Topic-icon Canvas App on Facebook

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10 years 2 months ago #40832 by bojames
Hi,

I'm having a problem understanding how to modify, redirect and/or disable the Canvas App.

Before I explain, let me mention that I have setup a Page Tab with a Reveal Page and they seem to be functioning properly. When a facebook user clicks on the Page Tab, the reveal page loads asking to "like" the page. Once they do, or have done so before, the Canvs App loads.

I can't find the info or figure out how to make changes to the Canvas App. The Canvas App loads my entire website framed within the facebook page. I would like for a static "teaser" page to load, inviting the user to visit or register to our website. I want the "visit/register" link to take the user directly to our website - and not framed within facebook.

I hope I have explained this adequately. Sorry, I am a novice at most of this and know just enough to be dangerous! :)

- bojames
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10 years 2 months ago #40835 by alzander
Replied by alzander on topic Canvas App on Facebook
Glad you've got things going well so far. To do what you're looking for, there are a few options.

The main thing that you'll want to do is create a Joomla article (or some other content type item) that is you're 'teaser' intro. That can have your content and links to your website and whatever else you want to entice the user. No, assuming that's a Joomla article, you could reach that article at a URL like (where 5 is the ID of the article):
http://yoursite.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5
Now, to get ridof your template and other items and make it just the article, there are a few options:
* You can create a special menu item for that article and then set no modules to show on it. In that case, the URL would use an Itemid (the menu item ID), like:
http://yoursite.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=22
* You can use the URL with &tmpl=component on the end, like below, which will show just the article contents:
http://yoursite.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&tmpl=component

Once you decide the look that you want to go for and have things setup, you just need to go into the Autotune Configuration tool -> Facebook App section and then the Page Tab area. Update your Page Tab and Secure Page Tab URLs to whichever URL above that works for you.

Then, whenever anyone sees your Page Tab 'home page' it will be the intro URL you created and not just your home page.

Whew.. I hope that helps explain, but if you have any questions, just let us know.

Thanks,
Alex
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10 years 2 months ago - 10 years 2 months ago #40857 by bojames
Replied by bojames on topic Canvas App on Facebook
Alex, thanks for the reply. I am experimenting a little using your suggestions and the lights are coming on! I believe I see how the Page Tab & Reveal Page work together. However, I'm still confused (or more confused) on the Canvas App. With the Page Tab & Reveal Page working, what is the purpose of the Canvas App, and how does a user access it from the Facebook page? if a user visits our Facebook page and clicks on the Page Tab, they are taken to the Reveal Page (if they have not "liked" the page) or they are taken directly to the Page Tab (if they have "liked" the page). From the Page Tab, I can then direct the user as I wish to my website. So, with that, how does the Canvas App come into play? I'm still missing something here... :/

- bojames
Last edit: 10 years 2 months ago by bojames.
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10 years 2 months ago #40861 by alzander
Replied by alzander on topic Canvas App on Facebook
The Canvas App is really a separate area from your Page Tab. It's really meant for a 'full page' view of your site, and usually only if you want your site to be fully shown and used (usually always) within Facebook. It's not commonly used in JFBConnect, but there are some cases where users want a completely social network/Facebook integrated site and don't even want users to go to their actual domain name.

So, in short, my guess is that you likely don't want to use the Canvas App feature from what you're mentioning.

I hope that helps explain a little bit, but if you have any other questions, jut let me know.

Thanks,
Alex
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