The M-C-M Simple Family: Frequently Asked Questions
Part I - Including General Questions, Technical Questions, and Licensing

For updated information about the Simple Family, please visit: http://www.sngchicago.com/products/simple/download/faq.html






GENERAL QUESTIONS - What it does, what is it, what will it do for me?

What is the M-C-M Simple Family?
The M-C-M Simple Family is a family of software (members include Simpson, Simpson Plus, Simpleton, and Sima) for simple designing and posting of messages headers and headlines on Internet and intranet home pages. Visit the Simple Family home page at http://www.sngchicago.com/products/simple

Who needs M-C-M Simple?
Anyone who wants to get the message across on his or her Web site in a compact, attractive, attention getting, efficient, and simple to use way.

How can I try-out one of the Simple family software?
To sign up for a fully-working (but time limited) trial copy of M-C-M Simpson, visit http://www.sngchicago.com/products/simple/getit.html To have fun trying to post a message of your own (without purchasing or downloading a trial copy), visit http://www7.homecom.com/host1207/simple/play/simpson/UPsimpsonRead.html

How can I purchase one of your Simple software?
Good Question! Just visit our Down-Load Store at http://www.sngchicago.com/dlstore or visit one of our Reseller's On-Line Stores (for a full list visit http://www.sngchicago.com/products/simple/wheretobuy.html). JUST DO IT!

Can we use the Simple Family software in our intranet?
Of course. Using one of our Simple software, you can post up to 30 messages for office/company staff from your home or office computer. The best part is that posting messages is easy and user-friendly - any company officer can learn to post messages and have fun doing it.

What are sub-headers and headers?
On M-C-M Simpson, for example, you can type a single word or several word header to announce your message and grab your audience's attention. Then you can add a longer sentence to get your message across. For example, TODAY (Header) Is Tuesday and it's cold outside (sub-header).

How does M-C-M Simpson differ from Simpleton and Sima?
Well...in short: Simpson is the basic - he allows you to create 22 messages with sub-headers and headers and to easily input headlines using a simple form. Simpson Plus allows you complete control over colors, headline intervals, sizes of headers and subheaders, etc. (again, using a simple form), plus up to 30 messages. Simpleton has all the features of Simpson Plus, PLUS, it allows you to attach .gif/JPG/BMG images to your headlines. Sima (the little sister of the Simple family) is designed for Intranets and includes longer messages for in-house messaging.

I received the fully-operational evaluation software and want to convert it to an unlimited (non-time limited) version.
That's great! Just go to the store from which you downloaded the software and you will receive instructions how to purchase the permanent version. You can also make your purchase by visiting http://www.sngchicago.com/products/simple/wheretobuy.html

What do you mean by 'updatable' headers?
By updatable, we mean that users don't need to go to their Web pages and start doing HTML editing and uploading and all that mess every time they want to update a new messages/headline. All they have to do is to connect to the WWW (aren't we all there all the time, anyhow..) and input the new messages into a simple cgi form, click "Update It" and viola! That's it - fast, simple updating. It's much easier this way... To see an example, visit http://www7.homecom.com/host1207/simple/play/simpson/UPsimpsonRead.html

What is the difference between M-C-M Simple and Java-based tickers?
It's a totally different concept. "Tickers" constantly run the same messages and most of their features are created with permanent "parameters." With M-C-M Simple all of this information is implemented in the UPsimpsonIn.txt file, which makes it extremely flexible for the user.






TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

(see Installation and Troubleshooting sections below for additional technical questions)

Do I need to install a special server to use M-C-M Simple?
Absolutely not. The Simple family will work on any server which supports Java and cgi.

Will the Simple family affect the traffic on my site?
Yes, it will definitely bring more hits... One more thing to note: Simple software has been developed to allow you to control how often the software checks your server to see if you have posted new messages. The third line of the updating form asks you after how many cycles you want the messages to be updated. If you choose "1", the software will re-download your headlines after each cycle, i.e. every time the header runs-through all of your headlines. If you choose "1", you may notice that this increases the bytes of traffic on your site. If you would like to limit the traffic, and/or if you only plan to update your headlines once or even several times a day, you can set Simple to check for updates after 5, or 100, or 1,000 (or whatever) cycles.

How can I change the rate at which Simple reads new data/checks for updated headlines?
Easy. There's a param-tag in Simple which you can edit. Just change the "CyclesTillRead" value on the updating form. A cycle means your software runs through all of the messages/headlines you have entered. Each headline is shown for 5 seconds, so that if you have 22 messages and you set the "CyclesTillRead" for 5, your software will check your server approximately every ten minutes (5 seconds * 22 messages = 120 seconds (2 min.); 2 min. * 5 = 10 minutes). That means if a user is plugged into your site for around ten minutes, your software will contact your server to see if there have been any updates and, if there have, will automatically update the messages on the user's screen.

Does M-C-M Simple support Java?
Of course. Our Simple software is written Java! That's why it m-o-v-e-s...

Will the applets in M-C-M Simple secretly send out e-mail, jeopardize my site's security, install viruses on my customer's computers, or connect back to your server and collect data on the people that visit my site?
No, of course not! Those are the kind of rumors that are usually spread by Sun's (the creator of Java programming language and Java applets) competitors... Don't believe the hype! M-C-M Simple's applets do what we say they will do and nothing more.

How can I find out about updates, patches, and new versions of the Simple software?
We are working constantly to improve The Simple Family. SNG has designed a special page on our Web site for this purpose. All updates and new product releases are located at: http://www.sngchicago.com/products/simple/getit.html (you can find a lot of free stuff there too!)

Does SNG have an upgrade policy?
Of course. Currently, all customers receive free upgrades for 6 months after purchase. For changes and updates to SNG's most recent upgrade policy, please visit: http://www.sngchicago.com/products/simple/uppolicy.html

Is M-C-M Simple designed to work specifically with Windows 95?
Yes, it can work with Windows 95, MacIntosh, UNIX, WebTV, etc. In addition, Simple is designed to work directly with the files on your Web site, using any Web browser you choose (Netscape, Explorer, HotJava, etc.).

Is M-C-M Simple a real software, or only an applet?
It is a full software product including cgi forms, etc. Applets include only .class files to be entered into any Web page and interact with your Web server. M-C-M Simple creates a whole environment, including perl-scripts, text files, etc.

What is the current version of each of the M-C-M Family members?
To check for the current version, please visit: http://www.sngchicago.com/products/simple/getit.html

What does the Simpson, Simpleton and/or Sima package include?

    Simple software packages include the following 12 files:

  1. SNG*.zip
  2. UPsimpson.class
  3. UPsimpsonItem.class
  4. UPsimpsonIn.txt
  5. UPsimpsonRead.html
  6. UPsimpsonRead.pl
  7. UPsimpsonIn.pl
  8. readme.html
  9. readwebmaster.html
  10. faq.html
  11. tagishere.html
  12. LICENSE.html

What is the difference between a JavaScript and a Java?

Java is an object-oriented language with classes and inheritance. To create software in the Java language, You write a Java program and compile it into a file of Java bytecodes. There are two types of software that can be written in Java.
a) applications, which are like regular software and include environment, etc.
b) applets, which are, in effect, tiny applications that handles all of their environment themselves. Applets can be easily used within HTML files, as they are totally independent. Applications need the 'environment' around them (i.e. user-interface, etc.).
In an HTML file, you include reference to an applet, and when a Java-enabled browser encounters the applet, the browser downloads the applet and runs it. M-C-M Simple software includes Java applets, among other things...

What's the difference between M-C-M Simple and common JavaScript?
There are several major differences:
a) To write with JavaScript, you have to have expertise writing programming; with M-C-M you don't. JavaScript looks like this:

       <HTML>
       <HEAD>
       <TITLE> Writing text on a document</TITLE>
       </HEAD>
       <BODY>
       <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT">
       <!-- Hiding the code
       document.write("Welcome to Chicago Web Site at
       http://www.sngchicago.com !");
       // done hiding -->
       </SCRIPT>
       </BODY>
       </HTML>

b) A headline created with M-C-M Simple can include subheaders, styling, color choice, alignment, etc. Creating such attractive features (and updating headlines) would be a complicated process using JavaScript and the average user would have no idea how to do this. M-C-M Simple makes creating and updating attractive headers and messages a simple task for anybody.
c) M-C-M Simple headlines can be updated anywhere, at any time, from any computer in the world with Internet access (you can update your headlines for people back home when
you're on vacation visiting your friend in Timbuktu, as long as she has the Web and a computer). d) Most important - M-C-M Simple runs more elegantly - messages are automatically and seamlessly updated on users' screens and do not require Reloading or Refreshing URL page. You don't need to ftp files to have them updated, you just go to your Web site, fill in the form (such as the one at: http://www7.homecom.com/host1207/simple/play/simpson/UPsimpsonRead.html) and post it... So elegant...

How much space will M-C-M Simple take on my server?
In average it will not take more than 20 K (i.e., 0.2 MB).

Why is M-C-M Simple software so 'light' - i.e. why does it contain so few files?
Actually, you can thank Sun, Inc. for that... They're the ones who invented the Java programming language, which is a great environment for developing new applications that are cool, platform independent, and light weight.' Why develop a program that takes up half of your computer's hard drive if we can supply it all to you in 20 K?

Is M-C-M Simple a 16 bit or 32 bit software?
It is a cross-platform software. This means that it will run on ANY platform that has Java capabilities...






LICENSING

What kind of agreements and warnings come with M-C-M Simple?
Read the agreement (LICENSE.html) on your screen (also available at http://www.sngchicago.com/products/simple/download/LICENSE.html). This agreement contains important information about the terms and conditions regarding your use of M-C-M Simple.

Can you tell me how your license agreement works?
When you purchase one of our Simple software you will be able to use it as many times, in as many ways, and on as many web pages as you like. The limitations are as follows: 1. Your license is per domain only. 2. You can upload Simple to one directory only (we don't recommend moving UPsimpsonIn.txt to another directort, as it might slow your site's operation.

Can I make multiple copies of M-C-M Simple?
Yes and No. When you buy a member of the Simple family, you are entitled to make as many copies as you want and place it on as many places on your Web site as you want. However, you can only place one set of headlines on your Simple software. That is, you can copy the same header several times, but the messages will be the same on each copy. If you want to be able to post more than one series of messages at a time, you will need to purchase more Simples. As a valued customer, additional Simples will be available to you at a very low price.






CLICK HERE TO READ FAQ PART II