WordPress – Client Portal

To implement client portal in wordpress, there are many solutions. In my case, I need to set up a portal so that clients can login with their username and password, view client specific portal pages, and download clients specific documents.

I’ve reviewed 2 solutions: s2member and WP-Client.

If you want the cheapest solution, you cannot go wrong with S2Member Free Edition. You can set up client Portal using “custom capability” of S2Member Framework. You will need other plugins such as Login Redirect.

If you want a more professional solution with more features, such as client uploading, project management, private communication, then WP-Client offers them for a price.

Private & Secure Client Ports
Estimates & Invoice
Secure File Upload & Download
Import Clients by Batch
Client Registration
Create Client Circles
Assign Client Managers
Option to require payment for access to Portals
Time Limited Temporary Access to Portal
Custom Post Type in Portal
Custom Titles Feature
Clients can create credentials for their staff
Show/Hide Content Based on Client/Client Circle
File Management & File Categorization
Remote File Support
Project Feedback
Private Messaging — A proprietary private messaging system allows your clients to communicate with you in total privacy, right inside the client portal area. Emails are sent containing the content of the private message along with a one-click link that allows you to respond securely to that message.
Custom Client Login Page
Permit Clients to edit their Portal Pages
Client Login Alerts
Add/Remove Permissions
Client Login Redirect
Keep Robots/Spiders from Indexing
Notify Clients about Updated Portal Pages

This can be a great interface to interact with the following:
Clients
Customers
Colleagues
Collaborators
Employees
Staff
Students
Patients
Vendors
Affiliates
Members
Family

Be sure to check out their pricing carefully as different license offers different number of licensed URLs and plugins. http://WP-Client.com

I like the fact that they have a “100% guarantee”, 14-day money back.

Remote Manage Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2

Problem

This may not be obvious, but you cannot remote manage Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 from Windows 8 or 8.1.  If you try to connect, you get this message: “This version of Hyper-V Manager cannot be used to manage servers running Hyper-V in Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2″””

Microsoft gave this technical explanation.

Solution

1. Upgrade to Hyper-V Server 2012.

2. Use a Windows 7 machine and install “Hyper-V Remote Management Tools to Win 7”

3. Manage the Hyper-V locally, such as using 5nine software’s free hyper-v tools.  However, the guest console has a problem of not refreshing.

SQL Server: Export Fixed Width Flat file with Carriage Return Line Feed (i.e. CRLF)

Problem:

I haven’t exported data file in fixed width format for the longest time.  When I exported using “Fixed width” format in SQL Server SSIS, I have a file with all records in a single line, without any CR/LF.

Solution:

It turns out “Ragged Right” is the new “Fixed width”; it allows you to choose the Row delimiter “{CR}/{LF}”.  With it, I have the expected flat file with all records on a separate lines of text.