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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions and answers about Rewardify.

General Questions​

What is Rewardify?​

Rewardify is a comprehensive gamification extension for Joomla that rewards users with points for various activities on your website. It helps increase user engagement, loyalty, and interaction.

Which Joomla versions are supported?​

Rewardify supports Joomla 5.3 and higher. For older Joomla versions (3.x, 4.x), we do not have supported extension.

Is Rewardify free?​

Rewardify is a commercial extension. A license is required for production use.

Can I try before buying?​

Please contact support@shondalai.com for demo site access or visit our website https://demo.shondalai.com

Installation & Setup​

How do I install Rewardify?​

  1. Download the package file
  2. Go to System → Install → Extensions
  3. Upload the pkg_rewardify.zip file
  4. Enable required plugins
  5. Configure point rules

Full installation guide →

Which plugins must I enable?​

Required:

  • User - Rewardify (for registration/login)
  • Privacy - Rewardify (for GDPR compliance)

Optional but recommended:

  • Content - Rewardify (for article points)
  • Integration plugins (only if you use those extensions)

Do I need to configure anything after installation?​

Yes, recommended steps:

  1. Review and enable point rules
  2. Adjust point values
  3. Configure profile/avatar settings
  4. Publish leaderboard module
  5. Test with a test user account

Point Rules​

How do point rules work?​

Point rules define when and how points are awarded. Each rule has:

  • Title - Display name
  • Rule Name - Unique identifier
  • Points - Amount to award
  • Published - Active or not
  • Access Level - Who can earn
  • Rate Limit - Prevention of duplicates

Complete guide to point rules →

Can I create custom point rules?​

Yes! You can create custom rules for any activity:

  1. Components → Rewardify → Point Rules
  2. Click New
  3. Configure the rule
  4. Use Developer API to trigger it

How do I award negative points?​

To deduct points, enter a negative number:

  • Example: -5 will deduct 5 points
  • Useful for penalties or corrections
  • Common for deleted content

What is rate limiting?​

Rate limiting prevents users from earning points repeatedly for the same action:

  • Set in days (0 = no limit)
  • Example: Login once per day = 1 day limit
  • Prevents abuse and spam

Can points expire?​

Yes, points can expire:

  • Rule-based: Set "Expires In" days on rule
  • Individual: Set "Publish Down" date on point entry
  • Permanent: Leave expiration empty

Managing Points​

How do I award points manually?​

Two methods:

Method 1: Components → Rewardify → Points → New Method 2: Components → Rewardify → User Points → Select user → Award Points

Full guide →

Can I deduct points from users?​

Yes:

  • Award negative points (-25 deducts 25 points)
  • Or delete specific point entries
  • Add reason in title/description

How do I view a user's point history?​

  1. Components → Rewardify → Points
  2. Filter by specific user
  3. View complete history with dates and reasons

Can I export point data?​

Yes:

  • Use Joomla's built-in export features
  • Or third-party export extensions
  • Privacy plugin also exports on user request

What happens to points when user is deleted?​

The Privacy plugin automatically removes:

  • All point entries
  • User point totals
  • Related data

This ensures GDPR compliance.

Leaderboard​

How do I display the leaderboard?​

  1. Extensions → Modules
  2. Find "Rewardify - Leaderboard"
  3. Publish the module
  4. Assign to menu items
  5. Select position

Complete leaderboard guide →

Can I have multiple leaderboards?​

Yes! Create multiple instances:

  • Duplicate the module
  • Configure each differently
  • Example: All-time + Monthly + Weekly

How often does leaderboard update?​

Updates depend on cache settings:

  • No cache: Real-time updates
  • Cached: Updates when cache expires
  • Recommended: 30-minute cache for performance

Can users opt-out of leaderboard?​

Currently not built-in. This is a feature request for future versions.

Can I exclude certain users?​

Not built-in, but you can:

  • Use access levels
  • Create template override
  • Custom development

Plugins​

Which plugins do I need?​

Core plugins (enable always):

  • User - Rewardify
  • Privacy - Rewardify

Integration plugins (enable if you use them):

  • Content - Rewardify
  • Community Builder - Rewardify
  • HikaShop - Rewardify
  • Kunena - Rewardify
  • Others as needed

Plugin configuration guide →

Why aren't my plugins working?​

Check:

  1. ✅ Plugin is enabled
  2. ✅ Point rule is published
  3. ✅ Point value is not zero
  4. ✅ Access level is correct
  5. ✅ Rate limit allows awards

Troubleshooting guide →

Can I create custom plugins?​

Yes! Developers can create custom plugins:

  • Use SubscriberInterface pattern
  • Access Rewardify API
  • Trigger point rules

Developer API →

Integration Questions​

Does Rewardify work with Community Builder?​

Yes! Enable the Community Builder - Rewardify plugin to award points for:

  • Profile updates
  • Avatar uploads
  • User connections
  • Wall posts

Can I integrate with HikaShop?​

Yes! Two plugins available:

  • HikaShop - Rewardify: Award points for purchases
  • HikaShop Payment - Rewardify: Pay with points

Does it work with Kunena forum?​

Yes! Enable Kunena - Rewardify plugin for:

  • Topic creation
  • Post replies
  • Best answers

What about JomSocial?​

Yes, JomSocial - Rewardify plugin is included.

Can I integrate my custom extension?​

Yes! Use the Developer API:

$component = $app->bootComponent('com_rewardify');
if ($component instanceof UserPointsFactoryInterface) {
    $component->getUserPoints()->assign([
        'rule' => 'com_myextension.action',
        'userid' => $userId,
        'points' => 10,
        'title' => 'Custom Action',
    ]);
}

Point Economy​

How many points should I award?​

Start conservative and adjust:

  • Registration: 1-5 points
  • Daily login: 1-2 points
  • Article post: 5-10 points
  • Comment: 1-3 points
  • Streak bonus: 10-20 points

Monitor user behavior and adjust.

What's a good points-to-currency ratio?​

For e-commerce sites:

  • Conservative: 100 points = $1
  • Moderate: 50 points = $1
  • Generous: 20 points = $1

Test and adjust based on your profit margins.

How do I prevent point inflation?​

  1. Use rate limiting
  2. Set reasonable point values
  3. Enable point expiration
  4. Monitor and adjust regularly
  5. Require approval for high-value actions

Should points expire?​

Depends on your goals:

  • No expiration: Build long-term loyalty
  • Annual expiration: Encourage active use
  • Quarterly expiration: Drive urgent engagement

Technical Questions​

What PHP version is required?​

PHP 8.1 or higher is required for Joomla 6 compatibility.

Does Rewardify affect performance?​

Minimal impact if configured properly:

  • Enable caching
  • Use rate limiting
  • Optimize database regularly
  • Limit leaderboard size

Is it compatible with caching?​

Yes! Rewardify works with Joomla caching:

  • Page cache: Compatible
  • Module cache: Recommended
  • Conservative cache: Best for leaderboard

Can I use with CDN?​

Yes, Rewardify is CDN-compatible. Static assets can be cached.

How do I backup point data?​

Regular Joomla database backups include:

  • #__rewardify_points
  • #__rewardify_users
  • #__rewardify_points_rules

Use Akeeba Backup or similar tools.

Security & Privacy​

Is Rewardify GDPR compliant?​

Yes! The Privacy plugin provides:

  • Data export on request
  • Data deletion on account removal
  • Transparency in data collection
  • User consent mechanisms

Can users cheat the system?​

Protection measures included:

  • Rate limiting
  • Duplicate prevention
  • Admin approval option
  • Audit trail logging
  • Access level restrictions

How is point data secured?​

  • Stored in Joomla database
  • Subject to Joomla ACL
  • Protected by user permissions
  • Encrypted if using HTTPS
  • Regular security updates

Troubleshooting​

Points not being awarded?​

Quick checklist:

  • Plugin enabled
  • Rule published
  • Points not zero
  • Correct access level
  • Rate limit allows
  • Cache cleared

Full troubleshooting guide →

Leaderboard not showing?​

  • Check module is published
  • Verify position exists
  • Ensure users have points
  • Clear cache

Getting error messages?​

Check:

  1. Joomla error log
  2. PHP error log
  3. Database connectivity
  4. Extension updates available

Common errors and solutions →

Upgrading & Updates​

How do I update Rewardify?​

  1. Backup your site and database
  2. Download latest version
  3. Install via extension manager
  4. Joomla handles the update
  5. Test functionality

Will updates affect my data?​

No, updates preserve:

  • Existing points
  • User data
  • Point rules
  • Configuration

Always backup before updating!

Can I downgrade if needed?​

Not recommended, but possible:

  • Restore from backup
  • Manual database rollback
  • Contact support for assistance

How do I check my version?​

Extensions → Manage → Components → Rewardify

Support​

How do I get support?​

  1. Documentation: Read the guides first
  2. Forum: https://shondalai.com/support
  3. Email: support@shondalai.com
  4. Emergency: Contact for priority support options

What information should I provide?​

When requesting support, include:

  • Joomla version
  • PHP version
  • Rewardify version
  • Error messages
  • Steps to reproduce
  • Screenshots if relevant

Is there a support forum?​

Yes! Visit https://shondalai.com/support for:

  • Community discussions
  • Feature requests
  • Bug reports
  • Tips and tricks

Can I request features?​

Absolutely! We welcome feature requests:

  • Submit via support forum
  • Email detailed requirements
  • Consider custom development for urgent needs

Licensing & Commercial​

Do I need a license for each site?​

License terms vary. Check your purchase agreement or contact sales.

Can I use on localhost?​

Yes, testing on localhost is typically allowed.

Is white-labeling available?​

For white-label and OEM options, contact sales@shondalai.com.

Do you offer refunds?​

Refund policy varies by purchase agreement. Contact support.

Still Have Questions?​

Can't find your answer?

Found a bug? Please report it with detailed steps to reproduce.

Have a feature idea? We'd love to hear it! Submit your suggestions.

Last Updated: December 2025
Documentation Version: 1.2.0