Frequently Asked Questions About PlaCeMS
The most important answers on installation, modules, AI features, payments, content, communication, and security – all in one place.
General & Philosophy
What is PlaCeMS?
PlaCeMS (Plain Cell Maker System) is a modular content management system. Content is organized into independent "cells" that can be combined and reused however you like. Instead of one large all-in-one package, you simply install the modules your project actually needs.
Why is PlaCeMS built to be modular instead of shipping everything by default?
Many content management systems grow more bloated over the years until maintaining the system takes more time than the actual website work. PlaCeMS deliberately takes a different path: every module works independently with a clear purpose, and unused modules take up no storage, no processing time, and don't even appear in the backend.
How do I install or remove a module?
Three steps: upload the module as a ZIP file, activate it, create your content. If a module is deactivated or deleted, all of its menus and functions disappear from the backend immediately and completely – no unused code or orphaned menu items are left behind.
Do modules affect each other?
Every module works independently, but modules can enhance one another where it makes sense. A good example is the AI Prompts Module: if it's installed, AI features automatically appear wherever content is created (blog, portfolio, events, newsletter). If it isn't installed, every other module keeps working exactly as before – no errors, no missing functionality.
Installation & First Steps
What are the system requirements for PlaCeMS?
PHP 8.3 or newer, Apache or Nginx, cURL, GD, PHP-FPM (recommended), and write access to the PlaCeMS directory. A database is not required.
Does PlaCeMS need a database?
No, at its core PlaCeMS stores data in JSON files and runs completely without a database – ideal for small and medium-sized websites. From a certain project size onward (e.g. blogs with more than 50 posts, member areas, extensive search), the optional Database module is worth installing, and you can switch to it at any time without reinstalling the system.
How does the installation process work?
Three steps: upload the core system to your web server and open the admin interface, configure the basics (website name, language, administrator, storage option), then install the modules you need and pick a template. PlaCeMS automatically checks file and folder permissions along the way and corrects them where possible.
What does the dashboard show me after installation?
An overview of the active template, server and system information, PHP version, memory limit, file permissions, installed modules, backup status, and server time – so you can see at a glance whether anything needs attention.
How is the backend organized?
Clearly, and dependent on the modules you've installed: menu items for modules that aren't installed simply don't appear. The Module Manager lets you install, activate, deactivate, or update modules at any time without touching the core system.
AI Features
What does the AI Prompts Module do?
On request, it generates complete text drafts – from a short keyword to a detailed instruction with tone, length, and structure. You can freely define your own writing style (e.g. "professional", "casual", "academic with citations"), which then applies everywhere text is created in PlaCeMS: blog, portfolio, events, newsletter, shop descriptions, and more.
Does AI replace writing your own content?
No. The AI provides drafts, ideas, and suggestions, but never makes the final call – style, length, and approval always remain yours. Facts in AI-generated text should still be checked before publishing.
What can the AI Chat Module do on the website?
It answers visitor questions around the clock, based directly on your own website content (text, products, FAQ, contact details) – not generic knowledge from the internet. It also recognizes spam and troll messages on its own and keeps them out of your inbox.
Does the AI Chat replace personal contact?
No, for complex or highly individual matters it specifically directs visitors to personal contact. Its strength lies in the recurring, everyday questions that would otherwise cost unnecessary time.
Payments & Support
How does the Payment Module work?
It's the central place for every payment process in PlaCeMS – whether shop, membership, or donation. Currently supported are PayPal and Stripe; additional providers can be added later as their own building block, without touching the existing system.
How secure are stored payment provider credentials?
They're encrypted and stored outside the publicly accessible web directory, protected by their own dedicated key. Even with unauthorized access to the file storage, the actual credentials would remain protected.
Can I test payments before going live?
Yes, every payment provider can be fully tested in sandbox mode – orders, confirmations, the entire flow, without any real money moving. Only once everything works as intended do you switch over to live operation.
What does the Donation Module offer?
A donate button that fits your own design, with freely chosen or fixed amounts, plus an overview of received support in the backend. The actual payment processing is handled by the Payment Module, so provider credentials only need to be set up once, not separately for every module.
Content & Presentation
What display styles does the Gallery Module offer?
Four: Standard CSS (simple, ready to use instantly), CSS Pro (same foundation, more settings to match your own design), PhotoSwipe (a lightbox with a natural swipe feel for mobile visitors), and LightGallery (its own look and transitions as an alternative). You can switch styles at any time without re-uploading images.
Which gallery style should I choose?
For a quick, no-fuss solution, Standard CSS is enough. If the gallery should match your design exactly, CSS Pro is the better choice. With lots of mobile visitors, PhotoSwipe is worth it for its swipe gestures, and if you want a different visual style, try LightGallery.
What navigation variants are available?
Three: Nav: Standard (a lean, fixed link list with no extras), Navigation (the full setup with side nav, footer menu, member area, and a visual hotspot editor), and Nav: Dropdown (top navigation with expandable submenus). Only one variant can be active at a time, but you can switch between them at any point without losing settings you've already made.
Who is the Portfolio Module for?
Not just designers or photographers – also tradespeople, architects, event planners, consultants, artists, or nonprofits. The common thread: finished projects as proof, rather than a plain claim. Each entry offers a title, a bilingual description, up to six photos, an optional link, and its own SEO settings.
What does the Events Module offer?
All the key details in one place: date/time, doors-open time, venue, a bilingual description, a ticket link, and separate presale and door prices, plus a flyer image. The backend overview can be filtered by "All", "Upcoming", and "Past".
Communication
Why is there a separate Mail Module?
User registration and the newsletter both require real email delivery – that's what the Mail Module is for. By design, it doesn't know the content of other modules (not what's being sold in the shop, not who's currently registering) – it only ever receives the instruction "send this message to this address", which keeps the attack surface small if something ever goes wrong.
Do I need the Mail Module?
Only if you want to offer registration or a newsletter – there's no way around it there, since both features require real email delivery. If you need neither, you can skip the module entirely.
How does the Social Media Module work?
It turns content you've already written (blog posts, property listings, events) into ready-to-publish Facebook and Instagram posts, including a live preview before anything goes out. Posts can be published immediately or scheduled for a specific time; a queue with a log shows the status, and failed posts are automatically retried up to three times.
How secure are newsletter sign-ups?
Every sign-up goes through a double opt-in process (confirmation by email is required), email addresses and names are stored encrypted, and confirmation/unsubscribe links use SHA-256-secured tokens instead of guessable, sequential numbers.
Security & Backup
How do I back up my website?
With one click: PlaCeMS packages pages, content, media, modules, templates, the entire database (as its own dump), and the configuration (excluding sensitive credentials) into a single ZIP file.
Where are backups stored, and what happens during a restore?
Backups can be stored locally or on the server, with multiple versions kept in parallel. Before every restore, PlaCeMS automatically creates a safety backup of the current state – so if something goes wrong, you can always get back to where you were. You can also restore just the files, just the database, or both together.
Is PlaCeMS suitable for a server migration?
Yes: create a backup on the old server, transfer the ZIP file to the new one, and extract it – PlaCeMS detects the existing installation and automatically restores content, modules, templates, settings, and the database. Only sensitive credentials (API keys, SMTP passwords, etc.) need to be re-entered once, for security reasons.
Can backups be created automatically?
Yes, automatic backups can be enabled at intervals you choose – including the database – and then run quietly in the background without any further action from you.