| @@ -1,152 +1,479 @@ | ||
| 1 | -=== BBP Core - Expand bbPress powered forums with useful features === | |
| 1 | +=== Forumax – AI Powered Advanced Community Forum Plugin === | |
| 2 | 2 | Contributors: spiderdevs, mdjwel, delweratjk |
| 3 | -Tags: bbPress, Community, Forum, Private Replies, Attachments | |
| 3 | +Tags: forum, community, forum plugin, discussion, voting | |
| 4 | 4 | Requires at least: 5.0 |
| 5 | -Tested up to: 6.8 | |
| 5 | +Tested up to: 7.1.2 | |
| 6 | 6 | Requires PHP: 7.4 |
| 7 | -Stable tag: 1.3.2 | |
| 7 | +Stable tag: 2.5.0 | |
| 8 | 8 | License: GPLv2 or later |
| 9 | 9 | License URI: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html |
| 10 | +Donate link: https://forumax.spider-themes.net/pricing | |
| 10 | 11 | |
| 11 | -BBP Core enhances bbPress forums with unified builder, private replies, voting, solved topics, attachments, and comprehensive Elementor integration. | |
| 12 | +Build powerful communities with Forumax. A fully standalone, feature-rich forum plugin with voting, private replies, and Elementor integration. | |
| 12 | 13 | |
| 13 | 14 | == Description == |
| 14 | 15 | |
| 15 | -BBP Core empowers bbPress forum with useful features. For example - Unified Forum Builder UI, Solved topics, Voting, Private replies, Forum statistics etc. | |
| 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. | |
| 16 | 17 | |
| 17 | -### Video Overview (Showcased free and premium features) | |
| 18 | -[youtube https://youtu.be/l2rlT_Qwd60?si=gjBh1VJupitL0Rh8] | |
| 18 | +### What is Forumax? | |
| 19 | 19 | |
| 20 | -## 🔗 USEFUL LINKS ## | |
| 21 | -- [Get the Pro Version](https://spider-themes.net/bbp-core/pricing) | |
| 22 | -- [Demo (built with bbPress and BBP Core)](https://wordpress-plugins.spider-themes.net/bbp-core-pro/) | |
| 23 | -- [Documentation](https://helpdesk.spider-themes.net/docs/bbp-core-wordpress-plugin) | |
| 24 | -- [Explore More](https://spider-themes.net/bbp-core) | |
| 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. | |
| 25 | 21 | |
| 26 | -### Reasons to Choose BBP Core ### | |
| 22 | +### Video Overview | |
| 23 | +[youtube https://youtu.be/8yilxZM4KNI?si=6EGIfHJWy2fydWx7] | |
| 27 | 24 | |
| 28 | -- **Lightweight:** Loading only necessary css, javascript assets when necessary, it will not load assets unless necessary. | |
| 25 | +> **Note:** We have renamed our plugin from **BBP Core** to **Forumax**. All features previously available in BBP Core are still here and fully supported. | |
| 29 | 26 | |
| 30 | -- **Unified Forum Builder:** It provides a single, organized view of forums and topics, along with filtering options for various topic statuses, enabling efficient navigation and management. Users can even check trashed topics. | |
| 27 | +> **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.** | |
| 31 | 28 | |
| 32 | -- **Effortless Topic Management:** You can create and delete forums and topics directly from the BBP Core Admin UI, eliminating the need to navigate to the classic forum views for these actions. | |
| 29 | +### Key Features of Forumax | |
| 33 | 30 | |
| 34 | -- **Private Reply:** Users can post replies to topics that are visible only to forum owners, ensuring privacy and confidentiality in their discussions. | |
| 31 | +**🎯 Unified Forum Builder** | |
| 32 | +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. | |
| 35 | 33 | |
| 36 | -- **Solved Topics:** Allows users to mark forum topics as either solved or unsolved. Solved topics display a 'Resolved' badge at the end of their titles, making it easy to identify resolved issues. | |
| 34 | +**🔐 Private & Confidential Replies** | |
| 35 | +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. | |
| 37 | 36 | |
| 38 | -- **Voting On Topic & Replies:** Allows users to vote on replies to topics, with the highest-voted reply rising to the top. The voting system is powered by AJAX for a seamless and engaging community interaction. | |
| 37 | +**✅ Solved Topics System** | |
| 38 | +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. | |
| 39 | 39 | |
| 40 | -- **Media Attachments:** Enables users to attach files to their replies, which can be downloaded by other users. The attachments are displayed in a separate section below the Topic and Reply content. This enhances the forum's functionality, allowing for the seamless sharing of relevant files and media within discussions. | |
| 40 | +**⭐ Smart Voting & Reputation System** | |
| 41 | +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. | |
| 41 | 42 | |
| 42 | -- **Current Forum Info widget:** Displays the current forum's information, including the number of Topics, Replies, Last post by, and Last activity, as well as the Subscribe forum button. This widget provides users with a quick overview of the forum's activity and content, encouraging them to explore further. | |
| 43 | +**📎 Media Attachments & File Sharing** | |
| 44 | +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. | |
| 43 | 45 | |
| 44 | -- **Elementor Integrated:** BBP Core comes with a set of Elementor widgets that can be used to display forums, topics, and replies on any page of your website. The widgets are highly customizable, allowing you to configure their appearance and functionality to suit your needs. | |
| 46 | +**💡 Advanced Forum Statistics Widget** | |
| 47 | +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. | |
| 45 | 48 | |
| 46 | -### PRO Features ### | |
| 47 | -- **1. Admin Notifications:** Displays real-time updates of the latest forum activity directly on the dashboard area. This offers users a quick and convenient way to stay informed about recent happenings within the forum. | |
| 49 | +**🎨 Elementor Page Builder Integration** | |
| 50 | +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. | |
| 48 | 51 | |
| 49 | -- **2. User Notifications:** Keep the logged-in users informed by providing them with real-time updates on the latest activity within their subscribed forums, topics, and replies. This ensures that users stay engaged and informed about discussions that matter most to them without having to actively monitor each one individually. | |
| 52 | +**⚡ Lightweight & Performance-Optimized** | |
| 53 | +Forumax is built for speed. It loads assets intelligently—CSS and JavaScript only when needed. Minimal footprint ensures your forum runs fast without bloat. | |
| 50 | 54 | |
| 51 | -- **3. Mini Profile:** Displays a compact version of the user profile, which can be used to quickly view the user's profile information and activity. This is useful for users who wish to quickly view the profile of another user without navigating to their profile page. | |
| 55 | +**🔧 Intuitive Admin Interface** | |
| 56 | +Create, edit, and delete forums and topics directly from the Forumax admin dashboard. Streamlined interface eliminates confusion and reduces admin overhead. | |
| 52 | 57 | |
| 53 | -- **4. Pre-made Elementor Templates:** BBP Core Pro comes with a set of pre-made Elementor templates that can be imported with a single click. The templates are highly customizable, allowing you to configure their appearance and functionality to suit your needs. | |
| 54 | 58 | |
| 55 | -- **5. I've the Same Question Button:** Allows users to quickly indicate that they have a similar question, possibly reducing duplicate threads and encouraging discussions on existing topics. | |
| 59 | +== Free Features: == | |
| 56 | 60 | |
| 57 | -- **6. Post as Anonymous:** Allows users to post replies to topics anonymously, without revealing their identity. This can be useful for users who wish to discuss sensitive topics without revealing their identity. | |
| 61 | +* **Live Customizer** – Instantly preview and customize forum styles with real-time visual controls. | |
| 58 | 62 | |
| 59 | -- **7. My Profile Link:** Generates a dynamic URL that links directly to the profile page of the currently logged-in user. This convenient URL simplifies the process of users accessing and viewing their own profiles. | |
| 63 | +* **Pre-made Templates** – Start quickly using professionally designed forum templates for common use cases. | |
| 60 | 64 | |
| 61 | -- **8. Pending Topic:** Enables admin-controlled approval of forum topics to prevent spam or inappropriate content from being published until a moderator approves them. | |
| 65 | +* **Unified Forum Builder** – Build and manage forums, topics, and layouts from one centralized builder. | |
| 62 | 66 | |
| 63 | -- **9. Advanced Attachment Features:** Increases the maximum file size and allows multiple files to be uploaded at once. Provides the option to delete attachments along with forum or topic content. | |
| 67 | +* **Voting on Topics & Replies** – Allow users to upvote or downvote topics and replies for engagement. | |
| 64 | 68 | |
| 65 | -- **10. Advanced Voting Features:** Options to restrict voting for non-logged-in users, prevent new votes on closed topics, disallow self-voting, allow unlimited voting for administrators, and sort topics and replies based on their voting scores. | |
| 69 | +* **Solved Topic** – Mark topics as solved to highlight correct answers and improve usability. | |
| 66 | 70 | |
| 71 | +* **Frontend Brand Color Option** – Customize forum brand colors directly from frontend settings easily. | |
| 67 | 72 | |
| 73 | +* **Who Can Upload Files** – Control user roles and permissions for uploading files in forums. | |
| 74 | + | |
| 75 | +* **Pagination in Forum Builder** – Manage large forums efficiently with built-in pagination support. | |
| 76 | + | |
| 77 | + | |
| 78 | +### PRO Features - Everything You Need for Advanced Community Management: | |
| 79 | + | |
| 80 | +Upgrade to **Forumax Pro** for enterprise-grade forum management: | |
| 81 | + | |
| 82 | +1. **Real-Time Admin Notifications** - Stay updated with instant dashboard alerts for new posts, moderation requests, and community activity. | |
| 83 | + | |
| 84 | +2. **Smart User Notifications** - Keep members engaged with real-time updates on subscribed forums, topics, and replies they care about. | |
| 85 | + | |
| 86 | +3. **Mini User Profiles** - Display compact user profile cards with activity summaries, follower counts, and quick-view reputation. | |
| 87 | + | |
| 88 | +4. **Pre-Built Elementor Templates** - Import professional forum layouts with one click. Fully customizable templates for forums, knowledge bases, and support centers. | |
| 89 | + | |
| 90 | +5. **"I've the Same Question" Feature** - Reduce duplicate threads by letting users indicate similar questions, improving forum organization. | |
| 91 | + | |
| 92 | +6. **Anonymous Posting** - Allow sensitive discussions without revealing user identity. Ideal for support forums and confidential advice. | |
| 93 | + | |
| 94 | +7. **Dynamic User Profile Links** - Generate personalized profile URLs for logged-in users. Perfect for user bios and contributor pages. | |
| 95 | + | |
| 96 | +8. **Topic Approval Workflow** - Control content quality with admin-approval for new topics. Prevent spam and maintain forum standards. | |
| 97 | + | |
| 98 | +9. **Advanced File Management** - Support multiple file uploads with increased size limits. Delete attachments independently or with content. | |
| 99 | + | |
| 100 | +10. **Powerful Voting Controls** - Guest voting restrictions, prevent closed-topic voting, disable self-voting, admin voting privileges, and vote-based sorting. | |
| 101 | + | |
| 102 | +11. **External Image Insertion** - Insert images via URL or media library picker. Enhance replies with visual content effortlessly. | |
| 103 | + | |
| 104 | +12. **Auto-Approval System** - Automatically publish reply replies instantly. Streamline moderation workflows and maintain conversation flow. | |
| 105 | + | |
| 106 | +13. **Attachment Moderation** - Approve/unapprove replies containing files for enhanced content security and compliance control. | |
| 107 | + | |
| 108 | +## Promax Features: | |
| 109 | + | |
| 110 | +**Reply Timeline Navigation** | |
| 111 | +Automatically loads more replies when users scroll down. A reply timeline is visible beside the replies to help users follow long discussions easily. | |
| 112 | + | |
| 113 | +**Live Chat** | |
| 114 | +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. | |
| 115 | + | |
| 116 | +**Emoji for Topics and Replies** | |
| 117 | +Allows users to add expressive emojis to forum topics and replies, making conversations more engaging, emotional, and easier to understand. | |
| 118 | + | |
| 119 | +**Real-Time Alerts** | |
| 120 | +Displays instant notifications when new topics are published or existing discussions are updated, keeping users informed without refreshing the page. | |
| 121 | + | |
| 122 | +**Social Login** | |
| 123 | +Allow users to sign up and log in instantly using Google, Facebook, or Twitter, reducing friction and increasing overall registration conversion rates. | |
| 124 | + | |
| 125 | +**Analytics** | |
| 126 | +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. | |
| 127 | + | |
| 128 | +## AI Integration (via Our AI Plugin) ## | |
| 129 | + | |
| 130 | +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. | |
| 131 | + | |
| 132 | +**Important:** AI features require the [Antimanual AI Plugin](https://wordpress.org/plugins/antimanual) and an active AI provider connection. | |
| 133 | + | |
| 134 | +## AI-Powered Forum Replies ## | |
| 135 | + | |
| 136 | +Instantly generate intelligent, context-aware replies to forum topics. Improve response time, reduce moderator workload, and maintain consistent support quality across your community. | |
| 137 | + | |
| 138 | +**Ideal for:** | |
| 139 | + | |
| 140 | +* Support forums | |
| 141 | +* Product discussions | |
| 142 | +* Knowledge-sharing communities | |
| 143 | + | |
| 144 | +## Convert Solved Topics into Posts ## | |
| 145 | + | |
| 146 | +Automatically convert resolved forum topics into structured WordPress posts. | |
| 147 | + | |
| 148 | +**Each generated post can include:** | |
| 149 | + | |
| 150 | +* Problem summary | |
| 151 | +* Accepted solution | |
| 152 | +* Key insights and takeaways | |
| 153 | + | |
| 154 | +This feature turns your forum into a living knowledge base while improving SEO and long-term content value. | |
| 155 | + | |
| 156 | +## Smarter Community Management ## | |
| 157 | + | |
| 158 | +***By combining Forumax core features with AI automation, moderators can:*** | |
| 159 | + | |
| 160 | +* Reduce repetitive replies | |
| 161 | +* Scale support without increasing team size | |
| 162 | +* Keep forums clean, searchable, and helpful | |
| 163 | + | |
| 164 | +**Forumax + AI transforms discussions into long-term assets.** | |
| 165 | + | |
| 166 | +### Important Links | |
| 167 | +- [ Get Pro Version](https://forumax.spider-themes.net/pricing) | |
| 168 | +- [ Live Demo](https://forumax.spider-themes.net/creative-helpdesk) | |
| 169 | +- [ Full Documentation](https://helpdesk.spider-themes.net/docs/forumax-wordpress-plugin) | |
| 170 | +- [ Learn More](https://forumax.spider-themes.net) | |
| 171 | + | |
| 68 | 172 | == Frequently Asked Questions == |
| 69 | 173 | |
| 70 | -= Does BBP Core work with any theme? = | |
| 71 | -Yes, BBP Core works with any bbPress WordPress theme. | |
| 174 | += 🎯 Who Should Use Forumax? = | |
| 175 | +Forumax is perfect for WordPress site owners, community managers, support teams, and anyone who wants a professional forum solution without custom coding. | |
| 72 | 176 | |
| 73 | -= Do I need coding skills to use BBP Core? = | |
| 74 | -Absolutely not! BBP Core is as easy to use, as you can think of. | |
| 177 | += 🔄 Is Forumax Compatible with My Theme? = | |
| 178 | +Yes! Forumax works seamlessly with any WordPress theme. | |
| 75 | 179 | |
| 76 | -= Where can I report bugs or contribute to the project? = | |
| 77 | -To report bugs or to contribute, head-over to the [GitHub repository](https://github.com/spider-themes/bbp-core/issues) | |
| 180 | += 💻 Do I Need Coding Skills? = | |
| 181 | +Absolutely not! Forumax is designed for non-technical users. All features are accessible through intuitive admin interfaces and visual builders. No coding required. | |
| 78 | 182 | |
| 183 | += 🎨 Can I Customize the Forum Layout? = | |
| 184 | +Completely! With Elementor integration, you can drag-and-drop customize forum layouts. Pre-built templates and full styling options give you unlimited design flexibility. | |
| 185 | + | |
| 186 | += 📦 What Version of WordPress Do I Need? = | |
| 187 | +Forumax requires WordPress 5.0 or higher and PHP 7.4 or greater. | |
| 188 | + | |
| 189 | += ⚙️ Is Forumax Performance Optimized? = | |
| 190 | +Yes. Forumax only loads necessary assets when needed, ensuring minimal impact on site performance and fast loading times. | |
| 191 | + | |
| 192 | += 🐛 How Do I Report Bugs or Get Support? = | |
| 193 | +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). | |
| 194 | + | |
| 195 | += 💪 What Features Are in the Pro Version? = | |
| 196 | +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) | |
| 197 | + | |
| 198 | += 🤖 Does Forumax include AI features? = | |
| 199 | +Forumax supports AI-powered features through the our AI Plugin. This allows AI-generated replies, Convert Resolved Topics into Posts etc. | |
| 200 | + | |
| 79 | 201 | == Installation == |
| 80 | 202 | |
| 81 | -= Minimum Requirements = | |
| 203 | +Getting started with Forumax is quick and easy. Follow these simple steps: | |
| 82 | 204 | |
| 83 | -* PHP 7.3 or greater is recommended | |
| 84 | -* MySQL 5.6 or greater is recommended | |
| 205 | += Prerequisites = | |
| 85 | 206 | |
| 86 | -You can install the BBP Core from your WordPress Dashboard or manually upload it through cPanel/FTP. | |
| 207 | +Before installing Forumax, ensure you have: | |
| 208 | +* WordPress 5.0 or higher | |
| 209 | +* PHP 7.4 or greater | |
| 210 | +* MySQL 5.6 or greater | |
| 87 | 211 | |
| 88 | -= OPTION 1: Install the BBP Core Plugin from WordPress Dashboard = | |
| 212 | += Installation Method 1: Install from WordPress Admin Dashboard (Recommended) = | |
| 89 | 213 | |
| 90 | -1. Navigate to Plugins -> Add New. | |
| 91 | -2. Search for 'BBP Core' and click on the Install button to install the plugin. | |
| 92 | -3. Activate the plugin in the Plugins menu. | |
| 93 | -4. Optional step: configure the plugin in the Admin menu, in BBP Core -> Settings. | |
| 214 | +1. Go to **Plugins → Add New** in your WordPress dashboard | |
| 215 | +2. Search for **"Forumax"** in the plugin search box | |
| 216 | +3. Click the **Install Now** button | |
| 217 | +4. After installation completes, click **Activate Plugin** | |
| 218 | +5. Navigate to **Forumax → Settings** to configure features (optional but recommended) | |
| 219 | +6. Start building your community! | |
| 94 | 220 | |
| 95 | -= OPTION 2: Manually Upload Plugin Files = | |
| 221 | += Installation Method 2: Manual Upload via FTP/cPanel = | |
| 96 | 222 | |
| 97 | -1. Download the plugin file from the plugin page: bbp-core.zip. | |
| 98 | -2. Upload the 'bbp-core.zip' file to your '/wp-content/plugins' directory. | |
| 99 | -2. Unzip the file bbp-core.zip (do not rename the folder). | |
| 223 | +1. Download the `forumax.zip` file from the plugin page | |
| 224 | +2. Extract the ZIP file on your computer | |
| 225 | +3. Upload the extracted `forumax` folder to `/wp-content/plugins/` directory via FTP or cPanel File Manager | |
| 226 | +4. Go to **Plugins** in your WordPress admin and locate Forumax | |
| 227 | +5. Click **Activate Plugin** | |
| 228 | +6. Configure settings in **Forumax → Settings** | |
| 100 | 229 | |
| 230 | += Installation Method 3: Upload ZIP from WordPress Admin = | |
| 231 | + | |
| 232 | +1. Download the `forumax.zip` file | |
| 233 | +2. Go to **Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin** | |
| 234 | +3. Select the downloaded ZIP file and click **Install Now** | |
| 235 | +4. After installation, click **Activate Plugin** | |
| 236 | +5. Configure your forum settings | |
| 237 | + | |
| 238 | += Troubleshooting Installation = | |
| 239 | + | |
| 240 | +**Getting PHP errors?** | |
| 241 | +Verify your PHP version is 7.4 or higher. Contact your hosting provider to upgrade if needed. | |
| 242 | + | |
| 243 | +**Still need help?** | |
| 244 | +Visit our [Documentation](https://helpdesk.spider-themes.net/docs/forumax-wordpress-plugin) or check our [Support Repository](https://github.com/spider-themes/forumax/issues) | |
| 245 | + | |
| 246 | +## WHAT’S NEXT? | |
| 247 | + | |
| 248 | +If you like Forumax, then consider checking out our other WordPress Plugins: | |
| 249 | + | |
| 250 | +[EazyDocs](https://wordpress.org/plugins/eazydocs) – Powerful knowledge base plugin to easily create and manage professional documentation, wikis, and helpdesk sections. | |
| 251 | + | |
| 252 | +[Antimanual](https://wordpress.org/plugins/antimanual) – AI-powered assistant that automates content creation, documentation, and support, transforming static sites into dynamic experiences. | |
| 253 | + | |
| 254 | +[Advanced Accordion Block](https://wordpress.org/plugins/advanced-accordion-block) – Lightweight Gutenberg block for creating visually appealing, organized accordion sections with extensive styling options. | |
| 255 | + | |
| 256 | +[Changeloger](https://wordpress.org/plugins/changeloger) – Transform plain text changelogs into visually stunning, organized representations with pagination and version links. | |
| 257 | + | |
| 258 | +[Jobus](https://wordpress.org/plugins/jobus) – Comprehensive job board solution transforming your site into a recruitment platform with dashboards and ATS. | |
| 259 | + | |
| 260 | +[Spider Elements](https://wordpress.org/plugins/spider-elements) – Versatile library of 20+ creative widgets to enhance Elementor and build professional websites. | |
| 261 | + | |
| 262 | +== External services == | |
| 263 | + | |
| 264 | += Spider Themes Helpdesk (support assistant) = | |
| 265 | + | |
| 266 | +Forumax admin pages show a chat button that opens the Forumax documentation assistant hosted on the Spider Themes helpdesk (helpdesk.spider-themes.net), so you can search the docs and ask questions without leaving WordPress. | |
| 267 | + | |
| 268 | +Nothing is loaded from the helpdesk until you press the chat button. Hovering over the button only opens a network connection to the helpdesk so the chat loads faster; no data is sent. When you open it, the assistant is loaded in an iframe from `https://helpdesk.spider-themes.net/iframe-assistant/`, and your browser sends the product name and the documentation section to show. If you opted in through the Freemius opt-in screen and you are the administrator who opted in, your name and email address are also sent so the support chat is pre-filled. Messages you type in the chat are sent to the helpdesk to be answered. | |
| 269 | + | |
| 270 | +You can turn the assistant off under Forumax → Settings → General → Hide Support Chat (or with `add_filter( 'forumax_support_assistant_enabled', '__return_false' );`). | |
| 271 | + | |
| 272 | +* [Spider Themes](https://spider-themes.net) — [Terms](https://spider-themes.net/terms) — [Privacy](https://spider-themes.net/privacy) | |
| 273 | + | |
| 101 | 274 | == Screenshots == |
| 102 | 275 | |
| 103 | -1. Custom Admin Dashboard | |
| 104 | -2. BBP Core Settings | |
| 276 | +1. Forumax Dashboard — Interactive Forum Overview with Stats, Activity, and Management Tools | |
| 277 | +2. Forum Builder — Intuitive Interface for Forum Creation and Organization | |
| 278 | +3. Settings — Intuitive Forumax Settings for Complete Forum Configuration | |
| 279 | +4. Forum Root Page – Clean, modern, and user-friendly forum interface | |
| 280 | +5. Forums List — Structured Forum Directory for Easy Community Navigation | |
| 281 | +6. Forum Topics List — Organized Topic Listings with Filters and Status Indicators | |
| 282 | +7. Forum Topic — Start New Discussions and Organize Community Conversations | |
| 283 | +8. Forum Reply — Effortless Real-Time Replies with Rich Content and Engagement Tools | |
| 105 | 284 | |
| 285 | + | |
| 286 | +## Why Choose Forumax? ## | |
| 287 | + | |
| 288 | +***The Trusted Choice for Communities*** | |
| 289 | + | |
| 290 | +- **1000+ Active Users:** Join thousands of community managers using Forumax | |
| 291 | +- **Actively Maintained:** Regular updates with new features and security patches | |
| 292 | +- **Security First:** Built with WordPress security best practices | |
| 293 | +- **Scalable Solution:** Handles small communities to large enterprise forums | |
| 294 | +- **Beginner-Friendly:** Intuitive UI requires no technical knowledge | |
| 295 | +- **Expert Support:** Responsive team ready to help you succeed | |
| 296 | +- **Open Source:** Community contributions welcome on GitHub | |
| 297 | + | |
| 298 | +== Ready to Transform Your Forum? == | |
| 299 | + | |
| 300 | +**Start with Forumax Free today and upgrade to Pro when you're ready for advanced features.** | |
| 301 | + | |
| 302 | +[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) | |
| 303 | + | |
| 304 | +== Support & Community == | |
| 305 | + | |
| 306 | +- [Complete Documentation](https://helpdesk.spider-themes.net/docs/forumax-wordpress-plugin) | |
| 307 | +- [Report Issues & Suggest Features](https://github.com/spider-themes/forumax/issues) | |
| 308 | +- [Visit Official Website](https://forumax.spider-themes.net) | |
| 309 | +- Contact: [email protected] | |
| 310 | + | |
| 311 | +== Upgrade Notice == | |
| 312 | + | |
| 313 | += 2.5.0 = | |
| 314 | +This update includes important bug fixes and improvements for RTL, dark mode, editors, search, and admin pages. We recommend updating to the latest version. | |
| 315 | + | |
| 316 | += 2.4.4 = | |
| 317 | +Improved RTL and dark mode compatibility, fixed login/register tab issues across themes, and resolved the forum archive sidebar widget issue. | |
| 318 | + | |
| 319 | += 2.4.3 = | |
| 320 | +Recommended update with important fixes for dark mode compatibility, the user login form, and the latest Noticepilot SDK improvements. | |
| 321 | + | |
| 322 | += 2.4.2 = | |
| 323 | +Recommended update with important fixes for search functionality, plugin stability, dark mode compatibility, and UI improvements. | |
| 324 | + | |
| 325 | += 2.4.1 = | |
| 326 | +Important maintenance release with fixes for UI display issues and widget CSS problems. Updating is recommended. | |
| 327 | + | |
| 328 | += 2.4.0 = | |
| 329 | +Introduces the new Forum Layout 3, enhanced reply experience, performance improvements, and several bug fixes. | |
| 330 | + | |
| 331 | += 2.3.0 = | |
| 332 | +Adds forum subscriptions, inline topic editing, Active Members widget, and profile avatar upload. Fixes pagination and block registration issues. Update recommended. | |
| 333 | + | |
| 334 | += 2.0.0 = | |
| 335 | +Major Release: Rebranding to Forumax! Now a fully standalone forum plugin. No bbPress dependency required. | |
| 336 | + | |
| 337 | += 1.4.0 = | |
| 338 | +Important update with new Forum Builder features, pagination support, and security enhancements. Recommended for all users. | |
| 339 | + | |
| 340 | += 1.3.2 = | |
| 341 | +Critical security and compatibility fixes. Update recommended for improved stability and theme compatibility. | |
| 342 | + | |
| 106 | 343 | == Changelog == |
| 107 | 344 | |
| 108 | -= 1.3.2 (15 August 2025) = | |
| 109 | -Fixed: Resolved attachment field visibility issue | |
| 110 | -Tweaked: Forum Tabs widget design improved | |
| 111 | -Tweaked: Added the function "bbpc_get_opt()" for CSF settings where it was missing | |
| 112 | -Tweaked: Assets folder re-structured (admin CSS and JS files kept in a separate folder "admin") | |
| 113 | -Tweaked: Removed some unnecessary assets (normalize.js, fontawesome.css etc) | |
| 114 | -Tweaked: Made the non translatable strings to translatable | |
| 115 | -Tweaked: Function prefix added which functions don't have prefix to avoid conflict with other plugins and themes | |
| 116 | -Enhanced: Compatibility improved with the Docy theme dark mode | |
| 117 | -Updated: Freemius SDK updated to 2.12.1 | |
| 345 | += 2.5.0 (6 October 2026) = | |
| 346 | +* Added: Added a documentation support chat to Forumax admin pages for easier access to help and resources. | |
| 347 | +* Fixed: Fixed the default state of the login form and search widget. | |
| 348 | +* Fixed: Improved dark mode feature shapes and RTL spacing across the interface. | |
| 349 | +* Fixed: Resolved an issue where the RTL stylesheet was not loading correctly on Elementor and widget pages. | |
| 350 | +* Fixed: Resolved topic and forum editor crashes when opening the editor. | |
| 351 | +* Fixed: Fixed a critical error causing topic pages to crash. | |
| 352 | +* Fixed: Improved the search form AJAX results UI and restored the missing submit icon. | |
| 118 | 353 | |
| 119 | -= 1.3.1 (16 June 2025) = | |
| 120 | -Fixed: Deprecation warning by wrapping attachment files in hook | |
| 121 | -Fixed: Tab CSS was conflicting with other plugins and themes | |
| 122 | -Tweaked: Improved compatibility with Docy Dark mode | |
| 123 | -Tweaked: Updated sidebar to flexible width | |
| 124 | -Tweaked: Featured image size adjusted in the Forum builder | |
| 125 | -Updated: Freemius SDK updated to 2.12.0 | |
| 354 | += 2.4.4 (13 August 2026) = | |
| 355 | +* Fixed: Resolved the RTL file loading issue and improved the forum archive sidebar widget. | |
| 356 | +* Fixed: Improved login/register tab switching across different themes when user registration is enabled. | |
| 357 | +* Improved: Enhanced RTL and dark mode compatibility across various areas. | |
| 126 | 358 | |
| 127 | -= 1.3.0 (22 April 2025) = | |
| 128 | -Fixed: Fixed BBP Core conflict with Dukan and Job Manager plugins | |
| 129 | -Tweaked: The "Forums" page has been renamed to Forum Builder for better clarity and usability | |
| 130 | -Tweaked: Refreshed the topic open icon within the Forum Builder for a more intuitive visual cue | |
| 131 | -Tweaked: Each topic now displays a corresponding status icon, making it easier to identify topic types at a glance | |
| 132 | -Tweaked: The first forum item now opens by default, providing a more user-friendly initial view | |
| 133 | -Tweaked: Delay on search input keypress | |
| 134 | -Tweaked: Current Forum Info widget (show all information by default, moved widgets folder to the plugin root folder) | |
| 135 | -Tweaked: BBPC Forum Information widget title will show on the Forum page only | |
| 136 | -Tweaked: Settings page improved (reorganized the settings options, added icons to the settings tab) | |
| 137 | -Tweaked: Topic details page improved (reply button, favorite button and attachment design improved ) | |
| 138 | -Tweaked: Forum builder UX improved | |
| 139 | -Tweaked: Dashicons used instead of fontawesome icon to optimize performance in the dashboard | |
| 359 | += 2.4.3 (1 August 2026) = | |
| 360 | +* Fixed: Improved dark mode compatibility for forum forms and single forum pages. | |
| 361 | +* Fixed: Resolved the tab switching issue in the Forumax user login form. | |
| 362 | +* Updated: Upgraded the Noticepilot SDK and refreshed its configuration. | |
| 140 | 363 | |
| 141 | -= 1.2.9 (24 February 2025) = | |
| 142 | -New: Loco.xml configuration file added for multiple text domains mapping in Loco translate plugin | |
| 143 | -New: Offer notice added for our valuable customers (not for fresher) | |
| 144 | -Fixed: Deprecated issue, Increment on non-alphanumeric string is deprecated in /bbp-core/includes/admin/menu/admin_ui/forums.php on line 8 | |
| 364 | += 2.4.2 (10 July 2026) = | |
| 365 | +* Improved: Enhanced dark mode compatibility and refined several frontend UI elements. | |
| 366 | +* Fixed: Resolved incorrect redirect behavior in the Forumax Search widget. | |
| 367 | +* Fixed: Prevented the Forumax plugin from auto-deactivating after updates. | |
| 368 | +* Fixed: Corrected forum meta image sizing for consistent display. | |
| 145 | 369 | |
| 146 | -= 1.2.8 (17 February 2025) = | |
| 147 | -Fixed: Resolved some issue of the "BBPC single forum & Forum Tabs" Elementor widget | |
| 148 | -Fixed: Image size of forum tab widget | |
| 149 | -Tweaked: Improved "View More Button" of the "Forum Tabs" widget | |
| 150 | -Updated: Freemius SDK updated to 2.11.0 | |
| 370 | += 2.4.1 (13 June 2026) = | |
| 371 | +* Fixed: Resolved UI broken issue. | |
| 372 | +* Improved: Overall frontend stability and styling consistency. | |
| 151 | 373 | |
| 152 | -[See changelog for all versions](https://spider-themes.net/bbp-core/changelog). | |
| 374 | += 2.4.0 (10 June 2026) = | |
| 375 | +* New: Added Layout 3 for the Forums Elementor widget with a fresh new design and improved forum presentation. | |
| 376 | +* Fixed: Improved forum styling compatibility to ensure a consistent appearance across different website setups. | |
| 377 | +* Improved: Reply Editor UI – Completely modernized the reply editor with a clean, borderless container, refined toolbar, and a unified design system. | |
| 378 | +* Improved: Reply Form Options – Grouped attachments and notification settings into a newly structured bottom grid layout for a cleaner composing experience. | |
| 379 | +* Improved: Inline Editing – Enhanced the inline reply editing experience with unsaved changes warnings, live character counts, loading indicators, and smooth transitions. | |
| 380 | +* Improved: Reply Actions Menu – Redesigned the reply options dropdown with action-specific icons, grouped menu sections, and color-coded destructive actions for a cleaner, more intuitive experience. | |
| 381 | +* Improved: Reply Count Display – Reply counts in the topic lead now use accurate data and display correct singular/plural forms across all languages. | |
| 382 | +* Improved: Topic Editor UI – Matches the reply editor design with consistent styling and Visual mode as default. | |
| 383 | +* Optimized: Topic Page Performance – Removed an unused database query that was running on every topic page load. | |
| 384 | +* Fixed: Reply sorting was not re-initializing the admin dropdown properly after changing the sort order. | |
| 385 | + | |
| 386 | += 2.3.0 (10 April 2026) = | |
| 387 | +* New: Forum Subscription — users can subscribe to any forum and get email notifications when new topics are posted. | |
| 388 | +* New: Inline Topic Editing — edit topic title and content directly on the page with a built-in visual editor, no page reload needed. | |
| 389 | +* New: Topic Actions Menu — admin action links now appear in a clean three-dot (⋮) dropdown menu in the topic header. | |
| 390 | +* New: Active Members Section — see who's participating in a topic with profile pictures and hover info cards in the sidebar. | |
| 391 | +* New: Profile Photo Upload — users can now upload their own profile picture from the profile edit page. | |
| 392 | +* Improved: Forum Page Design — tighter spacing, smaller headings and badges, and softer card corners for a more modern look. | |
| 393 | +* Improved: Reply & Reaction Buttons — the Reply and Reactions buttons now sit side by side for a cleaner layout. | |
| 394 | +* Improved: Threaded Reply Avatars — avatar sizes now reduce at each nesting level for a cleaner look in deep threads. | |
| 395 | +* Improved: Thread Collapse Button — the expand/collapse button for nested replies now has a smoother, more polished design. | |
| 396 | +* Improved: Profile Pagination — updated to match the forum page style with flat square buttons and brand color highlighting. | |
| 397 | +* Improved: Forum Description Box — redesigned with a modern flat style, accent border, and full dark mode support. | |
| 398 | +* Improved: Forum Builder Tabs — filter tabs now reset properly when switching between forums. | |
| 399 | +* Improved: Block Theme Compatibility — shortcodes, hybrid themes, and forum layouts all work reliably on block themes. | |
| 400 | +* Improved: Vote History Migration — existing vote records are automatically updated to the new privacy-safe format without losing any data. | |
| 401 | +* Security: Voting Privacy — anonymous votes now store encrypted identifiers instead of raw data, fully GDPR compliant. | |
| 402 | +* Fixed: Forum page detection was not returning results correctly in some cases. | |
| 403 | +* Fixed: Filter tab highlighting was not updating properly when switching forum tabs. | |
| 404 | +* Fixed: Forum Builder pagination was showing even when there were fewer than 10 topics. | |
| 405 | +* Fixed: Duplicate pagination on profile pages (Subscriptions, Favorites, Engagements, Replies) — now shows only one. | |
| 406 | +* Fixed: Reply date links were pointing to the wrong page. | |
| 407 | +* Fixed: Topic and reply content was showing formatting codes instead of clean text. | |
| 408 | +* Fixed: Search results styling issue on the forum page. | |
| 409 | + | |
| 410 | += 2.2.1 (26 February 2026) = | |
| 411 | +* Fixed: Forumax widgets not appearing in Elementor editor by updating to the latest widget registration hook. | |
| 412 | +* Fixed: Duplicate block registration conflict between bbp-core and forumax-pro plugins. | |
| 413 | +* Fixed: Search icon visibility issue by syncing compiled CSS and correcting SVG styling. | |
| 414 | +* Fixed: Duplicate ID conflict that caused missing login form fields on the single topic page. | |
| 415 | +* Fixed: Forumax license activation issue resolved. | |
| 416 | +* Fixed: Styling issue in forum single block. | |
| 417 | +* Restored: Missing Single Forum layout 3 & 4 templates, styles, and recompiled frontend assets. | |
| 418 | +* Optimized: Voting sort backfill process and initialized required meta for consistency. | |
| 419 | +* Improved: Forum statistics caching mechanism for better reliability and performance. | |
| 420 | + | |
| 421 | += 2.2.0 (21 February 2026) = | |
| 422 | +* New: Advanced styling controls for Forum Posts block with border, spacing, shadow, and typography options. | |
| 423 | +* New: Auto-Close Stale Topics feature with cron scheduling and admin settings support. | |
| 424 | +* New: Unanswered Topics count and list added to the admin dashboard. | |
| 425 | +* Added: Nonce verification in reply sorting AJAX handler for improved security. | |
| 426 | +* Added: Post type selector and dynamic keyword links in Search block. | |
| 427 | +* Added: Comprehensive style controls for search input, button, and results dropdown. | |
| 428 | +* Improved: Forum Posts block design flexibility with enhanced typography, colors, and layout controls. | |
| 429 | +* Improved: Gutenberg blocks architecture by splitting render logic into dedicated render classes. | |
| 430 | +* Improved: Overall Gutenberg blocks structure and performance. | |
| 431 | +* Fixed: REST API 403 error for forum and topic post types in Gutenberg editor. | |
| 432 | +* Updated: POT file with new translatable strings for search and block controls. | |
| 433 | + | |
| 434 | += 2.1.1 (14 February 2026) = | |
| 435 | +* Added: Backup & Restore settings for safer configuration management. | |
| 436 | +* Improved: User topics pagination redesigned with proper templates and updated styling. | |
| 437 | +* Improved: “Topics Started” list now limited to 10 items per page for better performance. | |
| 438 | +* Improved: User profile pagination styling enhanced for topics, subscriptions, favorites, and engagements. | |
| 439 | +* Improved: Forum layout refined for small screen devices. | |
| 440 | +* Improved: Avatar border radius, reply voting position, and reaction wrapper responsiveness updated. | |
| 441 | +* Improved: Expensive forum and topic count queries cached for faster performance. | |
| 442 | +* Updated: Theme compatibility notice expanded to include child themes. | |
| 443 | +* Updated: Keymaster badge and voting styles refreshed. | |
| 444 | +* Fixed: Empty pagination template issue in user topics list. | |
| 445 | +* Fixed: Duplicate pagination removed from single forum topic page. | |
| 446 | +* Fixed: Reply author role detection issue. | |
| 447 | +* Fixed: CSRF vulnerability in solved topic actions. | |
| 448 | +* Fixed: Forumax admin panel filter pagination issue. | |
| 449 | + | |
| 450 | += 2.1.0 (28 January 2026) = | |
| 451 | +* New: Dashboard page added with comprehensive forum statistics overview | |
| 452 | +* New: Quick Actions section for easy access to Forum Builder, New Forum, New Topic, and Settings | |
| 453 | +* New: Recent Topics and Recent Replies activity sections on the Dashboard | |
| 454 | +* New: Engagement statistics showing average replies per topic and total discussions | |
| 455 | +* New: System Info panel displaying Forumax, bbPress, WordPress, and PHP version details | |
| 456 | +* New: Helpful Links section with quick access to Documentation, Support, and Live Demo | |
| 457 | +* New: Demo data import option for easy setup | |
| 458 | +* New: Emoji reactions for topics and replies | |
| 459 | +* New: Social sharing option for topics with configurable sharing settings | |
| 460 | +* New: Reply timeline option and sticky topic injection | |
| 461 | +* New: Real-time alert options in topic settings | |
| 462 | +* New: Social login options with hook support for login form | |
| 463 | +* New: Chat settings options | |
| 464 | +* New: Forumax sidebar registration | |
| 465 | +* New: Topic view tracking functionality | |
| 466 | +* Improved: Modern, premium dashboard design with card-based layout, gradient header, and enhanced sidebar including Upgrade to Pro section and system information | |
| 467 | +* Improved: Forum single page redesigned with improved UI | |
| 468 | +* Improved: Forum, widget, avatar, support info, and voting button styles for better consistency and theme compatibility | |
| 469 | +* Improved: Forum CSS optimized for responsive layout and theme compatibility | |
| 470 | +* Improved: Admin review notice UI | |
| 471 | +* Tweaked: Bootstrap removed, responsive issues fixed, unused CSS and old assets cleaned up | |
| 472 | +* Tweaked: Admin notices removed on Forumax admin pages | |
| 473 | +* Tweaked: Topic and reply revision logs visibility restricted to authors only | |
| 474 | +* Fixed: Hide theme sidebars on forum pages to prevent duplicate sidebar display | |
| 475 | +* Fixed: Topic count issue after import | |
| 476 | +* Fixed: Trash filter label hidden on small screens | |
| 477 | +* Fixed: AJAX actions secured with nonce verification and proper input sanitization | |
| 478 | + | |
| 479 | +[See full changelog and version history →](https://forumax.spider-themes.net/changelog) | |
