Find out more about how CiviCRM is being used in Canada and elsewhere.
CiviCRM version 5.23.2 is now out and ready to download.
This is a minor bugfix release that addresses important issues for WordPress and Joomla! users. Many thanks to the people who have reported the issues and have helped resolve them.
Upgrade now for the most stable CiviCRM experience:
Opt in or out? Just when you thought that sending a push message is as easy as it gets, CiviMobile 5.0 rolls out featuring the looked-for Push Notification functionality.
Possibly you expected a complete no-brainer with short steps: check the box on the setting page of your CRM or get users to give permission for receiving notifications. However, the reality is more complicated: instead you don’t get to check the box for CiviMobile push notifications, so much more than that, you are asked to register at civimobile.org, leave information about your CiviCRM server, generate server key and use it to enable push messages for CiviMobile app.
Right, such activation process may raise eyebrows and definitely questions. And this article intents to clarify the nature of the process.
Why bother at all?
Push notifications are one of those few unique communication channels that give CiviMobile users peace of mind that the most up-to-date and relevant information reaches them timely. When new tasks are assigned, cases created, activities edited, new event registration added, etc. CiviMobile will instantly “push” alerts with notifications. Upon tapping the notification, the user will be taken directly to the corresponding activity or object in the app. Besides, push messages pop up on the user’s mobile device even when the app is not running. Accordingly, no relevant updates in CiviCRM will escape your notice.
How does it work?
Can’t CiviMobile users just give permission for CiviMobile app to receive notifications pushed by CiviCRM server? Actually, they should but it won’t be enough to activate push notifications, but could be enough to open security loopholes. Let’s just think it through to cut to the bottom-line.
Even though mobile app technologies are developing at a fast speed with new trends emerging on a regular basis, one fact still holds true: mobile apps do not generate notifications themselves (especially when not active) – an external server is required to “push” a message to the app on your mobile device, while mobile phones still won’t receive those messages without a push notification channel to the server.
The diagram below demonstrates how CiviMobile push notifications work in action.
1) When user clicks Allow button to receive mobile push notifications, the application registers at the Apple APN or Google GCM service by sending device ID and app ID.
2) If the registration is successful, Apple APNs or Google GCM service returns a token to application on the device.
3) This token and user ID are transmitted to the client’s CiviCRM server. The server stores user ID with token in its database.
Recurrent processes:
a) The moment a certain activity occurs on CiviCRM website, i.e new tasks assigned, relationships edited, event registration created, etc., CiviCRM server retrieves the token of a particular user and transmits client’s CiviCRM server key (generated on civimobile.org) + message + user token to proxy server.
b) Proxy server validates whether this particular client is entitled to send a notification. If yes, then whether its key matches IP. If match is confirmed, the notification with our key is sent to Firebase (FCM) that further forwards it to Apple APN or Google GCM.
c) Mobile phones interact with Apple APN or Google GCM services and display push notifications.
Why register?
CiviMobile app server, as any other app server, must be registered with a Push Notification Service Provider and issued with server key. Here comes a snag. There can be one and only one server using that key for Apple APN or Google GCM services. Yet there are numerous CiviCRM servers worldwide which work with CiviMobile app. The key has been generated by CiviMobile development team and therefore can’t be generated for each and every client.
We found the solution by setting up a proxy server. Once registered at civimobile.org you’ll easily generate server key for your CiviCRM. When CiviCRM server transmits a message with CiviCRM server key, proxy server verifies and replaces it with its own key.
This ensures that notifications your CiviCRM server sends will be received by those users of CiviMobile app those notifications were meant for. Besides, this adds to more secure operations.
How are CiviMobile Push Notifications activated?
Our team made the activation process smooth and simple. In order to use push notifications, you have to register at civimobile. org and copy a server key that identifies your CiviCRM. You may also generate unique keys for as many CiviCRM servers as you currently operate by clicking Add New button. Finally enter server key on CiviMobileAPI Setting Page of your CiviCRM.
With these quick steps CiviMobile Push Notification functionality gets activated. Quite a shortcut towards a simple, effective and secure way to engage with organization’s constituents.
Filed under CiviMobileOpt in or out? Just when you thought that sending a push message is as easy as it gets, CiviMobile 5.0 rolls out featuring the looked-for Push Notification functionality.
CiviCRM version 5.23.0 is now out and ready to download.
This is a regular monthly release.
Upgrade now for the most stable CiviCRM experience:
Just when we thought that CiviMobile project can move only forward, the road takes it far and wide in every direction, to every user, fundraiser, volunteer, supporter, enthusiast and every person who cares. Starting with version 5.0 CiviMobile opens up for a wide audience of unregistered users.
Register for Cividesk's online training session the Fundamentals of Mass Emailing on March 4th at 9 am MT/ 10 am CT/ 11 am ET.
I've been providing CiviCRM services to clients for nearly 10 years but they've never come to an event. So I CiviMail'ed them the following to explain why I thought they should come. One client thought the way I'd explained things was "so useful it should be on the web", so I'm posting it here.
I've been providing CiviCRM services to clients for nearly 10 years but they've never come to an event. So I CiviMail'ed them the following to explain why I thought they should come. One client thought the way I'd explained things was "so useful it should be on the web", so I'm posting it here
Dear {contact.first_name},
There's a CiviCRM training/mini-conference event in Birmingham on 3 March - please consider coming to it. Please invite other colleague(s) as appropriate.
Register today for the upcoming online training the Fundamentals of Contribution Management on February 27th at 9 am MT/ 10 am CT/ 11 am ET and learn more about managing your donations in CiviCRM.
Let's share stories, ideas and code. Containers are good for sharing.
In late 2018, the Establishment Team was set-up to help identify the role and processes for a newly-elected team to represent the CiviCRM community. The outcomes were reported in mid-2019 but implementation was paused in the lead-up to the Community Summit in October.
Interested in learning how to use the CiviMember module? Join Cividesk on Tuesday, February 18th for this informative 2-hour live training (sorry, recorded versions are not available) and gain new skills and confidence managing your membership in CiviCRM.
We are about to start the election process for the Community Council of CiviCRM and we would like to invite you to register as a voter or nominate yourself as a candidate.
The Community Council of CiviCRM has been tasked at the Barcelona Civi Summit:
Become an expert in CiviEvent by participating in Cividesk's beginner and intermediate level Events training sessions during the week of February 10th.
CiviCRM version 5.22.0 is now out and ready to download.
This is a regular monthly release.
Upgrade now for the most stable CiviCRM experience:
Users of the CiviCRM Extended Security Releases (ESR) do not need to upgrade, as there are no ESR-specific bugfixes or security issues at the moment.
It's only 4 weeks until CiviCamp Birmingham (UK)! Are you ...
If you are new to CiviCRM or need more formal training on how to manage your contacts, join Cividesk on February 6th at 9 am MT/ 11 am ET for our 2-hour online training session, the Fundamentals of Contact Management.
This live session will provide a great introduction to adding new contacts, searching, relationships, creating groups/tags and much more!
Like all interesting questions, this has three worthwhile answers: yes, no, and maybe. Let's explore them all.
