Do you know of any decent free or cheap helpdesk scripts. PHP or Java based preferred (trying to keep cgi script use to a minimum).

Perl Desk

Might wanna try the hosting software forum..
might want to see this search
http://www.webhostingtalk.com/search.php?action=showresults&searchid=391044&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending

For free/cheap:

1. Perl Desk
2. Ticketsmith

PerlDesk seems like the most popular one.

It's CGI and a resource hog though.

I'd try ticketsmith, it looks pretty good.

I thought PerlDesk is CGI?

Try PhpSupportDesk, http://www.phpsupportdesk.com

Thanks for all the suggestions.


I downloaded Ticketsmith, but it's install seems overly complicated, (it's composed of both PHP and Perl?)

PHPHelpdesk looks nice, but I don't know if I want to pay that price tag. I'll take a look at PerlDesk even though it's cgi.

I have to second http://phpsupportdesk.com . Kunal is one hell of a programmer and the new version is just so sweeet. :)

Just a side note, perldesk is perl which can and is often run as cgi. php can also be cgi although thats less common. no doubt that mod_php is fatser than perl as cgi but if you start talking mod_perl its a whole other story...

back to the main point. i've used perldesk a few times and always liked it although i had some feature issues in the past.

Ticketsmith would have to receive our vote. :agree:

Although I do agree with your assessment that it is tricky to install, which is why I left the installation bit to one of our system admins!

I liked ticketsmith, I even made a online script for submitting and tracking tickets for customers...

But we've moved to PerlDesk and its been great so far....

What control panel are you using? Isn't there iHelp that works with plesk. Anyway, I would def. send my vote for PerlDesk.

I have used it and its very efficent and my customers seem to like its simplicity and design.
Thanks

I'm glad that a lot of you like ticketsmith.
We've got a new version in the works.

It includes

Timed tickets
Queues for multiple departments
Many interface improvements.

It'll be out shortly. Suggestions/comments are welcomed.

Best,

Raj Dutt

its not that hard to make your own. even with small knowledge of a programming language.

We've been using PerlDesk for quite some time. It's an excellent piece of software, and the price can't be beat...

Originally posted by FDrive

We've been using PerlDesk for quite some time. It's an excellent piece of software, and the price can't be beat...
I agree! I can never get it, why would anyone want to fork out 250 bucks for phpsupportdesk when a free, full-featured program can do the job equally well.

Originally posted by mistral1

I agree! I can never get it, why would anyone want to fork out 250 bucks for phpsupportdesk when a free, full-featured program can do the job equally well. Apples and Oranges.
I like PerlDesk. But, your remark is unfounded. phpsupport desk is a better system IMO. Not to mention, I believe, support for phpsupport desk would be a very good reason to choose one over the other.
PerlDesk is fine. But, like with most free programs, support is often lacking.
I use PD. But find nothing wrong with paying for something better.

Originally posted by SoftWareRevue

PerlDesk is fine. But, like with most free programs, support is often lacking.
Hi SoftWareRevue.

Perldesk has got frequent updates and keeps expanding all the time in features. It's got a support forum and if you can't find what you need and mail the author with a support question he gets back to you sooner or later. Not bad for a completely free program. ;)

PerlDesk is Perl, phpsuppoprtdesk is php.

Apples and Oranges, Chalk and Cheese. Hmm, why would someone also want to spend 10k or whatever on DesPro, when there is the almighty (bland and buggy) PerlDesk?

Funny old idea.

Anyway, the new desk is so good. And as Kunal actually gets paid for it he can invest all his time into it. He is already recoding it for the next version. He is unstoppable. :D

Originally posted by mistral1

Hi SoftWareRevue.

Perldesk has got frequent updates and keeps expanding all the time in features. It's got a support forum and if you can't find what you need and mail the author with a support question he gets back to you sooner or later. Not bad for a completely free program. ;)

Just to let you know, the author shut down the forums and is now charging for support :D

BTW: SWR was mod at the support forums :D

Originally posted by The Prohacker


Just to let you know, the author shut down the forums and is now charging for support :D

BTW: SWR was mod at the support forums :D
My apologies go to SWR. I wasn't aware of these developments.

Me thinks perldesk is still good value for money and from the number of installs that you see around it's certainly popular with hosters.

What both perldesk and phpsupportdesk seem to lack is integration with control panels. What I mean is, as a user you need to register before you can use either of them. Has anyone had any success in integrating it with cpanel, ensim, etc.?

Originally posted by mistral1

My apologies go to SWR. I wasn't aware of these developments.

Me thinks perldesk is still good value for money and from the number of installs that you see around it's certainly popular with hosters.

What both perldesk and phpsupportdesk seem to lack is integration with control panels. What I mean is, as a user you need to register before you can use either of them. Has anyone had any success in integrating it with cpanel, ensim, etc.?


Using the same system username and pass would be a security risk, you'd have to let a script access your /etc/shadow file, or have some outside program that authenticates to it....

My cpanel skin has an area for users to log into perldesk...

I've tried both PerlDesk and TicketSmith. I liked PerlDesk's ease of use and other features better. I'd prefer to use TicketSmith(PHP) so perhaps the upcoming release of TicketSmith will be better then previous.

Originally posted by The Prohacker

Using the same system username and pass would be a security risk, you'd have to let a script access your /etc/shadow file, or have some outside program that authenticates to it....

My cpanel skin has an area for users to log into perldesk...
Actually FTP username and passwords could be used to get around that security risk. If you think about it, with cpanel user passwords and ftp passwords are one and same, synchronized. And so are usernames.

me and my customers use perldesk , i like it , plus the price is unbeatable . I see that they have perlbill , which does intergrate with whm/cpanel . It handles all of your billing and trouble tickets . They claim to possibly be adding merchant credit card processing . I think the free version is just fine for me , but people who want more might wanna check it out . The demo is pretty nice as well

Hello,

Has anyone ever tried ISOLSOFT support desk? How about their support?

Regards

Originally posted by robx
Hello,

Has anyone ever tried ISOLSOFT support desk? How about their support?

Regards



Do you have a URL?

http://www.isolsoft.com

Looks like a good piece of software. Well organized easy to use interface. One thing I didn't see, that I may have overlooked, is if it has the capability for someone to email in a support request or do they have to register/login to the software in order to submit the support request.

Other than that the $99.95 price tag seems a bit pricey of course I'm probably like most and have been spoiled by the 'FREE' scripts. (Just my .05 cents)

well i just swtiched my forum over from phpbb to invision . I did this because , well ... invision looks better and it has more mods . One of the mods that really caught my eye , was a trouble ticket/helpdesk system that intergrates with the invision forum . My question is , do you think having the forum and helpdesk in one package is a good idea , i havent done the mod yet , i was just wondering what you people thought on the subject ? is this something you would do ? or would you keep them seperate ?. Another thing is , im just wondering how many people check a forum prior to asking for help or submitting a ticket ? Let me know what you think ...thanks

We use Isolsoft and it is stellar. I have a few gripes regarding security. I had to hack it since it's not PHP 4.2 compliant, nor does it encrypt passwords in any way. I hacked it though and it works fine. In fact I have an article forthcoming at the site of a major industry player reviewing the software. I'll post a link when it's published. :)