5. Front Page Setup

    5.1 How to use IFRAME tags to create and maintain your Front Page (Easy)
    5.2 How to use Javascript Includes to create and maintain your front page (Easy)
    5.3 Front Page Template Method
    5.4 How to use SSI’s to create and maintain your Front Page
    5.5 How to create your front page manually (Easiest)
    5.6 How to add a search box to your front page

5.1 How to Create Your Front Page

The Front Page can also be referred to as the Index Page of your Directory. There are 5 ways to setup your Front Page. The reason for this is to allow flexibility according to your needs. Listed below are 4 methods you can use to setup the Front Page of your Directory. There is also a tutorial available that uses another method to setup your Front Page. You can find the tutorial here. Note that you will need at least a couple of main categories/directories to set up the Front Page of your Directory. You can find out how to do that here.

5.1 How to use IFRAME tags to create and maintain your Front Page (Easy)

You will want to use this method of creating your front page if you have an existing docs.html page that acts as the front page of your domain. You can also use this method to pull in the front page categories to any existing web page on your web site.

To set up the Front Page of your Directory with this method follow the following instructions:

Step 1:

Go to the PowerSeek Control Panel >> Template Manager Tab >> Click on: Create/Configure Front Page. A popup window will open. Then click on: 1. Setup/Configure Front Page

Step 2:

From the options listed select the IFRAME Tags option and click the Next button.

The next screen will display options that you can change to configure the look and feel of categories that will be displayed on the 'Front Page' of your Directory. Change any options and click the 'Next' button.

Step 3:

You will now be presented with two boxes. The one box contains HTML code that you need to insert into a web page of your web site or the front page of your web site. (The front page of your domain like http://www.yourdomain.com/docs.html for example) - If you don't have an docs.html file then create one with your web editor containing your logo's, menu's, texts, front page greeting, etc. You will place the web page you create here for example: http://www.yourdomain.com/docs.html

Copy and paste the HTML code into the web page that will act as your front page. (http://www.yourdomain.com/docs.html for example) Place the HTML code where you want the main categories of your Directory to display.

The second box contains HTML code for the Search Box of your Search Engine. Also place this inside the web page that will act as your front page. (The front page of your domain called http://www.yourdomain.com/docs.html for example)

From where you got the IFRAME Tag HTML code and Search Box HTML code there is also a help option at the bottom listing the links to the various PowerSeek functions. It will provide you with links to the 'What's New', 'Popular', 'Login', etc. pages. Also create or place these links inside your Front Page. (the front page of your domain called http://www.yourdomain.com/docs.html for example.)

Step 4:

By now you should have an HTML file called docs.html for example and you should have placed the IFRAME HTML code and Search Box HTML code inside it. Now upload it to your web site so that it can be accessed from:
http://www.yourdomain.com/docs.html for example.

Load the file you uploaded (http://www.yourdomain.com/docs.html for example) inside your web browser and you will see the categories of your Directories displayed where you placed the IFRAME Html code. You will also see the Search Box where you placed the search box HTML code.

Notes:

You can always change the Look and Feel of categories listed inside your Front Page by going to the Control Panel >> To Do >> Generate Front Page >> 1. Setup/Configure Front Page >> Choose the 'IFRAME' method

5.2 How to use Javascript Includes to create and maintain your front page (Easy)

You will want to use this method of creating your front page if you have an existing docs.html page (existing static HTML file) that acts as the Front Page of your domain. You can also use this method to display the Front Page categories of your Directory on any other existing web page on your web site.

To set up the Front Page of your Directory with this method follow the following instructions:

Step 1:

Go to the Control Panel >> Click on the Template Manager Tab >> Now click on Create/Configure Front Page. A popup window will open. Now click on 1. Setup/Configure Front Page. After clicking on 1. Setup/Configure Front Page select the Javascript Front Page Categories option on the following screen and click the 'Next' button.

Step 2:

The next screen will display options that you can change to configure the look and feel of categories that will be displayed on the 'Front Page' of your Directory. Change any options and click the 'Next' button.

Step 3:

You will now be presented with two boxes. The one box contains JavaScript code that you need to insert into a web page or the front page of your web site. (The front page of your domain like http://www.yourdomain.com/docs.html for example) - If you don't have an docs.html file then create one with your web editor containing your logo's, menu's, texts, front page greeting, etc. You will place the web page you create here at for example: http://www.yourdomain.com/docs.html

Copy and paste the JavaScript code into the web page that will act as your front page. (http://www.yourdomain.com/docs.html for example) Place the JavaScript code where you want the main categories of your Directory to display.

The second box contains HTML code for the Search Box of your Search Engine. Also place this inside the web page that will act as your front page. (The front page of your domain called http://www.yourdomain.com/docs.html for example)

From where you got the JavaScript code and HTML code, there is also a help option listing links to the various PowerSeek functions. It will provide you with links to the 'What's New', 'Popular', 'Login', etc. pages. Also create or place these links inside your Front Page. (the front page of your domain called http://www.yourdomain.com/docs.html for example.)

Step 4:

By now you should have an HTML file called docs.html for example and you should have placed the JavaScript code and Search Box HTML code inside it. Now upload it to your web site so that it can be accessed from:
http://www.yourdomain.com/docs.html for example.

After you uploaded docs.html go to the Control Panel >> Click on the Template Manager Tab >> Now click on 'Create/Configure Front Page or Index Page' >> A popup window will open. Then click on '2. Generate/Update Front Page'

Load the file you uploaded file (http://www.yourdomain.com/docs.html for example) inside your web browser and you will see the categories of your Directories displayed where you placed the JavaScript code. You will also see the Search Box where you placed the search box HTML code.

Notes:

If you run a 'Static Directory' then the Front Page Categories are automatically updated when you generate or update HTML files. You can find detailed information on running a Static or Dynamic Directory here.

You can always change the Look and Feel of categories listed inside your Front Page by going to the Control Panel >> To Do >> Generate Front Page >> 1. Setup/Configure Front Page >> Choose the 'JavaScript' method

5.3 Front Page Template Method

To set up the Front Page of your Directory with this method follow the following instructions:

Step 1:

First log into the PowerSeek Control Panel and click the 'Templates' tab. Now click on 'Create/Configure Front Page'. A popup window will appear. Then click on: 1. Setup/Configure Front Page. After clicking on 1. Setup/Configure Front Page choose the 'Front Page Template' option and click the 'Next' button.

Step 2:

The next screen will display options that you can change to configure the look and feel of categories that will be displayed on the 'Front Page' of your Directory. Change any options and click the 'Next' button.

Step 3:

You will now see a box with HTML code. This is the HTML code for your Front Page Template. Copy and paste this HTML code into your web editor and customize it to your liking. You will most likely want to add your own Logo's, Buttons, etc. Note that there are words enclosed by %% and !! inside the front page template - These words (also called variables) must be left inside the template as they are replaced by data.

Once you have completed the customization of the page inside your web editor, copy and paste it back into the box and press the 'Save' button to save your front page template.

Step 4:

You will now see a message that the template was saved and a link will also be provided to you where the Front Page of your Directory can be accessed. You will also see a preview of your front page.

Notes:

Note that if you would like the Front Page of your Search Engine & Directory to be the Index page of your Domain. (The page that is loaded first if only your domain name is loaded in a browser) then you will need to use the Javascript or Iframe Tagsor Server Side Includes method to create your front page.

5.4 How to use SSI’s to create and maintain your Front Page

Note that you will need to know how server side includes (SSI) work to be able to use this method of Front Page Creation. SSI will also need to be enabled with your web server or web hosting. Most Linux based hosts will have the option of using SSI.

You will want to use this method of creating your front page if you have an existing docs.html page that acts as the front page of your domain. You can also use this method to pull in the front page categories to any existing web page on your web site.

To set up the Front Page of your Directory with this method follow the following instructions:

Step 1:

Go to the PowerSeek Control Panel >> Click the Template Manager tab >> Click on: Create/Configure Front Page >> A popup window will open. Then click on 1. Setup/Configure Front Page.

Step 2:

Now select the Server Side Includes option and click the 'Next' button. The following screen will display options that you can change to configure the look and feel of categories that will be displayed on the 'Front Page'. Change any options and click the 'Next' button.

Step 3:

You will now be presented with two boxes. The one box contains an Include Tag that you need to insert into a web page or the front page of your web site. (The front page of your domain like http://www.yourdomain.com/docs.html for example) - If you don't have an docs.html file then create one with your web editor containing your logo's, menu's, texts, front page greeting, etc. You will place the web page you create here for example: http://www.yourdomain.com/docs.html

Copy and paste the Include Tag into the web page that will act as your front page. (http://www.yourdomain.com/docs.html for example) Place the Include Tag where you want the main categories of your Directory to display.

The second box contains HTML code for the Search Box of your Search Engine. Also place this inside the web page that will act as your front page. (The front page of your domain called http://www.yourdomain.com/docs.html for example)

From where you got the Include Tag and HTML code for the search box, there is also a help option listing the links to the various PowerSeek functions. It will provide you with links to the 'What's New', 'Popular', 'Login', etc. pages. Also create or place these links inside your Front Page. (the front page of your domain called http://www.yourdomain.com/docs.html for example.)

Step 4:

By now you should have an HTML file called docs.html for example and you should have placed the Include Tag and Search Box HTML code inside it. Now upload it to your web site so that it can be accessed from:
http://www.yourdomain.com/docs.html for example.

After you uploaded docs.html go to the Control Panel >> Click on the Template Manager Tab >> Now click on 'Create/Configure Front Page or Index Page' >> A popup window will open. Then click on '2. Generate/Update Front Page'

Load the file you uploaded (http://www.yourdomain.com/docs.html for example) inside your web browser and you will see the categories of your Directories displayed where you placed the Include Tag code. You will also see the Search Box where you placed the Search Box HTML code.

Notes:

If you run a 'Static Directory' then the Front Page Categories are automatically updated when you generate or update HTML files. You can find detailed information on running a Static or Dynamic Directory here.

You can always change the Look and Feel of categories listed inside your Front Page by going to the Control Panel >> To Do >> Generate Front Page >> 1. Setup/Configure Front Page >> Choose the 'SSI' method

5.5 How to create your front page manually (Easiest)

This is probably the easiest way of creating the front page of your directory but involves the most work. To manually create your front page, do the following:

Go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> Create/Configure Front Page

Click on 1. Setup/Configure Front Page

Now select the Manual Front Page Creation option.

The next screen will display options that you can change to configure the look and feel of categories that will be displayed on the 'Front Page'. Change any options and click the 'Next' button.

Copy and paste the HTML code provided to you to an existing web page that will act as the Front Page of your Search Engine & Directory. (The front page of your domain called docs.html for example)

5.6 How to add a search box to your front page

Go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> Create/Configure Front Page

Now click on: 4. Obtain Search Box HTML Code

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