Conference registration form

[andriishyichuk]

Dear Community,

I am trying to use FlatPress to make a conference web page. The critical component is a registration form with file uploader.

Currently, I am messing around and trying to construct a chimera out of contact form and admin uploader.

Given the fact that I do not know PHP and have a very basic knowledge of HTML - I wonder if I will succeed. Hence, the questions.

Did anyone do something like this before?
Alternatively, would anyone help me with fixing my code, once I'm done?

As a result, we would end up with another set of templates for FlatPress, cuz why not.

[fraenkiman]

Hello andriishyichuk,

welcome to the FlatPress support forum. In general, your idea is not new. Somewhere I have seen a similar request here in the past.

There are a few functions scattered across FlatPress that could be implemented in a conference website.

You would have to define a few things in advance that the backend would have to do for you. I assume you don't know the participants, but would like to collect basic data (name, email) of potential participants first. This would make the comment function easier to customize. Comments would then first end up in the comment center for approval without being published. As an admin, you will receive an e-mail with every new comment (contact).

However, FlatPress currently lacks a function to send a registration confirmation to the interested party by e-mail. You would then also need an SMTP relay that can send several hundred emails per day.
Or you would have to reply to each interested party by hand.

I don't think it's a good idea to make the uploader accessible to the public from the admin area. The uploader has a rudimentary cleanup function (filtering disallowed files e.t.c) but no limit on the amount of data. In addition, FlatPress lacks the ability to validate whether the visitor just wants to clutter your server with junk data by uploading, or whether he wants to register and upload a coupon.

All around, you could use FlatPress as the basis for a conference suite, but you'd have to customize a lot of PHP code and templates. That's not done with a two-liner. The backend also needs a defense against malicious file content.

My PHP knowledge only goes as far as I can see and without glasses that's not far .

If it's just a trial project that's not under time pressure, I can support you, depending on how much free time I have.

But another idea. Install a Nextcloud instance. Anyone who wants to can register with their e-mail address and provide files after successful login. That way you get basic data from interested parties, a platform for communicating. I run Nextcloud 30.0 of a Raspberry Pi 4 and with Collabora Online you can also provide your prospects with Office documents. Even a video conference works with 8 people.

With best regards
Frank