Here is a complete outline of the entire course as it is currently planned (contents approximate):

Transcription

1 Getting Started With The CHT Web Group Server A User s Guide

2 INSTALLATION Installing this CHT Web Group Server software is your first step into the future of desktop web serving. Although the Web Group Server is a very sophisticated software tool, it ships with a default built-in Web Group script-set that can be easily personalized, making the task of getting your Web Group Server running pretty straightforward. This server comes with many advanced features such as a script editor for developing HTML pages, JavaScript Subroutines, text or HTML scripts and Cascading Style Sheets. It has a bulk engine and much more. Aside from your XP or Win2K operating system and a high-speed DSL or cable internet connection, you don t need a single other thing to set up this Web Group Server and begin serving interactive web pages to the Internet. Example sites built with this server can be viewed at these URLs: The following minimal instructions allow you to customize for personal use, the default Web Group Scripts that are included with this server. They should meet the needs of most beginning users. Once armed with information about advanced features, you will have the ability to completely alter the look and feel and flow of your Web Group pages. However, this is not the time to make those changes. To become fully conversant with CHT Server Technology including building and scripting your own desktop servers you are encouraged to take the CHT Server Builder s Course. This is a fifteen-lesson course offered free to all current CHT subscribers offering the following curriculum: Here is a complete outline of the entire course as it is currently planned (contents approximate): 1. CHT Server Script Concepts Lesson 1 - CHT Browser Server Review Of Generations 1 and 2 2. CHT Server Script Concepts Lesson 2 - Dynamic Web Pages And JavaScript Data Objects 3. CHT Server Script Concepts Lesson 3 - Anatomy Of a Browser Server Web Page 4. CHT Server Script Concepts Lesson 4 - Browse And Data Form Scripts Using Data Objects 5. CHT Server Script Concepts Lesson 5 - HTML Forms Theory 6. CHT Server Building Concepts - Lesson 1 - Building A Static Page Server 7. CHT Server Building Concepts - Lesson 2 - Building A Static Page Server 8. CHT Server Building Concepts - Lesson 3 - Building A Dynamic Page Server 9. CHT Server Building Concepts - Lesson 4 - Building A Dynamic Page Server 10. CHT Server Building Concepts - Lesson 5 - Building A Dynamic Page Server 11. CHT Server Building Concepts - Lesson 6 - Building A Dynamic Page Server 12. CHT Server Building Concepts - Lesson 7 - Building A Web Server And Client For Live-Update 13. CHT Server Building Concepts - Lesson 8 - Building A Web Server And Client For Live-Update 14. CHT Server Building Concepts - Lesson 9 - Building A Web Server And Client For Live-Update 15. CHT Course Wrap up Plus Show And Tell Other topics being considered beyond these, for the latter part of 2004 and on into These lessons will require Lessons 1-15 to be successfully completed. * Building a CHT Internet Client Server + Clarion Client Application (4-5 lessons) * Building a NNTP Newsgroup Server For Use With OE Newsgroup Feature (2-3 lessons) * Building a TCP/IP chat server and client (2-3 lessons) * Building a secure message delivery server (outside the standard system) (4-5 lessons) * Building a secure SOAP server (3-4 lessons) To sign up for the CHT server building course please supply your name, address and subscriber number via supprt@cwhandy.com

3 The easiest way to get familiar with your CHT Web Group Server is by using it right out of the box. Follow the steps outlined below to install, set up and run your Web Group within 30 minutes or less. Even for those of you who may be HTML and Java Script pros, we recommend that you follow these first steps. Once you're up and running you may choose to leave your Web Group as-is or investigate the advanced customization capabilities via the CHT Server Builder s Course. Let's get started. Overview The following steps are required to get your CHT Web Group Server up and running: Install the application (Use your CHT subscriber password not your serial number) Edit the Server Variables to personalize your Web Group. Select your external IP address and click on the Start Server button. By carefully following these steps you can be broadcasting interactive web pages to the world in the next 30 minutes! Step 1: Installation During the CHT Web Group Server download you have a choice of saving the file to disk or opening it. If you choose to save it, you can run the installation routine at any time in the future by double clicking the saved file. The installation begins by running the set-up program. Simply follow the onscreen prompts throughout the installation process. The End User License Agreement is displayed prior to the installation of the server files. Be sure to read the contents of the EULA before proceeding. A new directory is created on your computer c:\program files\hndtools\. Accept this location by clicking on the Next button. Approximately 2 MB of disk space is required for the installation. Minimal additional space is needed as you add members and content to your Web Group. Once the files are installed click the Finish button to exit the set-up program. Step 2: Personalize Your CHT Web Group Server If you are familiar with Microsoft Windows you shouldn't have any trouble navigating the CHT Web Group Server. Like many products designed for use with Microsoft Windows the server application lets you use hotkeys and a number of enabled mouse and keyboard keystrokes. (Note this server requires one of the newer operating systems - Windows XP or Windows 2000). To begin personalization, click on your Windows* Start button, select The CHT Web Group Server and select Start Web Group Server. When you do this, the server splash screen appears. Review the text on the splash screen and when finished click anywhere on the splash screen and the Server console appears. All server administrative tasks are performed from this console. Personalization of your server is handled by editing the server variables. To access the server variables editor, click on the Config menu item at the top of the console. This presents you with a drop down menu. Click Server Variables. Although there are over 100 server variables, you only need to be concerned with a very short list to launch your personalized Web Group. To get a short list of key server variables, click on Delimit (located at the top of the window) followed by a click on the Jump Start Variables menu. Note that the variables are arranged by Type, Location and Value in the table row headings.

4 Personalize: System Server Name To begin, select System Server Name, as described under the Location column. Double click System Server Name. This opens the Change Server Variable window. The Value edit box contains default shipping version text The CHT Web Class Server. This is the title that appears within your server pages. Change this title to the name of your Web Group, for example: My Web Group. Click the Save Changes button. This closes the window and brings you back to the server variables browse page. Note that your changes are reflected under the Value column of the server variables for System Server Name. Personalize: System Server Administrator Edit this to suit the name you wish to use for your Web Group administrator. Personalize: System Server Name Enter a name you will give your server. This name appears in the server window title as well as in a tool tip that pops up when your server is minimized and the mouse cursor travels over it's toolbar icon. That will help you distinguish the purpose of any given server from another, since it is possible to run multiple servers on the same hardware. Personalize: System Server Company Enter the "official" name of your Web Group as it should appear in the title bar of your web pages. This could be the same name that you use in System Server Name. Personalize: System Server Provide an address where your Web Group members can reach you for support. Personalize: Server URL The Server URL is used by some of the scripts to insert your web address as a link into documents such as s and server menus. It does not affect the outward connectivity of your server. Connectivity is handled via the Server console. If you already have a URL for your Web Group, insert it here, for example: If you are using a port other than port 80, remember to include it in your URL unless you re also using a DNS forwarding service that allows you to map URLs to ports on your server machine. Individuals with dynamic IP should look into using a dynamic IP monitor tool such as Dynsite for Windows available here: in combination with a DNS service such as EasyDns available here: With dynamic DNS service you're able to tell the internet DNS servers what your current IP address is so that web users can always type your URL ( instead of having to know your IP (which changes frequently). On the other hand, if you don't yet have a Server URL to complete this server variable, enter the letters IP:PORT. This triggers the server console menu Config => Update Server Url With IP:Port to become checked and instructs the server to update the Server Url variable automatically from the server console with your current IP and Port any time your IP changes. As long as this console menu item is checked, the server's current external IP and Port from the server console are placed automatically in the Server URL variable. Once you obtain a proper URL to identify your website, come back to the Server URL variable and enter it. Doing this un-checks the Update Server Url With IP:Port menu on the server console and leaves your valid URL intact.

5 Personalize: Contact Link This is the link to your support address. Edit the default entry being careful to replace only the address portion. Leave as-is the text that precedes the address, MAIL TO: and the text following the address,?subject=webgroup%20support. Personalize: Mail SMTP Server Please configure SMTP settings from the configuration menu item Config -> Edit SMTP Mail Setup available from the main server interface. This is not a server variable item. Personalize: Mail From Address This is your return address. Replace the default entry with your own address, for example: jane@mywebroup.com. Personalize: Mail Message Subject This is the default Subject line of s sent from the server. Edit it to suit the name of your server, From My Web Group Server, for example. Personalize: System IP Check Interval Leave this set to 30 for the time being. That's it. You're ready to go. Although there are lots of other settings that will further customize the design and flow of your server pages, these will be dealt with in greater detail as your CHT Server Builder s Course proceeds. The initial objective is to get the server up and running, with these minimal customizations. Step 3: Start Up Before clicking the Start Server button you need to click the dropdown IP selector under the heading Server IP: located toward the top left-hand side of the Server console. Select your internet IP from the dropdown list presented, not your network card IP. If you are using a router, click Config -> Redirect Via Router. Then select the internet IP that your router has assigned to your computer in the dropdown field, Server IP. In the field named "Server IP Or Router (External) IP insert the IP that your ISP has assigned. This is the internet IP that points to the internet side of your router. A schematic on the last page of this document explains this concept further. A message appears in the console log: Acknowledge server listening ( In addition, a link appears near the bottom of the console window: Click to test: Clicking this link launches your Web Group in your internet browser. Have fun! Cheers Gus M. Creces The Clarion Handy Tools Page support@cwhandy.com

6 Configuration For A Router-Based Internet Connection This schematic should help you understand configuration settings when your internet connection comes via router.