CatholicNET Servicesä

Catholic Services NETworkä

Greetings and Welcome to CatholicServices.NET

Information about your CatholicServices.NET Web Site & How to Maintain it.

Your web-centric"csnmail" e-mail box and access.

Maintaining your CatholicServices.NET Web Site.

Trouble Shooting your CatholicServices.NET Web Site.

HTML Programming Language & ".htm" files

Remembering the various addresses:

Logos & Pictures:

Information about your CatholicServices.NET Web Site.

It is located at http://www.cleveland.CatholicServices.NET (for reference purposes, please include your website address each week in your church/school bulletin and list it on your regular correspondence).

You are set up now with the user name and password you gave us (remember words are entered in with all lower case letters). The IC should call us at 216-229-3050 for some training, or if you like, you can try it out on your own after reading over the information contained on this page. If you do make changes on your own, please, try it out with something simple. Just do ONE thing first, change the area code on the phone #, add a name. But, just do one thing first to see how easy it is. You can progress after that at whatever speed you like. Send me e-mail if you have questions.

One item regarding files. When you load up a file that you have saved in the " .txt" format, remember that the computer recognizes "line break" characters, but usually, if you prepare a document in a word process, you prepare it using the "word wrap" feature. So, that after typing a certain length line, the computer word processor automatically moves you to the next line. This means that each is really as long as the monitor will allow for. When you load up a file, if the lines are very long, just go back to the original file (or do it at the initial time of conversion) and hit the "enter" key after the long line(s) to break them up into logical lengths (approx. 80 characters).

Just a little review here. As you start out, you are using the beginning technology - easy and straightforward, driven by templates. We have been trying to balance our presentation to folks between those who have very little or no internet experience (most), and those who have quite a bit of knowledge (few).

You need to understand, that at this point, you don't need to know html programming language, BUT, if you did know this language, you certainly could use it on your page. You load ".txt" (text files with line breaks) in to the template boxes - this requires no "html" programming ability or knowledge, and it looks just fine. Also, you can load "html" files, (saved as ".htm" files) into the template boxes. So, you can use both " .txt" files and " .htm" files in the various boxes on your site page, and you can mix the files by loading " .htm" into some boxes and ".txt" into other boxes. On the template page, notice also that there is a "html" page option, thus allowing you to load up a complete "html" page.

However, when you are ready and if you choose (no obligation at all to do any changing of any sort, but), we can offer you some other options. We have a publisher called Upstart Publishing which will basically bring you more options for your site presentation. While not as comprehensive as "html", items like more photos, an index, bolding, hot links to e-mail locations and other URL's are available with this publisher (these additional publishing capabilities can be seen by viewing the Universe Bulletin website on the www.cleveland.CatholicServices.NET site). We have been concerned as not to scare away folks if the technology gets too complicated, but also to let folks know that we will be ready for them with a little more flexibility down the road. While these features involve learning a few more items, they are also very simple and not anyway as complicated as some of the programming languages.

Additional site pages (one for each classroom/youth ministry etc.) are available if and when you want them. So, when you are ready for "more power", you let us know. Any questions or comments? Let us know.

You will notice that there are ads on CatholicServices.NET. Please pray for our sponsors and, if possible, patronize them or refer others to them. As we have indicated, our network and your services on CatholicServices.NET are supported by these folks. You all know the story, so thanks for your consideration. If you know of companies / professionals who are interested in being an advertising sponsor, please refer them to us. Remember also, that CatholicServices.NET offers each parish, school and agency advertising slots on their pages, the revenue of which is paid directly to your organization by the sponsors/advertisers. We can help you here if you have an interest. Let us know.

William C. Laufer / CatholicServices.NET Services / Cleveland, OH / 216-229-3050

FAX 216-229-4536

e-mail: services@CatholicServices.NET

Your web-centric"csnmail" e-mail box and access.

Introduction: One difficulty all of us have had is keeping in touch. As a result of this need, CatholicServices.NET has assigned all ICs a free "csnmail" e-mail box. Additional free webbased e-mail boxes are available to literally everyone in your organization.

Your WebMessenger e-mail address is:

"yourusername"@csnmail.net

where "your username" is the username that you just gave to CatholicServices.NET to activated your site.

The Location for you to gather your e-mail is:

http://csnmail.net

The "username" and "password" are the ones that were originally set up to make changes on the site. If you need help with this, just give us a call and we can supply this information again.

We hope you will use this new e-mail address to bring others folks to the process to help.

In the beginning it was always envisioned that there would be a main IC and then support ICs. Please consider using this e-mail address for the use of another person who will help with your site.

Additional free WebMessenger e-mail addresses are available for literally everyone who needs one - additional ICs as you add pages to your sites, and associates, staff, deacons, teachers, students, and parishioners. The hope here is that these e-mail address (which are available from any computer, any where & requiring no additional programming setup) will provide the communication backbone that is needed to keep folks up to date. They are great for organizations where many individuals use a lesser number of computers (i.e. School, computer labs, libraries, parish offices etc.)

Include your website address (www.cleveland.CatholicServices.NET) in your church bulletin every week. Include your e-mail address on your web page.

Any questions, please send e-mail, FAX or call. Thanks again for your efforts.

William C. Laufer / CatholicServices.NET Services / Cleveland, OH

216-229-3050 FAX 216-229-4536

e-mail:wcl@csnmail.net / http://www.CatholicServices.NET

Maintaining your CatholicServices.NET Web Site.

Introductory info about your CatholicServices.NET Web Site and access.

The IC from each parish / school /agency is in charge of maintaining, entering and updating information on the web page. Go onto CatholicServices.NET and look at some parishes (e.g. St. Ann in Cleveland Heights) and see the information that is up on their sites.

Before entering the web creation site, gather the information you want to post to the website. (get information that, in most cases has been prepared by others. Ask for copies of the original files, you can save them to ".txt" only with line breaks format then load them on.

On the first session, you might choose to have a general information handy, to include the Parish / School Full Name, address, phone/fax numbers, Pastor/Principal’s name etc. Information like the Mission statement*, Daily Schedule*, School Curriculum*, Special Events Info*, Awards/ Announcement Info* and Admission Policies should be prepared on a disk in a " .txt " format. (use xxx.txt "txt only with line breaks" option.) or an ".htm" format.
NOTE: The FIRST TIME YOU ENTER INFO, JUST MAKE ONE CHANGE For example, enter the Pastor / Principal’s name (put the title after the name). Then follow all the steps to completion. This will allow you to get a little working experience and see how making changes is really easy. Follow the procedure through to completion for one item. After that, other sessions will be much easier.
Subsequent sessions will require only information that needs to be updated. (all information that is not changed remains the same. Remember, though, that if you choose a template that does not provide for the area in which you are entering information, that information WILL REMAIN on your site, but WILL NOT APPEAR because there is no place for it on the template you have selected.

The Location for you to change your web-site is:

START AT: http://www.services.CatholicServices.NET/

Enter your "User Name"
Enter your "Authorization Code"
Click on "Enter Website Creation Area"

ENTER SITE CHOOSE AREA:

Select site to be changed – (usually only one site is available for modification)

PREVIEW WEBSITE – Look over your site to see what information is presently listed.
- Make a note of any info you want to change.

- Print a copy of the Web Site if you like for a working page (not necessary - only occasionally)

- Hit "BACK " button.

SELECT TEMPLATE – Select, from the eight choices, a template which best serves your needs. Enter the name of your template into the bottom left hand box called " Choose Template" - use the arrow button in the box, scroll down to your choice. It you ever run into problem, re-select (the same) template to keep it current

Hit the " ACCEPT TEMPLATE " button.

PREVIEW WEBSITE - If you do not immediately see the correct template you selected, click on the RELOAD button on the top row of ions on your screen. If you like the template, proceed to the next step. Otherwise, just simply re-do this step. Hit the BACK button (upper left control bar)

CUSTOMIZE TEMPLATE - (Changes background color - usually only done on the first session and occasionally afterwards)

Choose a color Choose Background Color box, arrow down and select color,
Hit Accept Color Background.
Preview Site
Click the reload button if you do not see your new background color shown.
Review then hit back button. (Redo if not happy)

UPLOAD SCHOOL / PARISH CONTENT *

Begin to enter your specific parish information following the instructions and blank areas.
Where you see the " Browse Box ", go to your floppy/hard drive and reference a file from disk.
Hit " Upload Website " Content button
Hit " continue " at security screen
Hit Return to Website Creation button & preview the web site for content.
If changes, redo step VIII and reenter new info. Old Info that is not changed will remain on the site.

Note: Use the preformatted option to load up a ".txt" file in the " What You See Is What You Get " form.
Note: School logo files are " .GIF " or " .JPG " files. (You can use a " snappie " computer accessory to access pictures from videotapes – it produces a file, which can be uploaded to your web site.)
Note: ".htm" files can be loaded into any box that takes a ".txt" file. Just load the ".htm" file into the appropriate box, eg. Mission Statement, or Mass Schedule etc.
IF YOU ARE LOADING AN HTML PAGE, load that file into the "box that has General Text in it", so for parish website the box is "PARISH MISSION STATEMENT/GENERAL TEXT FILE".

You are now finished. If happy, hit the PUBLISH WEBSITE button and go to the main page & review it. Remember, nothing goes out to your webpage on the internet until you PUBLISH the page.

Trouble Shooting your CatholicServices.NET Web Site.

Additional notes & tid bits:

The majority of the work is done in the UPLOAD SCHOOL/PARISH CONTENT area.

School / Parish logo files are " .GIF " & " .JPG" files (more styles later)

When uploading a " .txt " file, USE THE PREFORMATTED option to have the " .txt " file appear as you typed it.

USING THE BOLD OPTION WILL ALLOW FOR A MORE FINISHED LOOK to the page contents. If you load a "htm" file you do NOT NEED TO SELECT THE PREFORMATTED option box.

If you do not like the look of an uploaded file, just go back to the " UPLOAD " page, "BROWSE " for the file again, make your changes in the options (Bold text: / Italicized Text etc. AND RELOAD THE FILE.

You can PREVIEW THE WEBSITE as often as you like.

No data will go to the website until you hit the PUBLISH WEBSITE button.

You can and are encouraged to make changes to the Website as often as you like.

There is no limit to the size of files.

You can change templates at any time. If a template does not provide for data you have already loaded up to the site, the data remains in place but will not appear until you choose a template that provides for that type of data field.

Be sure to include your area codes as the phone companies are now requiring these to dial.

HTML PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE & ".htm" files:

Knowledge of this language IS NOT REQUIRED, HOWEVER, if SOMEONE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PARISH KNOWS THIS LANGUAGE, IT CAN BE USED ON THE PAGE(S). E.G. STUDENTS LEARNING THIS LANGUAGE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO GET INVOLVED.

More "Good News"! As some of you are becoming better aware, you can have the best of both worlds - timely information for communication, and "some more pretty" for visual appeal. We have made some modifications to our servers so that now you can load ".htm" files to the various template boxes.

Just to offer a little more clarification to those who might have this interest:

1. You can load " .htm" files on to your site. This is how it works. If you process a file using an "html" prep program (you can even do it in MS Word 97 & after), you can load that ".htm" file in the ".htm" format to your site. We have worked it out that our computers will strip out the headers and the trailers but your file will still retain all the detail to add "visual pretty".

We do not guarantee that this will work complete with every software prep program out there, we simply can not. But, you really have nothing to lose by trying it, if you choose. Prepare the file in any of the "html" prep programs, and load it up to your site. We believe that there will be very few exceptions when it does not work. If your file does not post or you can not read it, it is probably because you are working with an older browser etc. Remember, if you are an experienced "hands on" html programmer, you can code the specific line text in the file, save it out as a ".txt" file.

2. You can still also load ".txt" files to the other template boxes. So, you could load an ".htm" file to the "Mass Schedule" template box, and still load a ".txt" file to the announcements box. Or, you could load ".htm" files to all the template boxes or none of the template boxes. LOTS OF FLEXIBILITY here.

3. If you want to load up a "complete html page", just change the template to the "html" option (see the very bottom of the templates page). Using this template, you can also load up 5 pictures. In your html page file, please refer to the pictures as "image1.gif /jpg", "image2.gif/jpg", etc. If needed, you can upload a complete "html" site. Call us for details.

4. Pictures are loaded up using the "Parish / School logo" file area in the files upload section. Simply use the image name dropdown box to identify which image you are upload.

5. The "html" files which are used for the full html page, are loaded up using the "Parish Mission Statement / General Text" template box in the files upload section.

Please feel free the drop us a note or call if you need help. Also, let us know if you have any questions about other areas. If you have an immediate interest in WebMessenger (free e-mail plus), please let us know.

Remembering the various addresses:

Just a couple of easy ways for remembering things:

The main site is: www.cleveland.CatholicServices.NET.

The change area is www.services.CatholicServices.NET (just change the word Cleveland to services)

Our e-mail address is; services@CatholicServices.NET (just replace the " . " with a " @ " after services)

e-mail URL is http://csnmail.com (for IC to access e-mail messages)

Help: www.CatholicServices.NET/extra/help.htm or see the front page of CatholicNET

e-mail us (usually a little easier) / call us 216-229-3050.

Logos & Pictures:

We will scan and post a logo to your site if you are having trouble or just don't have that capability. If you need ad/sponsor assistance, let us know. or check it out at http://www.cleveland.catholicnet.com/sponsor.htm

Thank you,

CatholicServices.NET