Members-only episodes #

This page is for shows that offer something to members only: bonus episodes, early access, a premium archive. Exponential protects content with sections and roles: visitors who are not signed in see only what the Anonymous role may read. The same check protects the audio files. What Exponential does not have is a private podcast feed per subscriber.

Contents #

1. How protection works
2. Setting up a members area for a show
3. Files are protected too
4. Members-only episodes and the podcast feed
5. What is not available
6. Testing

How protection works #

• Every item belongs to a section (Sections).
• Roles grant content/read for sections, subtrees or classes (Roles and policies).
• The Anonymous role decides what visitors who are not signed in may see (What visitors may see).
• A members role, given to a members user group, adds the members section (Member registration and members-only areas).

Setting up a members area for a show #

For the administrator:

1. Create a section, for example Members.
2. Create a folder "Bonus episodes" in the show and assign it, with everything below it, to the section.
3. Give the members role content/read for the Members section; leave the Anonymous role without it.
4. Make sure the members user group has the members role, and decide how people become members (registration, import, a shop, or by hand).

The recipe in detail: Sections and object states for site builders.

Files are protected too #

Episode files are delivered by content/download, which checks that the visitor may read the item before sending the file (Files and downloads). A visitor who is not signed in gets no file, even with the exact address. Do not copy files to a public place or link them from var/.../storage/; that bypasses the check.

Members-only episodes and the podcast feed #

Podcast apps and directories fetch feeds and files without signing in. So:

• An episode only members may read cannot be played by an app from a public feed: the enclosure download is refused for the anonymous app.
• Do not put members-only episodes into the public show's feed source. Keep them in their own folder, outside the public feed's sources, or in a section the public feed's readers cannot see.
• Check the public feed signed out after setting up the area: it must list only public episodes.

Members listen on the site, signed in, with the player of the episode page.

What is not available #

Testing #

• To do: Signed out: the bonus folder and its episodes do not appear in menus, lists or search.
• To do: Signed out: the download address of a bonus episode does not deliver the file.
• To do: Signed in as a test member: the episode page and its player work.
• To do: The public podcast feed, signed out, lists no members-only episode.

Use a test member account with an example.invalid address, never a real member's account.

Related pages #

• Sections and object states for site builders
• Member registration and members-only areas
• Rights and licensing of what you publish
• Free documentation: this page is free to copy, translate and improve under the GNU FDL 1.3.