Native Plug - Valid XHTML and CSS for Joomla 1.5

I'm pleased to announce the immediate availability of AlphaUserPoints version 1.5.0 for download.
This release is a major version contains 14 bug fixes, a partial reorganization of the code for frontend with seperate controllers and several new features. This new version now support huge site members on synchronization and recalculation of points. Now, during the installation of AlphaUserPoints, an icon is added to the general control panel of joomla (mod_aupadmin). This icon allows you to quickly launch AlphaUserPoints and display also a warning if there are pending approvals. For the release of this new version, I have created a new logo. I hope you enjoy it.

Also, I want to say a big thank you to Sami Haaranen - joomlaportal.fi - for the many hours spent testing and translate this component.

It has been 2 weeks since AlphaUserPoints v1.4.0 was released on June 04, 2009. The summer holidays approaching, I wanted to take a little advance...

How to integrate Joomla framework in external script?

This question has often been asked for incorporating new rules in AlphaUserPoints with external scripts to Joomla!.
The method is quite simple and I'll give you the details here.

Edit the script you wish to modify and put the following at the beginning of the file:

<?php
define( '_JEXEC', 1 );

// real path depending on the type of server
// change the number of returns/level needed in your path relative to the position of your script in your directory
if (stristr( $_SERVER['SERVER_SOFTWARE'], 'win32' )) {
    define( 'JPATH_BASE', realpath(dirname(__FILE__).'\..\..\..\..' ));
} else define( 'JPATH_BASE', realpath(dirname(__FILE__).'/../../../..' ));

define( 'DS', DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR );

// loading framework of Joomla!
require_once ( JPATH_BASE.DS.'includes'.DS.'defines.php' );
require_once ( JPATH_BASE.DS.'includes'.DS.'framework.php' );
$mainframe =& JFactory::getApplication('site');
$mainframe->initialise();

// if need a specific language component, you can load it here

jimport( 'joomla.plugin.plugin' );

JPlugin::loadLanguage( 'com_xxxxxxxxx' );

// original code here or your code continue here ...
?>