What does XFtoWP do?

[JeffreyK]

I am setting up my XFtoWP plugin.

Before I purchased, I looked for demonstrations of what the plugin actually does. Nice descriptions of how great it is but nothing like "Your Xenforo posts will now replace the Wordpress Comments (as shown in the screen shot) in your theme IF OF COURSE you have comments in your theme enabled." Actually, I don't even know if that is a requirement. Nor do I know what really are the requirements for the Xen API setup that MUST be enabled, if any, and, if any, matching setups at the WP site. But like I said, I don't really know what the heck I am supposed to be getting as an end result. Might be very basic but ....

The documentation is also not telling me much. So I figured well, I will just go ahead and wing it. So I did the install, set up the API's, set up the forum stuff, and basically, I still do not know what my setup is supposed to do. By the way, the install check fails. Browser says there is no page there. https://yourxfinstall.com/api

So, where do I find an explanation of what I am supposed to get? Like, some screenshots of working sites even. And also, when the software fails because I did something stupid or did not do something period, I don't get any error message. So I must be correct on the install? Right?

 

[JeffreyK]

Another question to go long with my first one: Is the XFtoWP going to over ride my WP commenting? Does it kill WP commenting? Work together with WP commenting somehow, like if I have WP commenting set for 'All comments must be approved' and I allow comments from the public without a membership on my WP site, what happens? Does XF sneak in the back door someplace? Like I said, I don't even know that very basic item.

 

[JeffreyK]

This did not help much. Also, had to be discovered searching the forum here.

XFtoWP

The Professional XenForo to WordPress Integration…

xftowp.com

 

[JeffreyK]

I guess if I could get a working set up I would be able to get most of my questions answered.

 

[Alex]

Hi Jeffrey, thank you for purchasing the plugin.

Nor do I know what really are the requirements for the Xen API setup that MUST be enabled, if any, and, if any, matching setups at the WP site. But like I said, I don't really know what the heck I am supposed to be getting as an end result. Might be very basic but ....

In regards to the API setup, this guide addresses the process pretty thoroughly.

By the way, the install check fails. Browser says there is no page there. https://yourxfinstall.com/api

I may need to make the guide more clear that the URL "yourXFinstall.com/api" is meant to be your own domain's /api/ folder, not the example one you copied from the article.

And also, when the software fails because I did something stupid or did not do something period, I don't get any error message. So I must be correct on the install? Right?

Yes, the plugin is pretty good at reporting your site's API connection while retaining content and overall stability if a connection is ever paused or broken for any reason. See the Site Setup panel in your WP admin options for these details, including the current permissions your XenForo API key can access.

Another question to go long with my first one: Is the XFtoWP going to over ride my WP commenting? Does it kill WP commenting? Work together with WP commenting somehow, like if I have WP commenting set for 'All comments must be approved' and I allow comments from the public without a membership on my WP site, what happens? Does XF sneak in the back door someplace? Like I said, I don't even know that very basic item.

XFtoWP integrates itself quite politely with the WordPress commenting system, so your blog comments will work as normal. Some users choose to completely replace their blog comments with forum replies, others (like myself) combine both WP comments and XF replies... because why not? You can see live examples throughout the XFtoWP.com blog: https://xftowp.com/blog/

As long as you have your API user permissions setup properly, you will be able to use the Thread connect feature to create and attach threads to posts and pages on WordPress.

This is also covered in the documentation, but your API user will need the thread:write, thread:read, and node:read permissions enabled on your XenForo site.

 

[JeffreyK]

I am getting 404 error when https://mydomain.com/api and also https://mydomain.com/api/

 

[JeffreyK]

I set the xf widget to the sidebar and added a title to it. That appeared. Then made a post. The post did not appear. Also, the 'log' function shows no activity for either option.

I tried the CSS fix that you sugggested in another post. I disabled all other plugins. Refresh time set to 1 minute. My thread connect is show tabs + WP connects. No joy.

 

[Alex]

I am getting 404 error when https://mydomain.com/api and also https://mydomain.com/api/

Ok, so that is the source of all the issues thus far. If your site API is returning a 404 there is a setup issue somewhere on your site.

Here is what this sites api url is and yours should look the same:

https://kolakube.com/community/api/

Is your site using friendly urls? If not, make sure you include index.php at the end of the url. Make sure you read the "Requirements" and "Still not connecting?" sections on the API setup guide for the most common troubleshooting issues.

We have to get this fixed before any xenforo data can be shown on your site.

 

[JeffreyK]

https://mydomain.com/forums/api
https://mydomain.com/forums/api/

https://mydomain.com/forums/api/index.php

Xenforo Use Friendly URL's above done on and off

ALL give same error message:

{
"errors": [
{
"code": "no_api_key_in_request",
"message": "No API key was included in the request.",
"params": []
}
]
}

 

[JeffreyK]

I take this to mean my Install is correct? As the little image along with the instructions appears to be what I am getting. Not very clear.

Actually, my website appears to be connecting now. 'My newest comments ' sidebar is populating.

The issue is, I would say, not understanding your instructions . As per -

"Additionally, the forum user you set as the API user must also have the permissions to carry out an API action.

To read and create new threads, the API user must also have the same permissions at the forum. The same applies when syncing users, and the API user must have the Administrator privilege to “Manage Users & Moderators”. "

I did not understand, please correct me if I am wrong, that I MUST have a working account at the Xenforo forum and THAT name MUST be entered in the Username at the set up of the API Key at the Xenforo admn panel and that Username (sort of) must have, as your instructions say, the API user must have Administrator privilege."

I can now work backwards removing privileges, as all I want to do is write TO a thread, not create, and read a thread.

 

[JeffreyK]

Oops.

If I am posting a comment on the Wordpress site, does that mean if it is the first post, it will fail if the privilege for the API key is not set to create a thread?

Lots going on here. I will work this through now that I am connected. Also, I found Igor's posts very interesting.

Thanks for your help, Alex.

 

[Alex]

Xenforo Use Friendly URL's above done on and off

ALL give same error message:

Yes, surprisingly this is the correct message to see from your API. Glad you are now connected.

I did not understand, please correct me if I am wrong, that I MUST have a working account at the Xenforo forum and THAT name MUST be entered in the Username at the set up of the API Key at the Xenforo admn panel and that Username (sort of) must have, as your instructions say, the API user must have Administrator privilege."

I can now work backwards removing privileges, as all I want to do is write TO a thread, not create, and read a thread.

Regarding api permissions, I suggest you only give the ones I recommended in my last post as they will allow your site to fetch latest posts/threads and also reply to threads from WP.

For your purposes the api user doesn't need to have any admin privileges, just be a normal member account who if were a normal user, can view and reply to the thread you expect to add new posts to via the wp admin panel.

If I am posting a comment on the Wordpress site, does that mean if it is the first post, it will fail if the privilege for the API key is not set to create a thread?

The thread:write permission accounts for new thread creation and replying to a thread. Xenforo covers both of these cases with the single write permission.

Lots going on here. I will work this through now that I am connected. Also, I found Igor's posts very interesting.

Same, I hope something has come from @Igor's experiments!

 

[JeffreyK]

Alex, I am sure you realize your screen shots at xftowp.com/#thread_connect are not the same as your current version, correct?

Anyway, I am once again stumbling my way through this.
1) Comments - Show before WP comments - sounds simple, since nothing is appearing before my WP comments, may I ask, what shows before WP comments?
2) Same with show after
3) Replace WP Comments - with what? I am working basics here, no assumptions.
4) Show tabs - what is a tab?

Since I don't see anything appearing, I won't ask what thread view and comment view is.

Permissions:

Since I have a connection, but no posts are appearing on my forum, I won't ask what this is indicating

But I am now right back to my very first question - What does XFtoWP do? Maybe the next item for that inquiry is a step by step explanation. My question regarding "first posts will fail" needs to be more clear, as in:
If I post a comment on my WP site, and if the permissions for the API are set to thread:write, you answered a thread will be created which I guess means on the my XF site. Not happening, I thiink.
1) Does the commenter need to have an account at the XF site?
At present, we have to approve all new accounts. Or does the API cover that somehow?
2) If not, what account will this thread creation go under? And if the post goes under the WP account, does that Username for the comment have to be registered at the XF site? I did that anyway, and still no joy.

Good news is, your widget is making a bit of an appearance on the side bar. But as an indicator of a new post, it only gives a date and who made the post. Is there any adjustment that can be made to show an excerpt?

 

[JeffreyK]

Let me clarify that - an excerpt of the comment, as opposed to an excerpt of the post, which would be kind of redundant anyway.

 

[JeffreyK]

Alex, after re-reading Igor's post and your replies several times, I think I have a fundamental misunderstanding of what the plugin is supposed to do. As in, it does not synchronise between the WP site and Xen. It REPLACES the comment portion on the WP site with a straight re-direct of the user to the XEN site where comments are being placed. THEN, once a comment is arranged, accepted, done whatever, it is ?? ...Handled in a manner like the widget? Or is that the only way it will post back with all the action happening on the Xen site?

I guess I will play with this some more and see.

One issue I have is that if one makes changes on a WP site to comment settings, those settings do not take effect on existing posts. You have to make a new post seems like.

So basically, I don't have all the pieces in place I should have. I will work on this.

 

[Alex]

Alex, I am sure you realize your screen shots at xftowp.com/#thread_connect are not the same as your current version, correct?

The screenshots on XFtoWP.com are accurate. If that screenshot looks different than your site, it's because your theme renders the comments area differently stylistically.

Anyway, I am once again stumbling my way through this.
1) Comments - Show before WP comments - sounds simple, since nothing is appearing before my WP comments, may I ask, what shows before WP comments?

"Show before" is in reference to showing the connected thread replies on your post.

After you have connected your XenForo site to WordPress, you can begin attaching threads by editing the posts you wish to associate the thread with. Edit a post or page in WordPress and look for the "XenForo" meta box to connect or create threads.

If I post a comment on my WP site, and if the permissions for the API are set to thread:write, you answered a thread will be created which I guess means on the my XF site. Not happening, I thiink.
1) Does the commenter need to have an account at the XF site?
At present, we have to approve all new accounts. Or does the API cover that somehow?
2) If not, what account will this thread creation go under? And if the post goes under the WP account, does that Username for the comment have to be registered at the XF site? I did that anyway, and still no joy.

XFtoWP treats blog comments and an attached XenForo thread differently, they do not mix or crosspost at this point in the plugin. When you add a thread to a blog post, all that is being done is the blog post will now show the first page of replies from the XenForo thread with a link to encourage users to join the discussion at your forum.

When a new reply to the thread is made over at XenForo, your WP site will refresh the connected thread every X minutes and will then load the new reply on WP. No user accounts are needed to use this feature.

The block of thread replies is what the plugin is referencing under the "Position" settings, where you can place the XenForo thread replies before the standard WP comments, after, or combine both templates with a tabbed navigation.

Please, look at the XFtoWP.com blog to see the tabbed layout. Here is a direct link to what the combined tabbed comments look like:

XFtoWP 1.5 Upgrade Guide

To upgrade websites running XFtoWP 1.4.x to the now stable XFtoWP 1.5 release, follow this guide to import existing site data for full support for the plugin's powerful new features and a more…

xftowp.com

 

[JeffreyK]

Alex says:

"The screenshots on XFtoWP.com are accurate. If that screenshot looks different than your site, it's because your theme renders the comments area differently stylistically."

 

[JeffreyK]

The previous post is my opening menu under 'settings' as opposed to your opening bullet under https://xftowp.com/#thread_connect. Am I missing something?

 

[JeffreyK]

In https://xftowp.com/docs/getting-started/connect-api-key/ I do not have the API screen you are showing. I have Site setup > Connect with NO Thread Coments, No User verification, and no Conversations showing as options

 

[JeffreyK]

After you have connected your XenForo site to WordPress, you can begin attaching threads by editing the posts you wish to associate the thread with. Edit a post or page in WordPress and look for the "XenForo" meta box to connect or create threads.

Now working!! I am so excited !! I haven't even checked to see what is going on but my test site is taking feeds from the XF site and putting it on my test site.

Another question lol - where is this little tidbit of information quoted above mentioned in the setup instructions? I want to see how I missed this.

Thanks again for your kind patience bud.