Introduction for Version 2.1
Thank you for choosing simpleContact Pro. It is the product of a personal obsession with the little details, over ten years of experience building websites for clients of all sizes, and many evenings spent in front of my trusty Mac.
Every website needs a way for visitors to start a conversation. Often this means building a contact form and mailing list. simpleContact Pro is designed to transform that task from a time-consuming, difficult chore into a few minutes' work, with professional results.
This documentation is provided to help get you started quickly. The most up-to-date information can always be found in the online version of these documents. Downloading and using simpleContact Pro constitutes your acceptance of the terms of the user license.
If you have any comments, questions or feature suggestions, please contact me. I reply to all messages.
Key features
- Automagical installation – enter your database info and upload
- One-click upgrade for simpleContact Lite users transfers settings and data
- Smart default settings to save you time
- Browser-based admin with messages inbox
- New form builder which supports custom fields
- Client-side and server-side form validation
- Multiple email recipients
- Email autoresponder with personalisation
- Single or double opt-in mailing list
- CSV mailing list export, ready to use with mailers like Campaign Monitor
- Supports input in worldwide languages with UTF-8 text encoding
- Built with web standards and integrates easily with your website
See the release notes for more details.
Installation
simpleContact Pro is easy to install, with no programming. If you have installed applications (e.g WordPress) on your website before, you have all the access and know-how you need. See the installation guide for instructions.
Upgrading from simpleContact Lite
simpleContact Pro 2.1 can detect an installation of simpleContact Lite and import your settings and data as part of the setup process. See the upgrading guide for instructions.
About the jQuery library
jQuery is “the write less, do more, JavaScript library”. It is used by simpleContact Pro to deliver enhancements which include client-side form validation and a visibility toggle in the form builder.
jQuery is produced by John Resig and a team of contributors. jQuery is free software and distributed under the terms of the MIT license. There is no warranty or responsibility on the part of the original authors.
simpleContact Pro 2.1 uses jQuery 1.7, the latest version at the time of writing.
Please note: There is no function of simpleContact Pro which becomes inoperable if JavaScript is unavailable.
About the PHPMailer library
PHPMailer is a “full featured email transfer class for PHP” that exposes a much greater range of features than the standard PHP mail() function. I have it used on several projects in the past, and it has proven highly reliable.
PHPMailer is produced by Brent R. Matzelle (original author), Andy Prevost, Patrice Fournier, Chris Ryan, Cem Hurturk, Tom Klingenberg and Jaime Bozza. PHPMailer is free software and distributed under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL). There is no warranty or responsibility on the part of the original authors.
simpleContact Pro 2.1 uses PHPMailer 5.2, the latest version at the time of writing.
Please note: If PHPMailer fails in use for any reason, simpleContact Pro will attempt to use the PHP mail() function.
About the PHP UTF-8 library
PHP UTF-8 is a UTF-8 aware library of functions mirroring PHP's own string functions.
PHP UTF-8 is produced by Harry Fuecks. PHP UTF-8 is free software and distributed under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL). There is no warranty or responsibility on the part of the original author.
simpleContact Pro 2.1 uses PHP UTF-8 0.5, the latest version at the time of writing.
Acknowledgements
My thanks go to Richard Barratt, Alex Borshik, Mark Griffin, Kevin Lees, Dennis Levin, Stephen Meehan, Dave Stewart and Steve Sumner for their various contributions. To simpleContact Pro users for their feedback, which helps to make this product what it is. To my family for their encouragement.