Msg: 6872 *Conference*

11-27-96 09:49:27

From: RICHARD HANSON

To : BOB FINK

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #6870 (INTERNET HOME PAGE INDEXING)

Excellent questions, Bob.  I'll start off this conversations with some insights
in brief.

As you know, I manage The Dock Online Publications (a web site of magazines).
The current mix include: Rotary District 5160, Contra Costa Taxpayers
Association, Weekender, Club 100 and Pleasant Hill Pride.

I build the HTML code into simple ASCII files using a variety of simple tools,
mainly Model "T" TEXT and PC Write.  All the files are in a subdirectory on a
dos and windows computer, with the various files in sub\subdirectories off the
main subdirectory ... paralleling the Unix computer at Valuenet in Walnut Creek
where the site actually exists.  Most all my work is done with DOS-level
programs from DOS, not via exit-2-dos in windows.  Of course, I don't see any
difference ... it's just my style.

Note: Under DOS, paths use the \ delimiter.  In Unix it's the / character.

Given this parallel arrangement, I can use Netscape Navigator 2.02 and
Microsoft Word 6.0a to test and adjust all the files once I'm finished building
them in ASCII (mainly with PC Write).  The sequencs of events for testing and
adjusting are:

Note: All my files are named filename.htm where filename is the name of the
actual file, e.g. index.htm, c100.htm, rotary.htm, weekend.htm, etc.

 - start Windows 3.1
 - load Word (Alt-Tab)
 - load Navigator
 - goto a page I need to test ... if it needs adjusting ...
 - jump to Word: (Alt-Tab)
 - Alt <F>ile <O>pen path\filename.htm <enter> Text Only <enter>
 - make adjustments...
 - Alt <F>ile <S>ave, Alt <F>ile <C>lose
 - jump to Navigator: (Alt-Tab)
 - Ctrl-R to reload the changed file
 - if I need to make further adjustment...
 - jump to Word: (Alt-Tab)
 - Alt <F>ile <1> Text Only <enter>

Note: The "Text Only" option is at the top of the list.  My hand pattern is to
hit my <home> key.

Note: 2: By now you should realize that, although I use a mouse in windows, I
strive to find and practive key-stroks patterns ... so I'm not mousing around
all day!

Once I have the file(s) just the way I want them, I need to upload them to the
web computer over at Valuenet in Walnut Creek.  I copy off the file(s) to
another computer I use to access the Valuenet computer via a "shell" account.

Note: A shell account is similar to using a BBS only that you will probably
have to use VT-100 emulations ... I use Procomm Plus to access my shell account
cause its VT-100 emulation is automatic.

The sequence of events are:

 - load files onto terminal access computer
 - log onto Valuenet's main computer
 - upload files into my account area
 - rb (Unix command to start a ymodem upload)
 - Alt-F4 (to shell out of Procomm Plus)
 - cd hold (to jump into where the .htm filea are located)
 - exit back to procomm plus
 - PgUp *.* <enter> (upload all the files)
 - convert files stripping out the ^M for the ^J^M end of lines character set:
 - dos2bsd filename.htm filename.html (this converts the file with results into
another file (in this case, all files on the web computer must have the html
extension))
 - note: at this point I would normally Alt-F4 to exit procomm plus, do a cd..
to go back one subdirectory to run the scripts ... but if it's just one file to
alter I would do the above
 - ftp to the web computer and log in
 - ftp www (this is how to ftp into another computer on a Unix network)
 - go to my site area, into the appropriate sub/subdirectory
 - cd public_html (to go back up through subdirectories the command is cd ..)
 - cd c100 (example of going down one more subdirectory)
 - put filename.html (this is how you copy files between two computers on a
Unix network)
 - log off of web computer
 - quit (the command to end an ftp access)
 - rm *.* (same as del *.*)
 - log off
 - exit (the command to end a reqular access)
 - del *.* files from terminal access computer

Done!

Now, if you look at the steps involved, you can see opportunities for
automation, i.e. .BAT file processing.

I usually alter several files at one time and need to update them all.  I
usually write two batch files, one called CONVERT.ASP and one called PUT.ASP.
The ASP extension is the "script" extension in Procomm Plus.  Here's an example
of script (a.k.a. batch) processing using Procomm Plus:

Lets say I have three files I need to convert and put.

1) Prep .ASP files before logging on to account and place in PCPLUS directory
on terminal access computer.  Place *.htm files into c:\pcplus\hold
sub\subdirectory.

2) Log onto first computer and upload all .htm files.  Then run this script:

 pause 2
 transmit "dos2bsd stuff.htm stuff.html^M"
 pause 2
 transmit "dos2bsd things.htm things.html^M"
 pause 2
 transmit "dos2bsd fun.htm fun.html^M"

3) Ftp onto second computer, goto appropriate sub/subdirectory and run this
script:

 pause 2
 transmit "put stuff.html^M"
 pause 2
 transmit "put things.htm^M"
 pause 2
 transmit "put fun.html^M"

4) Log off ftp computer, clean up your area, log off account computer, clean up
the terminal computer ... go get a cup of coffee w/coco.

I'll stop here, Bob, and let you capture and think about my process with
regards to what you want to do.  And please understand, there is more than one
way to skin this cat, so whatever procedure and tools you choose is fine, just
as long as you get the job done to your satisfaction.

...but don't forget to reward yourself with coffee w/coco. :)  -Rick-