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auto frontpage

 

Auto-Frontpage 1.0 is released!

 

Auto-Frontpage is a native Joomla! 1.5 plugin which takes care of automatically publishing articles on the frontpage of your Joomla website. First of all it will auto-publish all your new articles - no more messing around with publishing manually and struggling over the right order of articles. Secondly this plugin will also take care of the homepage when you don't have any new articles. in this case the plugin will republish one of your old articles, keeping your site fresh for visitors anda for Search Engines. It's great for SEO and the visitors doesn't get bored. You can define the time period for getting the frontpage updated. Almost any parameters can be configured easily

 

And the most important - Auto-Frontpage is completely free, released under GNU/GPL license.

Don't waste your time! Just download it and start using.

Open Source matters. Find this extension useful? You can buy me a beer :)

Getting Started

You will probably need to set up few parameters first to get you going. First you might wonna adjust the maximum number of articles to publish on frontpage, default value is 10. Make sure this value is not larger than the number of articles defined for your frontpage layout. Then you should specify which articles are always suppose to be published. Usually this will be the article with your homepage and it most likely should be a first. In order to do that you need to add the following line to the 'Fixed Pages' text area:

1=ARTICLE_ID

where 'ARTICLE_ID' is the id of your homepage article and '1' mean that it needs to be first. Last thing to do is to define if we want to republish the old artciles when new one are not available. To do so just set the 'Force Publish' to 'Yes'. Now if you feel like you need more control over what is going on, just keep reading. Next section describes each parameter in details.

Under the hood

Maximum Articles This parameter defines the maximum number of articles to display at once on the FrontPage. It includes all the items (also the fixed ones) no matter what mode selected.
Fixed Pages In this text box you can define the articles you don't want to be touched by Auto-FrontPage. Each artcile id on new line. The format of the values permitted is either a pair of "ORDER=ARTICLE_ID" or just ARTICLE_ID, in the last case the plugin will try to automatically identify the current article order position, or will use the first available. Article positions start from 1.
Minimal Interval Units Time units of the 'Minimal Interval between Executions' parameter.
Minimal Interval between Executions Minimal time interval between plugin executions. This is important for optimization, lowering this value will increase overhead.
Force Publish When set to 'yes' will pubslih a random article if new arctiles wasn't found. Works with 'Force Publish Interval' parameter.
Force Publish Interval Units Time units of the 'Force Publish Interval' parameter.
Force Publish Interval Minimal time interval between forced publish. (Relevant only in 'Force Publish' Mode)
Include/Exclude Mode Defines how to treat the content settings below - section, category and articles; whether to include or to exclude them from the articles publishing pool.
Include/Exclude Sections Which sections to include/exclude in auto-publish (id's, comma delimited - 1,2,3,...)
Include/Exclude Categories Which categories to include/exclude in auto-publish (id's, comma delimited - 1,2,3,...)
Include/Exclude Articles

Which articles to include/exclude in auto-publish (id's, comma delimited - 1,2,3,...)


You can use Auto-frontpage to auto publish content, frontpage rotation and for better Joomla SEO.
 

Comments  

 
+9 # 2010-01-26 21:57
This one is very useful. using it from now on to rotate the content of the homepage of all my websites.

Nice work!!
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-4 # 2010-01-28 14:15
nice plugin, one problem though:

does any body knows how to prevent the articles without section or category from being published on frontpage?

thanks!
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+2 # Administrator 2010-01-28 14:35
You should use section/category id = 0
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0 # 2010-02-01 23:36
Why is this useful plugin not published on JED Joomla! Extensions Directory ?
There´s one similar, not-free, that does the same job (or less).

Thanks so much !
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+2 # Administrator 2010-02-02 10:35
Well, actually it is published:
http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions/news-display/frontend-news/10986

it's still on the bottom, needs more ratings to go higher. Hope it will!!
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0 # 2010-02-25 09:31
nice plugin
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0 # 2010-02-27 22:38
good plugin, get optimal frontpage list
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0 # 2010-03-25 20:37
Looks like a great plugin, but I have a bit of a noob quesiton... where is it found? Didn't see in menu manager, components, new article...?

Thanks!
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0 # Administrator 2010-03-26 19:22
auto-frontpage is a plugin. in order to enable/configure it just go to Extensions->Plugins Manager.
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0 # 2010-03-30 15:36
Hi Guys or Girls,

I have just installed this plugin but it has changed the layout of my home page, any ideas why?

Darren
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0 # Administrator 2010-12-12 23:08
the bug responsible for this problem was fixed
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+1 # 2010-04-06 11:07
Do I correctly think that if I want to include all sections/categories i just choose EXCLUDE mode and enter nothing in section/category inputs?
Regards,
Greg
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+1 # Administrator 2010-04-06 12:18
If you want to include all sections/categories - just enter nothing in section/category inputs.
In this case it's doesn't matter what mode it is - include/exclude.

enjoy!
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0 # 2010-04-22 07:58
Great plugin!
just what i needed
I have one possible small problem though - i don't know if you can help but here goes:

sometimes one of the added articles will show "scrambled" text - like all lines of the article has been placed ontop of each other - if i cut and paste the text onto ex. notepad i can read it fine, but for some reason not enough space is allocated on the view, some sort of problem with parsing the article?

(sorry for my english - not my primary language)
- and again - great work!
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0 # Administrator 2010-04-22 08:12
sounds to me like a problem with your css; can you please provide me a link or a screenshot? i've sent you my email address.

Thanks!
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0 # Per Chr Jørgensen 2010-04-29 18:38
Hi!
Thanks for a magic idea! I have downloaded and and installed the extension, but from there I am lost. Can somebody please give me some examples of configuration? I simply want articles from one category to be presented on the frontpage with one article fixed at the top. Please give me some hints and samples and I will make it from there
Best regards
Per
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0 # Administrator 2010-04-29 20:16
Hey man
Set the parameters as described below. description of values:
FIX_ART_ID - the id of the article you want to be fixed.
CAT_ID - id of the category to publish

parameters:
Fixed Pages: 1=FIX_ART_ID
Include/Exclude Mode: Include
Include/Exclude Categories: CAT_ID

in case you want the old articles to be republished on the frontpage and not just new (good for SEO) set this param as well:
Force Publish: Yes

Don't forget to enable the plugin.

This should do the trick!
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0 # 2010-05-30 07:30
Installation problem auto-frontpage

I installed and activated auto-frontpage and I got an error message and can't see my website:

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_CONST, expecting T_OLD_FUNCTION or T_FUNCTION or T_VAR or '}' in /hp/az/aa/dm/www/home/plugins/system/auto_frontpage.php on line 21

I use "Joomla! 1.5.14 Stable [ Wojmamni Ama Naiki ] 30-July-2009 23:00 GMT" and "PHP Version 4.4.2-Debian-0.1~sarge1 (Debian GNU/Linux)"

What can I do?

Greetings
Sebastian
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0 # Administrator 2010-05-30 07:32
It seems like a php configuration problem or most likely that you have an older php version than the required.
Auto-frontpage runs with php >=5.1

In case this is the problem, check with your hosting provider - it might be they have both versions (php 4 & 5). If this is so, stick the following at the end of your .htaccess:

SetEnv DEFAULT_PHP_VER SION 5

Plz let me know if this helps

eneuron
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0 # Paulo Machado 2010-06-01 22:34
Hi. When I try to download i get Not Acceptable

An appropriate representation of the requested resource /component/option,com_phoc adownload/Itemid,18/download,1/id,1/view,category/ could not be found on this server.

Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.

Can you fix it? Thanks
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0 # Administrator 2010-06-02 07:18
fixed! sorry for the inconvenience.
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0 # 2010-06-03 19:20
gracias vamos a probarlo
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0 # 2010-06-11 17:58
Question: Can this plugin work on MySQL 5.0?

syntax error, unexpected T_CONST, expecting T_OLD_FUNCTION or T_FUNCTION or T_VAR or '}' in auto_frontpage.php on line 21

Had to delete the file to get back to admin account.
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0 # Administrator 2010-06-11 19:13
the problem is with your php version - auto-frontpage works with php >= 5.0.1

sorry for the inconvenience, next version will validate php version to prevent such confusions.
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0 # 2010-06-19 09:23
Hi, so I need only one section to be auto published by any author, do i only need to check off 'Include' and put the Section ID next to "Include/Exclude Sections"?

Because my articles are still being submitted for review without showing up on the front page. Not sure if "Fixed Pages" or anywhere else needs to be filled. Thanks.
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0 # Administrator 2010-06-20 20:16
you described it correctly - you need to check the "include" mode and write the section id under the "Include/Exclude Sections". That's it.

This only works for the articles which are marked as "published". the idea of the plugin is not to publish articles in general, but to publish them on frontpage.

If you need further help, please let me know.
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0 # 2010-06-21 00:45
Thanks! It's working great! Just one question, I noticed if an article was was brought to the frontpage by the plugin's execution, it will stay at the top of the frontpage even if a newer article was written at the backend.

Is there anyway to overcome that? Thanks again.
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+1 # Administrator 2010-06-21 07:49
The auto-publishing is arranging the articles in such way that the newly published article is always pushed at the top of frontpage.

"New Article" is identified by the creation date - it must be newer than the latest article already published on frontpage.

Hope it helps
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0 # 2010-12-12 21:48

When I am login as an author and writing my article there is no published/Unpublished option. And articles are not auto publishing.
What is my mistake?
Authors articles does not auto publish. Only publishers articles get published. Am I right?

If I am right than change some description of the plugin.

Anyway, frontpage management is cool.
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0 # Administrator 2010-12-12 23:03
Hey man,
When u login as author u don't have enough permissions for publishing any content - just for submitting. These are Joomla rules. Auto-frontpage only posts the already published articles on the frontpage.

Therefore you're right.
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0 # 2010-12-13 00:23
I thought plugins are to break those rules. Or, at least to add some extra param / option like author can auto publish or not.

You can take my comment as feature request.

OK, I have managed it by hacking core!
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0 # Administrator 2010-12-13 02:19
feature request it is
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+1 # 2010-06-22 09:34
Is there any way to see below the main articles the list of further articles like on standard FP?
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0 # Administrator 2010-06-22 09:48
The answer is yes - if you configure the frontpage this way, plugin will publish new articles accordingly.

The auto-frontpage plugin only publishes articles on the frontpage - the frontpage itself behaves accordingly to the way it was configured in Joomla.
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0 # 2010-06-22 12:48
In fact it works - I just had to few articles :(.
Is it planned (is it thinkable) to improve Include/exclude lists (at least saction/category) to drop-down list instead of ID-list. It would be a great help (like in core modules)
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0 # Administrator 2010-06-22 13:14
Will try to do this for the next version.
Thanks for the feedback!
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0 # 2010-06-23 23:44
Looks very nice. I was wondering if it would be possible to limit the number of articles for each category. In my website what I wanted to do is to publish in the frontpage only four articles, one the most recent) for each on the four sections I use. But it doesn't seem to work that way (unless of course I unpublish the articles myself, leaving only the most recent four, but that is not the idea, I guess...)
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0 # Administrator 2010-06-24 11:17
Interesting idea, Giorgio
I will try to do something about it. Wait for the next release.
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0 # 2010-06-25 17:42
Great plugin! Exactly what I need! Thanks a bunch! Why's there's no link for donation?
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+1 # Administrator 2010-06-25 20:40
Thanks Faris! I'm glad it helped you.
Instead of donation please consider leaving a comment about the plugin in JED:
extensions.joomla.org/extensions/news-display/frontend-news/10986
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0 # 2010-08-01 06:07
Excelent plugin! I've made a ES-co language file for your extension. How can I send it to you?
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0 # Administrator 2010-08-01 09:21
Thanks! Sent you my email.
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0 # 2010-08-09 21:43
Hi, great plugin . I'm testing it but i have a problem. When i edit the plugin, my menus (left or right side) on the home page disappear... Very strange
I work with a yooyheme template.
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0 # Administrator 2010-08-09 21:56
This should not happen, since the plugin doesn’t access any html, it just rearranges the frontpage table. This means that this problem should happen also without the plugin activated , assuming the same articles are shown on frontpage. If you recreate the situation when it happens you will be able to see what in the html of the website could have cause this.

I can try to help, if there is a link I can see this happening.
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0 # 2010-08-16 15:42
This would be a great mod, just a bit more documentation wold help a new Joomla user like myself

I installed the mod and cannot get it to publish a news feed. I have tried the feed and category ID#, name and no luck. The feeds are published and I can view them on the front end no problem. Help!

Thanks!
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0 # Administrator 2010-08-28 09:23
The plugin does not work with news items/feeds, only generic content items (articles).
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0 # 2010-09-08 11:42
Hey!
Great plugin! Quick question, i've indicated in the parameters which section and category i want to use, but i nothing is showing. do i have to enable front page for each item?

Thanks
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0 # 2010-10-18 11:18
Very nice plugin simple and efficient.
My question is regarding the proper way to write the id of artricles to include or exclude or categories etc.
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0 # Administrator 2010-10-19 01:50
for include/exclude you should have the id's listed in a row, comma separated.
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0 # 2010-11-09 20:34
Funciona perfecto. Mi sitio tiene mas de 200 artículos vigentes, con este plugin mis visitantes siempre encontrarán algo nuevo para ver. Gracias
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0 # 2010-12-12 19:14
:D
Thank you, Thank you again Thank you. As soon as my debit card gets some balance I will contribute.
Thanks for making it free.
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0 # 2010-12-15 23:38

Super cool and easy to use plug-in.
Thanks for taking the time to code this for Joomla. Makes the front page of any website come alive!
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0 # 2011-01-06 17:22
Thanks very much for the plug in, extremely happy.
Question time though!
Is it possible to set up in one column instead of the 2 columns? This would make it easier when adding articles with pics if there are too many pictures it exceeds the width of my front page.

thanks again, will rate it on Joomla.
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0 # 2011-01-06 18:00
OOPS my error,:oops: I have changed the columns on my front page it looks great!

Thanks ever so much for your work.
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0 # Administrator 2011-01-07 00:27
Yes u got it right - frontpage is the right place to configure this.

Enjoy!
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+1 # 2011-02-03 20:44
Hello
Do you have any plane to develop this plugin (Auto-FrontPage) for compatibility with joomla 1.6?
I need it for joomla 1.6
Thank you
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+2 # Administrator 2011-02-03 21:07
Support for Joomla 1.6 is planned very soon
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0 # 2011-02-17 12:27
Does this plugin work with K2?

Cheers.
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0 # Administrator 2011-02-17 15:27
Unfortunately this plugin works only with Joomla native content component.
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0 # 2011-02-18 17:26
Well , THank you for this plugin.. I find it very usefull ,anyway i just have one question , what if i want to display the latest article of 2 fixed category.
example: display the latest added article in category A , and the latest added article of Category B. Thank you
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0 # Administrator 2011-02-18 20:37
You can display the latest articles of 2 predefined categories but you can't control their position or order. I mean if there are 2 places for auto-publish articles on the frontpage and there were 4 articles added in the predefined categories, the 2 articles which will be displayed are defined by their publish date, and not their belonging to one of the categories, therefore you can see 2 articles from the same category.

In order to set the predefined categories, set the "Include/Exclude Mode" parameter to include and put inside the "Include/Exclude Category" field the 2 desired category IDs, comma separated.
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0 # Nabeel 2011-04-04 01:38
Hello , i install Auto Front page , then i uninstall it but its still on my front page , plz tell me how to fix this ?
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0 # 2011-04-05 05:54
Thank you for this great plugin. I hope to use it on my site from now onward... however, I do seem to have discovered a small glitch. Please help me if you can. I have all of my default parameters set to hide the small "print, pdf, email" icons but the articles which appear on the front page display them anyway. Is there a simple fix for this?
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0 # Administrator 2011-06-03 12:43
auto-frontpage doesn't have control over these icons, u should adjust the joomla settings of the frontpage or any other relevant settings.
plz let me know if there is still problem
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+1 # 2011-04-19 02:02
i think this plugin is excellent. Thank you very much for your work. I will go and write you a great review. Could you plse just advise me the best way of stopping old articles (from a previous month but in the same category) being published? I have just read through some of your advise and see I can stop force publishing of articles, is that all I need to do? It's a magazine site and I only want the most recent month's articles to show.
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+1 # Administrator 2011-06-03 12:40
hi kate
right now there is no way to get what u want. but it sounds like a nice feature for the next version - so stay tuned.
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+2 # 2011-06-03 05:34
nice extention
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+2 # 2011-06-12 16:47
Hi! I would be very grateful if you could update this great plugin to be fully compatible with joomla 1.6
Thank you!
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0 # 2011-08-07 06:41
Thank you for your nice plug-in but I wonder if it is plus for google seo. After installed it my top page is gone and not listed.

Have you verified it if it works for SEO benefits?

Thanks.
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0 # Administrator 2011-08-07 08:46
The SEO benefit is absolutely positive, tested and confirmed on many websites by now. It’s hard to measure the exact impact on seo, but one thing I can tell u for sure – the plugin can not harm ur seo ranking. Auto-frontpage only makes ur website to look like a big professional portal, which has very high rate of new content update. Please keep me posted how it develops with ur website, I guess it’s some kind of temporary condition.
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0 # 2011-08-13 14:22
Hello, This looks like a great extension. Can I use 1.5 on Joomla 1.6? I saw it mentioned earlier that 1.6 is do out soon. Any news? Thanks for this great extension.
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+3 # Administrator 2011-08-13 22:27
the 1.6/7 version is in progress and hopefully will be released soon. thanks for using it!
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0 # 2011-10-13 18:29
I have uninstalled the plugin but believe it has left behind some residuals because I have my frontpage going to one particular article BUT there are still articles showing randomly on the frontpage.

Does this plugin leave behind something in the code that still makes it active on my site?
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0 # Administrator 2011-10-13 19:50
Hi Maxine,
The plugin doesn’t leave anything behind, but after been activated, it rearranges the frontpage articles.
So if u need to remove it just uninstall the plugin and manually restore the article u want.
It was already reported by other users as inconvenient, so in the next version articles will be restored automatically.

Thanks,
eneuron
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