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Forum:
Detailed Documentation:
Table
of Contents:
LIST
FORUMS
Change
Display Forum
Displaying
a Forum Other Than the Default Forum
The
Forum Edit Icon
The
Display Forum Icon
Change
Display Forum
The
Forum Icon
The
Post Edit Icon
The
Post Delete Icon
Help
MONITORING
MEMBER
REGISTRATION
Members
FORUM
SITES
Forum
Site ID
PASSWORD
Searching
Forums
FORUM
LISTS
FORUM
BUTTON IMAGES
ASCENDING
&
DESCENDING THREADS
SPLIT-FRAME
FORUMS
APPENDIX
A
APPENDIX B
APPENDIX C
APPENDIX D
APPENDIX E
APPENDIX F
APPENDIX H
List Forum
Each
forum site has a corresponding host asp file which includes
a call to show the designated forum from this forum sites'
collection of forums. The host asp file which will call the
forum site with a Forum Site ID of 12 will look like this:
<%
Set ObjForum =
Server.CreateObject("EZsiteForum.Forum")
ObjForum.ShowForum(12)
%>
Whenever a visitor links to the asp file with this code
within it, your designated forum will be displayed.
This makes it easy to change forums occasionally or
regularly. Some sites have different weekly forum discussion
groups involving similar issues. This tends to keep the
topics of conversation fresh -- increasing return visits.
Change Display
Forum: (click here to return
to top)
If your forum site has more than one forum within it's
collection, a drop-down list will be displayed at the bottom
of the LIST FORUMS menu option page. (With administrative
access, each forum site will be listed along with the
accompanying forum collections. To reach the Change Display
Forum option, select a forum site name). Each of your forums
within your forum site will be listed in the drop-down list.
When you want to change which of your forums will be the one
displayed to visitors, simple select the forum you want
within the drop-down list and click on '<< Change
Display Forums'. The little arrow and Forum Site ID number
will now appear next to your chosen forum.
Displaying a
Forum Other Than the Default Forum: (click
here to return to top)
By setting the DefaultForumOff to true, you can replace the
ForumSiteID with a ForumID when calling the ShowForum()
method. This option is primarily for advanced programmers to
display a forum that is not the default forum.
In this example the forum with the ForumID of 6 is
displayed:
<%
Set ObjForum = Server.CreateObject("EZsiteForum.Forum")
ObjForum.DefaultForumOff = true
ObjForum.ShowForum(6)
%>
If the DefaultForumOff property had not been set to true in
this example, the default forum of forum site number 6 would
have been displayed.
ForumID's can be found within the database tables or by
setting the ShowForumID property to true -- and thereby
displaying the ForumID’s in the forum list within the
manager.
'~~~~~ If you want the Forum Id's to show on the
' managers forum list page, set ShowForumID to true
'ObjForum.ShowForumID = true
Note: The ShowForumID property is set within the
ForumManager.asp file!
The Forum Edit Icon:
(click here to return to top)
Next to the arrow and Forum Site ID will be a small
yellow-orange pencil icon indicating editing. If at any time
you want to edit the text (author, title, and body text)
within your forum, simple select this edit icon. Editing
your forum text is basically the same as entering new forum
text with the exception of having your text first displayed
for editing. See NEW FORUM for detailed a description of
this process.
The Forum Delete
Icon: (click here to return to
top)
Next to the edit icon is the delete icon. It appears as a
red or maroon tiny pair of scissors. Selecting this icon
will bring you to a CONFIRM page. This page asks for you
confirmation before permanently deleting your selected
forum. Select the DELETE button to confirm your choice. Once
delete, a forum cannot be undeleted. Choose wisely.
The Forum Icon:
(click here to return to top)
To the right of the delete icon is the forum icon. This
appears as a little yellow file with various colored keys
possible on the folder. If the forum is a public forum, the
forum icon will have no tiny key within it. A Register icon
will have a tiny black colored key while a Private forum
will have a red colored key. Monitored forums have the same
colored key codes but appear with a dark border surrounding
the yellow folder. You can tell the type of forum within
your collection at a glance. (These icon, as well as all the
icons used within EZsite Forum, are found within the
/graphics directory and can be changed by you with any
graphics program.)
Selecting the forum icon will display all the posts
visitors' or members' have posted to this particular forum.
The posts will be displayed in the same threaded tree format
as seen within the forum. You may edit or delete visitors'
or members' posts from here. This is essential the same page
you viewed after you created your new forum. The Change
Forum Type, Monitored, and the Change Forum Site selections
will be displayed from this page.
The Post Edit Icon:
(click here to return to top)
To edit a visitors or members post, simple select the edit
icon. You will be presented with a form to edit the posts'
author, title and body text. After editing, select the NEXT
button in the upper right-hand corner of the page. The post
will be displayed for you to check over your work. Either
select the BACK button to re-edit the post or the SAVE
button to save it.
The Post Delete Icon:
(click here to return to top)
To permanently delete a visitors' or members' post, select
the delete icon next to the post. After confirming your
choice, the post will be permanently deleted.
Help: (click
here to return to top)
Selecting the HELP button at the bottom right hand side of
the page will display a small help screen. Each of the
preceding options will be briefly described. Changing pages
through another selection will remove this help text.
MONITORING: (click
here to return to top)
If you have designated your forum to be monitored, all
postings will need to be first cleared by you. If you have
any posts needing to be cleared, you will see a list of them
when entering the EZsite Forum manager. Alternatively, you
can see a list of yet un-cleared posts by selecting the
MONITORING menu option.
The Monitored Edit and Delete Icons
The list will include edit and delete icons like the ones
displayed for editing and deleting posts. Select either of
these icons as described in the Post Edit Icon and Post
Delete Icon sections above.
The Clear Monitored Post Icon
The monitoring post list also has a small icon that appears
like a tiny letter. Selecting this icon will post the
visitors' or members' post immediately. You can continue to
edit or delete posts by selecting a forums' icon within a
forum collection list.
MEMBER
REGISTRATION: (click here to
return to top)
When you designate a form type as registered, your forum
visitors will need to enter a member name and password
before being allowed to post responses to any forums at this
forum site. You may also include up to ten other text-input
fields on the registration page for members to fill in. Each
text-input field will have a title caption you can enter
from the REGISTRATION menu option. Each also has the option
of being required or not.
Required test-input fields will not allow a registration to
be completed before the member fills them in. A required
notice will be displayed on the members' registration forum
above the input field to indicate that they must complete
this particular field before gain access to post a response.
REGISTRATION
To customize your members' registration form, select the
REGISTRATION menu option. Enter the text you want as the
registration introduction that appears at the top of your
members' registration form. This is a good place to indicate
why you are requiring registration for your form site. If
you're requiring an e-mail address to be enter by your
members, you may want to let them know whether or not
you’re going to release their e-mail address to others or
whether it will be used by you for announcements. This type
of information encourages more successful registrations.
Next enter text in any of the ten Field Caption text-input
boxes. Here is where you can ask the members to fill in
their address, e-mail, URL, company, job title, or other
information. You may want them to enter other products they
have purchased from you or their systems platform. If you
leave a Field Caption empty it will not appear on your
members' registration form.
To make a text-input field required, check the required box.
When you are through designing your members' registration
from, click on the SAVE button in the upper right side of
the page. You may return to edit your members' registration
form at any point. Be warned that the information you
collect on members will vary as you edit, add, or delete
field captions by leaving them blank.
MEMBERS: (click
here to return to top)
You can view, edit, or delete member's registration
information by selecting the MEMBERS menu option. The EZsite
Forum administration manager will present a list of forum
sites for you to choose from. This choice will display the
members' list for that forum site. This member list is the
same member list displayed from an EZsite Forum manager
accessed for a particular forum site from the password page
(non-administer access).
The New Member Input Form
At the top of the members' page you have the option of
entering a new members' name and password. This is where you
will need to add members for private forums since they have
no way of entering this information themselves, unless you
have changed from a register forum with members to a private
forum.
Enter a member name and password, then click the SAVE button
in the upper right side of the page. The member will be
added to the list displayed below the new members' input
form.
The Members' List
The members' list will display the members' name, password,
and date of registration. Only 50 members' names will be
displayed at one time, the last member registered being the
first on the list. This way you can easily view newer
members without scanning through the members' list pages.
You may select the next or previous 50 members by clicking
the indicated buttons or by using the members' list page
menu at the bottom of the list (these options are only
displayed when the member count is above 50).
A small silver bar above the members' list will indicate the
numerical range of the members listed on this page (1 - 50
of 1087) and include buttons for paging through members'
list when more than 50 members are saved. Displaying 50
members at a time speeds up web database display lists and
allows you to view the last 50 registered member first,
which is typically the ones you'll be interested in. Then
members lists is contained in the 'UserTable' of the
database used by EZsite Forum and can be used for e-mail
lists apart from EZsite Forum.
The Member Edit Icon
You can edit member information by selecting the edit icon
next to a members' name (the yellow-orange icon resembling a
tiny pencil). The members' registration form will be
displayed. Only the text-input fields currently designated
by non-empty 'field caption' registration inputs will be
displayed. So if you originally filling in 5 field captions
and then changed to 3 (by saving the registration form after
deleting the text in 2 field captions), only the 3 current
fields will now show on both the members registration page
and your registration edit page.
Edit a members' information and then click the SAVE button
under the member's name and password input form. EZsite
Forum will not allow you to save a member name and password
if both are already registered within any forum site.
The Member Delete Icon
To permanently remove a member from you members' list, and
thus denying access to post without again registering,
simply click on the delete icon (tiny reddish scissors) next
to a members' name. A confirmation page will be displayed
before you can permanently delete the member by selecting
the DELETE button.
FORUM SITES: (click
here to return to top)
Initially EZsite Forum ships with a Forum Site name of
‘Forum Site’ and a password of ‘Password’. Entering
this name and password in the logon page will access the
administration manager. Only from the administration manager
can you create other Forum Sites.
Forum Site Name and Password
The forum site page will have two text-input fields in which
you can enter a new forum site name and password. If you are
using EZsite Forum to manage more than one forum site you
will need to create a new forum site for each forum. You
will have to have a separate host asp file to display each
of your forum sites. This way you can manage a number of
forum sites from the EZsite Forum administration manager.
Each forum site can have a collection of forums, one of
which can be displayed on a particular forum site at one
time. (You may also create forum sites without using the
Forum Site ID within a host asp file and move old forums
into this collection to be archived.)
This is not to be confused with a single forum site, which
has the limitation of showing only one of a collection of
forums. In this case, there is only one host asp file, which
will display the one forum designated as the display forum.
EZsite Forum utilizes this system structure so you also have
the option of delegating forum sites to other forum
managers. Simply create a new forum site and give the forum
site name and password to a forum manager. The forum manager
will use this forum site name and password to manager this
site without having administrative privileges. The manager
of a site can change their forum site name and password
anytime. The administrator also has the option of changing
any forum site name and password.
A forum site manager can:
• Create a new forum to display at their forum site.
• Maintain a collection of forums available to the forum
site.
• Choose which forum from this collection to displayed.
• Edit/delete existing forums.
• Determine a forums' type (public, register, private).
• Determine whether a forum will be monitored or not.
• Edit/delete posted information.
• Enter/edit/delete registration information.
• Clear/edit/delete pending monitored posts.
• View/edit/delete registered users information.
• Enter/remove forum user's name and password.
• Change their own password and/or forum site name.
The administrators functions include the forum site manager
privileges for any forum as well as:
• Create or remove forum sites.
• Assign a Forum Site ID at the creation of a forum site.
• Moving forums between different forum sites.
Forum Site ID: (click
here to return to top)
When a master administrator creates a new forum site, a
Forum Site ID is assigned to that forum site. The Forum Site
ID is any number between 2 and 99 which is not currently
already assigned to a forum site. The administrative Forum
Site ID is always number 1 and cannot be changed.
Select a Forum Site ID for your new forum site and then
click on the ADD FORUM SITE button.
After the forum site has been created you can display its
forum by placing the following code in the host asp file:
<%
Set ObjForum = Server.CreateObject("EZsiteForum.Forum")
ObjForum.ShowForum(3)
%>
Notice that the ShowForum() method requires a integer
argument. Place the Forum Site ID within this method to call
this forum site's forum e.g., ShowForum(3).
Forum Site List
Below the forum site input forum is a list of all the forum
sites and passwords within this EZsite Forum. You can
permanently delete a forum site by selecting the REMOVE
button next to a forum sites' name.
A confirm page will ask for confirmation before deleting and
also present you with two other options:
Move forums to admin site rather than delete them.
When you delete a forum site it may have a collection of
forums saved under its name. You can choose whether to have
all the forums permanently deleted or moved over to the
administrative forum. Check or uncheck the check box
indicating your choice.
Move members' registration data to admin site rather than
delete.
You can also check the check box indicating whether you want
to delete any registered members of this forum site or moved
them over to the administration forum site.
PASSWORD: (click
here to return to top)
The administrator or manager of a forum site can change the
forum site name and/or password of a forum site. Only the
administrator has access to change any forum site name or
password.
The AspFileURL Property
ObjForum.AspFileURL = "EZsiteForum.asp"
Previously the AspFileURL property was set to the asp file
hosting the component. It is now set internally within the
EZsite Forum component and can be successfully eliminated.
It remains effective for backward compatibility.
The Title Input File
When a visitor responds to a post, the title-input field
will now include the title of the post they are responding
to preceded by RE:. This only occurs when a visitor is
responding to a post other than the main thread forum post
(otherwise all the titles could be the same!).
Searching Forums:
(click here to return to top)
Overview
You can search a specific forum, a forum site, or the entire
database. A query will search for the author, title, post,
and date posted.
The forum search page displays two frames, one frame
incorporates the forum and the other a search-input page.
The search-input page has a input box for inputting queries,
a button for submitting queries, and a optional button for
displaying a exit button. The SearchOffButton can be set to
text or an image. The scope of the forum search can be set
with a property (see below).
When a user submits a query, a list of forum titles will be
displayed that relate to the query. Only a limited number of
forum titles will be displayed at once and the user can
browse through the non-displayed ones through the NEXT and
BACK buttons.
Selecting a query resulting forum title will display the
forum in the forum window with the post at the top of the
page. A user can respond to the forum post according to the
forum settings of the displayed post. The scope of which
forums will be accessible is set with a property.
To incorporate the search feature within a forum, you'll
need to set some search properties within two supporting asp
host files. The first host file manages the FrameSet file
which controls the two frames used to display the search
input page and the forums. The second asp host file manages
the search-input page.
The Forum asp Host File
In order to provide the search page to visitors, you will
need to set a property in the asp file that hosts your
forum. EZsite Forum has been developed with performance in
mind and uses no Session variables within the standard
forum. The search feature uses a few Session variables and
setting the ForumSearchOn property to true will enable the
search option and the session variables.
ObjForum.ForumSearchOn = true
No other property or method needs to be utilized within the
forum host file. You may want to provide visitors with a
link to the search page from your forum page though. The
example EZsiteForum.asp file has a link to the FrameSet asp
file, this link changes the forum into a framed forum search
page.
<A HREF="SearchFrameSet.asp"
TARGET="_top">
<IMG SRC="graphics/SearchOn.gif" WIDTH=46
HEIGHT=14 BORDER=0 ALT="">
</A>
This example displays an image to visitors for linking to
the FrameSet asp host file. Notice that the TARGET attribute
has been set to '_top'. This is incase a user selects this
option while already in the forum search page and avoids
recursive framing.
Because EZsite Forum utilizes a Session variable to
recognize when it is in search mode, some visitors may exit
the search page through menu or other routs other than the
search-page exit button. In these cases linking back to the
forum page may display the last search forum rather than the
default forum. To avoid this you can use a simple query
string when writing links to your search enabled forum
sites.
This query string will turn off any remaining session
variables if the user did not exit with the exit search
button.
Query string to add: ?Search=off
Example:
EZsiteForum.asp?Search=off
Using the '?Search=off' attached to any URL linking your
search enabled forum will ensure proper function and not
interfere in any way with other functioning.
The FrameSet asp Host File
The example FrameSet file that comes with EZsite Forum is
named 'SearchFrameSet.asp'. It contains 22 properties, which
controls the frame attributes and reference asp pages. Of
the 19 properties that pertain to the way the frames are
displayed, the FrameSetWidth is the one that you will most
likely need to change from time to time depending on where
you want the search-input page positioned.
The search-input page is displayed at the top, bottom, left,
or right of the window depending on how the
SearchFramePosition is set. The default setting is 'Left'
and the FrameSetWidth is set to 215 to accommodate this
position. If you chose to display your search-input frame at
the top or the bottom of the window, you may want to reset
the FrameSetWidth property to a smaller width (in this case
it's actually the height you want to adjust).
Besides these two page display properties, there are two
more that will need to be set differently for each search
forum you develop. The FrameSet asp host file needs to
reference the two asp host files that occupy the frames of
the search page. These two asp host files, the search-input
page and the forum page, are set with the SeachFrameSource
and ForumFrameSource properties respectively. If you are
building a search page for a forum that is hosted within a
asp file named 'EZsiteForum.asp', and you are also using a
search-input asp host file named 'SearchInput.asp', then the
following values would need to be set to the two file
related properties:
'----- FILE NAMES OF THE FORUM AND SEARCH INPUT FILES ---
ObjForum.ForumFrameSource = "EZsiteForum.asp"
ObjForum.SearchFrameSource = "SearchInput.asp"
'--------------------------------------------------------
The example SearchFrameSet.asp file shows all the properties
you can set. All but the two file related properties are
commented out and show the default settings that EZsite
Forum comes with.
The FrameSet host asp file needs to call the SearchFrameSet()
method. This method will initialize the frames according to
your settings and inject the two search page frames with the
forum and search-input files.
The Search-Input asp Host File
This host asp file manages the look and behavior of the
search-input page. Of primary importance is the property
related to the hosting forum file. The ForumFrameSource
property, also set in the FrameSet host asp file, needs to
be set to the asp file hosting your forum. Set this just
like you did in the SearchForumSet.asp file:
ObjForum.ForumFrameSource = "EZsiteForum.asp"
Without this property being properly set, your
search-enabled forum will not function.
There are 22 other properties you can set to control the
search-input page. The SearchInput.asp example file shows
all but two of these remaining 22 properties set to the
default settings (they are commented out). The two
non-default examples are related to the NEXT and BACK
buttons that appear on the search navigation bar.
ObjForum.SearchNavBarNext = "<IMG SRC=""graphics/SearchNextBlack.gif""
BORDER=0>"
ObjForum.SearchNavBarBack = "<IMG SRC=""graphics/SearchBackBlack.gif""
BORDER=0>"
This example shows how to set these properties to display
images rather than text. Notice that any quotes are escaped
-- single quotes (") are written as double quotes
("").
The SearchNavLeftSide and SearchNavRightSide properties can
be used to display text or images to the right or left of
the NEXT and BACK buttons.
The MaxSearchReturn property will determine how many search
result forum titles will be displayed at once -- the default
is 10.
Using the SearchNotFound and SearchInputIntroMsg properties
supports international languages. The values of these
properties will be displayed at the start of the
search-input page and when no results are found for a query.
To include an image or text as bullets displayed before each
query result forum title, use the SearchListBullet. The
default setting value is 'n', which will display numbers as
bullets.
The SearchTitleWrap will wrap or un-wrap the forum title
search result lines.
The scope of the forum search can be determined by the
SearchScope property. This property can be set to three
values: 'Forum Default', 'Forum Site', and 'Forum All'. This
will search the default forum only, all the forums' within
the forum site, and the entire database of forums
respectively. This property defaults to 'Forum All'.
The SearchListTitleMax property will limit the length of the
title forum result lines. If a resulting forum title is
longer than the value of this property, it will be truncated
and three periods (…) will be added to the end of the
line.
The other properties are self-explanatory and relate to the
cosmetic nature of the search-input page.
This page calls the ShowSearchInput() method to display the
search-input page.
Query Results
Each query will not only find words or phrases, but any
segment of a string within a word. So entering 'a' as a
search query will list all forums that include the letter
'a' within a authors name, post title, post body text, or
date (such as January). Because the query results can be
lengthy, EZsite Forum will only list the first 10 query
hits. The amount of records listed can be changed through
the MaxSearchReturn property.
A navigation bar will display the current post titles found
within a query and the total amount of query hits (11-21 of
73). Also displayed are NEXT and BACK buttons which can be
used to list other query titles.
FORUM LISTS:
(click here to return to top)
Forum List Page
You can have a web page that provides a list of forums for a
visitor to chose from. You can list the forums within the
entire EZsite Forum or within a particular Forum Site. When
a visitor selects a forum title from the list, they will be
able to enter that particular forum. This is a good way to
provide an archive of forums. When you create a new forum
and make it the default forum for your site, the older
forums will automatically be available from the forum list
page.
To create a forum list page you need to create a host asp
file that includes the following method:
<%
'INTIALIZE THE FORUM LIST OBJECT
Set ObjForum = Server.CreateObject("EZsiteForum.Forum")
ObjForum.ListForums(1)
%>
By not including an argument within the ObjForum.ListForums
() method, all the forums within EZsite Forum will be
listed. You can include an EZsite Account ID as an argument
to only list the forums within that forum site, e.g.,
ObjForum.ListForums (4). If you want to list the forums for
the master administrative forum, use '1' as the Account ID
-- as in the above example code.
The 'EZsiteForumList.asp' file is an example file that will
list all the forums within EZsite Forum. This example file
includes the properties that can be set in order to change
the appearance of the list. Each forum list will include the
name of the forum site and a list of forums. The forum list
will take on the characteristics determined by the settings
for the forum tree title, author, and date.
The characteristics of the forum list will be set with the
following attributes:
'----- TREE TITLE FONT SETTINGS [also the text on the forum
list]
ObjForum.TitleFontFace = "Verdana, Arial"
ObjForum.TitleFontSize = "2"
ObjForum.TitleFontColor = "navy"
ObjForum.TitleFontBold = false
'----- TREE AUTHOR FONT SETTINGS [also the author on the
forum list]
ObjForum.AuthorFontFace = "Arial"
ObjForum.AuthorFontSize = "1"
ObjForum.AuthorFontColor = "#646464"
'----- TREE DATE FONT SETTINGS [also the date on the forum
list]
ObjForum.DateFontFace = "Arial"
ObjForum.DateFontSize = "1"
ObjForum.DateFontColor = "#646464"
'----- TREE DATE SETTINGS [also on the forum list]
ObjForum.DateOn = True
ObjForum.DateFormat = "ddd, d mmm - hh:mm AMPM"
All the forums on the list will take on the attributes
within the forum list asp file. Include any other forum
properties you typically set from the forum host page to
determine the appearance of the forums selected from the
forum list.
Linking Back to the Forum List
In order to provide a way to link back to the forum list
page, a link will appear above the displayed post so a
visitor can browse an archived forum and then return to the
forum list. You can set the caption of this link through the
following property:
'----- EXAMPLE OF A "BACK TO FORUM LIST" LINK on
forum list
ObjForum.BackToForumList = "Back to Forum List"
Feel free to include HTML text formatting tags within this
property to alter the appearance of the link.
'----- EXAMPLE OF A FANCY "BACK TO FORUM LIST"
LINK on forum list
ObjForum.BackToForumList = "<FONT
SIZE=1>« Back to Forum
List<BR></FONT><HR
ALIGN=""CENTER""
WIDTH=""100%""
COLOR=""SILVER"" NOSHADE
SIZE=""1"">"
FORUM BUTTON
IMAGES: (click here to return
to top)
There are four buttons used for forum site visitors:
The 'Submit' button used to submit password information.
The 'Next' button used to go to the next page after entering
a form post.
The 'Edit' button, use to edit a post before posting.
The 'Post' button, use to post a post.
You can either use a form button or a graphic image for
these functions. To use a graphic image, set the 'ButtonImageOn'
property to 'True'. Each image button has a corresponding
property that you can set to your own image. EZsite Forum
comes with three sets of buttons and will default to a set
of navy blue buttons. To change the image used for a button,
simply set its property to the images' URL.
'----- BY SETTING blnButtonImageOn TO TRUE,
'----- THE FOUR IMAGES WILL BE USED INSTAED OF BUTTONS
ObjForum.ButtonImageOn = True
ObjForum.EditButtonImage = "graphics/ImageEditButton.gif"
ObjForum.PostButtonImage = "graphics/ImagePostButton.gif"
ObjForum.NextButtonImage = "graphics/ImageNextButton.gif"
ObjForum.SubmitButtonImage = "graphics/ImageSubmitButton.gif"
ASCENDING &
DESCENDING THREADS: (click
here to return to top)
Descending Threads
EZsite Forum displays threads in ascending order by default.
This was in unison with the 'discussion forum' style rather
than the 'newsgroup' style. Now you can display threads in
descending order (newer threads at top like newsgroups)
either by selecting this option in the manager or by setting
a parameter in your asp host file.
When selecting a forum in the manager, you can toggle back
and forth between ascending and descending threads by
clicking on the…
Change to Ascending Threads
or
Change to Descending Threads
…at the bottom of the page.
You can override this manager setting by placing the
following code in the host asp file:
<%
Set ObjForum =
Server.CreateObject("EZsiteForum.Forum")
ObjForum.DescendingThreads = true
ObjForum.ShowForum(12)
%>
Limit Number of Threads Displayed
Within the manager you can limit the number of threads that
are displayed, both in the manager display and at the forum
site. This allows EZsite Forum to provide ongoing
discussions without spending time loading threads more
suitable for archive posts. Just select the number of days
from the drop-down list at the bottom of a forum page. Then
click the Change Max Thread Days line to make the change.
You can also set this parameter from the asp host file by
the following code:
<%
Set ObjForum =
Server.CreateObject("EZsiteForum.Forum")
ObjForum.MaxThreadDays = 10
ObjForum.ShowForum(12)
%>
This code would only display threads with postings for the
last 10 days and will override the setting from the manager.
Ending Thread Date
From the host asp file you can set the ending date for
thread display. That is, the threads started later than the
date set here will not display (although a post dated later
within a thread will be included within the thread
displayed). This is provided for those who want to do some
creative asp coding themselves. You won't find this setting
in the manager.
<%
Set ObjForum =
Server.CreateObject("EZsiteForum.Forum")
ObjForum.ThreadEndDate = #10/30/98#
ObjForum.ShowForum(12)
%>
This code will show only those threads that were started
before 10/30/98.
Setting this parameter will also effect the MaxThreadDays
setting, as well as the Change Max Thread Days setting
within the manager (which amount to the same thing). The
maximum days will be referenced from the date in
ThreadEndDate. Since the ThreadEndDate default date is the
current day, not setting ThreadEndDate will cause the
maximun days to be set from the current day.
Starting Thread Date
From the host asp file you can set the starting date for
thread display. By setting this parameter within the asp
host file, only threads with posts starting after this date
will be displayed. This setting is not available from the
manager. Setting this parameter also disengages the
MaxThreadDays parameter set within the asp host and manager.
<%
Set ObjForum =
Server.CreateObject("EZsiteForum.Forum")
ObjForum.ThreadStartDate = #9/30/98#
ObjForum.ShowForum(12)
%>
If this code is combined with the preceding ending thread
date code, you would only display threads from 9/30/98 to
10/30/98.
Display Thread Dates
If you want to display the dates of the thread settings on
your forum, just include the following code:
<%
Set ObjForum =
Server.CreateObject("EZsiteForum.Forum")
ObjForum. DisplayThreadDates = true
ObjForum.ShowForum(12)
%>
This will show the thread date span above the posts.
You can also display the thread date span by writing asp
code within your asp host file. Just make sure you include
it after the ShowForum method call so the dates will be
accurate.
This code will display Posts 9/230/98 to 10/30/98 when it is
added after the ForumShow method.
Posts <% response.write(ObjForum.ThreadStartDate) %>
to <% response.write(ObjForum.ThreadEndDate) %>
Response Submit Parameters
You may want to change the dimensions of the input fields of
the response page where a visitor is submitting a post
response. The following parameters can be set from the host
asp file. Note that the MaxLength fields of the Author and
Title fields can not exceed 25 and 100 respectively.
'----- RESPONSE SUBMIT VARIABLES
'----- These properties control the input
fields on the users
'----- response page. The Author's
MaxLength can't exceed 25
'----- and the Title MaxLength can't
exceed 100.
ObjForum.SubmitAuthorMaxLength = 25
ObjForum.SubmitAuthorSize = 25
ObjForum.SubmitTitleMaxLength = 100
ObjForum.SubmitTitleSize = 50
ObjForum.SubmitResponseCols = 65
ObjForum.SubmitResponseRows = 8
ObjForum.SubmitResponseWrap =
"VIRTUAL"
'================================================
The SubmitAuthorSize and SubmitTitleSize set the length of
the input fields of the Author and Title fields. The
SubmitResponseCols and SubmitResponseRows set the columns
and rows of the response text box.
SPLIT-FRAME FORUMS:
(click here to return to top)
You can now view forums within two different windows, the
posts in one and the threads in another. You'll need three
files to accomplish this, one htm file and two asp files.
The htm file is an HTML frameset file that allows you to
format the two frames. Here is the example file of the
frameset file:
<HTML>
<HEAD><TITLE>EZsite Forum
(Frames)</TITLE></HEAD>
<FRAMESET ROWS="200,*" FRAMEBORDER="1"
BORDER=0 FRAMESPACING="1">
<FRAME src="FrameTop.asp" name="top"
FRAMEBORDER=0 scrolling="AUTO">
<FRAME src="FrameBottom.asp"
name="bottom" FRAMEBORDER="0"
scrolling="AUTO">
</FRAMESET>
<!--********************** NO FRAMES MARKUP
************************-->
<NOFRAMES>
You have a browser that cannot render EZsite Forum frames
</NOFRAMES>
</HTML>
You can adjust the frames in various ways through HTML
properties. It's important to note the two files assigned to
the SRC property, FrameTop.asp and FrameBottom.asp. It's
these two files that will provide the Post frame and the
Thread frame.
Here is an example of the FrameTop.asp file:
<% Response.Buffer = true %>
<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>EZsite
Forum</TITLE></HEAD>
<BODY BACKGROUND="graphics/Back1.gif"
LINK="Navy" VLINK="Gray"><CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=10 BORDER=0
ALIGN="CENTER" WIDTH="90%"><TR><TD>
<%
'INTIALIZE THE FORUM OBJECT
Set ObjForum =
Server.CreateObject("EZsiteForum.Forum")
'ObjForum.DSN = "DSN=DSNforumSQL;UID=dougdean;PASSWORD=pw;"
'---- SET THE POST TO BE DISPLAYED
' AND THE THREADS NOT TO BE DISPLAYED
ObjForum.DisplayPosts = True
ObjForum.DisplayThreads = false
ObjForum.FrameSetURL = "FrameSet.htm"
ObjForum.ShowForum(1)
%>
</TD></TR></TABLE>
</CENTER></BODY></HTML>
Here the default forum of 'forum site' number 1 will be
displayed, e.g. ObjForum.ShowForum(1). Notice that the
DisplayPosts property is set to true in order to allow the
posts to be displayed in this frame. The DisplayThreads is
set to false to disallow the threads to be displayed in this
frame since they will be displayed in the lower frame
instead.
Here is the FrameBottom.asp example file:
<% Response.Buffer = true %>
<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>EZsite
Forum</TITLE></HEAD>
<BODY BACKGROUND="graphics/Back1.gif"
LINK="Navy" VLINK="Gray" ALINK="Fuchsia">
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=10 BORDER=0
ALIGN="CENTER" WIDTH="90%"><TR><TD>
<%
'INTIALIZE THE FORUM OBJECT
Set ObjForum =
Server.CreateObject("EZsiteForum.Forum")
'ObjForum.DSN = "DSN=DSNforumSQL;UID=dougdean;PASSWORD=pw;"
ObjForum.TitleFontBold = false
ObjForum.AspFileTarget = "top"
ObjForum.AspFileURL = "FrameTop.asp"
ObjForum.DisplayPosts = False
ObjForum.DisplayThreads = True
ObjForum.ShowForum(1)
%>
</TD></TR></TABLE>
</CENTER></BODY></HTML>
Here we do the opposite with the DisplayPosts and
DisplayThreads properties for obvious reasons.
Setting two other properties are essential. Set the
AspFileTarget to the name of the other frame, which was
determined in the frameset file. In this example, it's set
to 'top' (not to be confused with the HTML target property
'_top'). This will direct all the threaded links to be
displayed in the top frame.
The other property that needs to be set is AspFileURL. This
also directs the threaded links to be viewed in the top
frame with that particular file -- the one we set to be
loaded in the top frame (also in the frameset file).
That's it, you can now have visitors quickly view posts
without reloading the threads. This is particularly designed
for heavily used forum in which limiting the dates of the
posts are not desirable.
--------
List with Split Frames Forums
To utilize forum lists with split frame forums takes four
files and a few more properties. The file that will display
the lists needs to be a typical forum list asp file (see
forum lists for an example).
In this forum list asp file (ListFrame.asp is the example
file provided) you will set the AspFileURL to the frameset
which will be used, in our example it's ListFrameSet.asp.
Our frameset example file is structured just like the
example one above, but in this case we'll set the SRC
properties to two other files that will support lists. The
SRC properties are set to ListFrameTop.asp and
ListFrameBottom.asp.
The ListFrameTop.asp file has one essential difference from
the FrameTop.asp file example above. Notice the ShowForum
argument:
ObjForum.ShowForum(Session("ForumNumber"))
The Session("ForumNumber")) argument allow the
correct forum picked from the list to be displayed.
The ListFrameBottom.asp file must also have this ShowForum
property to have the same argument. Along with this, it must
also include the following property setting:
ObjForum.DefaultForumOff = true
This sets the forum from the list to be displayed rather
than the default forum site forum.
-------------------------------------------------------
APPENDIX A (click
here to return to top)
Forum attributes are set with object references placed in
your host asp file. Here's a list of properties relating to
the look and feel of the EZsite Forum. Simply place them
between these two lines of code which create and displays a
forum (in this case the administrative forum, number 1).
<%
Set ObjForum = Server.CreateObject("EZsiteForum.Forum")
'===== PLACE ANY OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ATTRIBUTES HERE
====
ObjForum.ShowForum(1)
%>
'=============== ATTRIBUTES ===============
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
' TEXT SETTINGS
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'----- TEXT HEADER FONT SETTINGS
ObjForum.TextTitleFontFace = "Verdana, Arial"
ObjForum.TextTitleFontSize = "2"
ObjForum.TextTitleFontColor = "NAVY"
ObjForum.TextTitleFontBold = True
'----- TEXT AUTHOR FONT ATTRIBUTES -------
ObjForum.TextAuthorFontFace = "Verdana, Arial"
ObjForum.TextAuthorFontSize = "1"
ObjForum.TextAuthorFontColor = "NAVY"
ObjForum.TextAuthorFontBold = true
'-----------------------------------------
'----- TEXT BODY FONT SETTINGS
ObjForum.TextFontFace = "Verdana, Arial"
ObjForum.TextFontSize = "2"
ObjForum.TextFontColor = "NAVY"
ObjForum.TextFontBold = False
'----- TEXT LINK FONT SETTINGS
ObjForum.PostButtonFontFace = "Verdana, Arial"
ObjForum.PostButtonFontSize = "1"
ObjForum.PostButtonFontColor = "NAVY"
ObjForum.PostButtonFontBold = True
'----- TEXT LINK DATE SETTINGS
ObjForum.TextDateOn = True
ObjForum.TextDateFormat = "dddd, d mmm - hh:mm:ss AMPM"
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
' TREE DATA SETTINGS
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'----- ROOT GIF
ObjForum.RootGIF = "graphics/RootGif.gif"
ObjForum.RootGIFOpen = "graphics/RootGifOpen.gif"
ObjForum.RootGifWidth = "12"
ObjForum.RootGifHeight = "10"
'----- TREE GIF's
ObjForum.TreeGIF0 = "graphics/tree16_0.gif"
ObjForum.TreeGIF1 = "graphics/tree16_1.gif"
ObjForum.TreeGIF2 = "graphics/tree16_2.gif"
ObjForum.TreeGIF3 = "graphics/tree16_3.gif"
ObjForum.TreeGIF4 = "graphics/tree16_4.gif"
ObjForum.TreeGIF5 = "graphics/tree16_5.gif"
'----- TREE GIF DIMENSIONS SETTINGS
ObjForum.TreeGifWidth = "12"
ObjForum.TreeGifHeight = "16"
'----- TREE DISPLAY FONT SETTINGS
ObjForum.ChoiceFontFace = "RED"
ObjForum.ChoiceFontBold = True
'----- TREE ROOT FONT SETTINGS
ObjForum.RootTitleFontFace = "Verdana, Arial"
ObjForum.RootTitleFontSize = "2"
ObjForum.RootTitleFontColor = "NAVY"
ObjForum.RootTitleFontBold = false
'----- TREE TITLE FONT SETTINGS
ObjForum.TitleFontFace = "Verdana, Arial"
ObjForum.TitleFontSize = "2"
ObjForum.TitleFontColor = ""
ObjForum.TitleFontBold = false
'----- TREE AUTHOR FONT SETTINGS
ObjForum.AuthorFontFace = "Arial"
ObjForum.AuthorFontSize = "1"
ObjForum.AuthorFontColor = "#646464"
'----- TREE DATE FONT SETTINGS
ObjForum.DateFontFace = "Arial"
ObjForum.DateFontSize = "1"
ObjForum.DateFontColor = "#646464"
'----- TREE DATE SETTINGS
ObjForum.DateOn = True
ObjForum.DateFormat = "ddd, d mmm - hh:mm AMPM"
'----- MAX LENGTH OF LISTED FORM TITLES
'ObjForum.MaxTitleLength = 80
'======= INCREASE SECURITY ON PRIVATE
FORUMS USING SESSION VARIABLES
'objForum.PrivateSecurityOn = true
'*********** FORUM INTERFACE (FOR
INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGES) ***************
'----- BUTTONS
'ObjForum.NextButton = "Next"
'ObjForum.EditButton = "Edit"
'ObjForum.PostButton = "Post"
'-----PAGE CAPTIONS
'ObjForum.ResponseEdit = "RESPONSE
EDIT:"
'ObjForum.RespondTo = "RESPOND
TO:"
'ObjForum.YourName = "YOUR
NAME:"
'ObjForum.ResponseTitle = "RESPONSE
TITLE:"
'ObjForum.ResponseText = "RESPONSE
TEXT:"
'ObjForum.YourResponse = "YOUR
RESPONSE:"
'ObjForum.Respond = "RESPOND"
'============ INVALID ENTRIES ===========
'ObjForum.InvalidName = "You must
enter your name."
'ObjForum.InvalidTitle = "You must
enter a title."
'ObjForum.InvalidResponse = "You
must enter a response."
'ObjForum.BackFromInvalid = "[Press
your browsers back key to continue.]"
'======= PASSWORD PAGE CAPTIONS
'ObjForum.MemberName = "MEMBER
NAME:"
'ObjForum.Password =
"PASSWORD:"
'ObjForum.Submit = "Submit"
'ObjForum.SavePassword = "Save
Password"
'ObjForum.GetRegistered = "Get a
password by completing a registration form"
'objForum.PasswordPageTitle = "EZsite
Forum"
'ObjForum.NameDuplicationNotice =
"x- NAME DUPLICATION -<BR><BR>The name you
entered is already on file,<BR>use the back key to
reenter a different name.<BR><BR>"
'====== REGISTRATION PAGE
'ObjForum.ForumRegistrationTitle =
"FORUM REGISTRATION"
'ObjForum.ReEnterPassword = "REENTER
PASSWORD:"
'ObjForum.Required = "REQUIRED"
'======= INVALID REGISTRATION
'ObjForum.PasswordUnmatched = "Your
passwords do not match."
'ObjForum.PasswordUnderFive = "The
'Password' field must be<BR>at least 5 characters
long."
'ObjForum.MemberNameUnderFive = "The
'Member Name' field must be<BR>at least 5 characters
long."
'ObjForum.RequiredEmpty = "A
required input field is empty."
'======= INVALID PRIVATE PASSWORD AND/OR NAME
'ObjForum.InvalidPrivatePassword =
"Invalid 'Member Name' and/or 'Password'"
'======= MONITORED POST NOTICE
'ObjForum.MonitoredPostNotice =
"Your post will be posted after it is reviewed"
'ObjForum.MonitoredForumTitle =
"MONITORED FORUM"
'ObjForum.MonitoredContinue =
"Continue"
'======= BE THE FIRST TO POST NOTICE
'ObjForum.BeFirstPostNotice =
"<BR>xPress the RESPOND link and be the first to
post a response!<BR><BR>"
'**********************************************************************************
'====== NEW FEATURES 12/1/98
======================
'----- Displays the date spand of the
threads
'ObjForum.DisplayThreadDates = true
'----- Limit the threads displayed to the
last 'n' number of days
' from the ThreadEndDate setting (default
ThreadEndDate is today).
' This setting will override the setting
in the manager
'ObjForum.MaxThreadDays = 10 'only shows
thread of last 10 days
'----- Limit the threads displayed
beginning at the date specified.
' This setting will override the
MaxThreadDays setting in the manager
'ObjForum.ThreadStartDate = #10/21/98#
'----- Limit the threads displayed ending
at the date specified.
' This setting will override the setting
in the manager
'ObjForum.ThreadEndDate = #11/30/98#
'----- This will change the default of
listing the threads in
' ascending order to descending order
' [Descending order lists the newer
threads at the top.]
' This setting will override the setting
in the manager
'ObjForum.DescendingThreads = true
'----- RESPONSE SUBMIT VARIABLES
'----- These properties control the input
fields on the users
'----- response page. The Author's
MaxLength can't exceed 25
'----- and the Title MaxLength can't
exceed 100.
'ObjForum.SubmitAuthorMaxLength = 25
'ObjForum.SubmitAuthorSize = 25
'ObjForum.SubmitTitleMaxLength = 100
'ObjForum.SubmitTitleSize = 50
'ObjForum.SubmitResponseCols = 65
'ObjForum.SubmitResponseRows = 8
'ObjForum.SubmitResponseWrap = "VIRTUAL"
'===================================================
'====== NEW FEATURES 12/18/98
======================
'----- BY SETTING blnButtonImageOn TO
TRUE,
'----- THE FOUR IMAGES WILL BE USED
INSTEAD OF BUTTONS
'ObjForum.ButtonImageOn = true
'ObjForum.EditButtonImage = "graphics/ImageEditButton.gif"
'ObjForum.PostButtonImage = "graphics/ImagePostButton.gif"
'ObjForum.NextButtonImage = "graphics/ImageNextButton.gif"
'ObjForum.SubmitButtonImage = "graphics/ImageSubmitButton.gif"
'===================================================
'====== NEW FEATURES 12/29/98
======================
'----- IF YOU KNOW THE FORUM ID OF A
FORUM, YOU
' CAN CALL IT DIRECTLY, EVEN IF IT'S NOT
THE
' DEFAULT FORUM, BY SETTING
DefaultForumOff
' TO TRUE AND THEN USING THE FORUM ID AS
THE
' ARGUMENT WITHIN THE ShowForum() METHOD.
'ObjForum.DefaultForumOff = true
'------ THIS PROPERTY CAN BE SET TO
PROVIDE SEARCH CAPABILITIES.
' You will need to have two additional
supporting asp files.
' One supporting asp file will host a
FrameSet and the other
' the frame in which the search page is
displayed.
' - See the documentation for specifics.
' - The search option utilizes Session
variables
' - It's best to link to a search forum
with an additional
' query string attached. This will turn
off any remaining
' session variables if the user did not
exit with the
' exit search button.
' Query string to add: ?Search=off
' Example: EZsiteForum.asp?Search=off
ObjForum.ForumSearchOn = true
'==================================================
'====== NEW FEATURE ADDED 2/1/99
==================
'----- Advanced asp programmers may
include their own post author name
' which will replace the text input box
for entering the authors name.
' Escape quote marks if using HREF. Also
increase the MsgAuthor in the
' MsgTable to 255 if using HREF's.
'ObjForum.MsgAuthor = "<A HREF=""http://www.dougdean.com"">authors
name</A>"
'==================================================
'====== NEW FEATURES 2/19/99
======================
'----- This property will keep tags from
being effective within a post.
' A manager may still include working
HTML tags by editing a post
'ObjForum.HTMLtagsOff = true
'----- This property determines the
minimum length for the registered users name
'ObjForum.MinUserNameLength = 5
'==================================================
'====== NEW FEATURES 3/5/99
======================
'----- Set this property to 'left',
'center', or 'right' to align
' the copy right notice at the bottom of
the forum page
'ObjForum.AlignCopyRight =
"left"
'----- If you don't want a visitor to
login with a password and numbers
' name each time they respond to a post
(with the registered and
' private types of forums), then set
ByPassNextLogin to true.
' NOTE: This will create a Session
variable so set it to false
' for public types of forums.
'ObjForum.ByPassNextLogin = true
'----- If you don't want a visitor to
automatically go to the preview
' page after entering a post response,
you can set the ByPassPreview
' property to true. If the
ObjForum.ButtonImageOn property is not set
' to true, then two buttons will be
displayed on the post response
' page. These buttons are 'PREVIEW' and
'POST', allowing the visitor
' a chose whether to preview or not. If
the ObjForum.ButtonImageOn
' property is set to true, no preview
choice will be given.
'
' You can set the caption of the PREVIEW
and POST buttons with the
' PreviewButton and DirectPostButton
properties.
'ObjForum.ByPassPreview = True
'ObjForum.PreviewButton =
"Preview"
'ObjForum.DirectPostButton = " Post
"
'----- The TABLE tags were corrected on
the forum page.
' (extra <TR><TD> and a
<TABLE></TABLE> were removed).
'==================================================
'==================================================
----------------------------
APPENDIX B (click
here to return to top)
----------------------------
NOTE:
Because there is a transition problem from
components compiled in VB5 and VB6, two
dll files are included. Follow the
instructions below and if the EZsiteForum.dll
fails to register, go through the same process
with the EZsiteForumVB6.dll. Contact me if neither
works.
----------------------------
Your initial account name is 'Forum Site'
Your initial password is 'password'
Copyright 1998, Doug Dean Software & Consulting
(formally Vision Software)
[http://www.dougdean.com]
ddean@deltanet.com
SECTION A = Register the EZsiteForum.dll and ODBC
SECTION B = Using EZsite Forum in you web pages
*****************************************************
SECTION A
After unzipping 'EzsiteForum2_0.zip' you will have to do
two things to begin running EZsite Forum. [You must unzip
'EZsiteForum1_0.zip in a directory asp access.]
1) Register 'EZsiteForum.dll' found in the Components
directory.
--------------------------------------------------
Register the EZsiteForum.dll' file found in the
Components directory which was created when
you unzipped the 'EZsiteForum1_0.zip' file.
You can register EZsiteForum.dll with 'regsvr32.exe'
Find the regsvr32.exe [typically in the
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM or C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\inetsrv
directories]
In the Run window type:
[path]/regsvr32.exe [path]/Components/EZsiteForum.dll
--------------------------------------------------
2) Use DSNForum as the DSN for EZsiteForum.mdb found
in the Database directory.
--------------------------------------------------
Run ODBC Data Source Administrator ['32bit ODBC']
found in the Control Panel.
Select the System DSN tab and press 'Add...'
In Data Source Name type DSNForum
Click the 'Select...' button and browse to
the 'Database' directory which was created when
you unzipped Forum. In that directory you can
select the 'EZsiteForum.mdb' file.
--------------------------------------------------
********************************************************
SECTION B
You can load the EZsiteForum.asp, EZsiteForum2.asp, or
EZsiteForum3.asp files in your browser to see demos using
EZsite Forum.
To create your own web page using EZsite Forum, simply
place two lines of asp code in the area you want to
display an EZsite Forum (using EZsite Forum in a Table
is sometimes best).
Here are the two lines of code that will display Forum:
--------------------------------------------------------
<%
Set ObjForum =
Server.CreateObject("EZsiteForum.Forum")
ObjForum.ShowForum(1)
%>
--------------------------------------------------------
See the EZsite Forum 'Documentation.doc' file for operating
instructions.
---------------------------------
APPENDIX C (click
here to return to top)
You can access the EZsite Forum manager by linking to the
ForumManager.asp file provided in the main directory created
when you unzipped the EZsiteForum.zip file. Like any other
asp file, this link must be established through asp and not
by using your browser to merely load in this file. If you
are using pws, you can generally link through asp by using
http://190.0.0.1/ and then the root path of the EZsite Forum
directory.
----------------------------
APPENDIX D (click
here to return to top)
All forum host asp files will need to begin with the
following asp command:
<% Response.Buffer = true %>
This is so redirection back to the original forum can be
successfully accomplished.
----------------------------
APPENDIX E (click
here to return to top)
Upsizing to Microsoft SQL Server.
MS SQL server can be used with EZsite Forum by doing the
following:
1) Create a database named EZsiteForum.
2) Run ISQL_w and log into the server where the database was
created.
3) Change the current database to EZsiteForum.
4) Open up the EZsiteForumSQL.sql found in the /database/
directory (use the File Open Menu).
5) Execute the query (green arrow or select the menu Query
then Execute)
6) Finally create a DSN in ODBC which uses this database. Be
sure to check the checkbox "Change the default database
to" and set the default database to EZsiteForum.
7) Name the Data Source Name DSNforum. If you choose another
DSN name, be sure to set the DSN property in the forum host
asp file and ForumManager.asp.
Here's an example of setting the DSN within a forum host asp
file:
Set ObjForum = Server.CreateObject("EZsiteForum.Forum")
ObjForum.DSN = "DSN=DSNforumName;UID=MyUserID;PASSWORD=MyPassword;"
ObjForum.ShowForum(1)
-----------------------
APPENDIX F (click
here to return to top)
The FrameSet asp Host File Properties
'===== THIS FILE HOSTS THE COMPONENT AND METHOD THAT CREATES
' THE FRAMESET FOR THE SEARCH FEATURE
'
'----- The following properties are those found within the
' FRAMESET and FRAME HTML tags except for three additional
' properties.
'
' The three extra properties are:
' SearchFramePosition = Where the search frame will be
displayed.
' ForumFrameSource = The forum host asp file [forum frame].
' SearchFrameSource = The search host asp file [search
frame].
'
'====> NO OTHER DATA (HTTP TAGS, ETC.) ARE ALLOWED IN
THIS FILE.
'----- FRAME SET
--------------------------
'ObjForum.FrameSetWidth = "215"
'ObjForum.FrameSetSpacing = "0"
'ObjForum.FrameSetBorder = "1"
'ObjForum.FrameSetFrameBorder = "0"
'ObjForum.FrameSetBorderColor = "black"
'-------------------------------------------
'----- FORUM FRAME STTINGS
-----------------
'ObjForum.ForumFrameName = "Forum"
'ObjForum.ForumFrameMarginWidth = "10"
'ObjForum.ForumFrameMarginHeight = "10"
'ObjForum.ForumFrameBorder = "0"
'ObjForum.ForumFrameScrolling = "AUTO"
'ObjForum.ForumFrameReSize = true
'ObjForum.ForumBorderColor = "Black"
'-------------------------------------------
'----- INPUT FRAME SETTINGS
----------------
'ObjForum.SearchFrameName = "Search"
'ObjForum.SearchFrameMarginWidth = "10"
'ObjForum.SearchFrameMarginHeight = "10"
'ObjForum.SearchFrameScrolling = "AUTO"
'ObjForum.SearchFrameBorder = "1"
'ObjForum.SearchFrameReSize = true
'ObjForum.SearchBorderColor = "Black"
'-------------------------------------------
'----- POSTION OF THE SEARCH INPUT FRAME
---
' options are: top, bottom, left, right
'ObjForum.SearchFramePosition =
"left"
'-------------------------------------------
'----- FILE NAMES OF THE FORUM AND SEARCH
INPUT FILES ---
ObjForum.ForumFrameSource = "EZsiteForum.asp"
ObjForum.SearchFrameSource = "SearchInput.asp"
'--------------------------------------------------------
APPENDIX G (click
here to return to top)
The Search-Input asp Host File Properties
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
' DATABASE SETTINGS
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'ObjForum.DSN = "DSN=DSNforumSQL;UID=dougdean;PASSWORD=pw;"
'====================================================
'= SEARCH INPUT PAGE ATTRIBUTES =
'====================================================
ObjForum.MaxSearchReturn = 10
ObjForum.SearchOffButton = "<IMG SRC=""graphics/SearchOffS2.gif""
BORDER=0 align=top>"
ObjForum.SearchButton = "<IMG SRC=""graphics/SearchOnL2.gif""
BORDER=0 ALT=""search"">"
'----- NAV BAR
ObjForum.SearchNavBarFontSize = "1"
ObjForum.SearchNavBarFontColor = "black"
ObjForum.SearchNavBarFontFace = "Arial, Verdana"
ObjForum.SearchNavBarNext = "<IMG SRC=""graphics/SearchNextBlack.gif""
BORDER=0>"
ObjForum.SearchNavBarBack = "<IMG SRC=""graphics/SearchBackBlack.gif""
BORDER=0>"
ObjForum.SearchNavLeftSide = ""
ObjForum.SearchNavRightSide = ""
'----- FORUM LIST RESULTS
ObjForum.SearchNotFound = "Query Not Found"
ObjForum.SearchInputIntroMsg = "« Enter a
query »"
ObjForum.SearchListBullet = "n"
ObjForum.SearchListFontSize = "1"
ObjForum.SearchListFontColor = "navy"
ObjForum.SearchListFontFace = "Verdana, Arial"
ObjForum.SearchListTitleMax = 50
ObjForum.SearchListNoWrap = false
ObjForum.SearchTitleBold = true
'----- FORUM SEARCH SCOPE VALUES
' Forum Default (Searched just the Default
Forum)
' Forum Site
(Searches all the forums within the Forum Site)
' Forum All (Searches all the forums within the database)
' - DEFAULT SETTING IS 'Forum All'
ObjForum.SearchScope = "Forum Site"
ObjForum.MaxSearchReturn = 10
ObjForum.SearchBoxSize = 18
ObjForum.ForumFrameSource = "EZsiteForum.asp"
APPENDIX H (click
here to return to top)
CUSTOM USERID
For advanced asp developers who have their own userID and
password system, you can use your logged on user's names
with the MsgAuthor property. This will place the user's name
as a read only field on the post response page.
Here's an example of the MsgAuthor property:
ObjForum.MsgAuthor = "<A HREF=""http://www.dougdean.com"">user's
name here</A>"
(Notice the double quotes needed to escape the single
quote.)
Typically the 'user's name here' would be supplied by a
Session variable generated by the login system.
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