Question 1

Can I link to a Workflow when a user rates content?

Accepted Answer

When a user rates your FAQ or Workflow you may wish to link to a Workflow from the rating area to collect more detailed, specific information. That Workflow could in turn pass data to your other systems (eg ticketing systems or CRM) via an Integration or Webhook.

This feature can be used in combination with, or as an alternative to, the feedback comments feature.

You can enable this functionality for FAQs and/or Workflows via Settings --> FAQ --> General or Settings --> Workflow --> General respectively.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/VMGzMXACpu/Screenshot%202021-03-11%20at%2008.25.31.png (Post feedback Workflow configuration in MyMalcolm)

Here you can choose the Workflow linked to when the user gives feedback.

The default copy for the link text is "Submit additional feedback" but you can change that via the language file - details on how to do this here.

If you are going to enable this feature it may make sense to turn feedback comments off so all comments are captured in your Workflow. We also recommend you turn off the feedback on the individual Workflow you use for the post Workflow feedback (via the configure tag of the individual Workflow in question). This will avoid the user being asked for feedback on the feedback!

Question 2

How can I use Stripe with Malcolm! to collect payment from my customers?

Accepted Answer

Malcolm! now integrates with Stripe. Stripe is a payment service provider that enables business owners to collect payment from their customers.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/UDbFKeLChy/stripe%402x.png (Stripe and Malcolm!)

With our Stripe integration you can create Workflows in Malcolm! that include fields for your customers to enter their card details and pay for things like products, services, memberships etc or perhaps make a donation towards something.

Here is how to set things up:

If you don't already have a Stripe account create one here
In MyMalcolm go to the Settings, then Workflows, then Integrations, then click on Stripe
You'll be taken to a page on the Stripe website where you can login and confirm that you wish to link your Stripe account to Malcolm!

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/aioqQzmd4C/screenshot-connect.stripe.com-2021.05.28-17_36_24.png (Connecting Stripe to Malcolm!)

Once you have linked your Stripe account you can create Workflows via the Workflow section as usual and place payment related elements onto those Workflows. Two particular elements to pay attention to are Currency and Payments

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/SlnkSg4slf/screenshot-my.malcolm.app-2021.05.28-18_08_18.png (Currency and Payment elements in MyMalcolm)

Payments is the element where your customer will provider their card details. You can configure the amount your customer is charged via the Payment element settings, or you can optionally ask the customer to enter their own amount via the Currency field - this can be useful in scenarios like donations or account payments where you may wish to offer the customer the choice of the amount to pay.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/tJtuV3NgUY/screenshot-my.malcolm.app-2021.05.28-18_12_35.png (Settings for the Payment element in MyMalcolm)

If you also collect your customers email (and Name) in the Workflow you can optionally use that information to send them a payment confirmation email. You can configre and customise this via the Payment element settings.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/sZjKbFViLz/screenshot-my.malcolm.app-2021.05.28-18_11_48.png (Configuring payment confirmation emails in MyMalcolm)

You can place the Payment element on any page of your Workflow, but the actual payment transaction will not be attempted until the final submit of your Workflow. If there is a problem with the payment details your customer will be returned to the page with Payment element on it and given a chance to update their details and proceed back through the Workflow.

You can see a video walkthrough below.

And there you have it! Taking payments via Stripe is a really powerful and quick to implement feature of Malcolm! Workflows. Taking payments will also work when the Workflow is surfaced via our embeds, widgets and overlays too! If you have questions or need a hand setting things up just contact us and we'll be happy to help.

Question 3

Do I need to pay VAT?

Accepted Answer

Value Added Tax (VAT) is the sales tax in the United Kingdom where Malcolm! trades from. The current UK VAT rate is 20%. Our pricing is quoted excluding VAT.

The UK is no longer a member of the European Union (EU) however the VAT rules around UK companies trading with EU based businesses and EU based individuals continue to apply.

Whether VAT is applicable to your purchase of Malcolm! and how we apply it can be summarised as follows:

If you are a UK customer (individual or business): we charge VAT at 20%
If you are an EU Business and supply a valid VAT number (we check it): we will not charge you any VAT
If you are an individual in the EU: we will charge you VAT at your local country VAT - details here (PDF)
If you are a company or an individual not in the UK or in the EU (eg you are in the USA or Australia): we will not charge you any VAT

Question 4

How do I hide an FAQ?

Accepted Answer

You can change the visibility of an individual FAQ within that FAQ's Configure section

Browse to the FAQ in question via the Library, select it and then go to the Configure section, then Visibility.

Here you have the following options:

Set as visible on your site and search engines (default)
Set as visible on your site but hidden from search engines
Set as hidden from your site and search engines

Question 5

Can I put Malcolm! Widget code into another site via Google Tag Manager?

Accepted Answer

If you are using Google Tag Manager on a site or application it is very easy to deploy the Malcolm! widget into that property via GTM.

Here is a step by step guide:

Question 6

Is there a limit to the number of times a Workflow can be completed?

Accepted Answer

No - there are no restrictions on the number of times a user can complete a Workflow on any of our plans.

Question 7

Can I turn off the "last updated" date on FAQs?

Accepted Answer

If you'd like to hide the "last updated" date displayed on an FAQ you can do this on a per FAQ basis via the Configure / General area of the FAQ in MyMalcolm:

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/rAF6afXiNL/screenshot-my.malcolm.app-2019.10.23-11_42_54.png (Enabling or disabling the last updated date globally)

If you want to turn off this feature for all FAQ's in the instance you can do this globally via Settings / FAQs / General Settings:

Question 8

How to integrate with Mews using Workflow integrations

Accepted Answer

At Malcolm! HQ we continue to roll-out our built-in Workflow integrations, our most recent being the Mews Property Managamenet System.

Use a Malcolm! Workflow to capture information or record choices from your guest then have that data added to the guest notes in Mews. All you need from your guest is their Surname and Confirmation Number or a Reservation ID.

Connect to Mews

Get started in MyMalcolm by connecting to your Mews account via Settings > Workflows > Integrations using your Mews Client token and Access token.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/nV6HefCjKn/Screenshot%202022-03-28%20at%2009.59.27.png (Screenshot 2022-03-28 at 09.59.27.png)

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Build the Workflow

Start a new Malcolm! Workflow and capture the guest Surname and Confirmation Number.

If you prefer a hidden Reservation ID could be passed in via the URL, for example using a link in a direct email to the guest. URL values can also be tokenised to hide their true value. Read more on Setting Workflow values in a URL and Securing Workflow values.

Finish by adding the fields you'd like to capture in guest profile notes.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/EzbeRogC4Y/Screenshot%202022-03-28%20at%2010.05.53.png (Screenshot 2022-03-28 at 10.05.53.png)

Configure the integration

From the builder head to Configure > Integrations and choose the Mews integration.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/itYnbSd00O/Screenshot%202022-03-28%20at%2010.06.31.png (Screenshot 2022-03-28 at 10.06.31.png)

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Choose the "Add notes to a guest profile" action and your Mews booking service.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/fy8HASkjMf/Screenshot%202022-03-28%20at%2010.07.03.png (Screenshot 2022-03-28 at 10.07.03.png)

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/QD16dElxZr/Screenshot%202022-03-28%20at%2010.07.09.png (Screenshot 2022-03-28 at 10.07.09.png)

Connect up your Malcolm! Workflow fields.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/QPrIZSUn6F/Screenshot%202022-03-28%20at%2010.07.39.png (Screenshot 2022-03-28 at 10.07.39.png)

Finish by enabling the integration and saving.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/zfnYbaPohW/Screenshot%202022-03-28%20at%2010.56.56.png (Screenshot 2022-03-28 at 10.56.56.png)

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/vISxJiGvRj/Screenshot%202022-03-28%20at%2010.07.53.png (Screenshot 2022-03-28 at 10.07.53.png)

We hope you enjoy using this new integration. If you have any feedback or questions please get in touch below or via support@malcolm.app.

Question 9

Can I translate or change the system text and labels my users will see?

Accepted Answer

In addition to the FAQ and Workflow content that you create in MyMalcolm you can now change all the system generated text and labels your users see and interact with in the front end of Malcolm!

This means you could, for example, completely translate all the parts of Malcolm! your users will see into a different language.

The majority of the system text is stored and changed within your theme. Themes live in the Brand section of MyMalcolm.

Quite a few bits of system text can be changed contextually as you browse around the sections of your theme, however for the complete list of text you can change go to the "advanced" tab. Here you will have access to your custom language file. The language file stores any changes to the default system text. You'll see any changes you've already made in the other parts of the theme interface reflected here.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/E6kdxuV8w9/screenshot-my.malcolm.app-2020.08.12-00_01_21.png (Edit your language file in MyMalcolm)

At the bottom of the screen you will see two buttons.

Show dictionary - this will show you a complete list of system text items with some further information about where the text is used
Show language file - this will show you all the default values for system text

You can copy the key and default value for a bit of text, paste it into the custom language file window and then edit it. The part you want to change is on the right hand side.

For example, if you wanted to change the text next to the send FAQ by email functionality to be "Please email me" you would add the following to your custom language file

"Heading: Email this answer": "Please email me",

Please note that a few items of system text your users will see are configured elsewhere in MyMalcolm:

The default values, placeholder text, validation message, tooltip title and descriptions used within Workflows are configured in the Workflow builder - you click on the content element when it's been placed on a page in the builder to edit these items
Window titles and button text for Embeds are managed within the visual style section of the respective embed in the Share section (although you can change the default values used via the language file)

Question 10

Can I pass secure values into Malcolm! Workflows via the URL?

Accepted Answer

Passing data into a Workflow via the URL is a feature we've had for a while - read more - but what if the data you want to pass is confidential?

Understandably, you wouldn't want to pass that straight in. Luckily Malcolm! understands how important protecting your data is so we've come up with a solution that allows values to travel safe and secure with minimal effort!

A beginners guide to encryption

Suppose you have a value, such as an account number, that you don't want anyone else to read. Encryption provides a way to scramble this value so only you and the people you share the password or secret key with can read it.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/FR8yDloV2d/encryption-diagram.png (encryption-diagram.png)

The sender uses the secret key to scramble the original value and the encrypted value is sent to the receiver. On receipt of the encrypted value the receiver uses the same secret key to unscramble the value back to the original.

And that's encryption in a nutshell!

Step 1: Generate a secret key

The secret key can be any string you like, but Malcolm! recommends using a random string of at least 36 characters. A simple ruby command can quickly generate one for you.

Keep your secret key safe - you'll need it later!

Step 2: Share your secret key with Malcolm!

We do this via the Workflow Builder. Any question field that supports URL query values can now be secured with your secret key - e.g. text fields, hidden fields, number fields, email address fields, etc.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/g6hGpX1dvl/Screenshot%202021-11-10%20at%2013.43.37.png (Screenshot 2021-11-10 at 13.43.37.png)

Here's a simple example which starts with a text field renamed to "Account number".

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To enable URL values open up the edit window, scroll to the bottom and turn on "Allow a value to be set in URL query". Malcolm! will automatically generate a query name for you but you can change it to something different if you prefer.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/HwJyEPPI3q/resources/7OhxX21Mdq/Screenshot%202021-11-10%20at%2013.52.01.png (Screenshot 2021-11-10 at 13.52.01.png)

Next turn on the "Secure the query value" and paste in your secret key.

Hit save and that completes the configuration!

Step 3: Encrypting values

Malcolm! uses OpenSSL and the "aes-128-gcm" cipher to decrypt values.

Passed values need to be encoded and made up of three parts -

The Initialisation Vector used during the encryption
The Authentication Tag resulting from AEAD ciphers
The encrypted string

Initialisation Vectors are generated using the OpenSSL rand function. For our chosen cipher these need to be exactly 12 bytes long. If using PHP you can use the openssl_random_pseudo_bytes function.

Why 12 bytes? This just happens to be the required length for our chosen cipher. In PHP you can verify this by using the openssl_cipher_iv_length function.

This will output -

Next use the OpenSSL enc function to create the encrypted string. Here's an example using the PHP openssl_encrypt function.

This will assign an Authentication Tag to the $tag variable (passed by reference) and an encrypted string to the $ciphertext variable.

Note - in PHP we pass OPENSSL_RAW_DATA to generate binary data.

Complete the process by concatenating $iv, $tag and $cipertext into a single string - Malcolm! needs all three for the decryption process!

As we're passing this value via the URL we need to first encode it. Use a Base 64 encoder followed by a URL encoder to ensure all the characters are sent correctly. In PHP this is the base64_encode function and urlencode functions respectively.

This is the final encoded string!

For simplicity all the steps from above can be put in a single function.

And that's all there is to it ;)