Web Sharing System

Our unique system provides a safe
and easy way for our congregants
to maintain any of our web pages.
 

The system allows anyone familiar with basic HTML editing, to easily access and update the various pages on our website without having to know or worry about any of the details involved with server communications. You simply enter the "name" of a webpage and the system will either start your editor with the desired file or notify you that someone else is currently editing that file and display how to get in touch with them.

System requirements

  • MS Windows ( 95, 98, me, NT, 2000, XP, Vista )
  • An internet connection (Dialup, AOL, Cable, etc.)

Components

The system consists of three procedures:
  • WEBEDIT - to request the download of a specific page.
  • WEBSAVE - to upload a completed page or other file.
  • WEBRESET - to relinquish ownership of an edited page.

HTML Editor

You can use almost any editor, however, we suggest "Arachnophilia Version 4 for the following reasons:
  • It's relatively 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 there's a local version of the file on your computer which differs from the server. WEBEDIT can detect this and automatically open both files.
  • Our installation procedure creates a convenient TOOLBAR.
  • The webmaster will be better able to answer your technical questions.
  • It's totally free.

How it works

To edit a page:
    Click the WEBEDIT icon and you will be prompted to enter the "name" of an existing web page. Various things will happen depending on:
    • Is this the first time you're requesting this page?
    • Does the page really exist on the server?
    • Were you the last person to update that page?
    • Is someone else currently working on it?
    • Do you already have ownership of the page?
    • Do you have a local copy that differs from the server?

    Assuming the page is "available", the system will:

    1. Backup your local copy if one exists.
    2. Download the page from the server.
    3. Update the server to indicate owner's status and date/time stamp.
    4. Opens the downloaded file with your HTML editor.

To Upload a page:

    Use one of the TOOLBAR BUTTONS in Arachnophilia or the WEBSAVE icon. You will be prompted to release the page so others will be able to WEBEDIT it. Arachnophilia has 2 buttons: "WEBSAVE" will upload the page allowing someone else to WEBEDIT it, and "WEBSAVE (LOCK)" will upload the page but, not release your ownership.
To release a page:
    Use the WEBRESET icon or Arachnophilia TOOLBAR BUTTON. This deletes one of the small text files from the server to indicate the file is no longer "in use". Another file remains on the server to indicate who last modified the page. Naturally, a WEBRESET will not be accepted unless the request originates from the same computer that last downloaded the page via WEBEDIT.

Enforcement

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. All typed-in names are automatically converted 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.

Do not use other FTP clients, where account names and passwords are required, as they would defeat the purpose of providing "ownership" management. The system invokes the Windows FTP command with automatically generated scripts.

Installation

  1. Download and install the free Arachnophilia Version 4 editor. It is important you use Arachnophilia's default installation folder for us to generate the custom toolbars.

  2. Create a \btikvah\website folder in the root directory on any local hard drive (not your desktop nor in My Documents).

  3. Unzip the starter files (which the webmaster will e-mail to you) in that folder. The starter files consist of all the common graphics and scripts which allow your local pages to appear as if they were on the server. Also included are the necessary batch files for the websharing system. The WEBEDIT.BAT file contains the location of the starter files. If the folder is other than BTIKVAH\WEBSITE, you must edit the "webedit.bat" file with a plain text editor where indicated.

  4. Make a Shortcut to the WEBEDIT.BAT on your desktop and change the ICON, if you prefer.

  5. With a plain text editor, create a 1 line text file named "name.tag" (not name.tag.txt) and save it in the folder with the starter files. This file uniquely identifies your computer to the system. Code your name, email address, and phone number, and if you intend to install WEBEDIT on an additional computer, put something to identify the machine as well. A copy of this file will be associated with all HTML documents that you work on.

  6. Connect to the internet (i.e. dialup) and double-click the WEBEDIT icon. In the pop-up box, type the word SETUP and hit enter. If Arachnophilia was installed, the toolbars for it will be generated.

  7. Make a shortcut on the desktop for the WEBSAVE.bat file (as in step 4).

  8. (optional): Locate the windows "SEND TO" folder for your account and copy the shortcut to it. This will allow you to upload files to the server by using the right-mouse button to select: Send To > WEBSAVE. Note: the files to be sent must reside in your local WEBSITE directory.

Formatting Standards

To insure all pages retain the same "look & feel", the following Javascript files are used:
  • btimage.js - initialization for image and menu rollovers
  • header.js - generates the blue border index on the left
  • header2.js - formats the top of the main content pane
  • footer1.js - builds the salutation and bottom text index
A model template page is provided with the starter files containing samples of various techniques used throughout the site.

Free Web Resources

Arachnophilia HTML editor
JPEG WizardJPG compression tool
GIFWORKS GIF compression tool
Web-TV ViewerValidate pages for Web-TV
HTML TutorialsTips & Tricks
HTML ReferenceAll the details
CSS ReferenceCascading Style Sheets
Javascript Resources and Examples