Many years we have developed extensions and sites thinking of a simple way to control all plugins, modules and templates in one place. Now this solution is implemented into all our 3 extensions in free platform with add-ons.

Reading time: 6 mins.

Just to make it clear we call a Platform a free extension (FW Gallery, FW Real Estate or FW Food Menu) which has Add-ons. Add-on can be Joomla! Plugin, Module or extension specific Template, designed with its own system which can be still overwritten in the main Joomla! template.

Benefit 1 - Free extension

Despite demo website we have it was harder to get an idea if our porduct is the right tool for you. Now being completely free we offer functional Joomla! extension with some free an paid add-ons which extend functionality in a way you need exactly for particular website. Every add-on can be downloaded and installed separately adding its own parts to a platform and extending platform possibilities or changing its look.

Benefit 2 - Quick start

All you need to have the latest Joomla! installed and a free component. As soon as you install a platform you must link it to your account on fastw3b.com and you can instantly download and install all available add-ons instead of individual download and installation.

The next tool you may use would be Batch operations available in all our free extensions. Batch operations allow to input data in a very simple way to get a skeleton or your extension categories and items ready in few clicks. Just copy paste key elements following suggested format and you can add as many items as you need to fill in your website with data within minutes.

Benefit 3 - Centralized management

Add-ons section is now available in every extension. It helps to see all available and owned add-ons when you are signed into Fastw3b account by using Access Code. It is a fast and convenient way to track available functionality and design and update your add-ons in one place. Whatever is available or comes out would be listed in Add-ons section of your extension. No need to visit website every week to see what is new. All the information you need will be listed right there in your Add-ons section.

Benefit 4 - Ease of configuration

Add-ons has a huge benefit of selecting what exactly you need for a particular project. It does not only mean less add-ons it means less configuration in a platform. Add-ons architecture  helps to exclude parts of code that relates to a certain functionality and keep you platform clean. The only functions and settings you will see would be those that come from the platform itself and enabled add-ons. Pretty cool, right?

Benefit 5 - Designs

With a new concept we introduce a new design system which has its own set of layouts allowing to assemble design from different bits. This system is very important to provide another level of flexibility in data presentation. Now we can use totally different design approaches in different designs as they may redefine core layouts and have theis own CSS files which adds another level of flexibility and control. This year we plan to have a design release at least every other month.

Benefit 6 - Detailed demo and documentation

Since every Add-on is a separate unit with its own releases it will have its own page, example page on demo website and documentation section. Breaking down bigger product into smaller parts allow to take a closer look of every bit and its functional purpose. Through the years we had numerous situations when people asked in support about features we had for years just because they were poorly described or hard to find. Now when every add-on is a single item customers will have a chance to read all about it and browse documentation before they use it.

Benefit 7 - Quick releases

At this point we have platform and add-ons as totally independent parts which do not affect each other. Of course, platform is a ground for all add-ons, but changes in a platform will not affect add-ons and vice versa. So now it is extremely easy to release a fix or an update as we don't have to test the whole system from scratch as we use to do. We only test parts that relate to add-on or a platform and release a new version. Get ready for a regular monthly releases this year.

Benefit 8 - Customization independence

Customization has always been tricky in terms of future updates as there were simply no way to factor in all changes made in different files of different projects. With new concept all customizations can be wrapped as a customer add-on and keep all needed modifications there without affecting other parts. This innovation means no more worries about updates after customization. From now on update will never wipe out all changes made or break the main part. Forget to write the notes on which files to rewrite after updates and pray they don't break anything. It is all much simpler and safer now.

As you can see new concept came out as a result of our decade in Joomla! development with all out best practices and observations of hundreds of projects made through the years. We are happy to finally release it and share all the benefits of this innovation with our customers.

We are always glad to hear your comments and suggestion either in social networks or on our website.

This Christmas Eve we are happy to thank all our clients and share our great results that happened through this year. It was a year of a big chgallenge and new approach for extension development and distribution. It was  a year of continuous improvement in our support model and communication with our new and loyal clients. So now it is time to share all achievements and plans we have for the year to come. You can count them as New Year Resolutions if you like.

We made ALL our main products FREE!

Our biggest achievement this year was to conbvert all our products into free main extension + add-ons model. It's been our idea for years, but this year it has become finally true. The process that involved many modifications of extension architecture, shop concept, old version support, design separation and, of course, break down functional parts into smaller add-ons. It's a huge work that is now finished and from now on it will be super easy to develop and update our extensions. A special article will be posted about new extension model, describing all advantages and benefits.

All add-ons are now in an extension you use in ADD-ONS section. You an download/install or purchase any add-on you need just from your website, right where you use it.

Besides new architecture, all extensions were deeply redesigned and updated with the most recent libraries. Demo websites got detailed example pages for every key feature our products have. We also added Showcase section where we post examples of product use for a particular field/application. All demo websites are now grouped under https://demo.fastw3b.com/. Top bar on demo sites allows admin login to explore back-end functionality and try any product before purchase.

We add CSS Styles section to every extension to allow custom modifications that will stay there after any further updates. This is somethings that has been annoying for many of our clients and we finally solved it.

New design concept will provide simple and effective tool for managing layouts and item presentation. This innovation will help us release more designs in the next year.

With all things we did we still have many more to do. So here is our resolution list:

1. Improve/update documentation for all extensions.
2. Unify all our products. Keep the same approach to similar functionality to support ease of use and usability.
3. Release at least 1 version a month.
4. Develop more designs.
5. Add a new Showcase to demo websites at least once every 2 months.
6. Keep our Support standards at a high level and provide quick and effective response.
7. Listen to our clients and implement ideas you suggest.

It's been another great year for Fastw3b and we can't wait to see and talk to you in a coming new 2020 year! Enjoy the holidays and see you soon!

New free FW Food Menu has become the best we've ever developed so far. Breaking down significant functionality pieces into separate add-ons and introducing new design concept to make any design of menu possible extensions has now dropped all its limits and will satisfy any needs.

Free Component

From now on FW Food Menu will be free. Even free version has lots of features that would allow building most online menus. Among the most powerful features we would name:

• Batch Operations - very simple text mode to quickly build category structure and fill in categories with meals;
• individual Category settings -  allow to override global configuration by some or all parameters;
• free Columns Layout plugin - allows aligning meals into columns;

Add-ons Section

Separating functionality and designs into add-ons helps make releases faster and more stable, focus on every add-on in particular, have its own demo and documentation for every product.

In Add-ons section in administrator panel on your website you can always:

• access all available, purchased and free add-ons;
• see if any updates are available at the moment;
• download and install all add-ons on a clean installation by using your Access Code in free FW Food Menu component.

All new add-ons (plugins, modules, designs) and services related to main component will become available and appear in Add-ons section as soon as they are published on official Fastw3b website.

New Functionality

Let's have a look at all add-ons we have for FW Food Menu 2.0.0.

• Coffee Shop Design - Coffee Shop inspired design with coffee palette colors and font that helps to create right atmosphere for a coffee menu. Has special design for Promo badges which would become available with Promo plugin and promo badges switched to Text Badges.
• Itallian Design - Design inspired with Itialian menu stylimg and colors. Will look authentic with any Pizza & Pasta meals menu. Traditional colors palette and selected fonts help to bring some Italian touches to menu design. Has special design for Promo badges which would become available with Promo plugin and promo badges switched to Text Badges.
• Category Navigation Module - Coffee Shop inspired design with coffee palette colors and font that helps to create right atmosphere for a coffee menu. Has special design for Promo badges which would become available with Promo plugin and promo badges switched to Text Badges.
• Meal Category Module - Category meals presentation in different layouts with many prams to ahieve best presentation. It works and looks almost the same as component layout, but in a form of a module which can be used in different positions and with various parameters even on the same page.
• Cascading Layout Plugin - The best way to show menu on a single page. Selecting any categories you want to show on a page you will see them exactly the way they were designed. So if you need to show very different menu styles or if all categories are styled the same way Cascading Layout will help to show them in one place without reloading the whole page.
• Category PDF Plugin - Adds functionality to upload PDF version of online menu into a category and show Download PDF link next to category title. PDF can be created for each category individually or one file for parent category to have full menu in one file.
• Color & Background Plugin - Ultimate design option to create unqiue category styling by setting text color, background color and image for category in whole or menu items. Can be used in combination with designs. Custom CSS Styles will help to configure element details that may be needed.
• Columns Layout Plugin - Adds Columns option for Categoris layout allowing wrapping meals and subcategories into columns. Different number of columns can be configured for different categories or can be set to Default inheriting global Settings.
• Images Plugin - Adds images to meals listing with option to show them on to the left, right, top or hide. Having images for the category it would add a nice slide show of meals in Category List view when hovering a category.
• Prices & Discounts Plugin - Extends meal price field to a pricing grid, allowing to create a set of price for different meals or extras that come with a meal. Special price field allows to create discounts and can be used with combination of Promo Special or other promo features to emphasize meal value.
• Promo Plugin - A set of promo icons or text badges (depending on configuration) that allow to make a meal stand out. Meal of the day, Special, New and Recommended options are available. This options canbe used to create a separate page with all meals from different categories shown all together. Designs may have special styling for promo text bages.

Design Approach

Starting version 2.0.0 designs transformed into separate themes with its own layouts and CSS files which allows full flexibility for menu presentation. Besides, all published designs CSS will appear in read-only tabs in CSS Styles section of FW Food Menu, allowing to look up styles you may need to change.
New concept for designs make them totally individual and allows to designs and customize design much easier and quicker. Try it and you will see it yourself.

Updates and Pricing

Same as before we have 2 main sale options:

• Version. Cost less, but as soon as new minor version comes out you will need to buy it again. This approach is good for testing a product or a quick job where you don't plan to maintain a website.
• Subscription. Higher cost, but you get 12 months free updates which would be a huge saver considering discounts available for subscription and release frequency. This option is best for long-term users and loyal Fastw3b customers. We encourage you to subscribe using deals and get most discounted full packages if you had a chance to try Fastw3b products quality and support.

Enjoy using our new best FW Food Menu version 2.0.x and wait for new releases coming monthly!

FW Gallery 5.0.0 is a major release focused on the new component architecture. It serves as a basic model for all subsequent FW Gallery releases and works as a single platform with a set of add-ons that are allocated into two packages corresponding to the former Light and Grand versions. Add-ons are FW Gallery specific Joomla extensions (modules, plugins, data type, and design).

The first package (former Light version) includes the component with a  limited number of add-ons and second package (former Grand) includes the component with all available add-ons. Earlier there were separate structures and databases for Light and Grand versions, now FW Gallery has the same structure and database and comes in two packages.

FW Gallery v5.0.0 represents a transition point to the main platform (main component) with independent add-ons. Soon, all add-ons will be independent of the platform. Consequently, you will be able to choose as many add-ons as you like to create a gallery with a desired set of functionalities.

Critical Steps to upgrade

As a result of the structural change, make sure to follow the recommendations below:

• Upgrade to the latest major v4.x.x version before upgrading to v5.0.0.

Feel free to ask for installation file using General question form of your Client section on fastw3b.com.

• Note that when a basic package (former Light) is updated, it is NOT installed over the previous Light version. For that reason, along with FW Gallery Light, you will see FW Gallery component next to it in the Components dropdown. When an extended package (former Grand) is updated, it is installed over the previous Grand version. For that reason, you will see a familiar FW Gallery menu item within Components dropdown. This comes as a result of the structural change outlined above.
• Make sure to import your gallery data to the new FW Gallery.

Go to your Dashboard in Admin panel and find green Import data on top. Import functionality allows importing all galleries and files to a new FW Gallery.

• Revise your layouts on front-end for both Grand and Light versions.

Make sure you select correct layouts for all FW Gallery menu items after the extension is installed.

• Revise gallery settings on the front-end for both Grand and Light versions.

As now gallery settings moved from Menu item parameters to gallery settings (Admin Panel -> Galleries -> Edit), you will need to set all settings again to have it all working if you had any specific settings on particular menu items. Global settings will get imported though.

• Please note that downgrade from version 5.x.x to 4.x.x is NOT possible.

Please use our Documentation section and Ticket Support on fastw3b.com if you need more information on upgrade and a new release.

Changes in FW Gallery that may affect current layouts and settings

Along with the component structure, we have implemented a lot of valuable and helpful changes. Let’s take a look at them below:

• Add-ons section.


All add-ons are displayed and managed via this section. Make sure they are activated to ensure that all needed functionalities are up and running. 

Reference materials: New FW Gallery concept: platform with add-ons article.

• Gallery display settings moved to gallery level.


Now gallery settings are available at the gallery level, not menu item level. Just locate your gallery settings and switch to the Design tab to configure multiple display settings for galleries, gallery listing, and files/file listing. 

• Gallery settings priority.


Gallery settings priority has been changed. Now local gallery settings have priority over parent settings while parent settings have priority over global configuration.

• Configuration section. 


We have redesigned Configuration section. There are 4 tabs available:

• General. You can set image sizes, watermark, gallery designs, date format, and comments via this section.

• Galleries. All settings associated with galleries are set via this section.

• Files. All settings associated with files are set via this section.

• Add-ons. All settings of the activated add-ons hit this section.


• FW Gallery plugin instead of FW Gallery Content Plugin.

FW Gallery Content Plugin was limited to articles only. A new FW Gallery module allows inserting galleries and files anywhere on your website via different module positions or within the articles as well. The gallery within the module can be customized just like any other gallery. Thus, you can set design, grids, files rows, etc.  

Reference materials: How do you put a module inside an article 

• Data Management section.

Use this section for backing up and restoring your gallery data before every update or as a tool to prevent data loss. This section is also used for all import procedures. Thus, Facebook, Instagram, and Google import settings are located in this section.

Need more information on the topic?

Get familiar with How to migrate to FW Gallery 5.0.0 tutorial to find more information about upgrading procedure.

Please use the comments section at the bottom of each documentation page to comment and suggest improvements that will make the product experience better.

If you need more information on the topic, use Support page in Client section on fastw3b.com. Feel free to submit your feedback on our new concept and architecture using Suggest an Idea form. Use General Question or other forms to get more information on the topic.