First things first!

Log in if you haven't already. Otherwise you will be bounced out of the preference pages!

It's probably a good idea to print this page, or save it to disk, so that you can refer to it later. Not to worry if you don't. On the Editors Only menu is a help link that takes you to the Manila Newbies site, where every possible question has been asked and where there are enough HowTos and tips to keep you happy for a long, long time. This link will always be there.

Logging in

If you're concerned about security, perhaps you use a shared computer or log in through a surf cafe, you may want to set the preferences for cookies such that you'll need to log in each session. (Editors only ==> Prefs ==> Membership ==> Cookies:.) You may also want to log out at the end of your session, just to be extra safe. (Editors only ==> logoff.) Remember, you can make your site entirely private (Editors only ==> Prefs ==> Editorial ==> Site Access:.)

Your logging in page is at /members/login There's usually a link to it within your theme unless you close your site to new members, they'll not see this link. (Editors only ==> Prefs ==> Membership)

Adding, editing, deleting and storing

Add a story via the Editors only: ==> Stories. Add a picture via Editors only: ==> Pictures. Add a message via the discussion group.

Edit your story with the edit this page button, same with messages and pictures. So if you want to change a picture just upload a new one over the top of it - remember to reload your page to see the change.

Delete a story, message or picture via Editors only: ==> Admin or at the foot of each message/story/picture/thumbnail is an Admin box (if you're logged in as an editor)

The other most useful radio button is the path setting: allowing you to put a message into your structure. You can then edit this structure by editing it directly at Editors only ==> Prefs ==> Advanced ==> Site Structure.

Discussion group and messages

Your discussion group is set to view the last 50 messages. You can change it if your number of messages per day is high to flip over every day. Editors only: ==> Prefs ==> Appearance

In Editors only: ==> Prefs ==> Discussion Group you can change the behaviour of the discussion group and even allow or disallow pictures or news items from appearing in the discussion group. And, you can create your own discussion group theme, if you know some HTML.

News items and different types of front page

Your front page is set up as a news items type weblog. You can check out the different types of sites you can make. But definitely whether you run a business or whatever your hobby or other reason for having a website you should try and update your site everyday... Yes, this is going to be difficult initially, but once you see a few people checking into your site everyday you will become addicted and, so will your visitors.

By default your site is set up with 7 days visible on the front page. You will only see your first date... you need to add seven days worth before you will see seven days. Your content on this front weblog page is the content that is syndicated and available in different formats (see below).

Other people can add content to your front page, either ordinary members or contributing editors and these can be placed into a staging area before approval to the front page. It is a powerful way of building and holding a community, perfect for a widely dispersed task orientated group. By default members can create news items, and only editors can promote them up to the front page. These settings can be changed at Editors only ==> Prefs ==> News Items ==> Editorial access.

The older type of front page is known as vanilla Manila, where one message is one day's front page, flipping the page will create a new message (home page) for that day. By switching off news items you'll default back to this type of Manila site.

Comments and trackbacks work transparently. But to ensure you do trackback to someone's post on another site you'll need to copy the the actual permalink for that one news item. By using this permalink within the body of your news item, the trackback will work correctly. If in doubt, or you need to trackback without declaring (using) the permalink in the body of your post, use the ping box below the main news item edit field.

To delete a news item from the front page, do via the discussion group to that news item, where, at the foot of the news item you'll see an admin box where you can delete the item.

You can also email-to-blog with news items. Best to have a separate email account for this. See Editors only ==> Prefs ==> Mail-to-Weblog. Now it's so easy to blog, it can be too easy, so use a fresh email account, not one already receiving spam. There are security settings to ensure only what you want gets to the front page.

Modifying the language

Time zones and languages set in Editors only: ==> Prefs ==>Appearance. So if you want to run a site entirely in French, German, Danish, Dutch, Italian you can. All error messages, help text - everything is prebuilt.

Changing the themes

To initially get this site you must have picked a theme. Now what if you want to change it? Well, you can, either completely or slight modifications. If you change it completely, the effects are global. One day you have a red site, the next a blue one! Instantly changing many things in your site. Ah! But there's the rub. If you modify something in your template, that is editing the HTML in Editors only ==> Prefs ==> Advanced ==> Home Page Template and Template and change your theme your changes will be wiped - for all time. No undo. You will get a warning page, but after that whooomp.

So what gets changed? Mainly and crucially your Home Page Template and the Template for all the other pages, as well as:

• calendarTemplates
• cascadingStyleSheet
• javaScript
• membersBoxTemplates
• navigation formats
• newsDayTemplate
• newsItemsTemplate

But don't let this stop you changing anything. Just if you do edit the HTML in your templates and want to change to a different theme copy them out to your local hard disk, change themes and then re-modify your templates using your stored templates for reference.

Want to make your own theme? Do it! The best way is to start a new plain site, customise it how you want and make it available for a web master (this is usually us but not necessarily) to down load.

Membership and what to make private

Currently, this site is set to be entirely open. That is, the discussion group is open to members and they can post and the membership list is also open to all comers. You can, as you would expect close these, if you need.

There are four classes of visitors to your site:

• non-members - people who haven't joined
• members - people who have, and can post messages (if allowed). You can add, block and unblock members Editors only: ==> Admin. And send them with a special message set at Editors only: ==> Prefs ==> Confirmation.
• contributing editors - those you've added by hand, who can add news items, stories, pictures, messages
• managing editors - you, as the person who started this site is the first M.E. but you can add others. M.E.s are gods and can do anything.

To close the membership list to only members, to alter the time-out period for custody of pages or to close the site down to editors only use Editors only: ==> Prefs ==> Editorial.

Notification of new and modified pages and messages

You can set these preferences so that you are notified via email if a message, picture or story is added to your site. Editors only: ==> Prefs ==> Editorial. The same can be set for news items Editors only ==> Prefs ==> News items.

This is handy. It means you don't need to go to your site to see if a new message or whatever has been posted. You'll be notified by email. Tip: create a mail action in your email application which recognises such emails and puts them into a folder.

Syndication, aggregation and promotion of your site

Your site, by default produces RSS feeds, for the front page, and for each news department. It also creates a feed for your discussion group. You can switch them off if you like at Editors only ==> Prefs ==> Syndication.

There is usually a red/orange RSS icon at the foot of your site which links to the RSS xml feed for the home page or if you're on a department page or the discussion group's feed.

There is also some links in the head section of these pages for those applications that are clever enough to use them.

The aggregator subscribes to such feeds from other weblogs and news organisations and blogosphere searches. By default your site is subscribed to search feeds for Shropshire and Wrekin. It'll be a good idea to go to these services: BlogDigger pubSub And create your own searches, for your name, or your company name or the topic you're interested in listening to from the blogosphere.

When you visit another weblog that interests you, subscribe to that feed. We know of some who use their aggregator to listen to 2,000 such feeds.

The list of feeds that the machine is subscribed to is shown at Editors only ==> Prefs ==> Subscriptions. Add more or pick from the current set.

You can also post to your front page directly from the aggregator by hitting the post icon (as long as you're logged in as an editor).

We automatically ping several search services when you publish an item. Thus, they know you've updated your front page immediately. Should someone else be subscribed to your feed or is searching, they'll then see your news item within the hour.

Help, mailing lists, newbie sites and communities

As befitting such a venerable system, there are many, many help documents. Probably the best place is to start searching is through Google. Add the words Manila + UserLand and the topic your trying to find out about.

There's the Manila Newbies site which hold just about everything. In there you'll find the Quick Start Guide which is in the huge User's Guide and Reference. Also of use is the macros site, these are additional bits of simple code that can add huge functionality to your site or pages. Also, the Tip Sheet. Not forgetting the useful FAQs.

Of course all sites can call me on 01952 271 671, or email.