We have a Windows based system that provides a safe and easy way for people
to maintain our website. The system keeps track of who is working on each page
to insure updates aren't overlayed by other volunteers. The system also backs up
each page so, if things get messed up, the person who previously edited the file
can recover their version. The system also manages the uploading of new pages.
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Components
There are four procedures:Windows Icons that run DOS batch files.
- WEBEDIT - claims ownership of a page and downloads it for editing.
- WEBSAVE - publishes a completed page or uploads any other file.
- WEBRESET - relinquishes ownership of a page without uploading it.
- WEBVIEW - downloads a page without taking ownership.
HTML Editor
You can use almost any editor, however, we suggest "Arachnophilia Version 4" because:
- It's easy to use and also quite powerful.
- The WEBEDIT procedure is pre-configured for it.
- It can handle two files at once. This is most helpful if the local file on your computer differs from the server.
- We developed a convenient TOOLBAR for the WEBEDIT functions.
- The webmaster will be better able to answer your technical questions.
How it works
To edit a page:
Click the WEBEDIT icon and enter the "name" of a web page.
Assuming the page is "available", the system will automatically:
- Backup your local copy if one exists.
- Download the page from the server.
- Update the server to indicate owner's status with a date/time stamp.
- Open the file in your HTML editor.
To upload (publish) a page:
Click the WEBSAVE BUTTON in Arachnophilia or use the WEBSAVE icon.
You will be prompted to release the page so others will be able to WEBEDIT it. Arachnophilia has 2 buttons: "WEBSAVE" uploads the page allowing someone else to WEBEDIT it, and "WEBSAVE (LOCK)" uploads the page without releasing ownership.
To release a page:
Click the WEBRESET BUTTON in Arachnophilia or use the windows icon.
This deletes the lock file from the server to indicate the
file is no longer "in use". Another file remains on the server which indicates who last modified
the page. Naturally, a WEBRESET is only accepted from the user that owns the page.
Standards
All active web pages are named with an ".html" extension.
Backup versions on your local drive are saved as ".htm".
All files (images, documents, webpages, etc.) must be named contiguously (no spaces) and cannot use UPPER CASE letters. The procedures automatically convert typed-in names to lower case.
You can upload any type of file using the WEBSAVE procedure but, there
is no mechanism for deleting files. Contact the
webmaster
to delete a specific file from the server that you believe is no longer needed.
There is an "images" directory on the server that is only meant to be used for common files that comprise the menuing system and other navigation aids used throughout the site.
All page-related images and documents must reside in the same common folder as the html code.
Do not use other FTP clients, where account names and passwords are required, as they would defeat the purpose of providing "ownership" management.