What do you like about WHMCS. Add your review.

[djpete]

I'll start as I am new to WHMCS having only been using it now for 2 months.

 

First impressions were:

Very busy admin home page.

A lot of variables.

Things like the piping setup had me a little confused.

No import script for me so I had to import it all manually, about 2 days work.

 

2 months later:

After tweaking settings and the home admin page I am very happy with this software.

What I really enjoy is how almost fully automated it is.

I love the 2 invoices getting merged into one if same date.

The daily backup is a godsend.

The layout of the Cart Area is almost idiot proof for users which is the main reason I came across. And it's just fantastic how you can add and remove products/services along the way before checking out.

Also very clever how it works out the one off amounts and recurring amounts too when you check out.

And the pdf invoices and the way they can choose how they want to pay on the fly is really good.

The various modules for resellers are excellent too making life a lot easier.

I now realise that although there are a lot of tweaks and setting that's because Matt and team have really paid attention to detail and have made sure almost everything is covered.

Although I wasn't that keen on the V4 admin panel mainly because of it's looks, I now can't live without it because of the extras like who has logged in today, graphs, summaries etc

 

If there is an area that could be improved I think it is the help system.

There are some areas that are missed and the only way to learn is to ask dumb questions, scan the board or work it out yourself.

I know its hard to cover all aspects though.

Some skins would also be good.

Nothing radical, say 4 or 5 good layouts to choose from.

 

All in all I am extremely happy and this software has helped give my business the professional edge my customers expect.

 

Thanks Matt & Team

Edited June 12, 2009 by djpete

[chickendippers]

If there is an area that could be improved I think it is the help system.

There are some areas that are missed and the only way to learn is to ask dumb questions, scan the board or work it out yourself.

I know its hard to cover all aspects though.

 

It's a wiki, contribute to it

[djpete]

Ah didnt realise.

Just for that I will.

I hope is auto corrects spelin mis tales...

[TheSidewinder]

Until I get more familiar with the software I can't offer opinions on its function, but I do have to side with the OP's assessment of the documentation.

 

I'm a Network Engineer and have been for nearly three decades. I sold computers before that. I've personally witnessed the degradation of all documentation, in both quality and media format, for everything under the sun. (Those of you old enough to remember, should recall the early versions of MS-DOS and the comprehensive manuals that came with it.)

 

Times change, however, and I understand that. These days I actually prefer to get something like a detailed PDF, which I can save in a dozen places, or that there be a website with complete documentation on it.

 

I have no issues with a Wiki per se & to be fair, the Wiki for WHMCS is a *LOT* better than many of them that I've seen, and that does count for something. It appears to have a good pool of contributors who know the product as well as anyone. But it needs far more work to be complete. Yes, I can contribute and help improve it myself, and likely will.

 

I'm brand new to WHMCS, and first saw the Admin panel for it only last *week*. From the perspective of a COMPLETE newbie to something like WHMCS, the documentation is inadequate and/or incomplete.

 

Yes, I'll eventually "get there". My past experience in general will help. But the journey would be a lot more pleasant with detailed explanations of all those choices a newbie is presented with, too many of which makes them ask themselves, "What in the WORLD do they me want to put there?!?!".

 

This isn't Open Source software. We're paying for it. And when I pay for something more complex than a breadbox, let alone something as complex as WHMCS, I do expect (quite reasonably I believe) complete and detailed instructions in some form or another.

 

Just my 2 cents worth, and "opinions vary".

[uberhost]

It's a wiki, contribute to it

 

Yes, but for a commercial software title it doesn't seem as though fuller documentation would be out of the question.

[brianoz]

This isn't Open Source software. We're paying for it. And when I pay for something more complex than a breadbox, let alone something as complex as WHMCS, I do expect (quite reasonably I believe) complete and detailed instructions in some form or another.

 

Just my 2 cents worth, and "opinions vary".

You make a point worthy of discussion so I'm gonna throw in my 1c worth

 

While it may not be Open Source, you're only paying $18 a month for it, max. If you were paying $300 a month, I think you could expect the sort of documentation you want!

 

I think the problem is that for a newbie, there really needs to be some sort of detailed walkthrough. I used ModernBill before I started with WHMCS, and for much more $ there was almost NO documentation AT ALL (or from what I remember, nothing of any value or substance). When I moved to WHMCS it was a delight as nearly everything was very easy to use. For instance, setup in MB took 2-3 days, and in WHMCS it took 2-3 hours, for much the same functionality.

 

Please don't take this as a shot at newbieness. I was there once, as we've all been! I just think if you are new to hosting there is more to learn.

 

It would be good to hear specific points on what you'd like to see covered in more detail though, as that data is very useful to those writing the documentation. Unfortunately once you pass a certain point of familiarity with concepts and software in a certain area, it's all so easy to completely miss what's not obvious and needs more explanation. Perhaps people might be willing to chip in and write some newbie doco. I also wouldn't be surprised if Packt comes out with a book on WHMCS soon.

[TheSidewinder]

You make a good point, as well. And I agree, the docs ARE better than many I've seen.

 

But it's that first few days (or weeks) that a complete newbie will form their opinion about the software, for good or for bad.

 

If that transition from "Clueless" to "Aha!" were made easier by a detailed "example" document, even one that JUST gets them a functional test system, it would serve everyone much better.

 

Matt and crew would (I think) get considerably fewer tickets asking, "How do I accomplish XYZ".

 

And the customer wouldn't get so frustrated when he sees something for which they would otherwise have NO clue how to solve.

 

After two straight days of "playing" with it, I now have a functional install using the Namecheap sandbox for Domain registration and the PayPal WPP sandbox for payments.

 

Works perfectly, except for a nagging error message from the Namecheap sandbox that the server IP is invalid or not allowed. But the domain registration DOES go through. I'll get that solved, I'm sure. (Yes, I have the Server IP set correctly in the Namecheap sandbox "API Access" and within WHMCS.)

 

That's the type of walkthrough which, I think, would work best for those who've never seen WHMCS or any other Host Billing software.

[chickendippers]

Hi,

As experienced users we see WHMCS as very straight forward and obvious. Perhaps you would be kind enough to provide a perspective (via ticket if you prefer) of precisely what you found confusing from a newbie's perspective. The documentation can be amended/added to accordingly.

[TheSidewinder]

Well, after only 4 days of working with it I'm to the point where it *IS* starting to look straightforward and obvious. Losing the "newbie" confusion very quickly.

 

But perhaps an analogy would better describe what I mean.

 

Imagine you are transported to a place you've never been to before, like New York City, and handed a book with all the interesting places you should visit.

 

But there's no road map. Just the book with photos and a very brief description of each place. It's the "road map" that I equate to a "newbie walkthru".

 

i.e. A document that gives step-by-step for the MINIMUMS to get an install to where you can test it:

 

"General Settings" that *must* be filled in or changed from default. 1 category with 1 product. One server defined. One registrar setup for testing (Moniker in test mode, eg), one gateway set for testing (PayPal WPP in Sandbox mode, eg)... that sort of thing.

 

Once the user gets to that point, the rest does become much easier to understand.

 

I was fortunate enough to be able to look at someone else's install to do "screen compares", and that made it much easier to "fill in the blanks" on my own install. Mine is now running in test mode, and very well at that.

 

I hope that made sense?

 

(And thank you for your input!)

[uberhost]

While it may not be Open Source, you're only paying $18 a month for it, max. If you were paying $300 a month, I think you could expect the sort of documentation you want!

 

He could be paying $18 a month, he could be getting it as a freebie with hosting, or he could have paid over $300 like I did.

 

Perhaps you would be kind enough to provide a perspective (via ticket if you prefer) of precisely what you found confusing from a newbie's perspective. The documentation can be amended/added to accordingly.

 

Excellent response.

 

i.e. A document that gives step-by-step for the MINIMUMS to get an install to where you can test it

 

You'd be in a great position to author this document right now, lol.

 

Seriously though, I sympathize with you and understand that with commercial software it is the one making the profit on the transaction that should be responsible for providing "fuller" documentation.

 

Rick

[WHMCS John]

I've recorded some setup videos, I hope they're helpful! http://whmcs.com/tutorials.php

[jaygreentree]

edited wrong topic please delete.

Edited June 23, 2009 by jaygreentree

[djpete]

I've recorded some setup videos, I hope they're helpful! http://whmcs.com/tutorials.php

 

Well done John.

This is the stuff we need.

Simple concise real instructions.

This will help the newbies enormously.

 

BTW what is that screen capture software?

The clearest I have ever seen.

 

Thanks again for these vids.

[WHMCS John]

It's http://www.screentoaster.com/. It's good picture quality but the program isn't the most flexible I've seen.

[TheSidewinder]

That's a nice video, John, thank you.

 

For those who squinted at first (like me) expand it to full-screen. It's nice and sharp at full size.

[brianoz]

John (and team?),

 

Those videos are really a great idea - well done, I'm yet again impressed at how seriously WHMCS take customer input!

 

TheSideWinder - thanks for your thoughtful comments. Do those videos address the "getting started" / terminology barrier you encountered? (I do remember something similar myself once!).

 

Cheers,

 

Brian

[uberhost]

I've recorded some setup videos, I hope they're helpful! http://whmcs.com/tutorials.php

 

Very nice, John. I think such videos will prove invaluable to new users.

 

Congratulations on joining the WHMCS team btw.

[TheSidewinder]

****SNIP*****

TheSideWinder - thanks for your thoughtful comments. Do those videos address the "getting started" / terminology barrier you encountered? (I do remember something similar myself once!).

 

Cheers,

 

Brian

 

Yes, Brian, they definitely do help!

 

By the time they were released, I had all but one problem solved anyway, but I'm going through Support to address that.

 

A video that explained EVERYTHING would be almost impossible to do. At least, not without requiring a DVD-sized file.

 

But a few more short videos, explaining the finer points of the places where you MUST be precise and careful when making changes or adding features, would be appreciated by all I think.

 

And where/when I can contribute to the Wiki I certainly will. But I have a lot more to learn first.

[WHMCS John]

Just register and click the edit button on the relevant page.

[dnerty]

Whmcs is the best billing software I've ever use (and I used CE, MB, AWBS..) but I would like 2 things:

 

1. Search for tickets for admin: why is searching trough body field disabled?

2. Support ticket view for admin: remove services listing or move it on the bottom of page

 

I don't have any other complaints for now..

[ServWise.com]

I'm going to be brutal here sorry in advance!!

 

My Likes :

 

- Multi-Currency (This is a massive improvement for me) I love it and it actually seems to work well.

- Good reports

- Flexible templating

 

My Dislikes :

- Serious lack of documentation, some of it is even wrong.

- Domain management is lacking (Need Enom Automated transfer completion and re-submit transfer option for the client please)

- Client area needs table ordering and search features at least, option for client to resend their welcome letters, email log just does not cut it.

- Needs much more ability to enter multilingual data into the admin (Products, Addons, Knowledge base etc etc, currently the only thing multilingual is the emails).

- Paypal checkout form does not pass users language or client data to paypal and is editable so I can't fix it without completely recreating a new payment module

 

Lots of negatives here but saying that I do like WHMCS and it is an improvement over my last billing app (AWBS) even if it lacks a number of features that AWBS has.

Edited June 30, 2009 by ServWise.com

[Mortfiles]

The only thing I don't like about WHMCS is the orderforms/carts that are still hideous to me and lack the cart functions I would like for my business.

 

Other than that I am very happy with the core functions such as billing and the ticket system.

 

As a designer I can sometimes get a bit frustrated over not being able to remodel the admin interface as much as I would like to and the PDF coding can be a kick in the groin, but the overall experience is 2 thumbs up

[Chance]

This is by far the best web-based software solution I've seen. I rate this based on the fact that it is very fast, very thorough, and once you know the basics of hosting management, you see just how intuitive and powerful this software really is. I have an extensive programming background in all derivatives of C, C++, C#, and even .net with Windows and I have developed many software applications in my time. I know very well the amount of work putting something like this together takes. I hold much respect for Matt and the rest of the development team for their perseverance and attention to detail. Hats off to all of you!

 

I have only been using WHMCS for a little under two months and it did take me a couple of weeks of tweaking, screwing up, and then correcting my screw ups to get WHMCS installed the way I wanted. The documentation is scarce but through this forum alone, I was able to get the answers I needed. BTW, hats off to those that take the time to answer the "newbies" forum posts as well!

 

I would love to see this software have the ability to nest product groups into lower-level product groups, just as it already does for downloads because my particular company sells more than just web-hosting and domain related services. From a technical standpoint, this current release of WHMCS already includes everything you would need in a full-featured e-commerce store. Why would you need another solution? Add the ability to nest product groups (categories) and you could very quickly build an entire product catalog.

 

It would also be nice if the end-user would never see the "product configuration" page during checkout if the product they have chosen does not have any add-ons or options.

 

Bottom line is I appreciate the developers and I appreciate the professional edge this software gives my company. Thanks guys. Nice work!!!!!!