Download structure for user with multiple groups

[lichti]

Hello,
have read the documentation about the user groups settings. However I struggle implementing following case:

I have 4 categories (product1 to product4). Each category contains some files (manuals and software installers) for download. The files are visible only for registered users. The category names are visible for everybody.
For every product I have generate a user group with the same name.

How can a user "own" multiple products and can access their related downloads ?
I do not manage to set get it to work. (Either all downloads of all categories are visible for a user or only the downloads of one category.)

Any help would be welcome.
I would also accept a "this can not be realized with jDownloads" to avoid further investigations.

Thank's a lot in advance.
 Ralf

[Arno]

Hi Ralf,
Unfortunately, I've only just come across your enquiry today. I must have missed it at the time. Perhaps because it was posted in the 'Miscellaneous' category. So I'll move it to the correct category now.

I'd be interested to know if you managed to sort it out yourself back then.
After giving it a quick think, I'd solve it by adding a user who needs access to multiple categories to the relevant user groups. So the Registered group, as well as the Product-1 group, the Product-2 group, and so on.

[lichti]

Hi Arno,

thanks for your feedback.
I can set the download rights for users with one product.
However I do not manage to allow a user the download of two or more products.

In addition since version 4.1.4 (or even earlier) the category list does no longer inform a user when he has no permission to download. All list entries have a download button. If a user has permission he can download and otherwise a new page opens with the information, that he has no download permission.

Best regards
Ralf

[Arno]

We tested this scenario again with a clean and very simple setup so that it can be reproduced step by step.

Test setup used:

1. Joomla user groups:
   Registered
   Product 1 as child of Registered
   Product 2 as child of Registered

2. Joomla access levels:
   Access Product 1 containing only Product 1
   Access Product 2 containing only Product 2

3. Test users:
   user_none = Registered only
   user_p1 = Registered + Product 1
   user_p2 = Registered + Product 2
   user_both = Registered + Product 1 + Product 2

4. jDownloads structure:
   Category Product 1
   Category Product 2

5. Each category contained two test files.

6. Category visibility was left public so that the category names remained visible.

7. File access was set on file level:
   Files in Product 1 = Access Product 1
   Files in Product 2 = Access Product 2

8. No extra complications were used:
   no password
   no license confirmation
   no captcha
   no additional single-user assignments in jDownloads

Observed result:

- user_none could not download files from Product 1 or Product 2
- user_p1 could only download files from Product 1
- user_p2 could only download files from Product 2
- user_both could download files from both categories

In our test, the category list and the download permissions behaved correctly and we could not reproduce a general bug in this basic multi-group scenario.

So at the moment it looks more like a setup-specific issue than a general jDownloads problem.

To check your case properly, please compare your configuration against the exact setup above and, if possible, provide:

- screenshots of your Joomla user groups
- screenshots of your Joomla access levels
- screenshots of the category access settings
- screenshots of the file access settings
- the category layout you are using
- whether you are using any template overrides
- whether you also use additional jDownloads-specific user assignments besides normal Joomla ACL

[lichti]

Dear Arno,

thanks a lot for testing and feedback.
I will start from scratch by resetting the categories and download permissions.
It seems, that the manual does not contain the screenshots any more:
https://www.jdownloads.net/documentation?view=article&id=250:an-initial-view-of-permissions&catid=32

Another Problem:
The message "Only registered and logged in users can download files from this category" does no longer appear for not allowed downloads.
This is independent of the used layout. ( I use Standard Bootstrap 5 Downloads Layout – Minimal und kompakt v4.1)

Best regards
 Ralf

[ColinM]

Hi
Could you advise which screenshots are missing.  Also check that you have not used Deny in any permission. If Deny is set anywhere then you will have problems.
Colin

[Arno]

Hi,

It seems, that the manual does not contain the screenshots any more:

See pic. I cannot see a problem here.

The message "Only registered and logged in users can download files from this category" does no longer appear for not allowed downloads.

I'm going to take another look at this particular use case.

[Arno]

Hi Ralf,
I tested this again with a minimal setup and the message still appears correctly in my test case when guest download access is not allowed. If I explicitly allow download access for guests, the message disappears as expected.

So from what I can currently see, the logic itself still behaves correctly and the difference is likely caused by a different permission structure or a different combination of category and file access settings on your site. With the combined Joomla ACL and jDownloads-specific settings, these setups can sometimes be a bit tricky.

Please note that the message for categories can only be displayed if the download permission for the relevant category is set to 'Registered' and the visitor is not logged in. See images.