Attention: this is a pre-release version and is currently under active development. Please do not install, run or test this version on production environments, but only evaluate this new version on test and development servers.

Contribute to the testing rounds

Testing is a crucial aspect of software development, offering a meaningful opportunity for everyone to contribute, regardless of experience level.

You can install this package just like the original Easy!Appointments version and click through the existing and new functionality, making sure that the app works as expected.

Should you encounter any issues, please share them in the Github Issues page, in the Support Group, on the Discord Server or directly to info@easyappointments.org.

What’s new in Easy!Appointments 1.5

This version major release will enhance and refine your control over the process of accepting and managing your online bookings, offering a plethora of new and exciting features.

CalDAV Sync

CalDAV (Calendar Distributed Authoring and Versioning) is an open standard protocol that enables synchronization of calendar data between different devices and servers. It allows users to access and manage their calendars across various platforms, such as computers, smartphones, and tablets, while ensuring consistency and integrity of the calendar information.

LDAP Integration

LDAP SSO support allows users to access multiple applications and services using a single set of login credentials stored in a central LDAP directory. By integrating LDAP SSO, organizations can streamline user authentication processes, reducing the need for users to remember multiple passwords and enhancing security through centralized user management. This feature simplifies access control and enhances user experience by providing seamless authentication across various systems and applications.

Themes

App theme support enables applications to adapt their appearance based on the user’s system-wide theme settings, providing a consistent and cohesive user experience across different devices and platforms. By leveraging app theme support, developers can design their applications to seamlessly integrate with light and dark themes, ensuring readability, accessibility, and visual consistency for users. This feature enhances user satisfaction and usability by allowing applications to dynamically adjust their interface elements, such as colors, typography, and layout, to match the user’s preferred theme.

Webhooks

Webhook support enables applications to receive real-time notifications or data updates from external services or systems. Developers can configure webhooks to trigger specific actions or workflows within their application when certain events occur, such as a new user registration or a change in data. This allows for seamless integration between different software systems and enables automated responses to events, enhancing the efficiency and functionality of the application.

UI Changes

Easy!Appointments has received many user interface changes, aiming to provide a more user-friendly scheduling experience. There are new actions, updated styling and minor fine tuning that significantly increases the efficiency while working with your events.

Compatibility

Many of the 3rd party components were updated to their latest available release and as such also the PHP compatibility was raised to PHP 8.1 as the minimum requirement for this version.

Those are just some of the most important changes but there are so much more. Make sure you check the change log session below for more information on what to expect of this new release.

Changelog

Added

• Display month with the earliest available day (#1075)
• Allow admins to define the business closed dates (blocked-periods) (#432)
• Allow working plan exceptions to be defined as non-working days (#1383)
• Create an official docker image of the project and host it on Docker Hub(#1116)
• Automatically select the next available date in the booking page or display a message if this month is unavailable (#1204)
• Add Open Graph information to the public booking page so that it renders nicely once shared on social media apps (#1382)
• Preselect the date with a query parameter (#1376)
• Add the location and notes fields to the appointment email notifications (if a value was provided) (#1341)
• Add date, from and till query parameters to the filter the appointments index results by date (#1134)
• Allow the users to define their own status and assign them to appointments (#244)
• Add new setting for limiting new public bookings in the future (#1203)
• Automatically enable the secure cookie config if the current installation uses HTTPS (#1126)
• Add language and timezone properties to the customer API resource (#1157)
• Add support for the definition of custom webhooks via the settings page (#581)
• Allow the user to select their own preferred language (#1263)
• Support multiple Bootswatch themes for the app (#1205)
• Providers and secretaries must only be able to see and manage their own customers (#1199)
• Use the default service duration if the user just clicks on a calendar slot for creating a new appointment (#1237)
• Google Calendar synchronisation failure when symbols/emoji appear in events to be imported (#1182)
• Add the customer timezone field in the appointment modal of the calendar page (#1094)
• Add a new setting that toggles the login link of the booking page (#1148)
• Add custom Matomo analytics integration (#974)
• Prefill the form field though url parameters (#1021)
• Color code events by provider or service (#422)
• Service duration values shorter than 5 minutes should be acceptable via the services page (#1110)
• Add a new “is_private” flag to services and providers so that they do not appear in the booking page (#378)
• Skip the first booking step when only one service and one provider are available (#349)
• Enable the change of the brand logo and colors from the backend (#789)
• Add the ability to temporarily block new appointments / set away message (#940)
• Add optional (configurable with setting) phone number validation (#820)
• Add an option to deactivate the remove-all-data function for customers (#808)
• Skip the first booking step if both provider and service are preselected (#1117)
• Make delete appointment via API to send emails just like the calendar page does (#1101)
• Create new layout structure for the markup, so that common HTML markup is being reused (#1152)
• Have an option to hide customer data fields during booking (#1081)
• Add a SECURITY.md file to the repository (#1122)
• Add support for custom fields on customers (#1133)
• Add from email/name and reply-to settings in the email.php configuration file (#1465)
• Create a new setting that will define the default timezone of the application (#1390)
• Integrate CalDAV Protocol for appointment syncing (#209)
• Add LDAP / Active Directory integration (#128)

Changed

• Do not allow a customer to book the same hours multiple times (#1420)
• All the user roles with access to the backend calendar page can filter by services (#956)
• Update Bootstrap to version 5 (#1150)
• Update FullCalendar to version 5 (#1151)
• The availability generation algorithm needs performance improvements when many appointments are stored in the system (#1171)
• Support for relative paths when loading resources or working with the session (#1158)
• Support line breaks when displaying the service description (#1149)
• Remove the CodeIgniter fork from the composer.json file and re-import the system directory (#1109)

Fixed

• Sync all the providers without errors, when the user clicks on the “sync” button and “all” is selected in the calendar page (#1365)
• Non-working time not showing correctly in the week view of calendar (#1381)
• Make sure the booking cancellation is a post request and has a reason value provided (#1178)

Removed

• Remove the engine directory and files form the app (they’re deprecated) (#971)
• Remove the PHPMailer dependency from the app and use the built-in CodeIgniter mailer (#970)

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Custom availability functionality

Gone are the days of endless back-and-forth emails trying to find a suitable meeting time. Easy!Appointments offers customizable availability options that allow you to set your preferred working hours and availability slots. Whether you need to schedule a one-on-one consultation or a group meeting, participants can effortlessly view your availability and book appointments accordingly, saving time and reducing scheduling conflicts.

Customer management feature

Customer management is crucial for businesses of all sizes and industries and Easy!Appointments aims to provide a simple yet powerful user interface so that you can easily manage and navigate through the booking history and data of your customer base. Effective customer management enables businesses to build strong and lasting relationships with their customers.

Calendar synchronization mechanism

To further streamline your workflow, Easy!Appointments integrates seamlessly with other calendar apps and software solutions you already use. Whether it’s Google Calendar or any CalDAV application, the two-way synchronization algorithm allows for smooth data transfer and enhances collaboration across your entire workflow ecosystem.

But wait, there’s so much more

Easy!Appointments offers a wide array of scheduling features designed to simplify your life and boost your productivity. From calendar integration and customizable availability to automated notifications and booking page customization, these tools empower you to take control of your time and make the most of every day. Take some time to check out the online demo page and reach out to info@easyappointments.org to quickly get started with your own installation.

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Today, we’re diving into the exciting realm of web development to explore the journey of developing a groundbreaking extension that integrates EasyAppointments with Joomla CMS. This integration promises to provide the same workflow that was successfully delivered some years ago with the release of the WordPress plugin that enables quick and easy connection of your booking page with your website.

Understanding the Need

Before delving into development, it’s crucial to understand the underlying need driving this integration. Joomla CMS boasts a vast user base, encompassing businesses, organizations, and professionals across various industries. Meanwhile, EasyAppointments stands out as a powerful open-source appointment scheduling tool, offering flexibility and customization.

However, despite their individual strengths, users often find themselves grappling with the challenge of seamlessly incorporating EasyAppointments into their Joomla-powered websites. This disjointed experience can lead to frustration and inefficiency, highlighting the pressing need for an integrated solution.

The Joomla Integration

Armed with a clear understanding of the user pain points, the vision for the integration emerges: to create a seamless bridge between EasyAppointments and Joomla CMS, empowering users to effortlessly manage appointments without leaving their Joomla environment. The goal is to streamline the scheduling process, enhance user experience, and unlock new possibilities for businesses and professionals relying on Joomla for their online presence.

Benefits and Impact

As the integrated solution takes shape, its potential benefits become apparent:

• Easily install a brand new Easy!Appointments installation into your existing Joomla website with a single click.
• Connect an existing Easy!Appointments installation by providing the server path and URL location.
• Directly integrate the booking page into your Joomla pages and allow end users make bookings without ever leaving the website

Conclusion

In the ever-evolving landscape of web development, the integration of Easy!Appointments with Joomla CMS marks a significant milestone. By bridging two powerful platforms, this integration empowers users to harness the full potential of appointment scheduling within their Joomla-powered websites. As businesses and professionals embrace this streamlined solution, the future of online appointment management shines brighter than ever before.

Innovation thrives at the intersection of user needs and technological prowess. With the EasyAppointments-Joomla integration, we’ve unlocked a new realm of possibilities, redefining how websites engage with their audience and elevate user experience to new heights.

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The Power of Collaboration

One of the most rewarding aspects of open source is the power of collaboration. Our project has flourished because of the diverse perspectives and talents that contributors from around the world have brought to the table. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a newcomer, your involvement has made a significant impact, shaping the project into something truly special.

Gratitude to the Community

A heartfelt thank you to each and every contributor who has dedicated time, effort, and expertise to make this project what it is today. Your passion for innovation, commitment to quality, and willingness to collaborate have been the driving forces behind our success. Together, we’ve created something that not only solves problems but also inspires others in the open-source community.

Looking Ahead

Moving forward, it’s essential to keep our eyes on the future. We have exciting plans and ambitions for the project and with your continued support, we aim to push boundaries, introduce innovative features, and make a positive impact on the developer community.

Cheers to each and every one of you, and let the celebration begin!

Happy coding!

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The academic background

While still a technical university student, the creator of Easy!Appointments, Alex Tselegidis, had received the final year project (Bachelor Thesis) of the creation of a web-based software solution that would be able to schedule appointments and automatically sync them with Google Calendar. Till date, those two points still designate the core functionality of the app, although the initial scope was vastly expanded over the past ten years.

As you can imagine though, the preparation of any academic work does not only apply to the practical side of things, so that quite some work was dedicated to answering vital software questions such as to how would availability be best treated and what would the optimal way be to synchronize calendaring data between multiple systems while maintaining high data integrity.

In addition to that, there were other challenges to overcome, such us the proper data role and permissions system, so that the the new app becomes flexible enough to handle any type of business, from standalone individuals to big organizations and companies. All this preparation and research ended up to the incorporation of all the required core components that made Easy!Appointments a piece of software able to readjust and fit any scenario, without major core changes for all these years.

A humble beginning

With a successful Thesis delivery and a high quality codebase, the project was ready to become accessible to the world and help other individuals, technical or not, accept online bookings for their day to day business. Back then, GitHub was not one of the main code hosting services and Git was even not the primary source control system. Alas many developers used to work with Subversion and other source control systems.

At that point Alex decided to publish the first version of the Easy!Appointments under the GPL-3.0 license to Google Projects, a code hosting service from Google that unfortunately no longer exists. Google Projects was a very basic version of what GitHub is basically today, but would allow programmers to collaborate on Open Source software. In addition to that, a dedicated Google Group was created to facilitate the community support and discussion needs.

A couple of months passed by and Open Source enthusiasts started picking up on the project and experiment with it and provide feedback. After a couple of months the first stable release was ready for prime time and the rest is history. With all the great help of the community, we were able to creation a solution that has now become battle-tested and ready to serve any use case, including installations that empower big private and public sector organizations, hospitals, institutions, private individuals etc.

Thank you all for your great support all these years! Great things will become available soon.

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Welcome, dear readers, to a momentous celebration that marks a decade of shared experiences, growth, and connection! As we embark on this journey down memory lane, we are thrilled to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Easy!Appointments. It’s hard to believe how swiftly time has flown since we embarked on this adventure together.

A decade – a unit of time that often signifies transformation, evolution, and resilience. Over the past ten years, Easy!Appointments has flourished into a vibrant community, a space where ideas converge, stories unfold, and knowledge is shared. As we reflect on this remarkable milestone, we can’t help but marvel at the incredible moments that have shaped our collective narrative.

Easy!Appointments turns 10!

In this special anniversary blog post series, we invite you to join us on a nostalgic journey through the highlights, challenges, and triumphs that have defined the past decade. From the humble beginnings of Easy!Appointments to the vibrant and diverse community we are today, each step of the way has been fueled by your unwavering support, passion, and engagement.

This 10th-anniversary celebration is not just about looking back; it’s about appreciating the present and looking forward to the future. As we raise a virtual toast to each and every one of you – our readers, contributors, and partners – we express our deepest gratitude for being an integral part of this incredible journey.

The journey continues

So, let the celebration begin! Join us in reliving the moments that have shaped Easy!Appointments, and here’s to another decade of inspiration, connection, and growth. Thank you for being a cherished part of our story – the story of a decade filled with passion, purpose, and the power of words. Cheers to the next chapter!

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A new 1.5 development package is available for download, including all the merged 1.4.3 changes and many more updates.

Following up to the previous 1.5.0-dev.3 package, experienced community members have offered their valuable feedback and helped with the correction and fine tuning of various app aspects.

Dev Packages

Development packages aim to provide a development preview experience to developers working with Easy!Appointments, allowing everyone to get ready for the new release before it hits the first stable milestone.

Contribute

Not only can anyone participate in the testing process, but you are more than welcome to create your GitHub ticket or reach out to info@easyappointments.org with feedback about the issue you are experiencing, so that it gets fixed before the final release.

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Dropping Support For 7.x Releases

Based on the PHP release lifecycle, older PHP versions will eventually reach their end of life and will not be supported any more. This means that older versions will not receive any security updates which renders them unsuitable for production use. As such, and since security is very important, Easy!Appointments also has to move on and drop the support of all outdated PHP versions (including all PHP 7.x releases). That means that in order for you to use the 1.5 release, you will need to upgrade your server to version PHP 8.x or newer.

https://www.php.net/supported-versions.php

This link displays the currently supported versions of PHP, along with their support life time. Once a version gets out of the Active Support, it will be maintained with security fixes only, which will give the users some additional time to upgrade to a newer PHP version. This period though does not last forever, and you once your PHP version hits the End Of Life there will be no updates available any more and your server might become vulnerable.

Getting Ready For The New Release

Switching the PHP version is very simple, and in most environments you will just need to go to the server hosting administration panel (e.g. cPanel or Plesk), and change the selected PHP version that is running on the server.

If your installation does not work on a shared web hosting environment or you do not have access to the web dashboard of your server, you will need to change the PHP version yourself. This can be achieved in different ways depending on environment are you using or the type of PHP installation that was configured to process the incoming requests. You may contact your hosting support if you do not know how to proceed.

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A new 1.5 development package is available for download, including all the merged 1.4.3 changes and many more updates.

Following up to the previous 1.5.0-dev.1 package, experienced community members have offered their valuable feedback and helped with the correction and fine tuning of various app aspects.

Dev Packages

Development packages aim to provide a development preview experience to developers working with Easy!Appointments, allowing everyone to get ready for the new release before it hits the first stable milestone.

Contribute

Not only can anyone participate in the testing process, but you are more than welcome to create your GitHub ticket or reach out to info@easyappointments.org with feedback about the issue you are experiencing, so that it gets fixed before the final release.

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What Is Matomo Analytics?

Formerly known as Piwik, Matomo Analytics is a GPL licensed web analytics software platform, that you can install on your own server. Web analytics have proven to be a strong tool towards business improvement and expansion, as they offer useful insight on the end user demographics (race, age, origin, language etc) and interactions (page visits, click events etc) on websites and apps (properties). This information is then being evaluated by the property owners for better decision making on the future of their products and services.

Track Your Booking Sessions

Ever since version 1.1, Easy!Appointments supported the use of a Google Analytics code that would allow you to gather such data for the booking page and this functionality got lately enhanced with the release of version 1.4, when support for Google Analytics 4 was added.

With Easy!Appointments 1.5, you will be able to easily add the URL of your Matomo Analytics installation, and Easy!Appointments will then automatically load the required assets to start capturing meta information on all public booking pages.

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