This module allows you to add the Yahoo Currency Converter in a module position.

The module makes use of the Currency Converter from Yahoo Finance.

I've implemented the Yahoo Currency Converter Mashup with the use of PHP's cURL library. So please make sure your PHP has the cURL library installed in order to use this module.

For those interested, the module uses cURL at the backend to convert the currency using the Yahoo Currency Converter. The result is then passed back to the client (i.e. the browser) using AJAX. Since AJAX is used, no reloading of pages is required when the result is displayed.

There are four demos available:

• Yahoo Currency Converter as module. It's the second module on the left.
• Yahoo Currency Converter in content item - sample 1: using the default style with minimum width.
• Yahoo Currency Converter in content item - sample 2: using the same style as the Google Finance.
• Yahoo Currency Converter in content item - sample 3: using the one-line version

• Performs currency conversion by connecting in real-time at the backend to the Currency Converter from Yahoo Finance. So you get the most up-to-date currency rate as provided by Yahoo Finance.
• Uses AJAX to display the result - no reloading of pages required!
• Full CSS support! This means that you can set the font family, font size, foreground and background color of the input field, submit button, etc.
• The module can be included in a content item! (see below for details)

Since this is a standard Joomla module, you can easily include this module into a content item or article with the use of {mosloadposition} (for Joomla 1.0.x) or {loadposition} (for Joomla 1.5.x).

You can take a look at the demo here.

• For Joomla 1.0.x, pleaser refer to:
  How to include modules in Content item (for Joomla 1.0.x)?
• For Joomla 1.5.x, pleaser refer to:
  How to include modules in Content item (for Joomla 1.5.x)?

1. First, make sure your PHP has the cURL library installed. You can do a quick check by doing a simple

<?php
phpinfo();
?>

If your PHP has the cURL library installed, you should see something similar to the following:



If you don't have the cURL library, there are numerous resources on the Internet that gives you very clear instructions on how to install cURL on various platform such as windows, linux, etc.

2. Download and install the "Yahoo Currency Converter" module.
3. Make sure the module is published / enabled.
4. Select a module position where you want to place the module.

That's it! You're now ready to use the Yahoo Currency Converter right inside your Joomla website!

You can set the following in the Parameters page:

1. Currency From: This is the default "currency from" that will be displayed when the module is first loaded.
2. Currency To: This is the default "currency to" that will be displayed when the module is first loaded.
3. Label for Submit Button: Default is "Convert". You may change this to your language.
4. Use CSS for highlight: When this is set to "No", result will be highlighted in the default yellow background. If you do not not like the default yellow background color and wish to change this to some other color, change this to "Yes". However, when you set this to "Yes", you need to define the color in the .css file of your template. Please see below for details.
5. Layout style: There are three layout styles to choose from:

Style 1:	This one has the minimum width, and is ideal when you are positioning it in the left or right column.
Style 2:	This is the same layout as used in Google Finance.
Style 3:	This one shows everything in one line. Ideal for use in top or bottom banner-type module position, or in content item.

You can set the style of every item within the Yahoo Currency Converter to the exact format you want through CSS. This means that you can set the font family, font size, foreground and background color of the input field, pulldown menu, submit button, etc.

For example, if you're using the default Joomla 1.5 template, define the following style in <joomla root folder>/templates/rhuk_milkyway/css/template.css. If you're using the default Joomla 1.0 template, define the following style in <joomla root folder>/templates/rhuk_solarflare_ii/css/template_css.css.

1. Input Box

div.yahoocurrency input.inputbox {
	font-family: Verdana;
	font-size: 12pt;
	font-style: italic;
}

2. Submit Button

div.yahoocurrency input.button {
	font-family: Verdana;
	font-size: 10pt;
}

3. The options of the pulldown menu (i.e. the list of currencies)

div.yahoocurrency option {
	font-family: Verdana;
	font-size: 10pt;
}

4. The selected option of the pulldown menu (i.e. the selected currency)

div.yahoocurrency select {
	font-family: Verdana;
	font-size: 10pt;
}

5. Input Label (the text "Convert" and "Into")

div.yahoocurrency .input_label {
	font-family: Verdana;
	font-size: 12pt;
}

6. The result

div.yahoocurrency .result {
	font-family: Verdana;
	font-size: 12pt;
}

7. The highlight for the result. Note: Don't forget to set the "Use CSS" to "Yes" in the Parameters page in order to change the background color of the highliglht.

div.yahoocurrency .highlight {
	color: #333366;
	background-color: #0033ff;
}

8. Use this if you wish to set the background color of the entire module block:

div.yahoocurrency {
	background: #33FF66;
}

• v1.0.1 (for Joomla 1.0) and v1.5.1 (for Joomla 1.5)
  Released September 3, 2008
  
• Fixed a bug in Internet Explorer. The module will now work correctly in IE.
• Support for non-javascript browser and browsers which do not allow javascript! For these browsers, since AJAX cannot run, there will be reloading of the page when the submit button is clicked. The same result will appear for both the AJAX and non-AJAX mode.

Q1: I modified the stylesheet as outlined in Styling the Module using CSS. But the new styles do not seem to take effect.

A1: Note that after you have modified the stylesheet, you have to reload the page so that the stylesheet is reloaded.

I've also found that for some browsers, they still use the "cached" version of stylesheet even when you click the "Reload" button. In such case, you need to clear the cache so the the modified stylesheet gets reloaded.

Q2: I changed the format from Style 1 to Style 2. But the Yahoo Currency Converter are still displayed as Style 1.

A2: After you have changed the style in Modules Manager from Style 1 to Style 2, make sure you click the "Reload" button on the page in which the Yahoo Currency Converter is displayed.

User reviews   Average user ratings:    5.0   (from 1 user)

1. peter
   September 07, 2008 10:58am
   
   

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