avchathq.com to your computer. These 2 archives are:

  • AVChat 3.0.zip (contains media server files for Red5/FMIS/Wowza and AVChat Standalone)
  • avchat3_joomla_integrationKits_UNZIPFIRST.zip (contains the 4 components: one for Joomla! 1.0, one for 1.5, one for Joomla! 1.6, 1.7 and 2.5 and one for Joomla! 3.0)

Extract the 2 archives somewhere on your computer. We will use files from both archives.

After installation, the first time you will log in the video chat you will be asked or a license key, it's in your client/trial area.

1.1 Setting up the avchat30 application on the media server

First you need to install the avchat30 app on your media server. If you don't know what a media server is check out the requirements. If you already have a media server (Red5, FMIS, FMIS hosting, Wowza) here's what you need to do:

Red5 0.8
installed on a
dedicated or VPS server		 Wowza
installed on a
dedicated or VPS server

1. Upload the avchat30 folder from the AVChat 3.0.zip/Files to upload to your media server (Red5 0.8) folder to the webapps folder of your Red5 0.8 installation (C:\Program Files\Red5\webapps on Win, /opt/red5/webapps/ on Linux).

2. Linux only: Chmod the new avchat30 folder to 777.

3. Restart the Red5 server

You're done, move to Part 1.2 below

1. Upload the applications, lib and conf folders from the AVChat 3.0.zip/Files to upload to your media server (Wowza) folder to the root folder of your Wowza Media Server installation (C:\Program Files\Wowza Media Systems\Wowza Media Server Pro 1.7.2\ on Windows).

2. Restart the Wowza server

You're done, move to Part 1.2 below
FMIS
installed on a
dedicated or VPS server		 FMIS
hosting from
http://influxis.com

1. Upload the avchat30 folder from the AVChat 3.0.zip/Files to upload to your media server (FMS) folder to the applications folder of your FMIS installation (C:\Program Files\Macromedia\Flash Media Server\applications on Windows, /opt/macromedia/fms/applications/ on Linux).

2. Linux only: Chmod the new avchat30 folder to 777.

You're done, move to Part 1.2 below

While logged in your influxis.com account:

1) Go to File Manager:
2) Click the root folder
3) Click the folder icon at the top labeled New Folder
4) Give the new folder the name avchat30 and click OK
5) click the avchat30 folder in the list to the left
6) At the top click the red arrow labeled Upload
7) In the empty list that shows up add main.ase, settings.asc and Application.xml from the AVChat 3.0.zip\Files to upload to your media server (FMS)
8) Click Upload

Done.

Your connection string used in Part 1.2 will look like: rtmp://123.rtmphost.com/avchat30/_definst_ where 123.rtmphost.com is shown at the top of your Influxis.com account.

Now that we've got that out of the way, let's move on to installing the AVChat Component on Joomla! 3.0, 2.5, 1.7, 1.6, 1.5 and 1.0 .

1.2.1 Installing the AVChat Component on Joomla! 1.0

  1. Login to your Joomla! 1.0 administrator area (http://yourJoomlaWebSite.com/administrator/) and go to Installers -> Components.
  2. Click the Browse button and select the Joomla! 1.0 component zip file (com_avchat3.zip) and then click the Upload and Install button. You should see a success message.
  3. Now using a FTP program go to the /components/com_avchat3/ folder on your web server and put in there the contents of the folder named Files to upload to your web site from the AVChat 3.0.zip archive.
  4. Open /components/com_avchat3/avc_settings.php in a text editor, and set the value of
    $avconfig['connectionstring']     like this:
    $avconfig['connectionstring']='rtmp://myFMSserver.com/avchat30/_definst_';
    where myFMSserver.com is the domain name or IP of the server where your media server is installed.
  5. Chmod the uploadedFiles folder to 777 (otherwise the upload function might not work)
  6. Create a new folder tokens (components/com_avchat3/tokens) and CHMOD it to 777 (otherwise we might have token generation issues later on)
  7. Close the FTP program cause we don't need it anymore!
  8. Back in the Joomla!
  9. administrator area go to Components->AVChat 3->Login as Administrator into AVChat 3
  10. Type a user name, click [Connect], the video chat will connect to the media server. Once the connection succeeds you will be asked for the license key:
    license key request screen
    enter the key (it's in your client/trial area) and press [Submit]
  11. Now, that the component and video chat is install let's add a link to the video chat in one of the front end menus:
    1. Go to Menus -> Main Menu.
    2. Click on the NEW icon at the top right of the screen
    3. on the page that opens up select component from the top right list
    4. click the NEXT icon
    5. on the new page give the new menu item a name and select AVChat from the components list
    6. set the access level to Public (this controls who sees the chat link in the menu, visitors are still not allowed to join by default)
    7. click the SAVE icon at the top right of the screen.

    Now your members (and visitors, depending on the access level selected above) will see the new menu entry and that entry will take them to the video chat.

1.2.2 Installing the AVChat Component on Joomla! 1.5

  1. Login to your Joomla! 1.5 administrator area (http://yourJoomlaWebSite.com/administrator/) and go to Extensions -> Install/Uninstall.
  2. Click the Browse button next to the Upload Package File file field and select the Joomla! 1.5 component zip file (avchat3_joomla_integrationKits_UNZIPFIRST\joomla1.5.x\joomla1.5.x_component\com_avchat3.zip) and then click the Upload File & Install button. You should now see a success message.
  3. Now using a FTP program go to the Joomla! installation folder/components/com_avchat3/ on your web server and put in there the contents of the folder named Files to upload to your web site from the AVChat 3.0.zip archive.
  4. Open Joomla! installation folder/components/com_avchat3/avc_settings.php in a text editor and set the value of
    $avconfig['connectionstring']     like this:
    $avconfig['connectionstring']='rtmp://myFMSserver.com/avchat30/_definst_';
    where myFMSserver.com is the domain name or IP of the server where your media server is installed.
  5. CHMOD the /components/com_avchat3/uploadedFiles folder to 777 (otherwise the upload function might not work)
  6. Create a new folder tokens (components/com_avchat3/tokens) and CHMOD it to 777 (otherwise we might have token generation issues later on)
  7. Close the FTP program cause we don't need it anymore!
  8. Back in the Joomla! 1.5 administrator area go to Components->AVChat 3->Login as Administrator into AVChat 3
  9. Type a user name, click [Connect], the video chat will connect to the media server. Once the connection succeeds you will be asked for the license key:
    license key request screen
    enter the key (it's in your client/trial area) and press [Submit]
  10. Now, that the component and video chat are installed let's add a link to the video chat in one of the front end menus:
    1. Go to Menus -> Main Menu.
    2. Click on the NEW icon button at the top right of the screen
    3. On the page that opens up in the Select Menu Item Type list click AVChat.
    4. On the new page give the new menu item a name, select the desired access level from the Access Level list
    5. set the access level to Public (this controls who sees the chat link in the menu, visitors are still not allowed to join by default)
    6. Click the SAVE icon at the top right of the screen.

      Now your users (and visitors, depending on the access level selected above) will see the new menu entry and that entry will take them to a page in your web site with the AVChat video chat embedded.

1.2.3 Installing the AVChat Component on Joomla! 1.6, 1.7 and 2.5 or 3.0

  1. Login to your Joomla! 1.6, 1.7, 2.5 or 3.0 administrator area (http://yourJoomlaWebSite.com/administrator/) and go to Extensions -> Extensions Manager.
  2. Click the Browse button next to the Upload Package File file field and select the Joomla! 1.6, 1.7 and 2.5 or Joomla! 3.0 component zip file (avchat3_joomla_integrationKits_UNZIPFIRST\joomla1.6.x-2.5.x\joomla1.6.x_1.7.x_2.5.x_component\com_avchat3.zip or avchat3_joomla_integrationKits_UNZIPFIRST\joomla3.0.x\joomla3.0.x_component\com_avchat3.zip) and then click the Upload File & Install button. You should now see a success message.
  3. Now using an FTP program, go to the Joomla! installation folder/components/com_avchat3/chat/ on your web server and put in there the contents of the folder named Files to upload to your web site from the AVChat 3.0.zip archive.
  4. CHMOD the /components/com_avchat3/chat/uploadedFiles folder to 777 (otherwise the upload function might not work)
  5. Create a new folder tokens (components/com_avchat3/chat/tokens) and CHMOD it to 777 (otherwise we might have token generation issues later on)
  6. Close the FTP program cause we don't need it anymore!
  7. Back in the Joomla! 1.6, 1.7, 2.5 or 3.0 administrator area go to Components->AVChat3
  8. Click on the Options button at the top right, a modal window will show up with the AVChat 3 General Settings tab visible.
  9. Set the value of RTMP Connection String like this:
    rtmp://myFMSserver.com/avchat30/_definst_
    where myFMSserver.com is the domain name or IP of the server where your media server is installed.
  10. Click on the Permissions tab to setup the AVChat 3 permissions for each user group.

    By default all permissions are set to "Inherited" for all user groups which means you are not allowed to use that feature unless you are part of the Super Users group.

    Most of your users will be in the Registered user group so we will give them aceess to the chat. To do that, in the Permissions window:
    1. Set Allow access to the Chat's User Interface to "Allowed"
    2. Set Allow users to join other rooms to "Allowed"
    3. Set Allow users to send messages in text chat area to "Allowed"
    4. Click on Save.

  11. Close the Options Window, reload the page and click [Connect]. The video chat will connect to the media server. Once the connection succeeds you will be asked for the license key:
    license key request screen
    enter the key (it's in your client/trial area) and press [Submit].
  12. Now, that the component and video chat are installed let's add a link to the video chat in one of the front end menus:
    1. Go to Menus -> Main Menu -> Add New Menu Item.
    2. In the menu Item Type field, click on the Select button
    3. A window will appear. Click on AVCHAT 3
    4. On the new page give the new menu item a title, select the desired access level from the Access list
    5. Click the SAVE icon at the top right of the screen.

      Now your users (and visitors, depending on the access level selected above) will see the new menu entry and that entry will take them to a page in your web site with the AVChat video chat embedded.

2. Accessing the AVChat admin interface in Joomla!

The AVChat admin interface allows you to kick and ban users, view private discussions, log in as hidden, close, open and delete rooms, change the license key, etc. .

For Joomla 1.6, 1.7, 2.5 and 3.0

The AVChat admin area can be acessed in both the Joomla! backend (Components-> AVChat) and in the frontend (Main Menu -> Video Chat) by users beloging to groups that have permisssion to acess it.

Users from the Super User group (admin) always have access to it.

To grant access to other groups follow these steps:

    1. Login the Joomla! backend as a Super User
    2. Go to Components -> AVChat -> Options -> Permissions
    3. Click on the user group you want to grant acess to
    4. Set to Allow the following permission " Allow access to the Chat's Admin Interface"
      Change permission to diferent user levels to access the admin interface of AVChat
    5. Press Save
    6. Now the Calculated Setting on the right should be set to Allowed
    7. That's it.


Please note that only users part of the Super Users can edit the AVChat permissions as instructed above.

Notes:
a) Even if the Super User gives permission for a user group to enter the Joomla! backend, that user group will not gain access tothe AVChat admin interface. Such access can be given to him from the AVChat Component's Options menu by Super Users.


b) If you give a certain user group permission to access the admin area of AVChat, then he can access that through front-end and backend as well (if he has permissions to backend, of course).

c) BY default Managers and Administrators do not have access to the Components part of the backend so if given permission to acess the AVChat admin area they need to acess it trough the frontend OR they must be given permissions to acess the Components area in the backend.

Here is a tutorial on how to allow Managers and Administrators access to the Components area in the Joomla! backend and thus have access to the AVChat Component:

  1. Login as a Super User in the Joomla! backend area
  2. Go to Site -> Global Configuration -> Permissions
    Managing Joomla! user groups to view the AVChat Component in the Joomla! backend
  3. Click the Manager user group and set the Access Administration Interface permission to Allowed.
  4. The Administrators user group will automatically inherit the permission.
  5. Click Save
Now Managers and Administrators will have acces to the AVChat Component in the Joomla! backend:
joomla 1.6 avchat3 admin menu

For Joomla 1.5

Joomla! 1.5 has 3 user groups (levels) for the administrators backend: Manager, Administrator and Super Users. Every user that belongs to one of those 3 user groups can access the AVChat admin area.

So, Super Administrators, Administrators and Managers can all access the AVChat Admin Interface by going to Components -> AVChat 3 -> Login As Administrator in to AVChat 3 .

Here's a screenshot of the menu:

logging in as administrator in AVChat

OK, but how can we limit their powers? We don't want Managers to be able to change the license key!

To do that (and this applies to all limitations) you need to:

  1. Login via FTP to your Joomla! web site
  2. Edit components/com_avchat3/ integration.php
  3. Find these lines of code:
    if ($user->get('gid') == '18'){
    //REGISTERED USERS permissions
    }else if ($user->get('gid') == '19'){
    //AUTHOR permissions
    }else if ($user->get('gid') == '20'){
    //EDITOR permissions
    }else if ($user->get('gid') == '21'){
    //PUBLISHER permissions
    }else if ($user->get('gid') == '23'){
    //MANAGER permissions
    }else if ($user->get('gid') == '24'){
    //ADMINISTRATOR permissions
    }else if ($user->get('gid') == '25'){
    //SUPER ADMINISTRATOR permission
    }
  4. and add $avconfig['adminCanAccessSettings']=0; in the MANAGER permissions block:

    }else if ($user->get('gid') == '23'){
    //MANAGER permissions
    $avconfig['adminCanAccessSettings']=0;
    }
  5. Save and update integration.php on your web server with the newly modified one.

$avconfig['adminCanAccessSettings']=1 means users (admins) logged in trough the admin interface can not access the Settings panel from where you can change the license key:
settings panel

You can do that for all the settings in avc_settings.php and for all 7 (fixed) user levels in Joomla! not just for the MANAGERS group. avc_settings.php also contains detailed explanations for each setting.

3. Location of AVChat files in a Joomla! installation

All the AVChat Standalone files including language files, audio/video quality profile files, avc_settings.php and, well, everything else are on your Joomla! web site in:

Joomla 1.5 and 1.0: Joomla! installation folder/components/com_avchat3/

Joomla 1.6, 1.7, 2.5 and 3.0: Joomla! installation folder/components/com_avchat3/chat/

In those folders you will also find some special integration files like integration.php. These contain all the logic behind the integration. They modify the default values in avc_settings.php for some settings (profile URL, user name, permissions, etc.) depending on the logged in user/browser requesting them.

4. Opening up the video chat in a pop up

There are two ways to open the AVChat Video Chat Component for Joomla! in a pop up:

4.1 METHOD 1 : Using Joomla!’s default method:

  • Log in the administrator area of Joomla!.
  • Go to Menus -> Main Menu
  • Edit the AVChat link
  • When editing the link, set the Target Window option to  New without Navigation (screenshot below)
  • Click Save.

editing the AVChat link in the menu

4.2 METHOD 2 : An awesome method that allows you to control the size of the pop up:

  • Login to your web site via FTP and go to
    • /components/com_avchat3/avchat3.php (in Joomla! 1.5 or 1.0)
    • /components/com_avchat3/views/avchat3/tmpl/default.php (in Joomla! 1.6, 1.7, 2.5 and 3.0)
  • Find the object & embed HTML tags (highlighted with blue below):object and embed html code
  • And replace them (the entire blue area) with this HTML code:

    Joomla 1.5 and 1.0: <a href=”javascript:void(0);” onclick=”window.open(’/components/com_avchat3/index.html’, ‘AVChat’, ‘menubar=0, resizable =0, width=900, height=650′);”>Launch Video Chat</a>

    In Joomla! 1.6, 1.7, 2.5 and 3.0 there are 2 such embed codes on the HTML page (one for admin.swf and one for index.swf) and you will have to replace them both.

    for index.swf replace with:
    <a href=”javascript:void(0);” onclick=”window.open(’/components/com_avchat3/chat/index.html’, ‘AVChat’, ‘menubar=0, resizable =0, width=900, height=650′);”>Launch Video Chat</a>

    for admin.swf replace with:
    <a href=”javascript:void(0);” onclick=”window.open(’/components/com_avchat3/chat/admin.html’, ‘AVChat’, ‘menubar=0, resizable =0, width=900, height=650′);”>Launch Admin Video Chat </a>

  • Save the file and make sure you upload it back to the web server.

You can change the size of the pop up by editing the width and height properties in the code above.

 

5. Placing ads around the video chat

Placing ads around the video chat is simple. The video chat itself is actually a Flash .swf file embedded in a HTML file. In that HTML file you can place anything: links, images, AdWords ads, banners, etc. .

In the case of the AVChat Component for Joomla! the default HTML file embedding the index.swf file (main video chat file) is:

Joomla 1.5 and 1.0:

Joomla installation folder/components/com_avchat3/avchat.php

Joomla 1.6 and 1,7:

Joomla installation folder/components/com_avchat3/views/avchat3/default.php

In the case you're using the open in pop-up solution method mentioned at point 4.2 above the HTML file to look for is:

Joomla 1.5 and 1.0:

Joomla installation folder/components/com_avchat3/index.html

Joomla 1.6, 1.7, 2.5 and 3.0:

Joomla installation folder/components/com_avchat3/chat/index.html

So to add ads around your video chat in Joomla! 1.5:

  1. Connect to your web site using FTP
  2. Go to /components/com_avchat3/
  3. Edit or avchat.php with a text editor
  4. Place your ad code in it
  5. Save and upload back to web server

A little bit of HTML knowledge might be required tough to properly place the ads above, below or to the sides of the video chat.

6. Joomla!'s user groups and limiting features for specific user groups

For Joomla 1.6, 1.7, 2.5 and 3.0

Joomla! 1.6, 1.7, 2.5 and 3.0 come with 10 default user groups and the possibility to add more:

Joomla! 1.6 default user groups

Each user in Joomla! 1.6, 1.7, 2.5 and 3.0 must be part of at least one group. A user can be part of more than 1 group.

ONLY Super Users logged in the backend will have access to the admin interface (admin.swf). Limiting the other user groups the access to the Joomla! backend has been discussed at Chapter 2 above.

To limit powers for a certain user group you need to edit the permissions for the user group in the Permissions Tab:

joomla 1.6 allow avchat 3 admin

If you change a setting, it will apply to this and all child groups, components and content.

Inherited means that the permissions from the parent group will be used.

Denied means that no matter what the parent group's setting is, the group being edited cannot take this action.

Allowed means that the group being edited will be able to take this action (but if this is in conflict with the parent group it will have no impact; a conflict will be indicated by Not Allowed (Locked) under Calculated Settings).

For example, if we want web site users part of the Registered user group (and all its child groups) to not be able to create rooms:

  • Login as administrator
  • Go to Components -> AVChat 3 -> Options -> Permissions -> Registered -> Allow users to create rooms -> Select Denied -> Click Save.
  • This screenshot is similar to what you will see when changing the above permission:

allow users to create rooms permission

Joomla 1.5

There are 7 FIXED user groups in Joomla! 1.5, 3 for the administrators area and 4 for the public front end:

Administrator groups:

  • Managers
  • Administrators
  • Super Administrators

Public front end groups:

  • Registered
  • Author
  • Editor
  • Publisher

Each user in Joomla! 1.5 can only be part of one group!

When editing or adding a user in Joomla! 1.5 you can select the group he is part of:
joomla groups selection

Managers, Administrators and Super Administrators logged in the backend will have access to the admin interface (admin.swf). Limiting their admin features has been discussed at Chapter 2 above.

Registered, Authors, Editors and Publishers will have access to the user interface (index.swf). Limiting their features depending on the group the user belongs to is 100% similar to the way limitations work for admins.

For example, if we want web site users part of the Registered user group to not be able to create rooms:

  1. Login via FTP to your Joomla! web site
  2. Edit components/com_avchat3/ integration.php
  3. Find these lines of code:
    if ($user->get('gid') == '18'){
    //REGISTERED USERS permissions
    }else if ($user->get('gid') == '19'){
    //AUTHOR permissions
    }else if ($user->get('gid') == '20'){
    //EDITOR permissions
    }else if ($user->get('gid') == '21'){
    //PUBLISHER permissions
    }else if ($user->get('gid') == '23'){
    //MANAGER permissions
    }else if ($user->get('gid') == '24'){
    //ADMINISTRATOR permissions
    }else if ($user->get('gid') == '25'){
    //SUPER ADMINISTRATOR permission
    }
  4. and add $avconfig['createRoomsEnabled']=0; in the REGISTERED permissions block:

    }else if ($user->get('gid') == '18'){
    //REGISTERED permissions
    $avconfig['createRoomsEnabled']=0;
    }
  5. Save and update integration.php on your web server with the newly modified one.

$avconfig['createRoomsEnabled']=0; means users logged in trough the user interface will not have the option to create rooms.

You can do that for all the settings in avc_settings.php and for all 7 (fixed) user levels in Joomla! not just for the REGISTERED group. avc_settings.php contains detailed explanations for each setting.

7. Allowing visitors to join the video chat and limiting their abilities

Allowing visitors to join the video chat in Joomla! (1.6, 1.7, 2.5 and 3.0)

By default the AVChat Component for Joomla! does not allow visitors of your web site to enter the video chat.

To allow visitors into the chat in Joomla 1.6, 1.7, 2.5 and 3.0 you have to:

  1. Login as a Super User (admin account) in the backend
  2. Go to Components -> AVChat 3
  3. Click on the Options button at the top right
  4. Go to the Permissions tab
  5. For the Public user group:
    • Set "Allow access to the Chat's User Interface" to "Allowed" (see screenshot below)
    • Set "Allow users to join other rooms" to "Allowed"
    • Set "Allow users to send messages in text chat area" to "Allowed"
  6. Click SAVE

allow visitors to login into the chat

Visitors will now be able to join the video chat, enter any room and send text chat messages.

They will also have the option to choose their user name and gender before joining the video chat.

Limiting their abilities

The Public user group represents visitors and guests. From the above mentiones Permissions list you can enable or disable any feature for the Public user group.

For example to allow users to upload files to rooms set the "Allow users to Send Files to Rooms" to "Allowed" and press "Save".

You can even give them access to the admin area of AVChat :).

Allowing visitors to join the video chat in Joomla! 1.5 and 1.0

By default the AVChat Component for Joomla! does not allow visitors of your web site to enter the video chat. Only signed in users are allowed in the video chat.

To allow visitors:

  1. Login via FTP to your Joomla! web site
  2. Edit components/com_avchat3/ integration.php
  3. Set $allowVisitors = 1; (it's on line 12)
  4. Save and upload integration.php back to the web server

Visitors will have the option to choose their user name and gender before joining the video chat.

Limiting their abilities in the video chat, in Joomla 1.5 and 1.0

Limiting what visitors can do in the video chat is done pretty much the same way you limit the abilities of admins and members.

For example if I want to limit the amount of free video time/ day (freeVideoTime var in avc_settings.php) to 3600 seconds/day I do the following:

  1. Login via FTP to your Joomla! web site
  2. Edit components/com_avchat3/ integration.php
  3. Find these lines of code (they're at the bottom, this is the block of code which contains the limits for visitors):
    else if ($allowVisitors){
    //Allow access to visitors
    $avconfig['username']='';
    $avconfig['changeuser']=1;
    $avconfig['loginPageURL'] = JPATH_BASE;
    ...
    } ;
  4. and add $avconfig[freeVideoTime]=3600; above $avconfig['username']=''; like this:

    else if ($allowVisitors){
    //Allow access to visitors
    $avconfig[freeVideoTime]=3600;
    $avconfig['username']='';
    $avconfig['changeuser']=1;
    $avconfig['loginPageURL'] = JPATH_BASE;
    ...
    } ;
  5. Save and update integration.php on your web server with the newly modified one.

The same process applies to all the variables in avc_settings.php. Remember, the values of variables in avc_settings.php are the default ones and they can and are overwritten by the values set trough integration.php.

8. Changing the looks of AVChat to better fit your Joomla! web site

Changing the design of AVChat is explained in detail in the documentation for the standalone version.

For Joomla

When working with the Joomla! Component keep in mind that AVChat is installed in:

  • /components/com_avchat3/ on Joomla1.5
  • /components/com_avchat3/chat/ on Joomla! 1.6 and later

so all the files you need to edit is style.css for fonts, colors, background image, etc.

9. Who's Chatting Module for Joomla! 1.5

In the avchat3_joomla_integrationKits_UNZIPFIRST.zip archive, under joomla1.5.x you will also find a folder named joomla1.5.x_whos_chatting_module . It contains an archive named mod_avchat3.zip.

It's a module for your Joomla! 1.5 web site that shows in the side bar a list of the users online in the video chat at that time.

To install it:

  1. Log in to your Joomla! 1.5 administrators area and
  2. Go to Extensions -> Install/Uninstall .
  3. In the Upload Package File area browse for mod_avchat3.zip
  4. Click Upload File & Install (you should now get a success message: Install Module Success).
  5. Now go to Extensions -> Module Manager, you should see the Who is chatting now? module in the list.
  6. Enable it by clicking the big red X sign:joomla who's chatting module activation
  7. Done, now it will show up on your web site:Who's online module in Joomla! 1.5 web site

When using the JomSocial or Community Builder component the list will also show the profile pictures of the users and a link to their profile.

If you want to play with the code or change the looks of the module , the module files (after installation) are in modules/mod_avchat3 with the most important file being modules/mod_avchat3/tmpl/default.php as it controls the HTML code used to display the list of users.

This module uses the external users list generated by AVChat, so you need to login as a user in the video chat trough the front end of Joomla! before the Who's Chatting Module will start showing who's online.

10. Who's Chatting Module for Joomla! 1.6, 1.7, and 2.5

In the avchat3_joomla_integrationKits_UNZIPFIRST.zip archive, under joomla1.6.x-2.5.x you will also find a folder named joomla1.6.x_1.7.x_2.5.x_mod_avchat3online. It contains an archive named mod_avchat3online.zip.

It's a module for your Joomla! 1.6, 1.7, or 2.5 web site that shows in the side bar a list of the users online in the video chat at that time.

To install it:

  1. Log in to your Joomla! 1.6, 1.7 or 2.5 administrator area and
  2. Go to Extensions -> Extension Manager .
  3. In the Upload Package File area browse for mod_avchat3online.zip
  4. Click Upload& Install (you should now get a success message: Install Module Success).
  5. Now go to Extensions -> Module Manager, you should see the Video Chat online users module in the list.
  6. Enable it by clicking the big red circle sign:joomla who's chatting module activation
  7. Once activated, click on its name. The module edit form will appear.
  8. First thing to do is select the position on page. Click on select position an choose from the list where you want the module to be displayed
  9. Choose who you want to have access to it
  10. Scroll the page and choose the pages you want to be displayed in.
  11. Click Save & Close
    Joomla! 1.6 module edit form
  12. Done, now it will show up on your web site:
    Who's online module in Joomla! 1.6 web site

11. Who's Chatting Module for Joomla! 3.0

In the avchat3_joomla_integrationKits_UNZIPFIRST.zip archive, under joomla3.0.x you will also find a folder named joomla3.0.x_mod_avchat3online. It contains an archive named mod_avchat3online.zip.

It's a module for your Joomla! 3.0 web site that shows in the side bar a list of the users online in the video chat at that time.

To install it:

  1. Log in to your Joomla! 3.0 administrator area and
  2. Go to Extensions -> Extension Manager .
  3. In the Upload Package File area browse for mod_avchat3online.zip
  4. Click Upload& Install (you should now get a success message: Install Module Success).
  5. Now go to Extensions -> Module Manager, you should see the Video Chat online users module in the list. Click on it
  6. Enable it by clicking on the Published button
  7. Now you have to select the position on page. Click on select position an choose from the list where you want the module to be displayed. Be carefull what template you choose it to be in.
  8. Choose who you want to have access to it
  9. Now move to the Menu Assignement tab and choose the pages you want to be displayed in.
  10. Click Save & Close
  11. Done, now it will show up on your web site:
    Who's online module in Joomla! 1.6 web site

12. Logged in Users Module for Joomla 1.6, 1.7 or 2.5

In the avchat3_joomla_integrationKits_UNZIPFIRST.zip archive, under joomla1.6.x-2.5.x you will also find a folder named joomla1.6.x_1.7.x_2.5.x_mod_avchat3status. It contains an archive named mod_avchat3status.zip.

It's a module for your Joomla! 1.6, 1.7 and 2.5 web site that shows in the administrator status bar the number of users online in the video chat at that time.

To install it:

  1. Log in to your Joomla! 1.6, 1.7 or 2.5 administrator area and
  2. Go to Extensions -> Extension Manager .
  3. In the Upload Package File area browse for mod_avchat3status.zip
  4. Click Upload& Install (you should now get a success message: Install Module Success).
  5. Now go to Extensions -> Module Manager, you should see the mod_avchat3status module in the list.
  6. Enable it by clicking the big red circle sign.
  7. Once activated, click on its name. The module edit form will appear.
  8. First thing to do is select the position on page. Click on select position an choose from the list the status position.
  9. Click Save & Close
  10. Done, now it will show up on your administrator area of your web site:
    Who's online module in Joomla! 1.6 web site administrator area

13. How to update AVChat files on an existing Joomla! (1.6-3.0) installation

We make new versions of AVChat independently from the Joomla! integration kits, that's why it's necessary to update the AVChat and not the integration kit. Here's how to do it:

  1. Connect through FTP to your Joomla! website.
  2. Navigate to components\com_avchat3\chat
  3. Upload the contents of the folder "Files to upload to you website" from the AVChat delivery archive into the above folder(components\com_avchat3\chat). Overwrite all files.
  4. Done!

Note: New versions of AVChat also come with media server files so you must update those too! Just overwrite the old ones with the new ones.

14. How to update the AVChat Component files on an existing Joomla! (1.6-3.0) installation

We make new versions of the AVChat Component independently from the actual AVChat software, that's why it's necessary to update the component and not the AVChat software itself. Here's how to do it:

  1. Login as Super Admin in your Joomla! backend.
  2. Go to Extensions -> Extension Manager (Install tab)
  3. Click Chose File
  4. Browse your computer for the new AVChat Component for Joomla! archive
  5. Click on Upload & Install
  6. A blue success message will show up.
  7. Go to Components -> AVChat -> Options
  8. Make sure all your permissions and settings are correct!
  9. Click on Save and Close
  10. Done!

15. Allow users to login with their Facebook account

By default, Facebook login is enabled, but in order to connect to the Facebook servers, you need to have an application registered under the same domain as your website. Follow the following steps to configure the Facebook login:

  1. Go and sign up for a Facebook API Key at:  http://developers.facebook.com
  2. Create new Facebook app. Facebook will automatically generate an App ID/API Key that will look similar to this this'41365952003784'Facebook API Key
  3. Be sure to complete the filed from "Website with Facebook login" under "Select how your website integrate with Facebook"
  4. Go to Joomla! backend => Components => AVChat 3
  5. In the Option tab, go to AVChat 3 General Settings
  6. You will find there the Facebook Applicaion ID field. Put there your personal App ID from above.
  7. Click Save & Close

16. AVChat Component for Joomla! and GPL

The AVChat Video Chat Component is licensed under the GPL v2 in accordance with the JED requirements. Once you buy the component you can modify it and distribute it as long as you keep it under the GPL.

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