This is an addendum to my previous post:

Issue 1: PIN NUMBER:

To give an idea of what thesupport PIN NUMBER I mentioned is all about, please have a look at the two sites below:

[1] https://wpengine.com/support/verifying-your-user-portal-account-when-contacting-support/

[2] https://support.hostway.com/hc/en-us/articles/5010614768796-What-Is-Support-PIN-#:~:text=A%20Support%20PIN%20(personal%20identification,user%20authorized%20to%20manage%20it.

It is clear the PIN NUMBER generator tool exists, but I am not sure if WX5 has already implemented it in their software. I assume it is something that could be integrated on the HEADER using HTML code. Therefore, it would be highly appreciated if anyone in the community could indicate where to find such HTML code.

Issue 2: MARGINAL MENU

I do not see any difficulties in creating a left-hand side marginal menu linked to functional pages that could be previously assigned at the SITE MAP. My query is what shall we do if - for example in the MAIL menue - we wish to separate "unread mails" indicating the number of unread messages. More or less like the OPEN TOPICS section shown in the red box of attached screenshot. The same would apply to "Outstanding Invoices" in the INVOICE menue, etc.

NOTE: Again, I am not asking anyone to build pages or tools for me. I would just like to be directed, if possible, to any Web page or link where I could find the explanations of how to achieve things. Perhaps the lastest versions of WX5 include some of the tools I have mentioned, but do not know where to find the information.

I reckon this will be a very big job for the pros to get all the wheels working, so I'm not even trying - I hope you understand.

Thank you Daniel. I am not sure which one of the issues I raised you are referring to. Let me tell you that in all honesty the PIN NUMBER GENERATOR tool is somewhow irrelevant and I don't mind to disregard it because it could be treated as a gimmick with no bearing from a business point of view. But even on this topic I suspect there should be a established HTML code alredy developed as a form of widget. Again, to make things much simpler, let's put aside the issue of the PIN NUMBER.

Firstly, what I am especially concerned is about creating personalized login account so that when clients log into their account everything they see will be specifically related to them. So, I would like that their username, real name and account number are displayed on the right hand side of the header as it is often the case.

Secondly, I would like that labels in the menu dealing with MAIL and INVOICE could show the number of UNREAD messages or OUTSTANDING INVOICES. Finally, I would like to give clients the opportunity to change passwords and update their contact details in the PROFILE section.

It seems to me the queries I have made should not pose great difficulties taking into account there are millions - or let's better say billions of websites around the globe - that provide personalized accounts exactly as I have describe them after people manage to correctly log in.

Since I don't have a shop myself, I haven't yet dealt with the topic of "customer registration", which should contain the most important of the functions you are looking for, see instructions

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How to set up customer registration in your online store

...

With WebSite X5 Pro, you can optimize your online store by setting it up so that your customers can:

1. register when they buy something for the first time so they won’t have to enter their data again in subsequent orders,
2. view a list of all the orders they have made on a locked page.

...

The simple and guided steps to do these two things are:

• Set up automatic user registration
• Configure the online store
• Define how you want to present and sell your goods
• Let customers view their orders

>> https://guide.websitex5.com/en/support/solutions/articles/44001451762-so-aktivieren-sie-die-kundenregistrierung-f%C3%BCr-ihren-onlineshop

...

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Does the screenshot (from the instructions) show what is being searched for?

If you want as many shop functions in the customer area as possible, you will probably have to look in the higher price ranges of the other shop providers.

With WebSite X5, the shop and the blog are additional modules that are sufficient for many purposes.

Thank you! Your comments are very timely because a short while ago I thought it sounds logical that any items that could be seen by users after logging into their personal account should be previously configured by us. Therefore, the real challenge does not consist in creating the pages used for personal accounts, but rather being able to correctly define the categories and mode of access to members’ area. I am referring to categories like Messages, Billing (invoices), Account Profile, etc.

I am not interested in creating a shop to sell products online. Instead, I would like to learn how to set up customized accounts for a small company website offering services (not goods) or a club where people could register as members. Anyway, from a Web design point of view, the example you have provided (Shopping Time) does more or less the same. I assume we just need to replace ORDERS for MESSAGES or INVOICES.

As I have never dealt in the past with Login-Out or customer registration options, what I will do is to purchase a domain name to test WX5 on a real Web page (Ex. Login-Logout, customer registration process, etc.). Once those tasks are completed, I will be in a better position to have an idea where I am at. Be ensured I will not fail to come back to the community forum to ask for help, if applicable. Apart from the URL you quoted, from there I was directed to marginal Web links related to the same topic, which I have noted below.

Thank you

Login & Logout Object. How to add a login field for the users:

https://guide.websitex5.com/en/support/solutions/articles/44002291373-login-logout-object-how-to-add-a-login-field-for-the-users

How to enable the automatic User registration:

https://guide.websitex5.com/en/support/solutions/articles/44001271386

How to create a members' area and define access to it

https://guide.websitex5.com/en/support/solutions/articles/44001269647-how-to-create-a-members-area-and-define-access-to-it

How to manually define users and groups with access to Locked Pages:

https://guide.websitex5.com/en/support/solutions/articles/44001270655-how-to-manually-define-users-and-groups-with-access-to-locked-pages

How to set up the page to be displayed after the login:

https://guide.websitex5.com/en/support/solutions/articles/44001310603-how-to-set-up-the-page-to-be-displayed-after-the-login

I once set up the customer area with a shop template according to the instructions.

The login/logout object is placed in the protected customer area page and "Logout" is set for the login/logout object, the font is also enlarged and given a background color so that it looks like a button and stands out.

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If the login page should have special functions, then a PHP programmer would probably have to program these functions according to customer requirements.

The PHP programmer should know where to find existing PHP scripts that fit or only need to be modified slightly.

Some users here may know suitable PHP scripts that are installed in a directory on the web space and then only linked on the page.

Or embed the PHP script into an HTML object in WebSite X5 using iframe code.

Thank you! A while ago I was discussing this issue with a friend. He is not an expert, but thinks that what I need is a sort of PLUGIN that contains all customizable functions I am after. I did a search and found the URL below that describes 100% the sort of stuff I would like to get. It comes across as being a WordPress-Based site but I will contact them to see if their PLUGIN could be installed on a non-WordPress website (e.g. a clean HTML page). 

https://www.cozmoslabs.com/210900-how-to-build-a-website-with-user-accounts/

Tomorrow I will try to find other sites that could offer similar PLUGINS related to users' login accounts as I am pretty sure is a well-established tool. Maybe the PLUGIN above may not be applied in my case, but there is no harm in contacting Cozmoslabs to see what they have to say. 

As an aside, WordPress is good but I find it relatively rigid and I am not sure about how secured are sites build with WordPress. I mention the rigidity aspect because I am a design oriented person and like to be creative. Website X5 is a very power and customiable software, but I believe their tutorials are not very comprehensive as if they were addressed to people with a lot of experience in IT and website matters. If WX5 puts more emphasis in tutorials and support to make tasks more user-friendly, then they will be selling a lot. I have noticed the stress by WX5 management is put in selling credits and addons instead of giving us the chance to non-IT people like me to learn how to use it. This is probably the reason why I have not been so enthusiastic in upgrading the software.

If you want a wide variety of plugins, you need to get familiar with WordPress.

The Wordpress plugins are written specifically for Wordpress, as they not only have to work with Wordpress itself, but also with the many other Wordpress plugins.

WordPress plugins are probably not supposed to work on their own, nor with other programs.

A decision has to be made, whether WebSite X5 or Wordpress, you shouldn't be able to mix the two.

Unless you consider it as 2 cars that you change as needed, but the driver can't put the coke can in one car and drink the same coke in the other car.

I'm going offline for about 12 hours now.

PS: I am wondering if the best solution could be to install WordPress on a subdirectory exclusively dedicated to login account but with the unique intention of using WordPress user’s account PLUGIN. In such a scenario, users may not realize of the dual software installation because the header and appearance of their account page could have the same appearance than the other pages almost entirely dedicated to provide information, and nothing else. Something like this:

 https://www.mywebsite.com/account

By doing so, the subdirectory will be completely separated from the other folders containing pages built with WX5. As I see it as a layman, this option may be less appealing for online shops that need full integration, but it seems a good idea for a service-oriented site like the one I would like to create.

Finally, WX5 has been hanging around for 25 years. I am surprised to see WX5 has not yet developed proper business-oriented and customizable users' account for corporate businesses. Again, I may be mistaken because WX5 could have already intruduced such capabilities in some of their templates, but so far I am not aware it has been done.

It is now I have read your leatest post. I understand what you wrote as it makes sense. I read today it is possible to install WordPress in a subdirectory as I have just mentioned. What I am trying to figure out is the possibility of installing WordPress software in a subdirectory, and not only a WordPress-based PLUGIN (as this is not possible). Anyway, let's see what happens. As I said earlier today, I will try to do my homework with WX5 to see what I can achieve. Then I will decide what will be the next step.

Besides the website, e.g. WebSite X5, you can also use other services and PHP scripts. Either link to each other or, for smaller things, integrate them via an iframe (in an HTML object).

However, when data from a database is shared, a database specialist is required to ensure everything works and there is no confusion.

A personal story by the way.

However, I can't help there because I did something with PHP more than 15 years ago, but these were smaller and simply written PHP scripts without SQL database function. There I was able to help other users with problems and errors in the scripts in the forum of a PHP script writer and add one or the other small function to the PHP scripts. But that was a long time ago and I don't even have a head for it anymore.

On the one hand I see no problem in installing WordPress in one subdirectory separated from folders linked to WX5. On the other hand, I have given a thought to the issue you mentioned regarding the risk of conflict if domain name database is shared by more than one program, such as WX5 and WordPress.

Your remark made me think of a company structure issue that could help to decide the best website building strategy to be chosen. As per attached screenshot, my intention is to create a “mother company” that will contain three divisions. For the purpose of this post, let’s call the mother company UMBRELLA LLC and let’s assume the divisions are called A, B, and C. In such a setting, Umbrella LLC will be the unique registered limited liability company. Divisions A, B, and C will operate like «Doing Business As» (DAB) entities. Divisions A, B, and C will offer services and will possess their own logo, marketing, business plan, and terms of trade, but any invoice issued by them they will be payable to UMBRELLA LLC even if the logo on top of the invoice corresponds to A, B or C.

Unfortunately, it is a fact that WX5 does not offer the capability to create personalized login accounts where people could receive mails, invoices, and update their personal details. Having this in mind, I am wondering if the best solution might be building the sites A, B and C using Website X5. Then the site for UMBRELLA LLC could be created with WordPress, but making sure that the database of UMBRELLA LLC is «only» used to create customers’ accounts as a PLUGIN. The website for UMBRELLA LLC will be mainly to provide legal and business information because it will not offer any products or services. Its unique role will only be to hold the company legal status.

In short, people who visit the website of whatever division and click on an option called ACCOUNT PAGE could be directed (by opening a new tab) to the login page of UMBRELLA LLC in order to log into their account. In this case scenario, clients’ accounts will not be issued under A, B or C, but under UMBRELLA LLC.

CONCLUSION: This configuration could streamline and make things much easier for clients as they will not need to possess more than one account if they choose to use the services of more than one division. As you have mentioned the issue of iFrame, I am wondering if clients could access the UMBRELLA LLC account using an iFrame. By doing they will not have to be compelled to open a new tab. iFrame also offers the advantage that clients will view the logo and heading of the division they have visited. So, they could be left with the impression of not having been away from the site.

I wonder, why should a big company use a small all-in-one program for websites, blogs and shops?

For shops with extensive customer management, there are the large shop systems, but they cost several times more than WebSite X5.

And for the linking of several websites with a large shop system, a web agency is more likely to be the right contact, since there is also the big topic of search engine optimization (SEO), for which SEO experts are needed.

I think the topic in this post is more for forum users who run their own web agency and have experience with larger customer projects.

Perhaps some operators of web agencies will report on their experiences and give tips on how to implement such a project.

Thank you Daniel. Please treat my queries as fully responded. So, I will not keep writing any more posts regarding this topic. You have been very helpful, up to the point that some of your remarks have given me great ideas. 

I got the WX5 software many years ago, but this is the first time I am trying to focus seriously on it in order to learn about its capabilities. Anyway, be ensured I will get things done with WX5 even if I eventually top up things with the assistance of other software. A few minutes ago I found an open source user management account program that could make the job. I sent them an email and am waiting for their reply. As I have no IT or Web design expertise, I genuinely thought that the login and user account advertised by WX5 included the functions I mentioned on my initial post. As there is no harm in asking questions, I was well-disposed to share my concerns with the forum in a public manner.

In relation to the company issue, the company I have in mind does not refer to a big and rich company. Neither I have a lot of money. As a matter of fact, I am penniless. My wealth is in my mind, motivation, and positive thinking. Having said that, nowadays in most OECD countries it is possible to create an umbrella company with subsidiaries like the one I mentioned for just a few euros. The last time I checked, I read that in France and Spain the cost of creating a limited liability company is just: ONE euro. The fact of conceiving a multilayered company does not necessarily imply it needs to be a big and rich corporation.

As far as Web developers are conerned, one of the things I like of WX5 is that we have full control of our site. At first I tried to use WIX.COM but with them we are at their mercy because everything happens in their own server. To be honest, I do not like to depend of web site designers in the same way I hate the way lawyers work as their instinct is always putting things difficult to keep draining our pockets.

Thank you very much again!

In Germany you usually start out as a trader, so you go to the trade office or the town hall and apply for a trade license for around 30 euros.

A limited liability company (in Germany called "GmbH") is usually only applied for later if you want to protect your house or similar from company insolvency, because that involves increased formalism (= double-entry bookkeeping), higher tax consulting costs, your own payroll accounting (= additional costs for payroll clerks), etc.

Tax evaders, dubious companies and celebrities often set up a Ltd in Malta or similar places to save taxes - until they are exposed.

Good citizens in Germany apply for a trade license if they want to start a business, whether it's a shop in the city, a craft business, an online shop or something similar.

I only create websites for my brother (non-medical practitioner) and for myself as a hobby, as a job it would be too stressful for me. I earned my living as an employee in a metal processing company.