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Forumax – AI Powered Advanced Community Forum Plugin / 2.1.0
Forumax – AI Powered Advanced Community Forum Plugin v2.1.0
2.4.4 2.4.3 2.4.2 2.4.1 2.4.0 trunk 1.0.8 1.1.0 1.2.1 1.2.2 1.2.3 1.2.4 1.2.5 1.2.6 1.2.7 1.2.8 1.2.9 1.3.0 1.3.1 1.3.2 1.3.3 1.4.0 1.4.1 2.0.0 2.1.0 All 29 releases
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1 === Forumax – AI Powered Advanced Community Forum Plugin ===
2 Contributors: spiderdevs, mdjwel, delweratjk
3 Tags: forum, community, forum plugin, discussion, voting
4 Requires at least: 5.0
5 Tested up to: 6.9
6 Requires PHP: 7.4
7 Stable tag: 2.1.0
8 License: GPLv2 or later
9 License URI: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
10 Donate link: https://forumax.spider-themes.net/pricing
11
12 Build powerful communities with Forumax. A fully standalone, feature-rich forum plugin with voting, private replies, and Elementor integration.
13
14 == Description ==
15
16 **Forumax** is the ultimate standalone community forum solution for WordPress. Designed for forum administrators, content creators, and community managers, Forumax provides a complete suite of powerful features to create professional, engaging forums with minimal effort—no external forum dependencies required.
17
18 ### What is Forumax?
19
20 Forumax provides a complete, self-contained platform for building support forums, knowledge bases, or discussion communities. It includes everything you need to foster engagement, manage content effectively, and create an exceptional user experience right out of the box.
21
22 ### Key Features of Forumax
23
24 **🎯 Unified Forum Builder**
25 Take complete control of your forums with our intuitive, built-in builder. View all forums and topics in one organized dashboard, filter by status (open, closed, pending, spam), and manage discussions efficiently without navigating multiple pages.
26
27 **🔐 Private & Confidential Replies**
28 Enable users to post private responses visible only to forum owners and moderators. Perfect for sensitive discussions, support tickets, and confidential advice while maintaining full transparency where needed.
29
30 **�
31 Solved Topics System**
32 Help community members quickly identify answered questions. Mark topics as solved to display a prominent 'Resolved' badge, reducing duplicate questions and improving user experience. Visitors instantly know which topics have solutions.
33
34 **⭐ Smart Voting & Reputation System**
35 Empower your community with a built-in AJAX-powered voting system. Users vote on the most helpful replies, automatically elevating quality answers to the top. Build reputation-based authority and encourage quality contributions.
36
37 **📎 Media Attachments & File Sharing**
38 Allow users to attach files, documents, images, and media directly to replies. Organized attachment sections make it easy for community members to share resources, code snippets, documents, and collaborate effectively.
39
40 **💡 Advanced Forum Statistics Widget**
41 Display real-time forum information including topic count, reply count, last activity, and most active users. The 'Current Forum Info' widget provides visitors with a quick overview of forum vitality and engagement.
42
43 **🎨 Elementor Page Builder Integration**
44 Create stunning forum layouts using Elementor's drag-and-drop builder. Use specialized Forumax widgets to display forums, topics, and replies on any page with full customization control. No coding required.
45
46 **⚡ Lightweight & Performance-Optimized**
47 Forumax is built for speed. It loads assets intelligently—CSS and JavaScript only when needed. Minimal footprint ensures your forum runs fast without bloat.
48
49 **🔧 Intuitive Admin Interface**
50 Create, edit, and delete forums and topics directly from the Forumax admin dashboard. Streamlined interface eliminates confusion and reduces admin overhead.
51
52
53 == Free Features: ==
54
55 * **Live Customizer** – Instantly preview and customize forum styles with real-time visual controls.
56
57 * **Pre-made Templates** – Start quickly using professionally designed forum templates for common use cases.
58
59 * **Unified Forum Builder** – Build and manage forums, topics, and layouts from one centralized builder.
60
61 * **Voting on Topics & Replies** – Allow users to upvote or downvote topics and replies for engagement.
62
63 * **Solved Topic** – Mark topics as solved to highlight correct answers and improve usability.
64
65 * **Frontend Brand Color Option** – Customize forum brand colors directly from frontend settings easily.
66
67 * **Who Can Upload Files** – Control user roles and permissions for uploading files in forums.
68
69 * **Pagination in Forum Builder** – Manage large forums efficiently with built-in pagination support.
70
71
72 ### PRO Features - Everything You Need for Advanced Community Management:
73
74 Upgrade to **Forumax Pro** for enterprise-grade forum management:
75
76 1. **Real-Time Admin Notifications** - Stay updated with instant dashboard alerts for new posts, moderation requests, and community activity.
77
78 2. **Smart User Notifications** - Keep members engaged with real-time updates on subscribed forums, topics, and replies they care about.
79
80 3. **Mini User Profiles** - Display compact user profile cards with activity summaries, follower counts, and quick-view reputation.
81
82 4. **Pre-Built Elementor Templates** - Import professional forum layouts with one click. Fully customizable templates for forums, knowledge bases, and support centers.
83
84 5. **"I've the Same Question" Feature** - Reduce duplicate threads by letting users indicate similar questions, improving forum organization.
85
86 6. **Anonymous Posting** - Allow sensitive discussions without revealing user identity. Ideal for support forums and confidential advice.
87
88 7. **Dynamic User Profile Links** - Generate personalized profile URLs for logged-in users. Perfect for user bios and contributor pages.
89
90 8. **Topic Approval Workflow** - Control content quality with admin-approval for new topics. Prevent spam and maintain forum standards.
91
92 9. **Advanced File Management** - Support multiple file uploads with increased size limits. Delete attachments independently or with content.
93
94 10. **Powerful Voting Controls** - Guest voting restrictions, prevent closed-topic voting, disable self-voting, admin voting privileges, and vote-based sorting.
95
96 11. **External Image Insertion** - Insert images via URL or media library picker. Enhance replies with visual content effortlessly.
97
98 12. **Auto-Approval System** - Automatically publish reply replies instantly. Streamline moderation workflows and maintain conversation flow.
99
100 13. **Attachment Moderation** - Approve/unapprove replies containing files for enhanced content security and compliance control.
101
102 ## Promax Features:
103
104 **Reply Timeline Navigation**
105 Automatically loads more replies when users scroll down. A reply timeline is visible beside the replies to help users follow long discussions easily.
106
107 **Live Chat**
108 Adds a private real-time chat system. A chat icon is visible on the right side of the site to open the chat box. Admins can set default assistants from the settings. Users can chat with the assistant or with forum participants. Messages support likes, replies, emojis, and file or video sharing. Chat can also be started by hovering over forum, topic, or reply users.
109
110 **Emoji for Topics and Replies**
111 Allows users to add expressive emojis to forum topics and replies, making conversations more engaging, emotional, and easier to understand.
112
113 **Real-Time Alerts**
114 Displays instant notifications when new topics are published or existing discussions are updated, keeping users informed without refreshing the page.
115
116 **Social Login**
117 Allow users to sign up and log in instantly using Google, Facebook, or Twitter, reducing friction and increasing overall registration conversion rates.
118
119 **Analytics**
120 Get powerful insights into forum performance with real-time statistics, activity trends, user engagement metrics, and resolution data—all presented in a clear, actionable dashboard view.
121
122 ## AI Integration (via Our AI Plugin) ##
123
124 Forumax can be extended with powerful AI capabilities using the **AI Tools**, designed to automate support workflows, improve engagement, and transform forum discussions into valuable long-term content.
125
126 **Important:** AI features require the [Antimanual AI Plugin](https://wordpress.org/plugins/antimanual) and an active AI provider connection.
127
128 ## AI-Powered Forum Replies ##
129
130 Instantly generate intelligent, context-aware replies to forum topics. Improve response time, reduce moderator workload, and maintain consistent support quality across your community.
131
132 **Ideal for:**
133
134 * Support forums
135 * Product discussions
136 * Knowledge-sharing communities
137
138 ## Convert Solved Topics into Posts ##
139
140 Automatically convert resolved forum topics into structured WordPress posts.
141
142 **Each generated post can include:**
143
144 * Problem summary
145 * Accepted solution
146 * Key insights and takeaways
147
148 This feature turns your forum into a living knowledge base while improving SEO and long-term content value.
149
150 ## Smarter Community Management ##
151
152 ***By combining Forumax core features with AI automation, moderators can:***
153
154 * Reduce repetitive replies
155 * Scale support without increasing team size
156 * Keep forums clean, searchable, and helpful
157
158 **Forumax + AI transforms discussions into long-term assets.**
159
160 ### Video Overview
161 [youtube https://youtu.be/l2rlT_Qwd60?si=gjBh1VJupitL0Rh8]
162
163 > **Note:** We have renamed our plugin from **BBP Core** to **Forumax**. All features previously available in BBP Core are still here and fully supported.
164
165 > **Important:** After updating to version 2.0.0, the plugin will be renamed to `forumax`. This may cause WordPress to deactivate the plugin. **If deactivated, please simply reactivate it.**
166
167 ### Important Links
168 - [ Get Pro Version](https://forumax.spider-themes.net/pricing)
169 - [ Live Demo](https://forumax.spider-themes.net/creative-helpdesk)
170 - [ Full Documentation](https://helpdesk.spider-themes.net/docs/forumax-wordpress-plugin)
171 - [ Learn More](https://forumax.spider-themes.net)
172
173 == Frequently Asked Questions ==
174
175 = 🎯 Who Should Use Forumax? =
176 Forumax is perfect for WordPress site owners, community managers, support teams, and anyone who wants a professional forum solution without custom coding.
177
178 = 🔄 Is Forumax Compatible with My Theme? =
179 Yes! Forumax works seamlessly with any WordPress theme.
180
181 = 💻 Do I Need Coding Skills? =
182 Absolutely not! Forumax is designed for non-technical users. All features are accessible through intuitive admin interfaces and visual builders. No coding required.
183
184 = 🎨 Can I Customize the Forum Layout? =
185 Completely! With Elementor integration, you can drag-and-drop customize forum layouts. Pre-built templates and full styling options give you unlimited design flexibility.
186
187 = 📦 What Version of WordPress Do I Need? =
188 Forumax requires WordPress 5.0 or higher and PHP 7.4 or greater.
189
190 = ⚙️ Is Forumax Performance Optimized? =
191 Yes. Forumax only loads necessary assets when needed, ensuring minimal impact on site performance and fast loading times.
192
193 = 🐛 How Do I Report Bugs or Get Support? =
194 Found an issue? Report it on our [GitHub repository](https://github.com/spider-themes/forumax/issues). For detailed help, visit our [Documentation](https://helpdesk.spider-themes.net/docs/forumax-wordpress-plugin).
195
196 = 💪 What Features Are in the Pro Version? =
197 Forumax Pro adds advanced features like real-time notifications, pre-built templates, anonymous posting, advanced attachments, topic approval workflow, and more. [Check Pro pricing →](https://forumax.spider-themes.net/pricing)
198
199 = 🤖 Does Forumax include AI features? =
200 Forumax supports AI-powered features through the our AI Plugin. This allows AI-generated replies, Convert Resolved Topics into Posts etc.
201
202 == Installation ==
203
204 Getting started with Forumax is quick and easy. Follow these simple steps:
205
206 = Prerequisites =
207
208 Before installing Forumax, ensure you have:
209 * WordPress 5.0 or higher
210 * PHP 7.4 or greater
211 * MySQL 5.6 or greater
212
213 = Installation Method 1: Install from WordPress Admin Dashboard (Recommended) =
214
215 1. Go to **Plugins → Add New** in your WordPress dashboard
216 2. Search for **"Forumax"** in the plugin search box
217 3. Click the **Install Now** button
218 4. After installation completes, click **Activate Plugin**
219 5. Navigate to **Forumax → Settings** to configure features (optional but recommended)
220 6. Start building your community!
221
222 = Installation Method 2: Manual Upload via FTP/cPanel =
223
224 1. Download the `forumax.zip` file from the plugin page
225 2. Extract the ZIP file on your computer
226 3. Upload the extracted `forumax` folder to `/wp-content/plugins/` directory via FTP or cPanel File Manager
227 4. Go to **Plugins** in your WordPress admin and locate Forumax
228 5. Click **Activate Plugin**
229 6. Configure settings in **Forumax → Settings**
230
231 = Installation Method 3: Upload ZIP from WordPress Admin =
232
233 1. Download the `forumax.zip` file
234 2. Go to **Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin**
235 3. Select the downloaded ZIP file and click **Install Now**
236 4. After installation, click **Activate Plugin**
237 5. Configure your forum settings
238
239 = Troubleshooting Installation =
240
241 **Getting PHP errors?**
242 Verify your PHP version is 7.4 or higher. Contact your hosting provider to upgrade if needed.
243
244 **Still need help?**
245 Visit our [Documentation](https://helpdesk.spider-themes.net/docs/forumax-wordpress-plugin) or check our [Support Repository](https://github.com/spider-themes/forumax/issues)
246
247 ## WHAT’S NEXT?
248
249 If you like Forumax, then consider checking out our other WordPress Plugins:
250
251 [EazyDocs](https://wordpress.org/plugins/eazydocs) – Powerful knowledge base plugin to easily create and manage professional documentation, wikis, and helpdesk sections.
252
253 [Antimanual](https://wordpress.org/plugins/antimanual) – AI-powered assistant that automates content creation, documentation, and support, transforming static sites into dynamic experiences.
254
255 [Advanced Accordion Block](https://wordpress.org/plugins/advanced-accordion-block) – Lightweight Gutenberg block for creating visually appealing, organized accordion sections with extensive styling options.
256
257 [Changeloger](https://wordpress.org/plugins/changeloger) – Transform plain text changelogs into visually stunning, organized representations with pagination and version links.
258
259 [Jobus](https://wordpress.org/plugins/jobus) – Comprehensive job board solution transforming your site into a recruitment platform with dashboards and ATS.
260
261 [Spider Elements](https://wordpress.org/plugins/spider-elements) – Versatile library of 20+ creative widgets to enhance Elementor and build professional websites.
262
263 == Screenshots ==
264
265 1. Advanced Forumax Dashboard – Unified interface for monitoring forum activity and system health
266 2. Advanced Forum Builder Dashboard - Unified interface for managing forums, topics, and discussions
267 3. Intuitive Forumax Settings - Configure all features from one organized dashboard
268 4. Forum Root Page – Clean, modern, and user-friendly forum interface
269 5. Topic Page – Clean, modern, and highly readable topic interface
270 6. Ask Question Form – Clean, modern, and intuitive ask question form
271
272 ## Why Choose Forumax? ##
273
274 ***The Trusted Choice for Communities***
275
276 - **1000+ Active Users:** Join thousands of community managers using Forumax
277 - **Actively Maintained:** Regular updates with new features and security patches
278 - **Security First:** Built with WordPress security best practices
279 - **Scalable Solution:** Handles small communities to large enterprise forums
280 - **Beginner-Friendly:** Intuitive UI requires no technical knowledge
281 - **Expert Support:** Responsive team ready to help you succeed
282 - **Open Source:** Community contributions welcome on GitHub
283
284 == Ready to Transform Your Forum? ==
285
286 **Start with Forumax Free today and upgrade to Pro when you're ready for advanced features.**
287
288 [Get Started →](https://forumax.spider-themes.net) | [View Pricing →](https://forumax.spider-themes.net/pricing) | [Read Documentation →](https://helpdesk.spider-themes.net/docs/forumax-wordpress-plugin)
289
290 == Support & Community ==
291
292 - [Complete Documentation](https://helpdesk.spider-themes.net/docs/forumax-wordpress-plugin)
293 - [Report Issues & Suggest Features](https://github.com/spider-themes/forumax/issues)
294 - [Visit Official Website](https://forumax.spider-themes.net)
295 - Contact: [email protected]
296
297 == Upgrade Notice ==
298
299 = 2.0.0 =
300 Major Release: Rebranding to Forumax! Now a fully standalone forum plugin. No bbPress dependency required.
301
302 = 1.4.0 =
303 Important update with new Forum Builder features, pagination support, and security enhancements. Recommended for all users.
304
305 = 1.3.2 =
306 Critical security and compatibility fixes. Update recommended for improved stability and theme compatibility.
307
308 == Changelog ==
309
310 = 2.1.0 (28 January 2026) =
311 **New:**
312 * Dashboard page with a comprehensive forum statistics overview
313 * Quick Actions for fast access to Forum Builder, New Forum, New Topic, and Settings
314 * Recent Topics and Recent Replies activity sections on the Dashboard
315 * Engagement statistics showing average replies per topic and total discussions
316 * System Info panel displaying Forumax, bbPress, WordPress, and PHP version details
317 * Helpful Links section with quick access to Documentation, Support, and Live Demo
318 * Demo data import option for quick setup
319 * Emoji reactions for topics and replies
320 * Social sharing options for topics
321 * Reply timeline option and sticky topic injection
322 * Real-time alert options in topic settings
323 * Social login options with hook support for the login form
324 * Chat settings options
325 * Forumax sidebar registration
326 * Topic view tracking functionality
327
328 **Improved:**
329 * Modern dashboard with a premium card-based layout and gradient header
330 * Dashboard sidebar with Upgrade to Pro section and system information display
331 * Forum single page UI
332 * Forum, widget, avatar, support info, and voting button styles for better consistency
333 * Forum CSS for improved responsiveness and theme compatibility
334 * Admin review notice UI
335
336 **Tweaked:**
337 * Bootstrap removal and related responsive fixes
338 * Cleanup of unused CSS files and legacy assets
339 * Removal of admin notices from Forumax admin pages
340 * Restriction of topic and reply revision logs visibility to authors only
341
342 **Fixed:**
343 * Duplicate theme sidebar display on forum pages
344 * Incorrect topic count after demo data import
345 * Trash filter label visibility issue on small screens
346 * AJAX actions with proper nonce verification and input sanitization
347
348 **Article:** [Read the full v2.1.0 release article](https://forumax.spider-themes.net/release-notes-forumax-forumax-pro-version-2-1-0/)
349
350 = 2.0.0 (01 January 2026) =
351 **New:**
352 * Complete rebranding to Forumax
353 * Removed bbPress dependency - now a standalone plugin:
354
355 = 1.4.1 (23 September 2025) =
356 **Fixes:**
357 * Resolved issue with installer
358 * is_attachment_icon error to prevent display inconsistencies
359
360 **Enhanced:**
361 * Compatibility with Docy Dark Mode for seamless appearance across themes
362
363 **Improved:**
364 * Made previously untranslatable strings fully translatable, ensuring better localization support
365
366 **Updates:**
367 * Freemius SDK updated to version 2.13.0
368
369 = 1.4.0 (23 September 2025) =
370 **New Features:**
371 * Author and Topic Refresh functionality added to Forum Builder
372 * Pagination support added for improved forum navigation
373 * Enhanced forum visibility and management
374
375 **Improvements:**
376 * Forum Builder UI design refined for better usability
377 * Security enhancements and vulnerability fixes
378
379 **Updates:**
380 * Freemius SDK updated to version 2.12.2
381
382 = 1.3.3 (23 August 2025) =
383 **Fixes:**
384 * Resolved Forum Builder tab content active state issue
385 * Fixed brand color variable functionality
386
387 **Improvements:**
388 * Active reaction design enhanced for better user feedback
389 * Attachment preview design improved
390
391 = 1.3.2 (15 August 2025) =
392 **Fixes:**
393 * Resolved attachment field visibility issue
394 * Fixed asset loading conflicts
395
396 **Improvements:**
397 * Forum Tabs widget design refined
398 * Assets folder restructured (admin CSS/JS organized)
399 * Removed unnecessary dependencies (normalize.js, fontawesome.css)
400 * Added "bbpc_get_opt()" function for CSF settings consistency
401 * Improved function prefixes to prevent plugin conflicts
402 * Enhanced Docy theme dark mode compatibility
403 * Non-translatable strings made translatable
404
405 **Updates:**
406 * Freemius SDK updated to version 2.12.1
407
408 = 1.3.1 (16 June 2025) =
409 **Fixes:**
410 * Fixed deprecation warning for attachment files
411 * Resolved tab CSS conflicts with third-party plugins
412 * Improved dark mode compatibility
413
414 **Improvements:**
415 * Sidebar now supports flexible width
416 * Featured image sizing optimized for Forum Builder
417 * Enhanced overall plugin stability
418
419 **Updates:**
420 * Freemius SDK updated to version 2.12.0
421
422 = 1.3.0 (22 April 2025) =
423 **New Features:**
424 * Renamed "Forums" page to "Forum Builder" for clarity
425 * Default open state for first forum item
426
427 **Improvements:**
428 * Topic open icon refreshed for better UX
429 * Status icons added to topics for quick identification
430 * Search input response improved with optimized keypress delay
431 * Current Forum Info widget redesigned (shows all info by default)
432 * Settings page reorganized with intuitive tab icons
433 * Topic details page UI enhanced (reply, favorite, attachment design)
434 * Forum Builder UX significantly improved
435 * Dashicons implemented instead of FontAwesome (better performance)
436 * BBPC Forum Information widget now displays only on forum pages
437
438 **Fixes:**
439 * Resolved conflicts with Dukan and Job Manager plugins
440
441 = 1.2.9 (24 February 2025) =
442 **New:**
443 * Loco.xml configuration added for multiple text domain mapping in Loco Translate plugin
444 * Special offer notice for existing customers
445
446 **Fixed:**
447 * Resolved deprecation warning for non-alphanumeric string increment
448
449 [See full changelog and version history →](https://forumax.spider-themes.net/changelog)