|
Requirements
The EZ Classified Ads will run on:
Quick Start
Quick setup using the default setting.
- Upload all files to your web server
- Set the \db folder for a "write" enabled
permission
- go to Main.asp page to start using the EZ Classified Ads
- It is recommended to change your Administration password
*Go to admincom.asp and login (default username: admin
password: admin) then click on "update admin"
link.
top
Basic setup
All important configurations are scripted in the Inc_Conn.asp
file. This is the one you need to edit in order to run the EZ
Classified Ads.
To make it easy, all editable script and option are to be
edited in the Inc_Conn.asp file (inside the db\ folder).
- The most important rule in setting up ASP files
For any ASP application to run, it needs the right path to
folders within the website. Without it, you'll have plenty
of error messages.
For the EZ Classified Ads to run, you'll need to tell the
script where to find the files it needs.
STEP 1:
If you want to run the default setting, you don't need to
change anything, jump to Set the right permission for folders
below.
STEP 2:
A) Database outside db/ folder
Your website has already set up a database folder for you.
- Put the dbClassifiedsPhoto.mdb in the folder set by your
host
- Edit the Inc_conn.asp (using notepad or similar):
- Find the line that says
strDatabaseFile = 1 and change this to
strDatabaseFile = 2 then
edit this line:
strDatabasePath="C:\Inetpub\wwwroot\classifieds\database\"
to the correct path to the Database, example:
strDatabasePath ="C:\Users\MySyte\Database\"
B) For DSN connection
If you have DSN connection to the dbClassifiedsPhoto.mdb.
Find the line that says
strDatabaseFile = 1 and change this to
strDatabaseFile = 3 then
at the bottom of the file
case 3
strConn = "dsn=dbClassifiedsPhoto" to
case 3
strConn = "dsn=MyDSNConnection" where
MyDSNConnection is the name of your DSN.
C) SQL server (for advanced users)
The application support SQL database. In this case, you'll
have to first upload the dbClassifiedsPhoto.mdb to your
server, then edit:
strDatabaseFile = 1 and change this to
strDatabaseFile = 4
next,
case 4
strConn = "Provider=SQLOLEDB;Data Source=SQL_server_Name;
Initial Catalog=dbClassifiedsPhoto; User Id=Yourname;
Password=YourPassword"
and change the bold letters to your SQL server settings
*Note for SQL Server, when uploading the
dbClassifiedsPhoto.mdb to your server, be sure to keep all
unique Identities, and default fields.
Category images
There is now an option to have category images shown in front
of the category name (makes it more attractive...). To have it
on, edit the Inc_conn.asp where it says
strCategoryImages = 0
to
strCategoryImages = 1
You'll then be able to upload images from the admin menu,
by selecting a category then clicking on "upload
image" below the selected box.
Customize header and footer
You can customize the header and the footer for all
the pages, by opening and redesigning the top.asp and
bottom.asp files in the /include folder.
- Set the right permission for folders
If you have access to the permission setting of folders
(ie. the website is on your computer), you just have to
right-click on the folder and select the security tab to
set the permission needed (for windows2000) or by using
the Personal Web Manager of PWS and setting the folder
to "write" permission by checking the box.
If your website is hosted by another computer, you'll have
to contact your web host to set the permissions and ask to
have the folder set to "write and modify" for
everyone.
top
Photo Upload
This option is turned off by default. To have it on, edit the
Inc_Conn.asp file (in the db/ folder) as follow:
- UploadOption = 0
edit to
UploadOption = 1
then
Set the \Uploads and all folders(\Users and \Uploads) within to
a "write and modify" permission for everyone. See Set the right permission for folders
Note. Failure to do this will give you error messages when
trying to upload file
How to set the maximum size
By default (and it should be enough) the maximum upload size
for Images are set to 20KB and 250 pixels. You can change this
by editing the upload.asp file and finding those variables.
at line 90:
Upload.SetMaxSize 20000
to another size
at line 100 and 105:
File.ImageWidth > 250
File.ImageHeight > 250
to your prefered size
Error message:
If an error message like:
"..use SaveVirtual instead of the
upload.save command"
Then you'll need to edit line 91
upload.save strAbsUploadPath
to:
upload.savevirtual(strUploadFolder)
line221:
upload.save strAbsCatUploadPath
to:
upload.savevirtual(strCatUploadFolder)
top
Email function
This option is turned off by default. To have it on, edit the
Inc_Conn.asp file (in the db/ folder) as follow:
- strSendEmail = 0
edit to
strSendEmail = 1
then
strMailComponent = "ASPMAIL"
edit to either "JMAIL" or "ASPMAIL"
depending of installed component on Web Host. If you don't know
it, ask your Host
then
strMailServer = "mail.MyDomain.com"
to your mail server
'DOMAIN NAME
strDomain = "www.yourdomain.com"
'DOMAIN EMAIL
strDomainEmail = "name@MyDomain.com"
enter a valid email address (must be from your mailserver) or
else, the email function will not work
OPTION:
(Only if strSendMail option is set to 1 see
above)
There are a few lines to play with and basically they are self
explanatory:
*Webmaster will receive notification if set to 1
strNotifyNewAds = 0
strNotifyNewUser = 0
*Will enable lost password retrieval if set to 1
strSendLostPassword = 0
*User will receive their info when they register if
set to 1
strSendNewUserInfo = 0
*Name and Email of Webmaster if strNotifyNewAds &
strNotifyNewUser is set to 1
strNameToWebmaster = "Webmaster"
strSendToWebmaster ="Webmaster@MYSITE.COM"
Edit those line to your liking and experiment. Any Options
can be changed later without any loss to the Application.
To change the default messages sent to user
All mail functions are in the mail.asp file. you will be
able to change text messages sent to user by changing the
variables.
strBodytxt, strSubjectxt and so on.
top
Maintenance
In the Admin menu, there is a link that says "Clean
up", use it to delete all orphan files from the upload folder
(Users and Category).
IMPORTANT : this function will run only if the path to folder are
set properly in the Inc_Conn.asp
Although expired Ads will be deleted automatically, the upload
of photos are not (you can set it to run automatically if you want
with some scripting). Therefore, it is recommended to run this cleanup process
once in a while.
top
People and sites that uses the EZ
Classified Ads
There has been a lot of input and customizing of this
application. Some of you have done a marvelous job integrating and
customizing.
www.bigdeal.it
The Webmaster has been doing a great job adapting this app to his
site and translating into his home language (Italian). Worth a
look, will give you some ideas to what can be done. For the ADS,
select "Annunci on line" on the home page.
www.discovercq.com/default.htm
Again, great integration with the site colors and style. This site
based in Queensland, Australia is definitively attractive. Check
it out!
Recommended Web Hosting services
There are always requests and recommendations from users to
which webhosting services they should use for ASP. Here is a
short list that I personally like.
Note: these Webhosts are not paying me or anything similar to
have their name put here. It is just my personnal opinion.
www.brinkster.com
Excellent website hosting with all the components for ASP that
you'll dream of. They have a free service that offer a basic
hosting with ASP capability and a Premium service for a reasonable
price. Check it out.
www.readyhosting.com
Another excellent web hosting service, with a SQL server
capability and other services beside ASP. The components they offer
however are limited (for now).
If you have any other hosts you wish to add to the list, send
in a line at eawuy@hotmail.com
How to contact the Writer
EZ Classified Ads
home page
If you have any problems, found any bugs, comments, or
suggestions, you can email me at eawuy@hotmail.com
and I will try my best to accomodate you (please be patient, as
sometimes I receive a lot of email)
Thank you
|