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Features

Tiki is the FLOSS Web Application with the most built-in features. And for even more features, please see: WikiSuite.

Unlike other projects that include a small set of features and then encourage users to install 3rd party add-ons, the Tiki community includes a large number of features in the main code base. This helps to ensure that when you upgrade, your existing features will not break. This also permits tight integration of the various features and makes it easier for you to re-use content across different features. For example, you can use the Wiki Syntax throughout the application: in wiki pages, forum posts, trackers, and more. You can read more about the Tiki Model.

Because Tiki is in a state of continual development by the community, not all features are fully developed. This page provides a rating system for each feature to help you judge if Tiki is the right tool for you.

The ratings below are for the latest stable version. The next major version will continue to add improvements to these features and will provide new functionality, too.

You can also see the details of every single preference in Tiki: All Preferences

Rating System
A: Excellent - B: Very Good - C: Good - D: Adequate - E: Further development needed


Subjective self-evaluation by the Tiki community

  • Setup/admin UI: How easy / intuitive is to setup this feature?
  • UI end user : Once setup, how easy / intuitive is it for the end-user? (was it worth it?)
  • Stability: How many bugs left?
  • Feature-set / power: How does this feature compare to other FLOSS apps? This field is the default sort order

Content features

Feature name and linkDescriptionDev (Bug reports & Feature requests)Setup and admin UIUI end userStabilityFeature-set and powerAdmin icon
MiniChatReal-time group text chattingACBC
Inter-User MessagesEnable users to send internal messages to each other (like email but internal to the Tiki site). A message can be broadcast to multiple users in a Tiki group or to all site users if the appropriate permissions are granted.BBAC
SurveysCreate questionnaires with multiple-choice or open-ended questions.AABB
QuizzesCreate timed quizzes with recorded scores.DCCB
ShoutboxQuick comment (graffiti) box. Like a group chat, but not in real time.AAAD

Contact us

Basic form for site visitors to send a message to the site admin.

EAAD
NewslettersCreate and send email newsletters (plain text and HTML) to subscribed site users and other individuals.AABC
Friendship NetworkUsers can designate other users as "friends" using either the "follow" or "like" method.CBBD
Featured LinksSimple menu system which can optionally add an external web page in an iframeBAAB
TasksA site user's to-do list. Tasks can be sent to other users. Also, there can be shared group tasks.

BBBB
User FilesUsers upload files and store them in their Tiki personal space; they can then download the files.CCBC
NotepadUsers can write, upload, download and read notes. Notes can be read as raw text files or as wiki pages interpreting the wiki markup syntax. The user-quota that admin can control is used to set the maximum size that user notes can take.BBBC
SlideshowsTurn a wiki page into slideshow (each slide is the wiki content only, without "chrome") by using more than one title bar in the page, or make a multi-page slideshow from a structure.CBBB
User PagesThis provides each user with a personal wiki page that only he/she can edit. All User Pages have a similar, configurable name that includes the user name.ABAC
BigBlueButtonOpen source instruction-focused real-time collaboration tool. (Audio/Video/Screensharing/Chat)CABB
Screencasts (Feature removed in Tiki 17)This permits capturing the device screen and uploading to Tiki. An image is produced (that you can then draw on), or short video with sound. The jCapture applet is used.AACB
BlogsMultiple blogs can be created with various author and display configurations, etc.AAAB
CalendarEvents calendar with public, private and group channels

BBBA
ForumsForums are online discussions organized by topic (or thread). Tiki forums feature threaded or flat views, file attachments, moderation and queuing, monitoring (subscription) of particular forums or topics, and full usage of wiki syntax.BCBC
TrackersFacts and figures storage and retrieval. A forms and database generator, with reporting. Can be used for a bug tracker, item database, issue tracker, etcBABA
MessagesInternal (within the site) messages from one site user to another.AAAB
SpreadsheetSpreadsheets supporting calculations and charts, import/export, etc.AACC
File GalleryFile Galleries enable secure and efficient uploading, storage, downloading and other serving of all types of files including images, videos, podcasts, text and PDF documents and more.BCBA
WikiCollaboratively authored documents with history of changes. Tiki's wiki has all the features you could want from a first-rate wiki. Ex.: attach files, comments, history, images, warn on edit, page locking, powerful wiki syntax, alternative WYSIWYG editor, etc.AAAA
Directory (links)User-submitted Web linksAAAC
File GalleryStorage and sharing via download or display in pages, of images, videos, and other file types . Supports check-in and check-out (lock), versions, etc.

ABAA
HTML PagesStatic and dynamic HTML content. Note: HTML can be used in wiki pages. This is a separate feature.BAC
WebmailProvides a webmail interface for site users' own IMAP or SMTP accounts. The Webmail tool has been massively improved since in Tiki20. Please see Email as a first-class citizenCBCB
MapsMaps can be created and displayed using OpenLayers and OpenStreetMap.BBBA
ArticlesArticles can be used for date-specific news and announcements. You can configure articles to automatically publish and expire at specific times or to require that submissions be approved before becoming "live." In addition to categories and tags, articles include their own unique classification system of Topics and Types. BBBB
FAQCreate pages of frequently asked questions and answers.BBBB
Shopping CartA simple shopping cart feature - Information on products or services can be maintained in wiki pages or trackers with display via Pretty Tracker ) and purchases added to Module Cart through the PluginAddToCart and sent to the payment page.BBBD
Live SupportOne-on-one chat with customer or other individualCBCC
My Account

Provide content organization and communication tools for registered users
Bookmark, User Preferences, Watch, User Menu, Task, Inter-User Messages, User Files, Notepad and Mini Calendar

AACB
Kaltura VideoVideo managementCBBA

Feature name and linkDescriptionDev (Bug reports & Feature requests)Setup and admin UIUI end userStabilityFeature-set and powerAdmin icon
CategoriesGlobal category system. Items of different types (wiki pages, articles, tracker items, etc) can be added to one or many categories. Categories can have permissions.BBBA
MenusMenu items are filtered by permission, by group or activation of relevant feature. Both Bootstrap and Superfish CSS/jQuery menus are supported.CABA
Look and FeelThe site can be customized or personalized using the admin interface, to set the site title, logo and so on. No need for editing PHP or Smarty TPL files.

BABA
ModulesBoxes for content, typically on the left or right of a portal-style site but can be placed anywhere, even in page content, with or without a visual frame. Very useful for navigation and content re-use. Over 100 built-in modules are available, and site admins can create their own.

AABA
StructureIn Tiki terminology, a structure is a hierarchy for wiki pages. Structures have navigational features such as breadcrumb links and menus; also enabled is printing all pages in the structure and in order.

BBAA
Semantic LinksGoing beyond Backlinks, allows to define some semantic relationships between wiki pagesCCBB
BookmarksUser bookmarks let users bookmark internal or external pages, create folders and organize their personal bookmarks in folders. Bookmarks can be cached if that option is enabled. A module is provided to let the users see their bookmarks, navigate through them, and add new bookmarks.CCCC
Custom Home
(Removed in Tiki 15)
This feature was made redundant by the ability, via PluginLayout, etc., to fully customize a standard wiki page to use as the Homepage.

BAC
Meta ElementsAdminister your meta tags via the admin panel (no FTP transfers necessary).

BAC
Search Engine OptimizationTiki is search engine friendly. For a Tiki site running on Apache web server, the .htaccess file enables short, meaningful URLs.

C
User MenuAdd personal items to the User Menu section in the application menu.

unrated

Transversal features

These are features that can apply to multiple content areas.

Feature name and linkDescriptionDev (Bug reports & Feature requests)Setup and admin UIUI end userStabilityFeature-set and powerAdmin icon
WorkflowWorkflow is provided by means of category transitions and other configuration settings.

CBA
i18ni18n (or internationalization) - Tiki is translated in 20 languages. Handles multilingual navigation & content. Can keep track of translation (de)synchronization. http://wiki-translation.com

CBBA
CompressionTransparently compress your pages on-the-fly.

AABA
ThemesThirty-three visual themes are included and several have theme options (color variants). And, with Bootstrap compatibility, it is straightforward to create your own. Tiki themes are visual layers only and so avoid the possibility of introducing a security vulnerability.

AAAA
News FeedsOutgoing RSS feeds can be generated, and external RSS feeds can be subscribed to.BBBA
SearchConfigurable site search engine that indexes content of many featuresBBBA
Interaction with popular external software, services or websitesFor example: Google video, Google Maps, YouTube, Skype, Google AdSense, Mindmap and many more!A
WorkspacesWorkspaces permit you to segment a Tiki instance into smaller restricted-access sections with unique preferences, themes, etc.DBBA
CommentsComment posting available for many features (wiki pages, articles, blogs, forums, etc)BBBB
MobileTiki uses the Bootstrap CSS framework by default for responsive web design - pages conform to the display size of all desktop and mobile devices.

BBBB
WatchSite users can mark a page or other object to be notified by email when it is updated.BBCB
Mail-InSubmit wiki pages or articles via e-mail.CCCB
TagsWiki pages, articles, and so on can be given tags (aka freetags or folksonomy tags) for quick ad hoc content categorization.ABCB
Social NetworksIntegrates popular social networks (such as Facebook,Twitter, Linkedin or Google+ ) into Tiki.BBBB
PrintIncludes printing pages, groups of pages, and PDF documents.BBBB
StatisticsSite-wide statistics for many features. Referrer stats and search stats also available.BBCC
BannersInsert, track, and manage advertising banners.BABC
RatingLets users vote on wiki pages & tracker itemsDBDC
ContributionAllow selecting, reporting and exporting the type of contributions made by site users.AABC
ScoreIf appropriate for the site, this feature implements a game approach to motivate people to participate in the online community. Users are given points for things they do in the site, like writing or reading an article, starting a new topic in a forum, voting in a poll, etc. They also earn points by having his/her blogs and articles read and commented on. Then the users will be able to see their position in a ranking.C
AccessibilityNot so much a feature as a value, web accessibility is prioritized in Tiki.C
Tell a FriendWith this feature activated, to share pages, a link "Email this page" is added at the top of all pages.BBBC
CommunityConfigure site community settings such as user identity and participation details, and social interaction settings.BBBC
Color ModesColor modes enable website users to select an alternative color scheme. Initially in Tiki 26, users can switch between light, dark, and auto (auto mode means following the preference set in the user's browser). In Tiki 26.1, the ability to add custom color modes via Look and Feel admin controls will be added.CBCC

Content-editing features

These are features that you can use in all text content areas, such as wiki pages, blogs, articles, and forum.

Feature name and linkDescription Dev (Bug reports & Feature requests)Setup and admin UIUI end userStabilityFeature-set and powerAdmin icon
Wiki PluginsOver 100 built-in plugins extend the function of wiki syntax with more specialized commands. It is very easy to create your own plugins with plugin alias or from scratch.BBBA
Wiki SyntaxApply formatting and styling to text directly or via editor toolbar buttons; no need for HTML. Strong help feature and usable throughout various features such as blogs and articles, not just in the wiki!BBBA
Automatic Table of ContentsAutomatically generate and display a table of contents based on page titles within a structure (toc), or from the headings on a page (maketoc).ACAC
Content TemplateCreate and select reusable text or layout code when editing a wiki page, article, or newsletter to have a consistent look and feel and/or content.

BBBC
External WikisCreate links easily with other wikis.BBAC
CacheExternal URLs can be cached inside Tiki - this is possible for links from the Wiki as well as for the User BookmarksBBAC
HotwordsIf enabled, wiki pages are parsed and some words are automatically converted to HTML links.

C
PluginModuleInsert a content or functionality module in any editable-text area of the site, such as a wiki page, article, etc.BCBB
PollsMake and manage lists of options to be voted on; polls are displayed in a module (in left or right column or other module zone, in wiki pages, etc.).

BACC
Dynamic VariableSnippets of text which can be reused throughout Tiki.

CC
Random TaglinesTaglines (aka "cookies" or "fortune cookies") drawn randomly and displayed.

BBAC
CopyrightThe Copyright Management System (or ©MS) is a way of licensing your content and displaying that license information, such as under an open or free content license. By switching this feature on, you can define a content license for all your wiki content, associate copyright notices with individual pages and display a full license for printing.

DC
ToolbarsThe edit page toolbar enables styling text, adding an image, Makes using wiki syntax easy. Custom buttons can be added, and toolbars can be customized for the various sections of the site.CCBA

Administration features

Feature name and linkDescription Dev (Bug reports & Feature requests)Setup and admin UIUI end userStabilityFeature-set and powerAdmin icon
ManagerA combination of shell and PHP scripts to install, update, backup and monitor (check security of) a large number of Tiki installations (instances).DCA
IntertikiAuthenticate users and grant them appropriate permissions at a "slave" Tiki site based on user data from an external "master" Tiki site. (This is used at the Tiki project sites, for example.)

DCDB
BanningBlock access from individual IPs or ranges of IPs.

AAAB
External AuthenticationCan use LDAP (Active Directory), PAM, Auth, Http web server, CAS or Shibboleth.

BABA
PermissionsDifferent rights can be assigned to groups. (ACLs)CAA
Edit TemplateEdit the Smarty template files that Tiki is built with via the admin control panel.

BCB
PaymentsEnables the requesting and management of payments (invoicing), and connects payments to other features.CBBC
Edit CSS

Existing stylesheets can be edited (via the browser), with the new stylesheet suffixed with the editor's user name.

BBEC
PackagesExternal software packages installation and management via Composer.BBCC
User AdministrationGreat flexibility in handling user registration, logging in, and banning of users, should that be necessary.AAAA
ProfilesIn Tiki terminology, a "profile" is a set of site configuration preferences and website item creation instructions that are applied as a group.AABA
Communication CenterSend/receive objects to and from other Tiki-powered sites

BAAB
GroupsThe three default groups (anonymous, registered, and admin) can be added to freely as needed for the site. Groups can inherit other groups' permissions, to simplify access management.AAAA
InstallationTiki site installation is a simple process of going through the steps of a wizard, and post-install configuration also offers wizard options.

AAA
CacheTiki uses the built-in cache of the Smarty template engine.AABA
Action LogTrack user activity on the basis of a single user or multiple users, groups or categories.BBBC
ConnectVarious tools for communication with the Tiki Community, developers, other Tiki site admins and users.BBBB
Theme ControlVisual themes can be flexibly assigned per user group, site section, content category, and so on.AAAA

Advanced features for programmers

Other

Feature name and link DescriptionDev (Bug reports & Feature requests)Admin icon
Browser CompatibilityOn the client side, all you need is a Web browser running on a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
DocumentationTiki's documentation is a wiki (of course!). So you can participate! The are links from your installed Tiki application directly to the corresponding documentation wiki page. As the documentationis constantly being updated and organized, broken links may sometimes occur. Please bear with us and feel free to participate!
Platform independenceTiki runs wherever PHP runs, on Linux, Mac, Windows and many more other operating systems.

External Libraries

Tiki makes good use of existing and active open source projects such as Zend Framework, Smarty, MySQL, PHP, jQuery, Bootstrap, CKeditor, etc.

Open Development

Written and maintained by an active and international community of volunteer contributors. While many developers offer consulting services, no company controls the development.

Think of Tiki as applying the wiki way not just to content but also to software development. YOU are invited to participate!"

Please read more about the Tiki Model

Open standards and protocols

Tiki developers are Tiki users too and prefer open protocols and standards -
http://tiki.org/TikiStandards.

We eat our own DogFood

Tiki is a community. Tiki is a software. The Tiki community is recursively using and improving the Tiki software, which is used to support the community as well as to make available to the general public.


Features via Profiles


In Tiki terminology, a "profile" is a set of site configuration preferences and website item creation instructions that are applied as a group. The website profiles.tiki.org is the main repository for these.

Some profiles are simple, like a contact form, and some are more complex, to the point of being a new feature, in effect. These are crafted packages of wiki page content, site feature preference and other configuration settings and so on that can be imported to a Tiki site from a profiles server, and activated to implement new functionality at the site.

So Tiki Profiles aren't listed as pre-made features, but can be installed to, in effect, create a new feature at the site.

For more information, please visit Profiles.tiki.org .

General notes:

About Tiki Features

Because Tiki offers such a large number of features "out-of-the-box", it can be overwhelming, even to an experienced user or administrator. Tiki has all the classic CMS and portal features of other applications, but also includes features not available anywhere else. Tiki is highly configurable and modular; all features are optional and can be administered through Tiki's browser-based interface.

What makes Tiki different? Its tight integration of all the features.

Community

The whole Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware is a very active project. You can monitor activity at https://openhub.net/p/tikiwiki Over 400 people have contributed to the source code. With such a large number of contributors, the features continue to evolve and get better. Because Tiki is a FLOSS project, you can participate and help make it better!

Using this evaluation

This self-evaluation of features will help you know what to expect after installing Tiki. Many features are widely used and quite stable. Others are new and experimental. While others are no longer maintained and may have limited functionality. For beginners, we recommend using features that have been rated as A or B; they are the most stable. The features and ratings are based on the latest stable version of Tiki.

Updating this evaluation

To update and improve this self-evaluation, please login, then click the name of the feature. You can then complete any of the missing information or change items that you feel are incorrect. For example, if you think a feature deserves a B rating instead of a D, you can change it. You can also add comments about the features.

Note: All changes will be reviewed by a project admin and may be edited or modified if needed.

To report a bug or request a new feature or enhancement, please use our bugs & wishlist tracker.

Missing features

This page may not list all features. For example, many plugins are missing from this self-evaluation.

By now (if you read this far!), you must be thinking "Wow, what does this thing not do?". Please see "Major Features Missing In Tiki" for a list of features that are not a part of Tiki.

Standards, and interaction with other services & application

Please see: Interoperability for dozens of examples

Community organization and priorities

Please see: SWOT