Publica.la Platform Features
Introduction
Publica.la uses a feature flag system that allows enabling or disabling specific platform features according to each tenant's needs. This flexible system allows customizing access to functionalities based on the client's business model or the specific terms of their contract. This document provides a detailed description of all available features in the Publica.la platform, including their activation status during trial periods and their current availability. Understanding these features and how they can be configured helps maximize the platform's potential for each specific use case.
Feature Categories
The Publica.la platform features are organized into several functional categories to address different aspects of digital publishing and content distribution. These categories include content management, monetization, user experience, integration capabilities, and administrative tools.
Content Management Features
Content management features enable users to create, organize, and manage their digital publications efficiently.
| Feature | Description | Trial Access | Available Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Publications Limit | Controls the maximum number of publications a user can create. This limit can be set to a specific value or made unlimited based on the subscription plan. | Yes | 2019-11-08 |
| Free Publications Limit | Determines how many free publications a user can offer. This feature is customizable and can be unlimited depending on the plan. | Yes | 2019-12-09 |
| Publication's Previews | Allows users to create preview sections of their publications, with a default value of 10% of the content. This feature helps potential customers sample content before purchasing. | Yes | 2019-11-25 |
| Publications Groups | Enables users to organize publications into logical groups for better management and presentation. | No | 2022-07-22 |
| AI Dictionary in the Reader | Provides an AI-powered dictionary feature within the reader interface, enhancing the reading experience with instant word definitions. | Yes | 2022-11-28 |
| AI Integrations in the Reader | Offers AI assistant capabilities within the reader, providing contextual help and enhanced content interaction. | No | 2024-06-12 |
| Smart Zoom | Provides intelligent zooming capabilities for better content viewing, particularly useful for visual content. | Yes | 2022-02-11 |
E-commerce and Monetization Features
These features enable users to sell their content through various models and payment methods.
| Feature | Description | Trial Access | Available Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discount Coupons | Allows users to create discount coupons for their publications, enhancing marketing capabilities. | Yes | 2019-12-09 |
| Discount Coupons in Bulk | Enables the generation of multiple discount coupons simultaneously, streamlining promotional campaigns. | No | 2023-09-04 |
| Custom Sales Taxes | Provides the ability to set custom sales tax rates for different regions or product types. | Yes | 2020-07-01 |
| Own Payment Gateway | Allows users to integrate their preferred payment gateways for transaction processing. | No | 2019-12-09 |
| WeChat Pay and Alipay | Enables support for WeChat Pay and Alipay payment methods through Stripe integration. | No | 2020-04-22 |
| Prepaid Plans | Offers the ability to create and sell prepaid access plans for content. | No | 2022-07-11 |
| Private Plans | Enables the creation of private subscription plans for specific user groups. | Yes | 2019-12-09 |
| External Plans (Institutional Sales) | Allows the creation of external plans for institutional customers. | Yes | 2020-11-09 |
| Bookshop | Provides a complete bookshop functionality for selling publications. | No | 2024-05-27 |
| Physical Goods | Enables the selling of printed goods alongside digital content. | No | 2024-02-12 |
| Disable Selling | Completely disables all e-commerce capabilities (checkout, plans, coupons, sales dashboards, and payment settings) for the store, turning the platform into a pure content delivery solution. | No | 2020-03-12 |
User Experience and Access Features
These features enhance how users interact with and access content on the platform.
| Feature | Description | Trial Access | Available Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Users Limit | Controls the maximum number of users that can access the platform. | Yes | 2019-11-08 |
| Admin User's Limit | Determines how many administrative users can be created. | Yes | 2019-12-09 |
| Custom CSS | Provides advanced CSS customization options for personalizing the user interface. | Yes | 2019-11-08 |
| Custom Domain | Allows users to use their own domain for their digital store. | No | 2019-12-09 |
| User's Branding Logo | Enables users to add their branding logo to the platform. | Yes | 2019-12-27 |
| Login by IP | Facilitates institutional sales by allowing access based on IP address. | Yes | 2019-11-08 |
| Login by Referrer | Enables institutional access based on the referring URL. | Yes | 2019-11-08 |
| Login as Any User (Impersonation) | Allows administrators to log in as any user for troubleshooting. | Yes | 2020-09-30 |
| Hide Reader UI by Default | Configures the reader interface to be hidden by default. | No | 2021-08-17 |
| Allow iframe Embedding | Permits content to be embedded in iframes on external websites. | No | 2020-10-22 |
| Download Original Publications Files | Allows end users to download the original publication files. | No | 2020-08-28 |
Integration and API Features
These features enable integration with external systems and services.
| Feature | Description | Trial Access | Available Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access API Logs | Provides access to API request logs from the Integrations Settings section. | Yes | 2023-10-18 |
| API Reader Sessions | Enables API-based reader session management. | No | 2024-12-27 |
| Orders API | Provides API access to order information. | Yes | 2022-03-04 |
| Google Analytics | Allows connection to Google Analytics and Facebook pixel for tracking. | Yes | 2019-12-09 |
| SAML Authentication Integration | Enables integration with SAML authentication systems. | Yes | 2021-02-02 |
| LTI Authentication Integration | Provides integration with Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) systems. | Yes | 2021-02-02 |
| Webhooks Integration | Enables webhook notifications for platform events. | Yes | 2021-02-02 |
| External Reading Permissions API | Provides API access to reading permissions (sunsetting). | Yes | 2021-02-02 |
| Allow embedding external plugins | Permits embedding external plugins within the reader. | No | 2024-10-04 |
Communication and Marketing Features
These features support communication with users and marketing efforts.
| Feature | Description | Trial Access | Available Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Email Marketing | Enables sending marketing emails to users. | Yes | 2019-12-09 |
| Chat Support | Provides chat-based support functionality. | Yes | 2019-11-08 |
| Push Notifications | Enables push notifications for user engagement. | No | 2020-01-28 |
Advanced Content Features
These features provide enhanced content capabilities.
| Feature | Description | Trial Access | Available Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Content Encryption | Provides encryption for content security (BETA). | No | 2023-11-29 |
| Use Amazon Polly for Text to Speech | Enables premium text-to-speech functionality using Amazon Polly. | No | 2020-04-30 |
| Allow Chinese Voice | Permits Chinese voice despite the publication language. | No | 2020-11-03 |
| Create Publications in Multiple Languages | Enables multilanguage publication creation. | Yes | 2019-11-08 |
| Bulk Imports | Allows bulk import of publications. | Yes | 2020-11-03 |
| Set Default Publications Prices | Enables setting default prices for publications. | Yes | 2020-11-03 |
Administrative Features
These features support administrative functions.
| Feature | Description | Trial Access | Available Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manually Assign Publications | Allows manual assignment of publications to users. | Yes | 2020-09-30 |
| Manually Assign Plans | Enables manual assignment of plans to users. | Yes | 2020-09-30 |
| Librarian / Plan Admins | Enables plan admin users (bibliotecarios) who can manage specific subscription plans and view statistics for users within their plan. | Yes | 2025-08-25 |
| Automatic Shelves Creation | Automates the creation of content shelves. | No | 2021-01-28 |
| Medusa Publications Automations | Provides automation capabilities for publications. | No | 2020-02-14 |
| GDPR Cookie Consent | Implements GDPR-compliant cookie consent functionality. | No | 2020-09-03 |
| Stores Aggregation | Enables main stores and sub-stores functionality. | No | 2021-07-13 |
Feature Availability and Configuration
Features in Publica.la are categorized by their availability during trial periods and whether they require specific configuration:
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Trial Accessibility: Many features are available during the trial period, allowing users to test the platform's capabilities before committing to a subscription.
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Value Configuration: Some features require setting specific values, such as limits on publications or users. These values can be configured based on the subscription plan.
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Default Values: Certain features come with default values that can be adjusted as needed.
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Unlimited Options: Some features can be set to unlimited, providing maximum flexibility for users with higher-tier subscriptions.
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Public Display: Features marked as "Displayable Publicly" can be showcased in marketing materials and public-facing documentation.
Recently Added Features
Publica.la continuously enhances the platform with new features. Some of the most recently added capabilities include:
- API Reader Sessions (2024-12-27)
- Use new base query for issues (2024-10-21)
- Force enable Next Gen Volpe (2024-10-08)
- Allow embedding external plugins to the reader (2024-10-04)
- Show Legacy Vue Product Page (2024-09-19)
- AI Integrations in the Reader (2024-06-12)
- Bookshop (2024-05-27)
- Physical Goods (2024-02-12)
Sunsetting Features
Some features are marked as "sunsetting," indicating they are being phased out but remain available for existing users:
- Automatic Language Geolocation
- External Reading Permissions API
- PPU Library Mode
Conclusion
The Publica.la platform offers a comprehensive set of features designed to support the entire digital publishing lifecycle. By understanding and utilizing these features, users can create engaging content, build effective distribution channels, and develop successful monetization strategies. The platform's continuous evolution ensures that users have access to cutting-edge tools that meet the changing demands of the digital publishing industry.
For specific implementation details or questions about any feature, users are encouraged to contact our support team through the chat support feature available in the platform.
Related Documentation
- Features System (Engineering) - Technical implementation details, data model, and access methods