Altius WordPress Portal v2.4.0 - Installation Guide

πŸ”Œ Altius WordPress Portal

Ecosystem Edition - True Plug-and-Play Integration

Portal v2.4.0 + Bridge v2.6.0 - Installation Guide

πŸŽ‰ NEW: True Ecosystem Integration!

Portal v2.4.0 automatically uses Bridge's SuiteCRM connection. No additional API configuration needed! Just install, activate, and you're done. The Portal detects the Bridge plugin and uses its existing connectionβ€”one unified Altius Ecosystem API Key powers everything.

πŸ“– Overview

The Altius WordPress Portal v2.4.0 is the first true ecosystem portal for SuiteCRM. It automatically leverages your existing Altius Bridge connectionβ€”no duplicate API configuration needed!

What Your Clients Can Do

  • View and manage support cases
  • Access their meetings, calls, and tasks
  • Review quotes and invoices
  • Download documents
  • Browse knowledge base articles
  • Update their account information

⏱️ Setup Time: 5-7 Minutes Total

That's it! With automatic field creation, you just install, configure, and add fields to layouts. No tedious manual field creation!

βœ… Prerequisites

WordPress

Version 5.8 or higher
PHP 7.4 or higher

SuiteCRM

Version 7.14.x or 7.15
Admin access to Studio

πŸ”₯ Altius Bridge

v2.6.0+ REQUIRED
Installed & Connected

πŸ†• Altius Connector

v1.6.0 with auto-fields
Installs in SuiteCRM

🚨 CRITICAL: Bridge Must Be Installed First

The Altius SuiteCRM Bridge v2.6.0+ must be installed, activated, and connected to SuiteCRM BEFORE installing the Portal. The Portal will not activate without the Bridge.

Already have Bridge configured? Great! You're ready to install Portal.

πŸ“š Bridge Installation Guide

If you haven't installed the Bridge yet, see the complete Bridge installation guide first. It covers SuiteCRM OAuth setup, API configuration, and connection testing.

⚑ Quick Installation (3 Simple Steps!)

✨ Simplified Setup - New in v2.4.0

No API keys to copy. No OAuth configuration. No duplicate credentials. The Portal automatically detects and uses Bridge's connection!

1 Install Portal Plugin

  1. Download altius-portal-v2.4.0.zip
  2. WordPress Admin β†’ Plugins β†’ Add New β†’ Upload Plugin
  3. Click Choose File and select the Portal ZIP
  4. Click Install Now
  5. Click Activate Plugin

What Happens on Activation

The Portal automatically:

  • βœ… Detects Altius Bridge plugin
  • βœ… Verifies Bridge is connected to SuiteCRM
  • βœ… Uses Bridge's existing API connection
  • βœ… Creates Portal User role
  • βœ… Sets up REST API endpoints
  • βœ… Creates portal pages
  • βœ… Ready to use!

2 Verify Connection Status

  1. Go to: WordPress Admin β†’ Altius Portal β†’ Settings
  2. You should see: βœ… SuiteCRM Bridge Status: Connected!
  3. You should see: πŸ”‘ Altius Ecosystem API Key displayed
  4. Click the πŸ“‹ Copy Key button (you'll need this in Step 3)

βœ… That's All the WordPress Configuration!

Seriously. No API keys to manually enter. No OAuth credentials to copy. The Portal just works.

3 Create Portal Field in SuiteCRM

Now jump to the SuiteCRM Field Setup section below to create the portal_access_c field.

Why this field? It controls which contacts can access the portal and what they can see (contact-only vs. account-wide data).

πŸ’‘ Compare: Old Way vs. Ecosystem Way

OLD (v2.3.10 and earlier):

  1. Install Bridge β†’ Copy Bridge API key β†’ Configure in SuiteCRM
  2. Install Portal β†’ Generate Portal API key β†’ Configure in SuiteCRM
  3. Track which key does what
  4. Troubleshoot when keys get mixed up

NEW (v2.4.0 Ecosystem):

  1. Install Bridge β†’ Configure
  2. Install Portal β†’ Done! (uses Bridge connection)
  3. One Ecosystem API Key for everything

πŸ”§ Add Fields to Layouts (2 Minutes!)

✨ Fields Created Automatically!

The Altius Connector v1.6.0 automatically created the required fields and dropdown during installation. You just need to add them to the layouts so users can see and use them!

What Was Created Automatically

When you installed the Connector, it created:

  • βœ… Portal_Access_List dropdown with 3 values (None, Contact Only, Contact + Account)
  • βœ… portal_access_c field in Contacts module
  • βœ… portal_visible_c field in Tasks module (critical privacy control)

βœ… Verify Fields Exist (Optional)

Want to confirm the fields were created? Go to SuiteCRM Admin β†’ Studio β†’ Contacts β†’ Fields and look for portal_access_c. It should be there!

Step-by-Step: Add to Contacts Layouts

1 Open Contacts Layouts

  1. SuiteCRM Admin β†’ Studio
  2. Click Contacts
  3. Click Layouts
  4. Click Edit View

2 Add Portal Access Field

  1. Look for Portal Access in the left panel (available fields)
  2. Drag it onto the layout where you want it visible
  3. Good placement: Near top of form, next to other important fields

3 Enable Sync to Detail View

  1. Find the checkbox: βœ… Sync to Detail View
  2. Make sure it's CHECKED
  3. This adds the field to both Edit and Detail views automatically

4 Save and Deploy

  1. Click Save & Deploy button
  2. Wait for "Layout saved successfully" message
  3. Done with Contacts!

⚠️ Important: Sync to Detail View

The "Sync to Detail View" checkbox is crucial! If checked, the field appears in both Edit and Detail views. If unchecked, you'll have to add the field to Detail View manually as a separate step.

Step-by-Step: Add to Tasks Layouts

πŸ”’ Critical Privacy Field

The portal_visible_c checkbox controls which tasks portal users can see. Unchecked by default (secure). Only check it for tasks safe to share with clients. Protects confidential pricing strategies, negotiation tactics, and internal notes.

1 Open Tasks Layouts

  1. SuiteCRM Admin β†’ Studio
  2. Click Tasks
  3. Click Layouts
  4. Click Edit View

2 Add Portal Visible Field

  1. Look for Portal Visible in the left panel
  2. Drag it onto the layout
  3. Good placement: Near Status or Priority fields
  4. βœ… Check Sync to Detail View
  5. Click Save & Deploy

(Optional) Add to List Views

For Better Visibility

You can also add these fields to List Views so you can see portal access status in contact/task lists:

  1. Contacts β†’ Layouts β†’ List View
  2. Add Portal Access column
  3. Tasks β†’ Layouts β†’ List View
  4. Add Portal Visible column
  5. Helps you quickly see which contacts have portal access and which tasks are visible

βœ… That's It - Fields Ready!

Total time: 2-3 minutes. The fields are now visible and ready to use!

Understanding the Fields

Field Module Purpose Default
portal_access_c Contacts Controls portal access level (None, Contact Only, Contact + Account) None (secure)
portal_visible_c Tasks Controls task visibility in portal (prevents exposure of confidential info) Unchecked (secure)

βš™οΈ Configure SuiteCRM Connector

πŸ“¦ What is the Connector?

The Altius Connector is a small SuiteCRM module that enables automatic user provisioning. When you set Portal Access on a contact in SuiteCRM, the Connector automatically creates the WordPress user and sends them a welcome email. It's the "glue" between SuiteCRM and WordPress.

1 Install Connector (If Not Already)

  1. Download AltiusConnector-v1.6.0.zip
  2. SuiteCRM Admin β†’ Module Loader
  3. Upload the Connector zip file
  4. Click Install
  5. Wait for installation to complete

✨ Automatic Field Creation in Progress!

During installation, Connector v1.6.0 automatically:

  • βœ… Creates Portal_Access_List dropdown (3 values)
  • βœ… Creates portal_access_c field in Contacts
  • βœ… Creates portal_visible_c field in Tasks
  • βœ… Runs Repair & Rebuild

You'll just add them to layouts - 2 minutes!

2 Open Connector Configuration

  1. SuiteCRM Admin β†’ Altius Connector (in menu)
  2. Click Altius Connector Configuration

3 Enter Configuration

Field Value
WordPress URL Your WordPress site URL
Example: https://www.yoursite.com
(No trailing slash!)
Altius Ecosystem API Key Paste the key you copied from WordPress Portal settings
(The one that starts with altius-eco-)
Enable automatic sync βœ… Check this box

πŸ”‘ ONE Key for Everything!

Notice you're using the same Altius Ecosystem API Key that the Bridge uses. That's the whole point of the ecosystem architectureβ€”one key, unlimited plugins, zero configuration confusion!

4 Save Configuration

  1. Click Save Configuration
  2. Should see: "βœ… Configuration saved successfully!"
  3. Status should show "Configured" and "Sync Enabled: Yes"

✨ Connector v1.5.0 Improvements

The Connector no longer crashes when saving! Configuration saves smoothly and displays without errors. If you're upgrading from an older version, you'll notice the improved stability.

πŸ‘₯ Granting Portal Access to Contacts

✨ Fully Automatic User Creation!

Just set Portal Access in SuiteCRM. Within seconds, the user is created in WordPress and receives their welcome email. No manual user creation needed!

1 Open Contact in SuiteCRM

  1. Navigate to the Contact who needs portal access
  2. Verify Contact has:
    • βœ… Valid email address (required)
    • βœ… Linked to an Account (required)
  3. Click Edit

2 Set Portal Access Level

  1. Find the Portal Access dropdown
  2. Select appropriate level:
    • Contact Only - They see only their own cases, meetings, documents
    • Contact + Account - They see ALL data for their company (CEO/CFO level)
  3. Click Save

3 Automatic Magic! ✨

Within 5-10 seconds:

  1. βœ… SuiteCRM Connector detects the change
  2. βœ… Connector calls WordPress Portal API
  3. βœ… WordPress creates Portal User:
    • Username: their email address
    • Password: auto-generated secure password
    • Role: Portal User
    • Access Level: stored from SuiteCRM
  4. βœ… Welcome email sent with:
    • Portal login URL
    • Username
    • Temporary password
    • Instructions
  5. βœ… Contact can log in immediately!

Access Level Comparison

What They Can See Contact Only Contact + Account
Their own cases βœ“ Yes βœ“ Yes
All company cases βœ— No βœ“ Yes
Their own meetings βœ“ Yes βœ“ Yes
All company meetings βœ— No βœ“ Yes
All account invoices βœ— No βœ“ Yes
All account quotes βœ— No βœ“ Yes
All account documents βœ— No βœ“ Yes

Typical Use Cases

Small Business Owner

Portal Access: Contact + Account

Needs to see all invoices, quotes, support cases, and meetings for the entire company. They're the decision-maker who needs full visibility.

Department Manager

Portal Access: Contact Only

Manages their own projects and support cases but shouldn't see other departments' sensitive information or company-wide financials.

CFO or Finance Director

Portal Access: Contact + Account

Needs full access to all invoices, quotes, and financial documents for the organization.

Updating or Revoking Access

Changing Access Level

Just edit the Contact in SuiteCRM and change the Portal Access dropdown. The change takes effect immediately on their next login.

Revoking Access

To remove portal access: Change Portal Access to "None" in SuiteCRM. The user won't be deleted from WordPress, but they can no longer log in to the portal.

πŸ§ͺ Testing Your Portal

1 Create Test User

  1. In SuiteCRM, find or create a test Contact
  2. Set Portal Access to "Contact Only"
  3. Save
  4. Check your email (if using your own email for testing)
  5. You should receive welcome email within 1 minute

2 Test Login

  1. Open private/incognito browser window
  2. Go to: yoursite.com/portal-login
  3. Enter email and password from welcome email
  4. Click Login
  5. Should redirect to /portal-admin dashboard

3 Verify Dashboard

Check that dashboard shows:

  • βœ… Statistics cards (cases, meetings, quotes, invoices)
  • βœ… Quick action buttons
  • βœ… Left sidebar navigation
  • βœ… Recent activities section
  • βœ… Financial charts (if data exists)

4 Test Navigation

Click through each menu:

  • Dashboard β†’ Shows overview
  • Activities β†’ Calendar β†’ FullCalendar view
  • Support β†’ My Cases β†’ Case list
  • Financial β†’ Quotes β†’ Quote list
  • Financial β†’ Invoices β†’ Invoice list
  • Documents β†’ Document list
  • My Account β†’ Profile page

5 Test Modal Views

  1. Go to Support β†’ My Cases
  2. Click View on a case
  3. Modal should open showing case details
  4. Test same with quotes, invoices, meetings

βœ… All Systems Go!

If everything above works, your Portal is fully operational. Your clients now have a professional self-service experience!

πŸ” Troubleshooting

❌ Portal Plugin Won't Activate

βœ… Solution:
  1. Verify Altius Bridge v2.6.0+ is installed and activated
  2. Go to Bridge settings and verify "βœ“ Connected to SuiteCRM"
  3. If Bridge not connected, configure Bridge first
  4. Then retry activating Portal

❌ "Bridge Status: Not Connected" in Portal Settings

βœ… Solution:
  1. Go to: Altius Bridge β†’ Settings
  2. Click "Test Connection"
  3. If fails, verify SuiteCRM credentials are correct
  4. Once Bridge is connected, refresh Portal settings page

❌ Can't Find portal_access_c Field in SuiteCRM

βœ… Solution:
  1. Make sure you created the dropdown list FIRST (Dropdown Editor)
  2. Then create the field in Studio
  3. Field name must be exactly: portal_access_c
  4. After creating, go to WordPress β†’ Altius Portal β†’ Field Setup
  5. Click "Recheck Configuration"

❌ User Not Created When Setting Portal Access

βœ… Solution:

Check in this order:

  1. Verify Connector is installed in SuiteCRM
  2. Check Connector configuration has correct WordPress URL
  3. Verify Ecosystem API Key matches (WordPress Portal β†’ Settings)
  4. Confirm "Enable automatic sync" is checked
  5. Make sure Contact has valid email address
  6. Verify Contact is linked to an Account
  7. Check WordPress debug.log for API errors

❌ User Created But No Welcome Email

βœ… Solution:
  1. Check spam/junk folder first
  2. Verify WordPress can send emails (install WP Mail SMTP)
  3. Test WordPress email with "Check Email" plugin
  4. User can still login - admin can reset password manually

❌ Portal Shows "Unable to Load Activities"

βœ… Solution:
  1. Verify user has Portal User role in WordPress
  2. Check user's email matches Contact email in SuiteCRM exactly
  3. Verify Contact has Portal Access set (not "None")
  4. Confirm Contact is linked to Account in SuiteCRM
  5. Check Bridge is still connected (Altius Bridge β†’ Settings)
  6. Try logging out and back in

Enable Debug Logging

For detailed troubleshooting, edit wp-config.php and add:

define('WP_DEBUG', true); define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true); define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);

Then check /wp-content/debug.log for error messages.

πŸ’¬ Getting Support

πŸ“§ We're Here to Help

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.altiuscentral.com

We offer:

  • βœ… Installation assistance (remote support)
  • βœ… Field creation help
  • βœ… Complete setup service
  • βœ… Custom development
  • βœ… Training for your team

Before Contacting Support

Please have this information ready:

  • Portal version: v2.4.0
  • Bridge version: v2.6.0
  • Connector version: v1.6.0
  • WordPress version
  • SuiteCRM version (7.14.x or 7.15)
  • Description of the issue
  • Screenshots showing the problem
  • Relevant error messages from debug.log

βœ… Installation Complete Checklist

WordPress Setup

  • ☐ Altius Bridge v2.6.0+ installed and connected
  • ☐ Altius Portal v2.4.0 installed and activated
  • ☐ Portal settings show "βœ… Bridge Connected"
  • ☐ Ecosystem API Key visible in Portal settings

SuiteCRM Setup

  • ☐ Altius Connector v1.6.0 installed
  • ☐ Fields auto-created (dropdown + portal_access_c + portal_visible_c)
  • ☐ Portal Access field added to Contacts Edit/Detail Views
  • ☐ Portal Visible field added to Tasks Edit/Detail Views
  • ☐ Connector configured with WordPress URL and Ecosystem API Key
  • ☐ Automatic sync enabled in Connector

Testing

  • ☐ Test contact created with Portal Access set
  • ☐ Welcome email received
  • ☐ Test user can login successfully
  • ☐ Dashboard loads with navigation visible
  • ☐ Case/quote/invoice modals work

πŸŽ‰ You're Ready!

Your Altius Portal Ecosystem is now fully operational!

One key. Zero configuration. Unlimited possibilities.

Β© 2026 Altius Central / SoNet Dynamics

Portal v2.4.0 - Ecosystem Edition

Altius Central is dedicated to restoring true data sovereignty to the modern enterprise by dismantling the “SaaS trap” of recurring subscriptions. Our mission is to bridge the gap between user-friendly WordPress agility and industrial-strength SuiteCRM logic, empowering businesses to scale limitlessly through our proprietary satellite architecture.

Contact Info

join our Newsletter

Sign up for our newsletter to enjoy free marketing tips, inspirations, and more.

Β© 2025 42 Roads llc and Christine Ely | All Rights Reserved