BowlsNet
(using the Integral Web-Site)

Introduction

BowlsNet includes an integral web-site for every league and association. Most users will no longer need an external web-site.
You can upload content (web-pages, photographs etc) via the admin page (when logged on as administrator) and use your own links, menus etc to navigate around pages. Remember that it is 'integral' to BowlsNet - meaning that it is displayed within your league's BowlsNet frame. This means that you have access to results (both live and historical) from the menu bar.

Advantages

BowlsNet offers many advantages as the league's web-site:

Fully Integrated League Web-Site - all league information and results in one place.
A simple interface
A sensible league address (without buying a name) i.e. www.bowlsnet.uk/<leaguename>
No separate web-site needed
No separate uploader needed (e.g. ftp program)
An integrated web-page editor, allowing your web-site to be built or edited online, even on a mobile device.

Limitations

The current limitations of the integral web-site are as follows:

Directory Structure - no limit, all data is held in the main folder and subfolders.
Storage Space - no limit is currently envisaged (but this will depend on usage in future)
Content - the pages must only relate to the relevant league, all content must be appropriate.
Active Content - the pages must not interfere with the BowlsNet frame or content.
To this end, pages opened within BowlsNet system (via Web-Pages menu) are 'sandboxed' and active content (.php etc.) is disabled.
Advertising - no adverts are allowed except for a small advert for NAMED league sponsors (NOT all the advertisers in your handbook)
Links - all links to external sites must open in a separate window (see below)
Backups - There is no download feature for web-pages and no server backup is maintained.
The master copy of your web-site structure should be held locally, with the uploaded version being a public 'mirror'.

Implementing a BowlsNet Web-Site

Your integral web-site is much like any other. The only real differences are in how links should be implemented.

Links to internal pages and photographs just use the name of the required item or subfolder\name - very simple!

Links to external pages require a little more thought:
Remember that all pages uploaded to BowlsNet are expected to be displayed within the BowlsNet frame, with your league header/footer and buttons displayed.
If you have buttons or links on your pages linking to external web-sites (e.g. other leagues) then please ensure they don't load into this 'frame'.
Otherwise you open the other site within your BowlsNet frame and then you get ever decreasing windows within each other (or even BowlsNet running inside BowlsNet) - not nice.

The solution is simple:
When you link to an external site, open it in a new window. To do this, carefully select the required TARGET setting for your links:

If you want to open a new page, leaving bowlsnet running, then use target "_BLANK"
If you want the page to replace the bowlsnet page then use target "_TOP" (not recommended)
Never use "_SELF" (which is the default) or "_PARENT" as the target

Bear in mind that pages opened from within pages already open in BowlsNet (internally or externally) still have limited functionality (as defined by Browser Design Specification).
If you want to open a web-page without restriction then use an external link from the web-pages menu.

HINTS

A few things I've come across whilst writing pages:

Putting <base target="_blank"> in the <Head> section of your html will ensure all links use "_BLANK" by default.
The internal Editor (tinyMCE) is excellent for simple pages.
The CoffeeCup Free HTML Editor is excellent (it was free but I don't think the latest version is!). I've used it for all these pages.
If your pages change each year (main page, rules etc), then I suggest putting them in separate folders (2015, 2016 etc).
This way, when you archive a season, the links automatically stay pointing at the correct files.