The M-C-M Simple Family: Frequently Asked QuestionsPart II -
Including Installation, Uploading, Troubleshooting, and Miscellaneous

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



INSTALLATION

For complete installation instructions, feel free to visit: readme.html or http://www.sngchicago.com/products/simple/download/readme.html

What are the system requirements to run M-C-M Simple?
Any machine with Internet access and FTP capability can do the job. Isn't that wonderful?

On which platforms can I run M-C-M Simple?
M-C-M Simple is a truly cross-platform software. That means you can run it on any platform you want (as long as it can read Java - i.e. Netscape 3.0 and MS Internet Explorer for Win95 and, early in '97, IE for 3.1x too) and update it from any platform that recognizes "html forms" (everything since Netscape 1.1).

What are the system requirements for M-C-M Simple?
There aren't too many requirements. We recommend that you have the following to run M-C-M Simple: 8 MB RAM, Internet access via modem (SLIP/PPP), ISDN, or high-speed link.

What are the UP files?
UP files are Simple filenames that begin with the letters UP. This indicates that these are the files to be uploaded to your server.

How can I upload UP files to my Web site?
Using FTP. Or, just send the files via e-mail attachment to your Webmaster and ask him/her to upload them to the right directory. We have prepared a special file with instructors for Webmasters (readwebmaster.html). Note: It's very important that all files will be located on the same directory.

How can I insert The M-C-M Simple Family software into a URL/Web-page?
All you have to do is copy and paste one of the tags to the Web-page where you want Simpson to appear. Choose an M-C-M tag from one of the locations listed below. "Copy" and and "Paste" it onto the Web page where you want the headline to appear. You can find a copy of the tag in several places:

    1. Go to the "tagishere.html" file (located on the directory to which you've extracted the SNG*.zip file - see numbers 3 & 4 above). Open the file from your HTML Author or from your Browser.
    2. The same "tagishere.html" file is also located at on SNG's Web site at http://www.sngchicago.com/products/simple/download/tagishere.html. You can copy the tag directly from the screen.
    3. Below please find two examples of the tag file. You can "copy" one of these tags exactly as it appears below.

TAG EXAMPLES:
1) The first example is called "simpson620one" and it contains :

<APPLET codebase="/simple" 
code="UPsimpson.class" width=620 height=20 align=center >
<PARAM name="CyclesTillRead" value="1">
</APPLET>
Or: 
<APPLET codebase="http://www.snglam.com/simple" 
code="UPsimpson.class" width=620 height=20 align=center >
<PARAM name="CyclesTillRead" value="1">
</APPLET>

This means that the width of your header will be 620 points and that the software will check your server for new messages every cycle (see number 17 for explanation of "cycles").

2) The second example tag file is called "simpson700thousand" and it contains:

<APPLET codebase=/pub/myprogs/
code=UPsimpson.class width=700 height=20>
<PARAM name="CyclesTillRead" value="1000">
</APPLET>

This means that the width of your header will be 700 points and that the software will check your server for new messages every 1,000 (one thousand) cycles.

Okay, I've uploaded everything. Now how do I update the new interactive headers on my Web site?
Simple! Just go to UPdateMessages.html and type in your messages. Then click 'Update It!' and that's it!


UPLOADING

I'm not that familiar with file transfers and programming. What can I do?
Don't worry, just follow the detailed transferring and uploading instructions provided by SNG at readme.html Instructions can also be found at http://www.sngchicago.com/products/simple/download/readme.html

What do I do after I've uploaded all of the UP files to my directory?
1. Ask your Webmaster to update the UPsimpsonIn.pl file (instructions for doing so can be found in readwebmaster.html or at http://www.sngchicago.com/products/simple/download/readwebmaster.html

2. Send us (sngsales@sngchicago.com) an e-mail with your company name, vendor purchased from, purchase order number, and URL directory where your Simpson headline appears (for example, SNG has Simpson on our home page, so we would give the URL http://www.sngchicago.com/index.htm).
3. That's it - you're ready to go to the UPsimpsonIn.pl file and type your messages on the convenient form.

What is FTP?
FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. It is a way to send files from your computer to another computer or to a World Wide Web or intranet server.

What if I don't know how/cannot FTP?
No problem. Send the UP files to your Webmaster via e-mail attachment. Ask him or her to please:




HOW TO USE


Does M-C-M Simple let me update messages from my friend's or colleague's computer, even if it's located in a different office, city, or country?
Yes! That's one of the best things about it. As long as you know where to find the updating file, you can update it from any computer in the world with Internet/intranet access! See http://www7.homecom.com/host1207/simple/play/simpson/UPsimpsonRead.html to see how it works.

Can I use my home/office computer to edit messages off-line?
Yes. You can edit messages using a simple form off-line. After you've edited and updated your messages, just plug into the WWW, go to the path of the form that you usually use to update your headers from (such as update.html) and... do the update.
Then to post it you just get on-line and click on UPDATE IT!.

How can I run the Simple program from my local computer station, without plugging into the net?
Just put all the files (2*.applet etc.) in one directory, and in, for example, Netscape Navigator press < CTRL > + O (As "File | Open") and choose the *.html file...

Will users see my new messages when I update them?
Yes, when you update and post your new messages they will be immediately updated, in real-time. This means that users won't have to do anything (such as click on the UPDATE/REFRESH button of the browser) to see your updated messages. It's easy!

Can I use my Simple software without connecting to the Internet?
You can definitely edit the messages/headlines from the form on your computer. However, you must be on-line, on the WWW, to post your messages. This is because you must update your header files on your server so that other people can see them.

How can I edit Simpson from my Windows-based computer?
Easy! 1) Extract all file into one directory. 2) Run Netscape, and "File | Open" the *.html file.

How can I change the font size of Simpson? What about the alignment?
Well, since Simpson is pretty stubborn, you can't change the font size and alignment. Simpson provides you with standard, ready-made templates to create you headers with. However, for a little bit more money, you can purchase Simpson Plus, which lets you change alignment, colors, font size, header and sub-header size, headline interval, etc. using one of our famous Simple forms. Or, if you really want to get creative, check out Simpleton and try attaching .gif/JPG/BMP images to your headlines.






TROUBLESHOOTING

Will I get any technical support?
Of course. SNG provides 100 days of free tech support via e-mail for those who purchase Simple products. Send your e-mail to: sngmcmtech@sngchicago.com We will answer any questions as quickly as we can. We will also diagnose any problem you are having and give you the answer. Just send us a URL where you have installed the software so we can take a look at your setup.

What is the patch update facility?
Please visit: http://www.sngchicago.com/products/simple/getit.html for updates and patches.

I uploaded the files, as instructed, but the header/messages don't work - no message appears. What should I do?
In Netscape, open the Java console ("Options | Java Console",) and check to see if there is a message that says that the "input file" (e.g. UPsimpsonIn.txt") was not found. If there is, then you need to create such a file. This can be done by going to the html file which has the "Update Messages Form" in it and filling in a message or two and clicking on the "Update It" button. If you do not get the "Saved Messages Successfully" message after having done so, then your problem is probably in the installation of your *.pl file. In this case, please contact your webmasters and instruct them to check it out for you in the server.

When I click on "Update It" nothing happens...

Make sure that the path for UPsimpsonRead.html is correct.

When I click on "Update It", I get a "server error"...

There are several possible problems: 1) Make sure UPsimpsonRead.pl is in 777-permission (your Webmaster should have done this). 2) Make sure that the path from UPsimpsonRead.pl to UPsimpsonIn.txt is correct. 3) Make sure that UPsimpsonRead.pl was uploaded in binary mode.

Simpson worked fine on my site for a week, but then it suddenly stopped working...
There are several possible problems:
1) You have an expired version.
2) Some of the files have been corrupted.
Solutions:
1) Check the "Java console" (in Netscape - "Options | Java console"). You might see a message there that will indicate the problem.
2) If the message says "version expired" - Your time-limited evaluation version of Simple has expired.
3) If the message says "class not found," then some files are missing or were not uploaded well.
4) If the message says "couldn't open file : UPsimpsonIn.txt" - Try to run the "post messages" form and fill in a message or two.
5) Fill the form in http://www.sngchicago.com/products/simple/help.html

I bought your Simple software and after one month - the software has stopped functioning. What to do?
You probably haven't read the readme.html. Please e-mail us your information (Purchase Order #, Vendor purchased from, Company name, URL path where you have installed the software) and we will send you a customized file to make it work permanently.

I've noticed that since installing M-C-M Simple my server registers a dramatic increase in traffic/downloading from my site? If it keeps going on this way, it could end up costing me a lot of money...
Check your updating form. This line asks you after how many cycles you want the messages to be updated. If you have chosen "1", the software will check your server and re-download your headlines after each cycle, i.e. every time the header runs-through all of your headlines. This may be the reason for the increase in the number of 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 program Simple to check for updates after 5, or 100, or 1,000 (or whatever) cycles. This should solve the problem for you.






MISCELLANEOUS

Do you have any general comments about M-C-M Simple? We'd like to hear them. Send us an e-mail to: sngsales@sngchicago.com

How can I keep up with news about M-C-M Simple?
Bookmark our site and visit for frequent updates and developments: http://www.sngchicago.com/products/simple/getit.html


I love your headers. How else can I make my home page look attractive and make it work for me?
The Simple family is strictly devoted to messaging headers and this is SNG's specialty. However, there are a lot of good html editors and software out there. Try http://www.yahoo.com/Computers_and_Internet/Software/Reviews/Individual/Internet/Web_Authoring_Tools/HTML_Editors/




CREDITS

The maintainers of this FAQ are Susan Gordon and Tal Katzir.