Build FAQ component for Joomla 1.5 +

Aim: To create a Joomla 'Knowledge Base' component (FAQ + Support Ticket concept combined) for joomla 1.5 + that is easy to use for site users and administrators. From a user’s point of view, we would like to have “Ask a Question?? and “Latest Questions Asked?? functionalities for the component. Ideally it will work with the standard “login?? feature, and also the Joomla Community Builder component that can replace the default login system. ## Deliverables The FAQ/knowledge base component (here after the FAQ-COMP) must have a strong emphasis on content and category management so that site visitors can search using word(s) or by categories. The content management system must enable us to moderate the questions, unpublish them manually on the website, change the question category, add and update the question categories, and modify the messages. On the main page of the country section, the FAQ-COMP will be implemented in a manner that will allow site visitors to submit a question. Whatever the case, we need the navigation of the site to be extremely user friendly without compromising the on page SEO factors which might help our site rank well. On-page SEO Factors: All parts of the FAQ-COMP must be searchable/available for spiders and are search engine friendly. This would include: • dynamic meta information ??" title/description • URLs must be separated with dashes (human-readable URLs enabled) • [login to view URL] file will disallow subfolders/files not to be indexed • non-www URL will redirect to a www URL • JavaScript and CSS codes should be external files and not embedded directly in the page unless necessary • the use of other on-page factors (H1, H3, Alt, Bold, etc.) • active links must be absolute links in the code • [login to view URL] files should not be indexed. Therefore, URLs must only be similar to this: [login to view URL] or [login to view URL] Design notes: The component will be highly customizable regardless of the template being used. A designer will be made available for you if graphics are to be made. Images are to be simplified / icon-like. Functionality and Forms: Note: By no means should this list of functionality and forms be considered complete. The information here outlines the basic functionality expected. It will be up to the coder to deliver a professional solution. They should also understand that revisions and changes would be necessary as the application is developed. The coder should also understand the buyer is professional and will pay the coder at indicative rate for any extra overtime or features developed for this project. Form features: 1. Ask a Question (all of these features should be available from the backend of the Joomla administrator area) - this will appear on the main page of the FAQ-COMP - fields are the following: 1. Question Category (drop-down combo box) 2. Ask a Question (text box field) 3. Details (text-area field) - Users must log in first before they can submit a question. - A link will be added on each country section going to the FAQ Page - On the backend, it would allow us to add and update categories and subcategories for a particular country. - Questions will arrive to us by email (similar to a support ticket) where we can delete, ignore, answer, change categories, or reply to.... - Once a question is answered, it will automatically be published on our site (Question Page), and the question will be added to the FAQ Page which then links to a new page with the 'answer detail'. Notifcation will also be sent via email to person who asked the question with a link back to the detail page. - An administrator should be able to edit the default notification email. 2. FAQ Page (Category detail) - this will be sorted according to date published (Latest Questions Asked). - the layout is similar to this: - each page will display a maximum of 20 topics (questions and replies) ? categories and/or sub categories will be placed above the latest questions added. - the main FAQ-COMP page will show categories and subcategories + a link to “Ask a Question?? (see 1) ? It is suggested the categories and subcategories, as well as questions will expand on the front end using AJAX menus ??" similar to [login to view URL] 3. Question / Answer detail Page - this will be published once a question is answered ('reply and publish' in the backend) - no user information will be shown (yes/no config option in admin ??" by default no) - on the back end, • A content management system will allow us to edit the questions, unpublish questions, delete questions, change the locations and categories of questions. • A simple WYSWYG editor that will allow us to modify the messages, (including the question) - from the questions asked till the last reply will be posted on this page. - if there are email HTML formats (bold and anchor tags) used, this will be applied when posted on the Question Page. - at the bottom of all pages on the FAQ-COMP a button will be placed saying “Want to Ask a Question??? then this will lead to the page where they can see the “Ask a Question?? form. 4. Automatic Email Management Tool - an email will automatically be sent to us when a question is submitted - After a question is submitted, an email will automatically be sent to the user to notify the submitted question. And at the bottom of the email, it will say: “Note: Your question may be posted on our FAQ Page. We assure you that your name will not be mentioned and your details will be confidential.?? - When a user or administrator replies to an email, they will be added on the Question Page. (Emails generated by the Knowledge Base component only.) 5. Administrator’s Section - Comprehensive administrator tools for all of the above within this section - This includes: • Ability to edit the questions, unpublish questions, delete questions, change the locations and categories, sub-categories of questions, etc. • allow us to add and update categories and subcategories to a particular country * The component’s logic must work efficiently with the existing Joomla core and the presentation must be highly customizable depending on the template being used. Other front end stuff: - Custom help tool tips should be provided for all forms requiring user input (activates on focus / mouse over events). Accessibility: - Features will be available to all users (e.g. w/o Javascript, cookies, images). - Registered users feature will be available to users with modern browsers (see below) with Javascript and cookies enabled. - Admin area will be available to users with modern browsers (see below) with Javascript and cookies enabled. Browser compatibility: - Should be fully-functional in IE 6, IE 7, FF 2, FF 3 and Safari. Page structure and Navigation: - header (contains full-text search form and user-related links) - categories and/or sub-categories will be placed on the top area of the page - full text site search form Requirements: - compatible with Joomla 1.5 - minimal loading time User Experience Notes… Important accessibility notice: Graceful fallback for users w/o javascript should be provided (no AJAX, no client-side validation, “ask a question?? form is generated server-side for each step); Testing Phase: Coder will provide 20 complete records for testing purposes, as well 2 dummy profiles that we can use for thorough testing of site features. Estimate provided by coder is attached below: Item Value Date of Estimation Phase * Total Use Cases Unique Use Case Points (UUCP) Technical Complexity (TCF) Environmental Complexity(ECF) Use Case Points (UUCP * TCF * ECF) = UCP Estimated Hours per UUCP (HRS) Total Hours (HRS * UCP) Total Cost