Creating a Website Connection


The first step in configuring Contribute is to connect to an existing website. However, before you create a connection to the site, the administrator of that site has to send you the proper authentication information. The administrator might send this information in the form of a Website Connection Key sent to you via email, or he might give you the user ID, password, and other appropriate connection information required to set up the connection. Without the Connection Key, you can't publish pages to the site from your workstation.

If the administrator sends a connection key, setting up the site is as simple as double-clicking on the key file. When activated, the key file automatically configures the site settings in your copy of Contribute and you are ready to edit pages. If, however, the administrator chooses to just send configuration information, you have to manually create a connection to the site. Keep in mind that you don't need anything other than your copy of Contribute and the connection information to edit pages. When you have these two elements, you're ready to begin editing and publishing.

If you are the site's administrator, the process of creating a connection is started by choosing Edit, My Connections from the menu bar. In the My Connections dialog box, shown in Figure 31.8, click the Create button to start the wizard.

Figure 31.8. The My Connections dialog box enables you to manage your website connections.


Contribute's Connection Wizard (see Figure 31.9) is a step-by-step guide for entering the appropriate information for connecting to a site. The Connection Wizard's welcome screen reminds you that clicking on a Connection Key accomplishes the same results as stepping through the wizard.

Figure 31.9. Contribute's Connection Wizard steps you through the process of creating a site.


The next step is to input the URL of the root for your website, as shown in Figure 31.10. This enables Contribute to locate the pages of your site and manage new links created via Contribute.

Figure 31.10. Type your site's URL.


The wizard also enables you to select from a variety of connection options (see Figure 31.11). FTP is the most popular option for sites hosted remotely, whereas Local/Network is the usual option for those working in a networked environment.

Figure 31.11. Contribute offers multiple ways to connect to your site.


In the next step, you are asked to enter your name and email address to help Contribute identify which changes were made by you (see Figure 31.12). The username and email address are stored for each site user to ensure that all changes to the site can be tracked.

Figure 31.12. By storing the name and email of each user, Contribute attributes site changes to the appropriate user.


After you enter your name and email, you need to choose the role that you will perform in managing the site. By default, Contribute offers the roles of Administrator, Writer, or Publisher (see Figure 31.13). After the site is created, however, Administrators can create and configure additional roles based on their needs.

Figure 31.13. By default, Contribute offers the roles of Administrator, Writer, and Publisher.


The three default roles offered by Contribute have the following attributes:

  • Administrator Able to create new roles, modify existing roles, add users to the site, and send connection information to those users.

  • Publisher Able to create, edit, and publish pages to the site.

  • Publisher Able to create and edit pages, but does not have the authorization to publish pages.

After you have completed all the necessary information, Contribute enables you to review your entries and either accept them or proceed backward through the steps in the wizard to make any needed adjustments (see Figure 31.14).

Figure 31.14. Contribute summarizes your entries into the wizard for your review.


Upon completion of the wizard, the My Connections dialog box displays the site you created. From the My Connections dialog, you can edit, rename, disable, administer, and even delete connections to sites.



Special Edition Using Macromedia Studio 8
Special Edition Using Macromedia Studio 8
ISBN: 0789733854
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 337

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