Here are brief explanations of some of the questions you may have about the Washington, D.C. Registry Home Page Creator 2.0.
So what's new in version 2.0?
Version 2.0 is a dramatic leap forward in technology over Version 1.1 of the Home Page Creator ("Classic"). It includes the following new enhancements:
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File uploads for graphics and sound files
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A separate directory for each user
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Easier creation of multiple page sites using the same username and password
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A Web Site Manager that will list all of your files (pages, graphics, and sound files) and allow you to view, modify, copy, rename, or delete them. It also lets you create new pages, update your account profile, delete your account,
activate or deactivate your guestbook, upload graphics, upload sounds, and check your disk space usage.
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Your own personal guestbook
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Your own personal search engine that will search only your web site
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A form maker that will allow you to easily set up a customized form where your visitors can enter information and then click on a button to have their information e-mailed to you
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More color choices
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Nicer interface and simpler navigation (we hope!)
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Optional environment variables (current date and time, visitor's IP address, visitor's browser, page where visitor came from)
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A powerful new search engine that allows you to search our members' web sites to find people who share your interests
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Coming soon, a co-branding program that will allow other web sites to host their own communities using our Home Page Creator
Is Version 2.0 compatible with homepages created under the "Classic" version?
No. Because of the new architecture for Version 2.0, you cannot update your old pages created using the "Classic" version of the Home Page Creator. However, we will continue to operate that version so that you can maintain
your old pages. Nonetheless, if you plan to operate a multiple page site or would like to upload your own files, we highly encourage you to move your pages to Version 2.0 as soon as is feasible, as it is much improved in many ways.
Will you continue to maintain the "Classic" version?
Yes. We plan to maintain it for quite a while so that people who have created pages under the old version can continue to update them. Nonetheless, if you plan to operate a multiple page site or would like to upload your own files, we
highly encourage you to move your pages to Version 2.0 as soon as is feasible, as it is much improved in many ways.
How does the logon process work?
If you want to create your own free web site, you will need to register for an account and then log on to the system. To do so, please click on the "Register For An Account" button. You will first see a legal Disclaimer. Read
this carefully. It is designed to protect us from those who would do harm through pages created under this program. If you agree with our conditions for providing this free service to you, please click on the "I Agree" button.
You will then see a form that asks for certain background information. You will need to choose a username and password. Make sure that you make a note of your username and password, because you will need to know them if you ever
want to modify or delete your web site in the future. We will also ask for certain other demographic information, which helps us to obtain targeted advertising, which is what enables us to provide this FREE service to you. Once
you've filled in the information, click on the "Submit Information" button. If you have successfully registered, you will see an acknowledgement page. If not, you should see a page explaining why your registration
wasn't successful. Normally, this would occur either when someone else is already using the username that you chose, if you forgot to fill in one of the fields, or if your password in the 2 password fields didn't match. If you
successfully registered, click on the "Logon to the System" button. At the "Enter Your Logon Information" page, enter your username and password and click on the "Logon To The System" button. In the future,
any time that you want to modify your web site, you can click on the "Current User Logon" button, go straight to the logon screen, and enter your username and password.
I forgot my username. Can I still logon?
If you ever forget your username, at the logon screen, you can click on the "Forgot Your Username?" button. When the next screen comes up, enter your e-mail address on the form and click on the "Submit Search"
button. The script will display the usernames (if any) associated with that e-mail address. For obvious reasons, it will not tell you the password, so please make sure that you make a note of your password when you first
register.
I forgot my password. Can I still logon?
If you ever forget your password, at the logon screen, you can click on the "Forgot Your Password?" button. When the next screen comes up, enter your user name on the form and click on the "Submit Search" button. The
script will e-mail your password to the e-mail address that you used when registering your account.
Are the usernames case-sensitive?
Yes. Therefore, if you use the username "Joe", your directory will be located at "http://dcregistry.com/users/Joe/". If you type in "http://dcregistry.com/users/joe/", your web site will not come up. Also,
under this example, you would always have to log in as "Joe" instead of "joe".
Do I have to use my real name and e-mail address when logging on?
Yes. It is very important that you use your real name and e-mail address for several reasons. For example, if you wish to display your e-mail address as a clickable link on your page, then you will want to use your actual e-mail
address. Additionally, if you want to receive the confirmation notice that tells you your username, you will need to have typed in the correct e-mail address. Also, if you ever forget your password, you can click on the "Forgot
your password?" button and have the system e-mail your password to the address that you used when registering. Furthermore, your forms and your guestbook (for optional notification by e-mail when someone signs your guestbook) will
use the e-mail address that you supplied when registering. Finally, if you ever want to receive notice of new features for the Home Page Creator, we will need your correct e-mail address.
Can I update my account registration information?
Yes. Anytime that you want to update your account registration information, just click on the "Update Your Account Profile" button in the Web Site Manager. This will give you a form that is very similar to the one that you saw
when you first registered for your account, except that most of your previous information is already included in the form for your convenience. That way, you only have to modify the sections that need to be updated. You will, however,
need to either re-enter your old password or choose a new one. Once you submit your new information, you will need to logon again for your new information to become effective.
How do I delete my web site and my account?
If you want to delete your entire web site account, including your web site and all of its files, you can do so by clicking on the "Delete Your Entire Account" button in the Web Site Manager. You will then see a page warning
you that you are about to delete your entire web site and your account. If you are sure that this is what you want to do, click on the "Yes. Delete my entire web site account" button. Your entire web site will be deleted, as
will your account. You will then see a confirmation page. Any further attempts to logon using your old username and password will fail.
How much space do I have for my site?
We are now allowing 500k of server space for each account (we formerly allowed only 200k of server space for each account). We want to see how this program is used and to ensure that it is used for real web sites and not just for
storing graphics to be used elsewhere. We plan eventually to increase this amount to one megabyte of server space.
How do I create a home page?
After you have logged on, if this is your first time, you will see a Welcome page that will also give you the directory name where your web site files will be stored. Otherwise, you will see the Web Site Manager. The Web Site Manager
includes a File Manager that lists all of your HTML files, graphics files, sound files, your search page, and your guestbook pages (view and signup). To create your first page, click on the "Create A New Page" button. You will
then see a form asking for some basic information. Most of the fields will be pre-filled with the information that you used when registering for your account. You will need to choose a filename for your page. We suggest using
"index" for the front page of your site. You do not need to add the ".html" extension, as the program will automatically do that for you. When you've finished the form, click on "Continue". At this
point, you will see the main Home Page Creator template (the Content Creation form), where you can design your page. It's a long form, but it is also powerful in that it gives you many options for your page. You can choose the title
of your page; what background graphic or color to use; the color of text, links, visited links, and active links; the types of bars and buttons that you want; whether to use one of your uploaded graphics on the page, whether to use
include a sound file on the page, whether to include a feedback form, whether to include certain environment variables (current date and time, etc.), and whether to list your e-mail address, regular address, and phone number on the
page. You will also have a box where you can describe yourself, plus 4 sections where you can link to other web sites and/or list your hobbies, interests, etc. and describe them. You can even link to other pages that you have created
using the Home Page Creator. Once you have filled out the form, you should click on "Test". The script will generate a test page to show you what your page will look like. Look it over, and if you need to make changes or
corrections, use your browser's BACK button to go back to the Content Creation form and make the changes. Otherwise, go to the bottom of the test page and click on the "Create it!" button to create your home page and have
it stored at the D.C. Registry.
Can I put HTML tags anywhere on my page?
Yes. You can use HTML tags in the Description field as well as in the Sections. You can use HTML to link to other web sites, to display pictures, or even to link to other pages that you have created with the Home Page Creator.
Can I upload my own HTML pages?
Yes, with a few modifications. To upload your own HTML page, you should go to the Page Creation template of the Home Page Creator. Then, you should open the page that you want to upload in your favorite text editor and copy all of your
HTML code that comes after the <BODY> tag and before the </BODY> tag. Then, you should paste this into the "Introduction" box on the Page Creation template of the Home Page Creator. You can do this on Windows
systems by placing the cursor inside the "Introduction" box and then hitting the CTRL and the V keys at the same time. To use just your newly inserted HTML code on the page, leave all other fields blank on the page creation
template and then test and create your page as you normally would.
How do I put a picture of something in my page?
From the Web Site Manager, click on "Upload a Graphic or Sound File". Follow the four steps on the page to upload your graphic. Then, whenever you are creating a new page or modifying one of your existing pages, the page
creator template will include a list of your uploaded graphics and give you the option of including one of them on your page. If you know HTML, you can add links to your uploaded graphics in various sections of your page. Or, you can
link to a picture or other graphic that is located somewhere else on the Web. For example, you could include the following text:
Here is one of my favorite graphics: <img src="http://dcregistry.com/dcranim.gif">
Can I upload my own graphics to the page?
Yes. This is described in the paragraph above.
Can I create a true web site with multiple pages?
Yes. When you created your account, a special directory was created for you. All of your pages, graphics, sound files, guestbook pages, and your search page are included in this directory. Once you have created more than one page, you
can incorporate relative references within your pages. For example, in the Introduction field on your first page, you might add the following link to your resume, which would be contained on your second page:
Check out my <a href="resume.html">online resume</a>.
Can I put e-mail addresses in the "URL" boxes?
Yes. If you put an e-mail address in one of the "URL" boxes, you must add the phrase "mailto:" in front of it. If you don't, when the user clicks on this link, he or she will receive an error message. For
example, to build a link to the Registry's e-mail address, you would put "mailto:webmaster@dcregistry.com" in the "URL" box. Also, for any actual Web URLs that you put in this box, you must put the full address,
including the "http://" at the beginning. If you don't, your users will get an error message when clicking on this link.
How do I change my pages?
To change your page while in the testing mode, simply press your browser's BACK button and change the appropriate fields. To change your page later on, after you have created it, go to the Web Site Manager and click on the modify
button next to that page. You will then see the main home page creator template that you saw when you first created your page, except that all of the information from your current page will be entered into the fields for you
automatically. That way, you only need to change the sections that you want to modify, and you can leave the rest as they are. When you have made your desired modifications, click on the "Test" button at the bottom of the page
to preview your page. To further edit, use your browser's BACK function. Otherwise, if the page appears as you want it to, click on "Create my page". If this is successful, you will see a confirmation page listing your URL
and providing a link to your newly modified page.
How do I delete a page?
To delete a page, go to the Web Site Manager and click on the delete button next to the page that you wish to delete. You will first see a page warning you that you are about to delete this page and asking you if you are sure that you
want to do this. If you click on "Yes. Delete my page", your page will be deleted and you will see a confirmation screen. If, instead, you see a page stating that the script can't find this page, this means that there is
no such page in your directory.
How do I activate my guestbook?
By default, your guestbook is not activated when you first set up your account. The Web Site Manager has a guestbook section that will always tell you the current status of your guestbook. If it is deactivated and you would like
to activate it, click on the "Activate Your Guestbook" button. You will then see a page with various options such as whether you want to receive e-mail notices when someone signs your guestbook, as well as various text and
background color choices. Once you've made your selections, click on the "Activate Guestbook" button. Your guestbook will be activated and your signup form created. You should see an acknowledgement page. In the future,
you will be able to deactivate your guestbook from the Web Site Manager anytime that you want to, although deactivating your guestbook will also erase all current entries.
How do I create my personal search engine?
You don't have to. Your personal search engine is created automatically when your account is set up. It is listed in your File Manager on the Web Site Manager page.
What are your future plans for the Home Page Creator?
Since we just released this new version, we have no immediate plans to add additional new features. We welcome your input as to other features that we should add.
How can I add this program to my web site?
We offer two ways that you can add our free home pages program to your web site. We can set up a co-branded version that will include your logo and site name and other appearance cues to fit in with the rest of your site. This
co-branded version would include all of the advanced features of Version 2.0. We would provide all of the server storage space, as well as the maintenance of the program. If you are interested in this program, please contact us. In the alternative, you can buy Version 1.1 of the Home Page Creator program outright for $379. Again, if you are interested in purchasing this program, please contact us.
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