Geodesic Solutions

We have released version 4.0.5 for Geo Classifieds, Auctions, and Geo ClassAuctions, at the Enterprise, Premier, and Basic editions. If you aren't using 4.0 yet, this is definitely the time to check out the new release. A lot of Geo customers have been raving about all the new features we managed to pack into 4.0. If you are already using 4.0 be sure to update to this latest 4.0.5 release as it contains a security fix for the 4.0 line. You can see all the technical info in this post, or check out the release notes. As I mentioned in the forums, we have just released 3.1.10 and it will be the last 3.1 release, as we are phasing out the 3.1 software line. If you still need 3.1 because your host does not support PHP 5.2 (the minimum required version of PHP for Geo 4.0), contact support to get access to the 3.1.10 packages.

Key Points on 4.0

The main reason 4.0 has been such a huge release, and gone through so much before it is ready to totally replace 3.1, is because of one simple enough task. It all started with an idea: Re-write the classified ad / auction posting process to flow better, make it act like a shopping cart, and make it easy to customize. That seemingly simple idea has resulted in a total re-write of the classified ad / auction placement/renewal/upgrade/edit processes, and has spawned tons of new features, a new Listing Cart, a new Order & Invoice system, just to name a few things. Not to mention all the potential for even more new features, because of "make it easy to customize" part, look forward to more features added faster than was possible before. Check out the demo and place a classified or auction listing, we think you will really like all the changes and improvements.

Another area we've tackled is more for the advanced template designers out there: all HTML that used to be generated by PHP files in 3.1 and before, now uses SMARTY templates. That means, if on an earlier version you had to modify a PHP file to customize something, now you can do it by creating a customized template. In addition to that, we have added the ability to over-ride the built in "Database templates" (the templates you can edit from the admin panel), with file-based Smarty templates. To pull it all together, we created what I like to call a "cascading template set" system. I won't go through all the details here, so for more info check out: Templates > Template System in Admin panel, and Advanced Design Tutorials for step-by-step instructions to get you started.

Yet another improvement worth mention for 4.0, is the SEO addon. In 4.0 the SEO addon now has the ability to put the listing title, and the category title, in the URL. It also allows you to customize the structure of each different "URL type". We also added the ability to "force using SEO URL". In a nutshell, when that feature is turned on, it prevents pages with "duplicate content" by doing a 301 redirect if someone visits a page using the "incorrect" URL. Check out this page for more information on how it works.

Some of you probably remember a while back, when we asked for your input for a new My Account Home page. We've taken your suggestions and put them in 4.0 in the new home page, and we have added a new module that shows all the My Account Links in a navigation style menu. You can place the module in any template to have the My Account Links navigation display anywhere you want it to. The module also has a built in "Listing Cart" mini-view that really improves the flow and dynamics of the software.

So, still using an older version? What are you waiting for, now is the time to update to 4.0! Also keep your eye out for the official 4.0 announcement we will be sending to all Geo license holders to catch anyone that does not keep up with the latest news on the software.