The WebRing.com System

How to Configure HTML in the WebRing.com System

This page discusses the process a ringmaster would use to configure custom HTML for the navbar in the WebRing.com system.

Summary

	This is the new logo for the WebRing.com system, implemented in their changes of Oct.2006. It distinguishes this webring system from the other systems like Ringlink, RingSurf and Bravenet. See also my articles: WebRing.com Logos and Is Webring a Trademark?

One of the issues in the WebRing.com system is a lack of understanding by both ringmasters and ring members as to how JavaScript and HTML interact in the system.

Another problem is the lack of awareness of the specific system features available within the WebRing.com system to be used to customize HTML.

This page discusses those issues.

Problem #1: Understanding

The biggest problem is that ringmasters fail to understand how the HTML works in the WebRing.com system.

Yes, it is possible for a member to copy the HTML to his/her site.

However, if the member has a navbar stack on that page, the HTML will also be delivered through the stack!

Let me emphasize this by way of example. The member signs up for 2 webrings. The member registers both webrings to the same page. Webring #1 uses the standard JavaScript delivered navbar so the member puts the JavaScript onto the registered page. Webring #2 uses custom HTML.

That JavaScript that delivers the standard navbar for Webring #1 will also deliver the custom HTML to that same navbar stack on that page. It will be delivered even if the member copies the HTML separately .

If the member copies the HTML separately, then the HTML will appear twice, once separately and again in the navbar stack.

It is absolutely critical that ringmasters understand this.

I have a page that explains how to solve this problem. It shows a simple technique to mix HTML and JavaScript SSNB on the same page. Click here for that page.

Problem #2: Crafting the HTML

The second problem is that ringmasters don't create the HTML to be delivered by the JavaScript. They include things in the HTML like:

• "your id here"
• "put your email address here"
• links to graphics on systems that do not deliver graphics (e.g., Geocities and Yahoo!)
• the ringmaster's id, site name or email address, instead of the member's

The result is that when the custom HTML is delivered to the navbar stack it does not work. The webring member cannot put their id there and cannot put there email address there and cannot load the graphic to their own server and change the reference. Instead, they end up with a broken graphic and links that do not work. All of this "customization" must be done before the JavaScript system delivers the HTML.

Solutions

Fortunately, the WebRing.com system solves all of these problems. It solves these in two ways:

• it lets ringmasters upload graphics to the WebRing.com system to be delivered to members' navbar stacks, and
   
• it provides variables that can be used in the HTML that will be replaced with the correct values when the HTML is delivered to members' navbar stacks.

Uploading the Navbar Graphic

There are two graphics for each webring.

One is the "ring logo". It is the graphic that displays on the "hub" page. To upload it click on "Edit Ring Logo". It should be a 150x150 pixel graphic. This one is not available for use in the HTML.

The other is the "navbar logo". To upload it click on "Navigation Code" then "Navbar Logo".

If it is being used in the "standard" navbar, it should be a 50x50 pixel graphic.

However, if you are customizing the HTML, you can use any size graphic.

Once uploaded, it can be referenced using the standard variable
"--navbarlogourl--". (See below for more information on variables.)

This solves the problem of the graphic not being able to be delivered off of the ringmaster's system.

Variables

Border Color Specified Through The Web Page: --navolcolor--
Example Use: bordercolor="--navolcolor--"

Background Color Specified Through the Web Page: --navbgcolor--
Example Use: bgcolor="--navbgcolor--"

Uploaded Navbar Logo: --navbarlogourl--
Example Use: <img src="--navbarlogourl--" . . .

Blank GIF available for spacing: http://img.webring.com/blank.gif
Example Use:
<img src="http://img.webring.com/blank.gif" width="1" height="1"
alt="." border="0">

Base URL for Hub and Join: --nurl--
Base URL for Navigation: --gurl--
Member's Ring ID: ++id++
Example Use:
[ <a href="--nurl--?ring=--ringid--&id=++id++&hub">Join</a>
| <a href="--nurl--?ring=--ringid--&id=++id++&hub">List</a>
| <a href="--gurl--?ring=--ringid--&id=++id++&random">Random</a>
| <a href="--gurl--?ring=--ringid--&id=++id++&prev">Prev</a>
| <a href="--gurl--?ring=--ringid--&id=++id++&next">Next</a>]

Site ID of the RingMaster's Home Page: --rmsite--

RingMaster Email Address: --mail--
RingMaster Name: --name--
Example Use: <a href="mailto:--mail--">--name--</a>

RingMaster ID: --ringmaster--
Example Use: <a href="mailto:--mail--">--ringmaster--</a>

Note: These examples may not the "best" practical examples; they omit features you may wish to use. They have been "simplified" for presentation.

Extra Benefits

If you use these techniques, then when the JavaScript system delivers your custom HTML into the members' navbar stacks, the HTML will be customized for your webring and for the members' sites.

And, there is an extra benefit.

If the member chooses to use only the custom HTML and to not use any JavaScript delivered navbars, then when the member accesses the system to get the HTML, it will also be pre-customized. The member will not need to make any changes.

Summary

To use the WebRing.com system, the HTML must use the features like the uploaded graphic and system variables to customize the HTML for delivery to the navbar stack.

A Personal Note:
If You Want to Delete Your Webring

If you are considering deleting your WebRing.com webring, please do not delete it. Instead, please contact me . I would be pleased to adopt it from you. I will personally work with you to make that transition smooth and painless.

I'm sorry. While I have long adopted webrings in the WebRing.com system, because of the Oct.2006 changes, I am no longer doing that.

However, please note that "deleting" your webring is a fruitless exercise. The system will just restore it and place it up for adoption.

Webring News and Announcements

WebRing.com Changes Big Time ---  It was October 2001 that WebRing.com came into existence following the end of Yahoo! Webring. Now, 5 years later, WebRing.com is changing again. Moving from primarily a free service to primarily a paid service, the system is undergoing massive change. Stay tuned.

Ringlink Activity  ---  While Ringlink has not released a new version since Version 3.2 on 21.Feb.2005, the system seems to be getting a lot of activity. Many people are discovering this great webring system and moving their webrings here. If you don't know about Ringlink, definitely check out this great webring system. I personally recommend it.

WoW  ---  The World of Webrings features the World of Webrings discussion list. It offers a forum for both webring owners (ringmasters) and webring members to discuss the latest hot topics about all webrings, including WebRing.com, Ringlink , Alt-Webring, RingSurf, Bravenet and others. If you belong to any webring in any webring service, you should join this list.

RingSurf Passes 3 Year Anniversary  ---  It was 3 years ago, on 16.Aug.2003 when the WoW list list noted that RingSurf's domain name registration had changed. Then the new owner came forward. A RingSurf Feature List was developed and debated. Then, on Thanksgiving day, 27.Nov.2003 the new owner posted on the WoW list that the new RingSurf is up! If you haven't checked it out lately, see what has happened in the last three years.

Article About Webrings  ---  Check out this excellent Salon.com article about the history of Yahoo! and WebRing.com: The Strange Saga of Yahoo and Webring . For some, it will bring back memories. For others, it will explain the history. Now, I wonder if they will update it to talk about the latest WebRing.com changes.

Articles About the WebRing.com System

Webring Sections and Subsections

The Webring Section is a large section of my website. I have divided it into four major "subsections".

• General Information
• The WebRing.com System
• Webrings I Own and Belong To
• The Wazillion Navbars Project

Each "subsection" has it's own special "logo".

As you travel in the various subsections you will find, near the bottom of each page, links to pages within that subsection and also links to the other subsections. To go to any subsection, just click on the "logo" or on the text link for that subsection.

Webrings: General Information

This subsection includes general information about webrings. Webrings can be hosted by a variety of different services. This section deals with the overall concepts and issues, not with any one particular "brand" of webring.

It includes my Webring FAQ, links to articles about webrings, and general help information. Click here or on the graphic.

The Wazillion Navbars Project

This subsection is a historical section about the Yahoo! WebRing system. It was begun during the early days of problems with the Yahoo! WebRing system in September 2000.

It ended when the Yahoo! WebRing system spun off into the independent WebRing.com system in October 2001. I maintain it for the historical record. Click here or on the graphic.

Webrings I Own and Belong To

This subsection shows all the webrings I own and links to all the webrings to which I belong. This includes webrings in Ringlink, RingSurf, Bravenet and the WebRing.com system as well.

If you are looking to join one of my webrings, this is a good place to start. If you wonder about the webrings I belong to, this is the place to go. Click here or on the graphic.

Last updated:
16:46, Fri, 27.Jun.2008