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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

This page provides answers to commonly asked questions about MemberJunction.

General Questions

What is MemberJunction?

MemberJunction is an open-source platform designed to help organizations manage their data, build applications, and leverage AI for better insights. It includes tools for record management, reporting, dashboards, and features an AI assistant named Skip to help users interact with their data.

Is MemberJunction free to use?

Yes, MemberJunction is open-source software released under the ISC License. You can use, modify, and distribute it freely. However, some components like the AI assistant (Skip) may require licensing for the underlying Large Language Model (LLM) from providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or Mistral.

What are the system requirements for MemberJunction?

Basic system requirements include:

  • Node.js (version 20 or later)
  • SQL Server or Azure SQL Database
  • Modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari)
  • At least 4GB of RAM (8GB recommended)
  • 2GB of free disk space

For production environments with many users, requirements will be higher.

Can MemberJunction connect to my existing databases?

Yes, MemberJunction can connect to existing SQL Server or Azure SQL databases. The platform uses a provider architecture that could be extended to support other database types in the future.

Does MemberJunction work on the cloud?

Yes, MemberJunction can be deployed to various cloud environments, including Microsoft Azure. The documentation includes specific guidance for Azure deployment.

Installation and Setup

How do I install MemberJunction?

The basic installation steps are:

  1. Configure source database
  2. Download the software
  3. Run setup scripts
  4. Start the application

Detailed installation instructions are available in the Installation Guide.

How long does installation typically take?

A basic installation can be completed in 30-60 minutes, assuming you have all prerequisites in place. More complex installations with customizations or large data migrations may take longer.

Can I try MemberJunction before installing it?

Currently, there's no public demo environment available. The quickest way to try MemberJunction is to follow the installation guide and set it up in a development environment.

How do I upgrade to a newer version?

Upgrading involves:

  1. Backing up your current system
  2. Updating the source code
  3. Running database upgrade scripts
  4. Restarting the application

Detailed upgrade instructions are available in the Upgrading Guide.

Features and Functionality

Can I customize forms and views?

Yes, MemberJunction provides extensive customization options for forms and views through the metadata management system. You can:

  • Add, remove, or rearrange fields
  • Create custom layouts
  • Define filters and sorting
  • Set default values
  • Configure validation rules

How does search work in MemberJunction?

MemberJunction uses full-text search capabilities provided by SQL Server. The search index includes all text fields marked as searchable in the metadata. The search functionality can be configured to control which entities and fields are searchable and how results are ranked.

What reporting capabilities does MemberJunction offer?

MemberJunction includes a flexible reporting system that supports:

  • Tabular reports
  • Summary reports with grouping and aggregation
  • Charts and graphs
  • Scheduled report generation
  • Export to multiple formats (Excel, PDF, CSV)

Can I build custom applications with MemberJunction?

Yes, MemberJunction is designed as a platform for building custom applications. You can:

  • Define custom entities and relationships
  • Create custom forms and views
  • Implement custom business logic
  • Build specialized workflows
  • Integrate with other systems

Skip AI Assistant

What is Skip?

Skip is an AI assistant built using the MemberJunction platform that helps users interact with their data using natural language. Users can ask questions, find information, create records, generate reports, and perform various tasks without needing to know technical details about the underlying data structure.

What language models does Skip support?

Skip supports integration with models from several model families of providers including:

  • OpenAI
  • Anthropic
  • Google
  • Mistral

Do I need to pay for Skip?

Skip is one of several AI agents offered by MemberJunction, each licensed separately from the open source project.

Can Skip access all my data?

Skip's access to data is configurable. Administrators can control which entities and fields Skip can access, ensuring sensitive information remains protected.

Development and Customization

Which programming languages are used in MemberJunction?

MemberJunction is primarily built with:

  • TypeScript/JavaScript for both client and server code
  • SQL for database operations
  • HTML/CSS for UI components

Can I extend MemberJunction with custom code?

Yes, MemberJunction is designed to be extended. You can:

  • Create custom entity classes with specialized business logic
  • Build custom UI components
  • Implement custom API endpoints
  • Create plugins for additional functionality
  • Integrate with external systems

How does the metadata system work?

MemberJunction uses a metadata-driven approach where the structure of entities, fields, relationships, and UI components is defined in metadata tables. This metadata is then used to:

  • Generate TypeScript classes
  • Build GraphQL schemas
  • Create database objects
  • Render UI components

The metadata can be managed through the administration interface or via API calls.

Is there an API for integrating with other systems?

Yes, MemberJunction provides a GraphQL API that allows external systems to:

  • Query data
  • Create, update, and delete records
  • Execute business logic
  • Manage metadata
  • Authenticate users

Security and Administration

How does authentication work?

MemberJunction supports multiple authentication methods:

  • Microsoft Authentication Library (MSAL)
  • Auth0
  • Custom authentication providers

The authentication system is extensible to support other providers.

How are permissions managed?

MemberJunction uses a role-based access control (RBAC) system where:

  • Users are assigned to roles
  • Roles have permissions for entities and features
  • Permissions can be set at the entity, record, or field level
  • Custom security rules can be implemented

Is my data encrypted?

MemberJunction supports encryption through:

  • Transport layer security (HTTPS)
  • Database encryption options
  • Field-level encryption for sensitive data

Specific encryption implementation depends on your deployment configuration.

How can I monitor system usage?

MemberJunction includes monitoring tools for:

  • User activity tracking
  • Performance metrics
  • Error logging
  • Audit trail for data changes
  • Security event monitoring

Troubleshooting

What should I do if I encounter an error?

  1. Check the application logs for error details
  2. Consult the Troubleshooting Guide
  3. Search the GitHub issues for similar problems
  4. Post a question on the community forums
  5. Contact support for critical issues

How do I report a bug?

If you discover a bug in MemberJunction:

  1. Check if the issue has already been reported on GitHub
  2. If not, create a new issue with:
    • A detailed description of the problem
    • Steps to reproduce the issue
    • Expected vs. actual behavior
    • Your environment details (version, OS, browser)
    • Screenshots if applicable

How can I request a new feature?

Feature requests can be submitted:

  1. As an issue on GitHub with the "enhancement" label
  2. Through the community forums
  3. Via email to the MemberJunction team

Where can I get help if my question isn't answered here?

Additional help resources include:

Updated 1 day ago