Villascape Media - Users Manual (Users Manual). Brought to you by Villascape Media.

Table of Context

General Overview
Tutorials
Display Manager
General Configuration
Webpage Manager

Custom Pages
Forms
Document Library
Wrapper
Surveys
Photo Gallery
Maps

Modules Manager

Menus
Weather
Polls
Google_Analytics

Users Manager
Upload Images
Upgrades
Other Topics.

General Overview

This web application will allow you to quickly create your own website for your home association.

Your website consists of a frontend which your users will access, and a backend administrator section which will allow you to configure the frontend.

The website is made up of one or more Webpages. Based on the type of webpage you select, it could consist of a single custom webpage which you created using the backend, or a group of related webpages such as a Contact Us form and associated acknowledgement webpage. Each webpage can have one or more Modules added to it. Modules consist of a menu, weather display, logon, etc. Both webpages and modules can either be available to all visitors, or available to only select Users. While many of the webpages and modules are available to you at no cost, others are only available through a monthly subscription described under Upgrades.

The look and feel of your site can be modified under Display Manager and general information regarding your site can be changed under General Configuration

Display Manager

This section allows you to configure how you want your site to look. Note that it doesn't effect what content will be included on your site as this is done through the Webpages Manager and Module Manager.

Your choices of Themes, Headers, and Favicons are limited to those that are available for no cost as well as those you have purchased a subscription for. Changing your site's theme will have the most impact on your site.

Changing your Color Palette, Vertical Menu, Horizontal Menu, and Screen Width will modify how a given theme will look. Your choices of each of these will be based on which theme you have selected.

General Configuration

The General Configuration Manager allows you to make general changes.

The Header Title and Tagline will be displayed on the header of each webpage. These should be left blank should you have a graphics banner which includes this information.

You can change your homepage under this section, however, your homepage must be available to all visitors. If you don't want all visitors to see the information on your homepage, create a blank homepage directing visitors to logon, and move the sensitive information to a protected webpage.

Please ensure that information about your organization is correct as this will affect some features of the site such as local weather.

Quick tips should be selected should you wish to display help tips on most of the Administrator backend.

If you wish to temporarily disable your site for maintenance purposes, check Temporarily disable site for maintenance.

Caution should be taken if you change your subdomain name as this will disrupt all links from external sites that point to this name as well as an should you have your own individual domain name which points to this subdomain name. Should you change your domain name, an email will be sent to any administrators (including yourself) that belong to this site

Webpage Manager

The Webpages are the main portion of each page on your site. Based on the webpage type you select, it could consist of a single custom webpage which you created using the backend, or a group of related webpages such as a Contact Us form and associated acknowledgement webpage.

The first page on the Webpage Manager displays all webpages currently installed on your site. You may check one or more webpages and delete them, however, you cannot delete your sites homepage. If you wish to delete the homepage, change your homepage to a new webpage user General Configuration and delete the previous homepage. To edit an existing webpages, click the name of the desired webpages. To add a new webpages, simply click New and select the webpages you want. If you desire a webpages which isn't available, visit Upgrades.

Upon editing or adding a webpage, you will be directed to the Webpage Manager Configuration screen. When configurating a given webpage, the Webpage Manager is divided into two sections. The first section is common to every webpage, and the second section is specific for the given webpage.

Use the top portion to specify the webpage name, and whether you want the name to be displayed on each webpage. Note that you cannot change the webpage type, and you must delete the webpage and reinstall it with the correct webpage type should you wish to do so. Select an access level for the webpage to restrict access to only authorized users (See Users Manager for additional information). You may also select which modules you wish to display on this webpage, and whether you wish this webpage to be included on any menus, however, more detailed configuration is possible using the Modules Manager and Menus.

While many webpages are available at no cost, some require a subscription. Should the subscription for a webpage installed on your site elapse, the frontend of your site will indicate that the subscription is no longer current and that is should either be reinstated or removed.

The lower portion of the Configuration screen is used to configure unique portions of each webpage, and each is described below:

Custom Pages - Create a custom webpage to display your own unique content on your site. Add and format the information you want displayed on this page. Tables are a usefully technique to control the layout of the content. Add graphics using the graphic button. Note that all graphics should be located on this site using Upload Images to ensure that links are not broken. If you have HTML experience, you may edit the code directly using the HTML button. Occasionally, you should use the cleanup key to automatically remove any redundant HTML code.
Forms Pages - Forms allow your visitors to electronically submit information to you or your associates. Select the type of form that you want, and who you want it to be emailed to. If you want to send the form to more than one individual, separate the emails by commas. If you want a form which isn't available, you may be able to subscribe to it under Upgrades, and can also have us custom develop it for you.
Document Library - The Document Library allows you to store documents on your website which will only be accessible by authorized users. You can create as many Document Library's as you wish, however, you may be limited by your memory usage, and should consider upgrading your memory if necessary. Give a name for the file. If this is blank, the filename will be displayed. Use the "Add" button to upload a new file from your hard drive. Note that only txt, pdf, xls, doc, GIF, JPG, and PNG files are allowed. Files will not be saved or deleted until the above Save button is pressed
Wrapper - Wrappers are simply another website inside your website. Just input the full URL you wish to wrap into this page.
Surveys - This webpage type will allow you to add surveys on your site. This page uses the Poll Daddy platform, and if you do not currently have a Poll Daddy account, sign up for a free one at http://www.polldaddy.com/. Then add your Poll Daddy code in the applicable field. Within the PollDaddy site, you can customize the look of your poll. Logon to http://www.polldaddy.com/ to view your survey results.
Photo Gallery - This webpage type will allow you to add pictures on your site. Typically, you will want to create a specific directory in which to upload your photos using the Upload Images manager. Select the directory under this page and include any optional text to be displayed. The default menu setting under the Modules Manager is a new popup window, however, this can be un-selected if desired.
Maps - This webpage type will allow a map to your site by selecting an address.

Modules Manager

While the Webpage Manager adds the main content to each page, modules are used to add additional content and features.

The first page on the Modules Manager displays all modules currently installed on your site. You may check one or more module and delete them. To edit an existing module, click the name of the desired module. To add a new module, simply click New and select the module you want. If you desire a module which isn't available, visit Upgrades.

As discussed below, a module must be placed in a single module position, and the module positions available to the module are based on the particular module. It is, however, possible to put more than one module in a given module position. If you wish to change the order of modules in a single module position, click the Positions button and then select the Module Position you wish to change the modules' order in. Next, use the left mouse key to drag and drop a given module to change its order. Be sure to click Save if you want to keep the changes.

Upon editing or adding a module, you will be directed to the Module Configuration screen. When configurating a given module, the module manager is divided into two sections. The first section is common to every module, and the second section is specific for the given module.

Use the top portion to specify the module name, and whether you want the name to be displayed above the module. Note that you cannot change the module type, and you must delete the module and reinstall it with the correct module type should you wish to do so. Based on the type of module, it can only be placed in certain module positions on the screen, and you must select your desired position. Next, select an access level for the module to restrict access to only authorized users (See Users Manager for additional information). You may also select which of your webpages you wish this module to be displayed on.

While many modules are available at no cost, some require a subscription. Should the subscription for an module installed on your site elapse, the frontend of your site will indicate that the subscription is no longer current and that is should either be reinstated or removed.

The lower portion of the Configuration screen is used to configure unique portions of each module, and each is described below:

Menus - Menus are one of the most important modules, and allow your users to visit other pages. You may create as many menus as you want, and include different links on each one. The links on the page can either be a webpage on your site, or a webpage on someone else's site. Use "Add Webpage" to add a webpage from your site, and "Add URL" to link to an external site. Use the left mouse key to drag and drop a given menu link in order to change its position. If you want the resulting webpage to be its only window, check "new window". To delete a menu link, click the trash can besides the link. Be sure to click the save button above.
Weather - Weather displays local weather forecast based on a given zip code.
Polls - This module will allow you to add a poll to your site. This module uses the Poll Daddy platform, and if you do not currently have a Poll Daddy account, sign up for a free one at http://www.polldaddy.com/. Then add your Poll Daddy code in the applicable field. Logon to http://www.polldaddy.com/ to view your poll results.
Google Analytics - This module allows you to view your sites activity. This module uses the Google Analytics platform, and if you do not currently have a Google Analytics account, sign up for a free one at http://www.google.com/analytics/. Then add your Google Analytics code in the applicable field. Logon to http://www.google.com/analytics/ to view your sites activity.

Users Manager

You can add as many users as you desire. Assign them an access level which will limit which webpages they will have access to. If you don't want to manage multiple user names, you may create a common user name, and give this out to all users.

Upload Images

The Upload Image Manager allows you to upload images to your site which in turn can be displayed on any of your custom pages. You can create, modify, and delete directory folders for your images under this application. You may also edit your images under the edit tab. To ensure that the links to any images included in your custom pages remain intact, upload and save your images here instead of linking to an external site. If you exceed your memory usage allotment, and can subscribe for additional memory at Upgrades

Upgrades

While your free site may be adequate for your needs, it can likely better meet the needs of your users by subscribing to one or more of our enhanced features. All subscriptions are available on a monthly basis, and uses PayPal to provide you the confidence that you are protected. In addition to the available subscription features, Villascape offers custom development should you desire.