Introduction
As a web developer, I’m always on the lookout for innovative solutions to enhance the user experience of my websites. Recently, I had the opportunity to try out PHP Live Support Chat, a PHP and MySQL-based live chat software that promises to provide an efficient and customizable way to connect with website visitors. In this review, I’ll share my experience with the software, highlighting its features, pros, and cons.
Features
PHP Live Support Chat is a comprehensive live chat solution that offers a wide range of features to cater to various needs. Some of the key features include:
- Easy installation and customization
- Compatibility with various websites, including static, PHP, WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, and OpenCart
- Contact form fallback
- Mobile support with responsive guest widget
- Desktop notifications
- Multiple operators and guests chatting
- Clean and modern look
- High-quality set of avatar images
- Chat box with emoticons set
- Initial welcome message after guest logs in
- Operator knows which page the guest is currently visiting
- Message views auto-updating their relative delivery time
- Sound notifications
- Conversations history with filtering
- Widget colors and texts/language customization
- Unlimited usage with no monthly fees
Requirements
PHP Live Support Chat requires PHP 5 (with PDO support) and MySQL 5.
Updates
The software has a strong update history, with over 20 updates since its release. Some notable updates include:
- PHPMailer library updated to version 5.2.22
- Fix for default timezone setting code
- Mobile widget button positioning changed
- Installation SQL code updated
- Fix for incorrectly highlighted links in the chat box
Pros
- PHP Live Support Chat is an easy-to-install and customize solution that can be integrated with various websites.
- The software offers a wide range of features, including mobile support, desktop notifications, and sound notifications.
- The chat box and emoticons set are of high quality, providing a professional and engaging user experience.
- The software has a strong update history, with regular updates and fixes to ensure stability and performance.
Cons
- The software requires PHP 5 and MySQL 5, which may be a limitation for some users.
- The installation process can be complex for users who are not familiar with PHP and MySQL.
- The software does not offer a free trial or demo, which may make it difficult for users to test the software before purchasing.
Conclusion
Overall, PHP Live Support Chat is a solid live chat solution that offers a wide range of features and customization options. While it may have some limitations, the software’s ease of installation and update history make it a worthwhile investment for web developers looking to enhance the user experience of their websites. With a score of 4.54, I highly recommend PHP Live Support Chat to anyone looking for a reliable and customizable live chat solution.
Rating
4.54/5 stars
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Introduction
PHP Live Support Chat is a powerful and flexible solution that allows you to easily add a live chat system to your website, giving you the ability to instantly support your customers, resolve their issues, and build trust in your brand. In this tutorial, we will show you how to install, configure, and use PHP Live Support Chat on your website.
Table of Contents
- Installing PHP Live Support Chat
- Configuring PHP Live Support Chat
- Customizing PHP Live Support Chat
- Using PHP Live Support Chat
Installing PHP Live Support Chat
To install PHP Live Support Chat, you will need to download and extract the software onto your web server. Follow these steps:
- Download PHP Live Support Chat: Go to the PHP Live Support Chat download page and click on the "Download Now" button to download the software.
- Extract the files: Once the download is complete, extract the files from the ZIP archive to a temporary directory on your computer.
- Upload files: Upload the extracted files to your web server, specifically to the root directory of your website (usually named "public_html" or "www").
- Create a database: Create a new database and database user on your MySQL server. You can use phpMyAdmin or other database management tools to create the database and user.
Configuring PHP Live Support Chat
Before using PHP Live Support Chat, you need to configure some settings. Follow these steps:
- Configure database settings: In the
config.phpfile, update the database connection settings with your MySQL server details (host, database name, username, password). - Update live support settings: Update the
live_support_config.phpfile with your own settings, such as support agent email, department settings, and notification settings.
Customizing PHP Live Support Chat
To further customize PHP Live Support Chat, you can use a variety of customization options:
- Style customizations: Use CSS files to customize the look and feel of the live support interface.
- Languages: Translate the live support interface to multiple languages to cater to a broader audience.
- Buttons and icons: Update buttons and icons to match your website's design and theme.
Using PHP Live Support Chat
To start using PHP Live Support Chat, follow these steps:
- Install Live Support Button: Insert a live support button onto your website, which can be done by copying the script code provided by the plugin and pasting it into your website's code.
- Initialize PHP Live Support Chat: The button will initiate the chat interface, where you and your customers can start discussing their issues.
- Manage Conversations: As a support agent, you can manage multiple conversations simultaneously, and reply to customer messages.
- Close and Resume Chats: Close or resume chats as needed, with the option to continue discussions at a later time.
- Notification Alerts: Receive notification alerts whenever a customer initiates a chat or sends a new message.
Additional Features
PHP Live Support Chat offers a range of advanced features, including:
- Department settings: Configure specific departments for your business to handle different types of conversations.
- Department notification: Set up department-level notifications to ensure support agents are alerted to specific conversation types.
- Statistics and reports: Analyze conversation statistics and reports to optimize your support processes and improve customer satisfaction.
- Multi-language support: Offer support in multiple languages to cater to a diverse customer base.
With the installation, configuration, customization, and usage tutorial outlined above, you're ready to start using PHP Live Support Chat to revolutionize your customer support operations and enhance the overall user experience.
Enable PHP Live Support Chat
[livesupport]
enable = trueSet Server Name
[livesupport]
server_name = "My Support Server"Set Operator Email
[livesupport]
operator_email = "support@mywebsite.com"Set Operator Skype ID
[livesupport]
operator_skype = "my-skype-id"Set Maximum Chat Limit
[livesupport]
max_chats = 5Set Chat Timer
[livesupport]
chat_timer = 30Set Timezone
[livesupport]
timezone = "Europe/London"Set Customizable Links
[livesupport]
links = [
["url" => "https://www.php-livesupport.com/", "title" => "PHP Live Support"]
]Set Online Status
[livesupport]
online_status = trueSet Idle Time (in seconds)
[livesupport]
idle_time = 30Set Idle Status
[livesupport]
idle_status = "Away"Set Enable Chat History
[livesupport]
history_enable = trueHere are the features of PHP Live Support Chat:
- Easy Installation
- Compatible even with IE8!
- Works with any PHP 5 & MySQL website
- Contact form fallback
- Mobile support (responsive guest widget)
- Desktop Notifications
- Multiple operators and guests chatting
- Clean and modern look
- High quality set of avatar images
- Chat box with high quality emoticons set
- Initial “welcome” message after guest logs in
- Operator knows which page the guest is currently visiting!
- Message views auto-updating their relative delivery time
- Sound notifications (10 predefined sounds to choose from)
- Conversations history with filtering
- Widget colors and texts/language customization
- Unlimited usage — no monthly fees
- Requires PHP 5 (with PDO support) and MySQL 5
- Responsive design
- Support for cross-domain functionality
- Cross-domain version included
- Settings for widget’s width and height in admin’s panel
- Toggle full screen (full window) mode
- Mobile support for guests
- Fluid layout for the admin’s panel
- Reduced scripts size
- Typing indicator
Note that some of these features may be listed under "Other items" or "Updates" sections.
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