Watchful Apps extend the information and notifications available for websites connected to Watchful.
Apps are installed directly on the website you want to monitor. Depending on the CMS, this means installing the App from the WordPress admin area or the Joomla! backend.
Once the App is installed, published or activated, and configured, setup is complete. There is nothing additional to configure in the Watchful dashboard, provided the website has already been added to Watchful and is communicating correctly.
Install a Watchful App
Install the App using the normal extension or plugin installation process for your CMS:
- In WordPress, install the App from the WordPress admin area.
- In Joomla!, install the App from the Joomla! backend.
Watchful Apps are installed separately on each website where you want them to operate.
After installation, make sure the App is activated or published.
Configure the App
Each Watchful App can have its own settings.
Open the App in your WordPress admin area or Joomla! backend and review the available configuration options.
The settings depend on what the App monitors. For example, an App may ask you to select particular user groups, define thresholds, or configure other values used when deciding whether a notification should be generated.
Save the configuration when you are finished.
Enable Watchful App notifications
Watchful Apps can generate notifications when they detect changes or events on a connected website.
Notification preferences are managed globally in Watchful and should be enabled according to each user’s needs. Depending on the Apps you use, available notification options may include:
Admin users changesError report from a Watchful AppNew data from a Watchful App
Each user should review these settings and enable the Watchful App notifications that are useful for their workflow.
These notification preferences do not control whether the App itself works. The App can still collect and report information to Watchful, and add them to the Watchful logs, even if a particular notification type is disabled.
Minimal Watchful configuration is required
Once the App is installed, activated or published, and configured, there is normally no App-specific setup required in the Watchful dashboard.
The requirements are:
- the website has been added to Watchful
- the website is communicating properly with Watchful
- the App is installed and enabled on the website
- the appropriate global Watchful App notifications are enabled if you want to receive alerts
After that, Watchful will receive information from the App during normal site checks.
Test the App
After setup, it can be useful to confirm that the App is working as expected.
If possible, trigger the condition that the App monitors. For example, if an App monitors a particular type of website activity, perform that action on the site.
You can then run a manual site check from Watchful rather than waiting for the next scheduled check.
After the check completes, confirm that the expected notification or activity is reported.
Disable or remove an App
If you want to stop using a Watchful App temporarily, deactivate or unpublish it from the website.
If you no longer need the App, uninstall it using the standard extension or plugin management tools in WordPress or Joomla!.
No removal step is required in Watchful itself.