1. Directory Component for Joomla

Sobi2 is an open source directory component for Joomla! (up to version 1.5), an open source content management system. Using Sobi2 a Joomla user can have a directory of contacts, members, distributors, manufacturers, locations, products, or whatever very quickly with little or no "coding" - most or all of the set-up may be done using only the configuration interface. Add data, to produce a working directory on the Joomla web site.

2. History

In 2006 Sigsiu.NET developed a Content Construction Kit for Joomla. Designed as a business directory (online business index), Sobi2 could be used for every kind of directory.

Sobi2 has been designed as the follower of the SOBI component but it is not based on SOBI. It has been built up new from the bottom because the table structure of SOBI was not suited for the new features implemented in Sobi2. Sobi2 is built up almost object oriented. It runs under PHP4 and MySQL4.^[1]

Sobi2's development has been discontinued in 2011, when its successor, SobiPro came out.^[2][3]

3. Description

Sobi2 is an add-on (component) to Joomla! (up to version 1.5) that makes it possible to run and manage a directory in your Joomla! website.

To add listings to the directory, an input form needs to be filled out.

While setting up the directory, the input form is built by the site developer using the integrated fields manager to add the various field types (text input fields, text areas (w/o WYSIWYG editor), check boxes, check box groups, select lists (drop down), simple text fields or calendar fields) to the form. The layout of the form can be changed by the usage of the built-in template engine.

During installation, Sobi2 creates input fields for a business directory. They can be changed, deleted or extended by additional fields.

There is an option to make features of the listings paid for or free. E.g. listings could be free but charge for links to the websites. This is decided when setting up and managing the component. ^[4]

The administrator of the directory site is able to create, edit or delete listings within the Sobi2 administration panel.

Listings within a Sobi2 directory are assigned to one or more categories. A category manager allows to create, edit and delete categories within the directory with an unlimited nesting depth.

As a complex Joomla! component, Sobi2 has different views to present its data. In an overview all directory listings are shown with their smaller description, linked to a detailed description. Other views are available (e.g. alpha, search, user listings).

Especially for directories with paid listings, but also to keep the directory up to date, Sobi2 has the possibility to associate the listings with an expiration date. Once expired, listings can be renewed.

Sobi2 can be used "out of the box" or adapted individually to the site. It provides a style sheet file (CSS) which can be edited in the administration panel, using an editor with syntax highlighting.

For advanced adaptations there are separate templates available for the different views.

Sobi2 sends out emails on different events (add, edit, renew, approval). Sending out an email can be set up separately for each event. The content of the emails can be defined using placeholders, separately for each event.

Sobi2 has integrated diagnosis systems to log occurring problems. A template parser is helpful in finding syntactical errors while developing own templates. A built-in system check detects if a server does not meet the requirements for Sobi2. A version checker checks for newer versions.

Additional Features

• Dynamical page title generation (SEO).
• Listing dependent meta data (keywords and description).
• Configurable search function with built-in category search.
• RSS feeds generation of the whole directory, each category view, newest, most popular or random listings.
• Built-in multi state cache system for fast retrieving of data.
• Built-in template system for creating templates for the main views.
• Integration of Paypal for paid listings.
• Integration of Google Maps directly in the detailed view.
• Modules, Joomla! and Sobi2 plug-ins are available to extend the possibilities of Sobi2.

4. Plug-In Interface

To enhance the functionality of Sobi2, there were more than 80 different plug-ins available and listed in the Joomla! Extensions Directory at that time. These listings still can be found in the Web Archive.^[5]

Sobi2 plug-ins (incomplete list)

• Sobi2 plugins package
• Acymailing Plugin: Sobi2
• SOBI2 JoomSEF 3 Extension
• Graphic statistics, analytics and reports for Sobi2
• Integration of JComments to SOBI2 business catalogue

5. Languages

Originally equipped with English languages files, Sobi2 has been translated into 34 languages (Arabic, Basque, Brazilian Portuguese, Bulgarian, Catalan, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Farsi, Finnish, French, Galician, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, and Vietnamese). Additional languages are installable via Sobi2 language manager.