Social Integration Required?

We understand your concern. Unfortunately, right now, you need one of those components to capture more data than just email and name (which are stored by Joomla automatically).

For version 3.1 (due later this month), we're breaking out the profile integration to be plugin based. This will allow us to more easily add integration with other community components, or even allow some crazy people to roll their own if they want. One of the first plugins we'll be adding is for Usermeta, which is a simple way to add extra fields for the user without having to add all the weight that goes with a full 'community' solution. This may not be exactly with the 3.1 release, but will be shortly after.
Usermeta:
joomlacode.org/gf/project/usermeta/

Also, with Joomla 1.6, the ability to add custom fields for the user is built in, so we'll definitely support that shortly after it's released.

So, bottom line, I would recommend waiting about a month (hopefully sooner) if you must have fields. Alternatively, you can purchase now, get set up, and when 3.1 is released, you'll be able to move smoothly into a full profile import mode. Right now, if you absolutely had to 'do it yourself', we could definitely give you pointers on where to add what to do it yourself. However, that may add more complexity when 3.1 is released, so I wouldn't suggest it.

Hope this all helps, and let us know if you have pending deadlines. We can help you determine the best course!

Thanks!

There's an option for "Always import profile data" that can be used to always refresh user data on each login. You can use this to capture the profile fields at any time. We've had many cases where users slowly add new fields, and we're always adding new profile fields that you can import from Facebook. Currently, it's only text type fields, but 3.1 should have date fields as well.

As for the Always Import Profile setting, this is useful if you don't anticipate your users updating their profile data on your site. However, for example, there was a rugby site using JFBConnect at one point. For that case, it's great to initially import profile data (and avatar), but after that, you may not want to overwrite their profile on re-login cause the users may update their profile with more site-specific ruby related profile info and pictures.

Finally, the one thing to note about importing information after they've originally registered.. since Facebook requires you get permission from a user to get certain pieces of their profile data (interests, activities, relationship status, etc), if they registered right now, they'd get a permission dialog for email and status updates. In 3 months, you add a "activities" field to their profile and try to import that, when they next login, they'll get another (1-time) permission box asking to let your app see their activities field. JFBConnect takes care of all this to minimize prompts by both not requesting them until needed and combining multiple requests into one permission box when possible. Just wanted to let you know that this will alert your users in the future that you're trying to gather more data.

Let me know if there's anything else we can help with. We work all days that end in 'y'

In case you haven't looked over the config guide, the JomSocial page gives a good example of how you setup importing data, including the "Always Import" option:
www.sourcecoast.com/jfbconnect/docs/configuration-guide

This obviously is changing somewhat for 3.1, but you get the gist.

Glad to see the blue bubble next to your name. Thank you!

If you happen to run into any issues, have requests, or just need more information, I think you obviously know where to find us.

Good luck!
Alex

Dani,
No 3rd party components are required for JFBConnect to function whatsoever. If you have Community Builder, JomSocial, Agora, K2, or Kunena installed, JFBConnect can import a user's avatar or profile information into those components, but it's not a requirement. Even if you have those installed, you have the option of whether you want that information imported or not.

In general, JFBConnect, at it's core, is meant for quick registration and logging into a site. There's plenty of additional features it brings (comments, like buttons, profile import, etc), but none of those are necessary.

As for the Kunena avatar, yup, you can have JFBConnect automatically import a user's FB avatar into their Kunena profile.

Hope this all helps, but if you have other questions, just let us know!