WHMCS Expense Tracking Module

[GGWH-James]

I can only assume you do not have any experience in development

Nope, none what-so-ever. Don't worry, we won't use your software again as you don't care if we use it or not.

[everythingweb]

Great Thanks

[BobC]

Jamroar,

 

Please take this in the spirit it is given: constructive criticism. I am no way intending to demean or dismiss anything you have claimed in your posts in this thread. My intent is only to be helpful in resolving the problem.

 

[quote name=__EDIT__

I try to view a report and your module displays the following message?

 

Error in query : DELETE FROM tblbannedips WHERE expires

 

Why is your module trying to delete anyhting from that table, or even accessing it?

 

I am in no way connected to this module or the people who created it but I have been following the back and forth on this issue with some puzzlement. I have 30+ years as a programmer (developer if you will) so I look at issues with a bit of logical analysis:

 

 

1. The Module Is At Fault: This was the original assumption which, since it was experienced by you (although no one else) and only when you run the module.
   
2. WHMCS Is At Fault: This was the second assumption and, based on the statement from WHMCS concerning tblbannedips, rules out assumption number 1.
   

 

There is another scenario that no one has addressed. That is, the status of the table itselt. Has it been checked for errors? Has it be repaired (you can do that even if no errors are reported in the error check)? Has it been optimized?

 

It is very possible that the cause of the error message is totally unrelated to the module or to WHMCS and may actually exist in the database itself. You state you restored the database back to the state it was in before the module was added. That leads me to believe that something went wrong with the module installation or when a test of it was run. Since WHMCS staff has confirmed that all WHMCS modules check that table, then I would eliminate the table as the problem before I started thinking it was anything else.

 

You never stated you tried fixing the table or that you tried a reinstall of the module after restoring the database. A second install might be successful. Just reporting the error message in a public forum and then accusing it of being a security risk without justifcation, is unseemly and, as stated, kind of slanderous. At the very least, it can cause of loss of business for the module and may not be justified.

 

I have learned that, when attempting to ascertain the cause of a computer error, it is necessary to always rule out the impossible no matter how unlikely it seems. It is those types of errors that can cause great embarrassment to either the developer or the end user when reporting a problem.

 

Here are the steps I would take:

 

 

1. Taking a "good" database, make sure all tables are analyzed and repaired.
   
2. Make sure all tables are optimized.
   
3. Reinstall the module.
   
4. Add a few test records and see if the error is duplicated.
   

 

If you receive the error again after all of that, then it is something related to the module but not necessarily the module itself.

 

When you were asked to open a ticket with screenshots, you gave no indication in your response that you did so and, instead, implied that you would discontinue the module. Nevertheless, you continued to send response after response about the problem. They cannot help you without something to base their investigation on. Your word alone is insufficient in such a matter. The two problems you had, lack of the expense showing up and the tblbannedips problem could actually be related. Only by providing as much information to the developer as possible can anything be done. Just stating it shouldn't happen and then becoming offensive about it (both sides) does not do one thing to resolve it.

 

I see this as a possible security risk

 

A possible security risk is a far cry from a real security risk. Even after both the developer and WHMCS Staff explaining their positions, all you did was just say the same things again. This would not have been so bad if it had been done privately, but you did it in a public forum. Disparaging a product without proof is unjustified and unfair, especially in public.

 

I would guess (but again, it is just that, a guess) that since no one else using this module has reported any problem similar to your's, that the problem may well be on your end. Take that from someone with many year's of experience in developing and from someone not associated with the developer of this module or WHMCS in any way. Not only that, I am someone that also is an end-user, just like you.

 

Sincerely,

 

Bob Connors

[everythingweb]

Thanks, Bob, for taking your time to give such an informative post

[merlinpa1969]

Ok I have added the trial, and when hitting the add expense I lose all formatting,

and there is no form only the links at the top and title

[merlinpa1969]

More info this is the entire view source

 

<h2>Expenses</h2>

<b><a href='addonmodules.php?module=expenses&expense=list'>Expenses</a></b>

|

<b><a href='addonmodules.php?module=expenses&category=list'>Categories</a></b>

|

<b><a href='addonmodules.php?module=expenses&vendor=list'>Vendors</a></b>

|

<b><a href='addonmodules.php?module=expenses&report=list'>Reports</a></b>

 

<br />

<br />

 

 

there is something obviously wrong here lol

[bigideaguy]

It's adding the category and vendor but the expense is not showing up, it says "added successfully" but nothing is there, tried it twice.

[Corcorlee]

do you accect paypal.

[everythingweb]

yes, but you'll need to email support to arrange

[Real Webspace]

I was just wondering, after reading through this thread, is this module developed to a stable enough level?

 

Also wanted to ask, I didn't see it mentioned anywhere, if the expenses are automatically added each month as a transaction, thus reducing profit?

[everythingweb]

hi there, indeed it is stable. I must stress this is a simple module; it doesn't interact with invoices to deduce profit it is merely a tool to provide expense reports for accounting purposes (exporting to CSV, calculating inclusive tax for expenses, etc) - i.e. a typical use would be to log your monthly expenses, run a report for the past month, export to CSV and send to your accountant.

[Real Webspace]

Ok, thanks. I was looking for something that would add to the transaction list as 'money out' to more accuratly determine my cash flow.

 

thanks for the speedy reply.

[nka]

Would this help me track my road millage when I go clients?

 

I do not need a time tracking or expenses tracking... but if that help!

[everythingweb]

Hi nka,

 

Yes I suppose you could, you can simply enter in your mileage where it says hours and it will just work out the total from your rate per mile*milage based on that.

 

We offer a 30 day trial so you can try it out and see if it works for you.

[kilbot]

Hi. Is this add-on still being developed? Is it compatible with WHMCS v4.5.2?

 

When I go to the Add-on page it gives me the Install button, but clicking that goes to /whmcs/admin/&install=true (Page Not Found).

[everythingweb]

Hi Kilbot,

 

Yes, it does work with 4.5.2 - the only difference is how you enable the WHMCS module when installing it due to the new way addon modules are controlled in WHMCS.

 

Please do not use this forum as support - send a support request along with details of your problem to our support system (can submit a ticket via our WHMCS installation) - it should not be giving you a 404.

[easfoor]

Hi,

 

there is any update one this module ? and when the next version ?

or you stop adding new features and fixing bugs ?

 

Regards

[everythingweb]

Hi easfoor. These modules are side-projects and we are only able to work on them if we have free time which we seldom do. This is the reason for the lack of updates.

 

We do actively fix bugs if users request and have done a few custom mods.

 

This being said, we are planning to bring out a new version in the 1st or 2nd quarter of 2012.

 

Cheers

[easfoor]

Error in Report

Fatal error: Uncaught exception 'Exception' with message 'String could not be parsed as XML' in /home/xxxxx/public_html/modules/admin/expenses/report_list.php:22 Stack trace: #0 /home/xxxxx/public_html/modules/admin/expenses/report_list.php(22): SimpleXMLElement->__construct() #1 /home/xxxxx/public_html/modules/admin/expenses/report_management.php(6): unknown() #2 /home/xxxxx/public_html/modules/admin/expenses/expenses.php(146): unknown() #3 /home/xxxxx/public_html/admin/addonmodules.php(0): unknown() #4 {main} thrown in /home/xxxxx/public_html/modules/admin/expenses/report_list.php on line 22

[everythingweb]

Hi all, please note this forum is not to post your errors on - email support.

 

@eastfoor - that happens when the module cannot access your API, please make sure you have checked the following

 

1) the API url you specified in your config.php is accessible (you can paste it in your browser) - some 404 modules / .htaccess mods block access to the api URL

2) you must allow your servers IP addresses in the WHMCS general config -> security settings tab - a number of users had this issue and it ended up that the WHMCS api was detecting their servers LAN IP. Please make sure you have tried ALL of your servers IP addresses.

[ghmercado]

hi there is a 'project' field when starting to enter an expense. Where is this edited? Also, is it possible to add more fields for the 'vendor' list ie., company name, address and so on. thanks.

[everythingweb]

Hi, the "Project" field relates to the Time Tracking Module of ours. If you don't have it installed the projects will just be blank (it is not required).

 

I wont be making any more mods to this version and will be releasing a newer version hopefully mid this year. I have noted your request

[njjacob]

I wouldnt write home to mom about it, its okay. It does not intergrate with anything else WHMCS, so you cannot see a P&L statement, what good is it really.

[Strother]

Thanks for the suggestions Jamroar, we are releasing an updated version within the next 2 weeks with a bunch of fixes for this module.

 

We aim to rather use the DB directly from the module instead of using the API in future. We have found some shortcomings in the API as well.

 

Has this been done, or do you still access via API? Also, any plan to add income from WHMCS to the report so that profit can be calculated? Seems to me that is the only thing missing.

[parrot]

This is the second time I have installed this, the first version was so lacking in functionality I dropped it before the trial ended. I did say I would try the next version, but having just installed it today I'm still at a loss as to how it can be used within WHMCS. to be honest it might as well be a standalone excel spreadsheet.

 

After only 10 minutes of trying to use it I come up with problems. Firstly, it will integrate with the client and projects (great if you use that app) but, for some reason stops short of integrating with services and products so, you can for example setup a cost against a domain, but cannot attach it to the revenue item for a general or even a specific domain renewal.

 

You can create an invoice but, you cannot attach it to an invoice that has been auto generated by WHMCS.

 

surely, if this product is to be of any use it should actually try to integrate with WHMCS instead of just sitting in the add0n section and doing nothing but showing the total income retrieved from the systems totals.

 

sorry, but its just been heaved over the side for the second time, maybe version 3 will have some integration in it.