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!)

Steps For A Successful Installation:

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.	FTP complete! Before you access your new program ONLINE, just a couple of SETUP CAUTIONS: Make sure you familiarize yourself with all the instructions below before proceeding. After accessing your new program following the link below, it is extremely important that you read and follow the instructions on each page before taking action on the page. The program will guide you through the setup process within a few brief steps. Do not press any "SUBMIT" Button more than once, nor REFRESH/RELOAD any page. If after page transition you may be unsure of something you did, simply continue through the Setup process. DO NOT GO BACK. You will have the opportunity to check/edit any possible errors after arriving at your completed ADMIN PANEL. Note: If you have difficulty completing the Setup Process online, you can always edit the *.conf files offline and upload them. They are found in your /cgi-bin/members_assistant/tools/ folder as follows: - html.conf - panel_support.conf - site.conf - subform.conf - supform.conf After editing these, open your /data/ folder and edit: key.txt to read 2 instead of 0 trace.txt to read 5 instead of 0 Upload and CHMOD all edited files to their respective folders. That's it. From then on you should be able to edit them online through your ADMIN PANEL. NOW, 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: (you will be guided through each one) Site Configurations HTML Configurations SubForm Configurations SupForm Configurations + (Panel Configurations) - discussed later Having accessed the link in Step 9 above, you are now viewing to set SITE CONF. Don't worry about the BROKEN IMAGE TAGS or formatting. After you complete this SETUP, editing all your variables, THEY'LL WORK. 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 !