RULES of our Information Highway
WEB SPACE:5Mb. Sounds like a lot to some, nothing to others. This is what they call an "administrative limit" in certain fields. When you reach that much we will look at it. You will not be "out of space". As long as you are wisely using your web space for your chapter web-site we will not worry about space. However, you can not use the space to store your entire unsorted image collection or to distribute software.ACCESS:
You have full FTP Access. You may create and destroy files, directorys or folders within your web space, upload and download files.PASSWORDS:
Please control your password. You MAY give it to more than one person but be sure they are knowedgeable about what they are doing.SOFTWARE:
We have provided a counter program and are developing some database applications for Chapter use. We can install cgi and perl scripts for you but almost anything you want done can be done with Java Script from within your pages.CONTENT:There are things you may want that we would prefer not to install and may just plain refuse. These include chats, guestbook type forums like the anvilfire Guru page and Web-Cams. Our reasons are simple.
CHATS: There have been numerous blacksmiths chats on the Internet. They have all failed except our Slack-Tub Pub. Much of the reason for its "success" is our our willingness to support and maintain a relatively low use venue. Chats also require programming and compiling on the server and are relatively high bandwidth. The reason WE have this exclusive server is to support anvilfire's chats and live cams.Our experience with CGI is that it takes a LOT of testing and debugging. Much of it requires access to the server that we can not give you. That means we would have to charge you for our time to do that work.FORUMS: The Internet is currently flooded with Blacksmith Forums. Again the successful ones are far and few between. We operate two plus a chat and several more to be launched in the near future. As these are the mainstay of our business we will not waste our time putting you into competition with us. We may be generous but we aren't dumb!
CAMS: Now THIS we will talk to you about. Contact us for details.
PG But I don't have to tell you guys that. Try to remember that the Internet is International. We have people from 60 different countries access anvilfire in any one day and from over 100 countries each week. We also get tons of kids in school from elementary level up! You will probably not have that kind of user base. The point is, you never know where and whom access is coming from.COPYRIGHT:We have provided some sample content and you may do with it as you please.
HOME PAGE: Index.htm, Has a generic banner with an old ABANA logo that is no longer used (I kind of like it). Chapter Contacts. The menu system links to all the sample pages provided. There are more catagories than most of you will use and the best thing to do is "REM out" those not used. This page was designed on short notice to be our sample template. Please feel free to replace with something more creative. At some future date we may replace the samples we maintain with something more attractive. We will also reduce unused menu items at that time.ABOUT: Or Mission Statement. This was written in a very generic manner and some of it was taken from the ABANA statement. We left out mention of non-profit status because not all the chapters are legaly non-profit.
LINKS: Everyone wants links and every link list is different. We have provided a generic links list as a starter point. The style of this page is simple to maintain and that is somthing to think about. You may change it as you will but we would hope you keep anvilfire and ABANA-Chapter.com on the list!
CALENDAR: This is basicaly a sample page to show how tables work and can be used. We are working on a database system that will generate a calandar dynamicaly. Local pages could link to it and display their events and national events, but we could also generate a "master" calender.
FOLDERS or DIRECTORIES: I'm an old DOS hand and in DOS you have directories and sub-directories. Microsoft liked the cute Mac "folder" icon so now we have folders. There is no difference except in jargon. We provided three that you should consider using.
IMAGES: Keeps all those pesky buttons and icons out of your main files listing.
NEWS: Is a place to store newsletters. IF you have HTML news letters they should each be in their own folder with their graphics. Adobe Acrobat files can be kept in the NEWS folder as they are single files that include both text and graphics.
GALLERY: If you have member galleries each of those should go in their own folder off the gallery folder. If you start out organized it makes a huge difference later on.OTHERS: The rest were just blank filler pages with title and return links. If you are very new to HTML and unsure of yourself you could just type your information into the body of the page and be done with it.
There is almost nothing on the Internet that is not protected under copyright law stated or not. Please avoid "borrowing" images, icons or buttons unless they are clearly stated as free to be used and that the person giving them freely has that right. Most clipart is distributed to be used but it is wise to always read the specifics that came with the collection. There is too much free and legal to use material available to court trouble by copyright infringement.MORE TO COME!