Can I build a searchable membership site without the Members Area app?

[imtonydillard]

My Want
A paid membership site where members can search other members based on fields in a CMS.

My Roadblock
At current, Wix Membership App built in CMS cannot be manipulated to connect to a dynamic page.

Question:
Can I create this concept without using the Wix Membership App?

Product:
Wix Studio

What are you trying to achieve:
Build a membership site without Wix Membership App where a person can become a member, set up payment for their membership, create a profile, update their profile, search and view other member profiles.

What have you already tried:
Wix support stated earlier today there is not workaround in place, however, it is a known ask.

Additional information:
I have a cms in place and connected to a custom “subscriber profile form” and "edit/update form.

[Dan_Suhr]

you can use the Wix Members. create custom members pages for members to upload all the info. This is stored in a CMS that can be attached to a repeater that can be viewed, filtered and used by other members.
I have built many directory sites like this.

[Pratham]

@imtonydillard

Wix support stated earlier today there is not workaround in place

Yes, you cannot set up a database search natively using datasets and input elements. But you can achieve this using a custom coded solution with Wix Velo. What this will do is it will allow you to keep your existing setup in place, and would work along with the Wix Membership app.

Using Velo, you can use specific APIs that allow you to query collections and databases that you would normally not be able to manipulate. Depending on how you have set it all up, you can use code as a workaround to achieve the search functionality that you are trying to develop.

[CODE-NINJA]

Can I build a searchable membership site without the Members Area app?

**My first question would be, what you mean by → Wix Membership App ← **
1) If you mean → Wix-Members-Area ← APP …

Yes, i know it is surely not the superior product made by WIX…

..but you have a lot of options and possibilities to do customization and interact with it through the corresponding APIs and SDKs, provided by wix…

1. Velo Wix Members Frontend Introduction | Velo
2. Velo Wix Members Backend Introduction | Velo
3. Velo Wix Members Backend Introduction | Velo
4. Velo Wix Crm Backend Introduction | Velo
5. Contacts Introduction | Velo
6. Velo Deps Wix Crm V 2 Contacts Introduction | Velo

Read all of those, since Wix-Members is connected to conntect in a specific grade.

2) So my next question would be → Why you do not want to use the Wix-Members-Area-APP ???

This was already a good hint by Dan_Suhr–>

you can use the Wix Members. create custom members pages for members to upload all the info. This is stored in a CMS that can be attached to a repeater that can be viewed, filtered and used by other members.
I have built many directory sites like this.

Kick out DATASETS of your projects and go the coding way. Yes, going the coding way, you would have to put more effort and work onto your project, but you would get much more freedom!!! A DATASET can be connected only to one DATABASE. Doing it by code, you can reach any DATABASE you want (DYNAMIC).

If you should get boundaries or restrictions on CMS calls to the MEMBERS-AREA → you still would be able to manage a separated (additional database) holding and managing data beyond the PMA (PrivatMembersArea) CMS.

Oh, i see!!! Now you are thinking and what about all my dynamic pages, which do need the DATASET ??? Right???

No panic. Just ask yourself → what is a dynamic page exactly???
It is just a setted up DESIGN-MASK (template) for date from the database.
Meaning you just show items from the database on your page dynamically loading each item (on per call) → AND HERE YOU GO → A DYNAMIC PAGE!!!.

So you can generate your dynamic page on your own connected all elements by code.
And again → yes, more work → but at the end again even more freedom and customization possibilities!

Going this way…

1. you will reduce boundaries.
2. your project becomes more flexible, customizable giving you more freedom for own ideas.
3. and more…

Your task out of my vie is absolutely doable!

And here i agree …

Yes, you cannot set up a database search natively using datasets and input elements. But you can achieve this using a custom coded solution with Wix Velo. What this will do is it will allow you to keep your existing setup in place, and would work along with the Wix Membership app.

Using Velo, you can use specific APIs that allow you to query collections and databases that you would normally not be able to manipulate. Depending on how you have set it all up, you can use code as a workaround to achieve the search functionality that you are trying to develop.

→ using more VELO is the key <—