Installation For First Time Users
Upgrading For Existing Users
I. INSTALLATION FOR FIRST TIME USERS
First, let us say, no Perl script needs editing to install this program.
All editing for program variables is done via an online browser HTML form.
Because this program allows for extensive customization, templates have been
provided for your site's integration and custom HTML and auto-response email
messages. These will need editing as desired, along with adding a few links
within your site for applicants and your members area for their support. You
may edit them online via the Admin Panel once the program is installed
and setup, or, open the /cgi-bin/members_assistant/templates directory
and edit them in a plain text editor of your choice. Just make sure they're
edited before you show them to your users. Most contain instructions for
their editing, so you don't want your users reading those.
By following the Guide below, reading carefully each instruction, you
should have this Program uploaded and running within 10-20 minutes.
It is strongly recommended
you do not change any of the basic structure outlined for the Program until
you are 100% online and operational with all of its features.
Only then, and only if you know what you are doing, you might tweak some
of the settings: styles, colors, locations, etc. In other words, change first
only the settings that will make it function properly on YOURSITE.ORG:
server paths, URLs, etc. Then, do your customization.
(Hint: after you have it initally operational
and before you do any customizing, you might want to do a backup of that copy
you know is working correctly -- might save you some time, and headaches,
later!)
1.
|
OK, first things first; if you haven't read them yet, please read the
documentation found in the 4 main links above the
"Guide"
link at left or here:
Description
- Directory Tree
- Features
- License. Thanks.
|
2.
|
Now the fun.
Open the following perl files (.cgi) in /program/cgi-bin/members_assistant/ and
verify your server's path to your host's Perl program as indicitated on
the first (top) line of the scripts. If you do not know, contact your
host administrator or obtain a Perl program that will determine this
for you. DO NOT edit anything further in the cgi files!
- cancel.cgi
- dataretr.cgi
- modify.cgi
- register.cgi
- sort_users.cgi
- status.cgi
- subscribe.cgi
- support.cgi
- unsubscribe.cgi
|
3.
|
As in Step 2 above, open ALL the perl files (.cgi) in the following
directory:
/program/cgi-bin/members_assistant/admin/
and verify your server's path to your host's Perl program as indicitated
on the first (top) line of the scripts. Again, DO NOT edit anything further.
|
4.
|
Browse to your /program/members_assistant/ folder that will be
uploaded to your ROOT HTML directory and open and read the
README.TXT file,
following the instructions for the few simple steps needed to connect
the Program to its supporting files (images, etc.).
You'll need to view the source code of all .html files for their
instructions.
|
5.
|
Open, read, and follow the instructions in the
README.TXT
found in your /program/members/ demo members folder.
It contains critical information to connect your members folder
and files to the Program. You'll need to view the source code of all
.html and .shtml files for their instructions.
|
6.
|
Next, you need to place links to your subscription form wherever
necessary within your site as follows:
http://YOURSITE.net/cgi-bin/members_assistant/subscribe.cgi
making sure link points to YOUR actual loctation of this script.
Be sure to place links on your members' entry page inside your
pass-protected directory to program scripts for their support:
(allows members to modify their userdata and contact
you via a ticket support program)
View source code for instructions and link examples in the
restricted_page.shtml in the following demo directory that
came in your download: /program/members/
Important:
Make sure you provide a "Lost Password?" link to your
"datasearch.html" on your Homepage and whatever pages you feel
they are needed depending on the traffic pattern of your site.
Edit this form as instructed in its source code.
|
E N D O F F L I N E P R E P S !
|
B E G I N O N L I N E S E T T I N G S !
|
7.
|
Once you have all the above mentioned files preped properly (hopefully),
log on to the NET, open your favorite FTP program
(WSFTP, CUTEFTP, etc.) and upload all files as instructed in the
Directory Tree, especially
observing the proper format for uploading: ASCII or BINARY.
|
8.
|
After you have uploaded all files in their correct format as instructed,
and before you attempt to access any cgi script,
CHMOD the files as specified.
|
9.
|
Open and point your browser to the following URL:
http://www.yoursite.net/cgi-bin/members_assistant/admin/settings.cgi?action=list_conf&conf=1
(edit to reflect YOUR site name/url)
|
10.
|
Your MAIN PROGRAM SETTINGS (configurations) are divided into 4 sections:
- Site Configurations
- HTML Configurations
- SubForm Configurations
- (Panel Configurations) - discussed later
You are now viewing to set SITE CONF.
Edit this Form for your SITE requirements and SAVE SETTINGS.
(You may access the help file by clicking on the ? button
in the Site Configurations heading. Take your time. Get it right. Wrong
settings on this form are the main reasons for unsuccessful installations.)
|
11.
|
On the SUCCESS PAGE after clicking on the SAVE SETTINGS
button for your SITE settings, look up in the top-right corner
of the SUCCESS page. See Program Settings? Click on
the HTML
program settings link.
|
12.
|
You are now viewing to set HTML CONF.
Edit this Form for your HTML integration requirements and
SAVE SETTINGS. (Again, you may access the help file by clicking
on the ? button in the HTML Configurations heading.)
Tip 1: Recommend leaving colors, etc. as is until you complete
a working installation. You may access it at any time for editing
after after a complete installation and testing.
Tip 2: To have copyright year auto-updated each year, type
$year rather than 2005 in the "My Copyright" setting.
Do this each time you edit your HTML conf.
|
13.
|
On the SUCCESS PAGE after clicking on the SAVE SETTINGS button
for your HTML settings, look up in the top-right corner of the
SUCCESS page. See Program Settings? Click on the
SubForm
program settings link.
|
14.
|
You are now viewing to set your
SUBSCRIPTION FORM CONF.
Edit this Form for your custom SUBSCRIPTION FORM requirements
and SAVE SETTINGS. Your settings should reflect your edits for
your subscription form: sub_form.txt template. (Again, you may
access the help file by clicking on the ? button in the
Subscription Form Configurations heading.)
|
15.
|
CONGRATULATIONS! Now you are ready to access your new
Admin Panel. On the SUCCESS PAGE after clicking on the
SAVE SETTINGS button for your SubForm settings, click on
any "Admin Panel"
link. Follow the ONLINE instructions explicitly in your Admin Panel
from here out (see instructions below for setting your Support Program
variables online after accessing your Main Admin Panel).
|
|
16.
|
SUPPORT PROGRAM:
(All common settings have been accomplished through the MAIN PROGRAM
installation. However, you will need to set those specific to your
SUPPORT PROGRAM as follows.)
|
17.
|
After completing your Online settings for your MAIN ADMIN PANEL
(completed in step #15) that will return you to a
fully activated Admin Panel, click on the
"Support Panel"
link on the top-left NavBar.
|
18.
|
You will be greeted with Online instructions. Again, you must follow
these instructions explicitly.
IMPORTANT:
Make sure you click on the "Save Settings" button
on your Support Admin Panel whether any edits are necessary
for your Support Admin Panel Settings.
|
19.
|
And finally, but no less important, DO NOT GO LIVE UNTIL YOU
HAVE COMPLETELY TESTED EACH FUNCTION via your Admin Panel!
We can't stress this enough! If you need help during installation
or later, before contacting us, see the Troubleshooting link
at left. And please observe the NOTE at its page bottom.
|
E N D O N L I N E S E T T I N G S !
|
|
C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !
That's it! Mission accomplished! You are
now ready for prime time.
E x p l o r e & E n j o y !
|
I N S T A L L A T I O N S G U I D E:
