FAQ

Website builder plugin is a module for hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk, etc.) which is installed on panel and displayed for end clients as an extra button among other buttons. The website builder button can be customized with your own icon and title.

The website builder plugin works as a gateway from panel to website builder. Plugin purpose is to retrieve all required information of client account from hosting control panel (using internal API) and pass it to website builder. The required information includes:

• client's FTP account data (username and password)
• client's hosting IP address (which is used as FTP host in website builder during publication)
• client's domain
• client's account package (if supported by panel).

After plugin collects information it calls website builder via API and pass information for it. Website builder checks the license of your hosting server and determines whether to let you in or not. If the license is verified then website builder API returns URL otherwise it returns error message. In case if plugin gets URL from website builder it redirects the client by this URL to website builder where client can construct his website. If the license verification fails then website builder returns error message "License is required" meaning that the license could not be detected by API call and provided parameters (check how to fix this error).

The communication between website builder plugin and website builder is made via HTTP port 80 or 443 depending what protocol website builder uses. In case if you use Cloud website builder then 443 port is always used. If you use On-Premises website builder then it depends on what protocol your website builder is running on.

When the client opens website builder for the first time then website builder suggests to choose a template first before starting constructing website. During website construction all website data is saved in special ".dat" files in website builder storage and all media files which client uploads are also stored in website builder. Note that during website construction in website builder no changes are made on client's hosting. Changes are applied only when client presses button "Publish" in website builder toolbar — then website builder generates real website files (consisting of .php, .js, .css and other files) and publishes them to client's hosting via FTP connection (see how publication works in more details).
When the client next time opens website builder then website builder finds his ".dat" files and loads them instead of offering to choose template anew. Note that when client opens website builder then website builder does not download client's current website files from hosting — builder has all website data in his own storage.

The identification of website in website builder is made only by domain. It means that the client can have multiple websites in his account (addon domains, sub-domains) and construct websites in website builder separately for all of them. If client's domain is renamed further then it also must be renamed in website builder separately. Otherwise the client will be offered to choose template a new as if the website was opened for the first time.

If you have your own hosting control system for your customers and do not use predefined hosting control panel which we support then you can also use site website builder by implementing your own plugin using website builder API method to create session.