                   Wildcat! 5 Webring    Revised 9/8/1997

     So you want something that can bring in users for FREE?  You have
found it.  Read on. . .

  DISCLAIMER
  HISTORY
  REQUIREMENTS TO JOIN
  FILES INCLUDED IN THIS ARCHIVE
  GETTING INTO THE RING
  EDITING YOUR SITE INFORMATION

DISCLAIMER:
===========
     Wildcat!, WinSERVER are trademark names of Mustang Software.  Webring
is made possible via www.webring.org.  If anyone deserves a big thanks, it
is this organization.  They make the webring possible by supplying a cen-
tral database for all the systems in the ring to get connected to each
other with little fuss.  Please check out their site for a list of other
webrings with a variety of interests.  Who knows, you may find a few
others that you would like to join.  There is no limit to how many rings
you can participate in.

     The following is from Shawn Hubbard's original docs...he is the found-
er of the WC5Ring and I wish to ensure proper credit and also show how this
all started.  <grin>

(begin quote)
     I stumbled across the Webring organization one day while surfing
looking for something new to add to my system to bring in the customers.
I had seen links from page to page and had even discussed linking BBS's
together across the Internet with other Wildcat! 5 systems. The problems
that we faced though were trying to keep links up to date.   With Webring,
that is now centralized to only one list.

History:
========
     Webring was started on 2/15/97 by two BBS sysops that are both very
tired of expensive stuff and few free things.  I must thank Robert Clark
at this time and his BBS, The Visible Spectrum Online for making a leap
of faith in order to get things rolling.  Between his and my Hubbard's
Habitat BBS we had larger systems to offer our customers by leading cus-
tomers to the other's BBS.   Being in the Midwest and Robert's BBS being
on the West Coast instantly made some of the online games and conferences
very interesting per new faces where everywhere.  No longer where users
stuck to playing online games with the same people found in their own
local area.

     By 3/5/97, this document and the main bulk of stuff had been worked
out, such as CGI scripts that made it all possible.  Also the basic grap-
hics where completed.  (If you care to make a better graphic, please do so
and mail it to me.  If I like it, we will update everyone with it).
(end quote)

     When Shawn made changes to his system that made it difficult for him
to continue operating the ring, he asked me if I wanted to take over.  I
did not realize just what I was getting into but I said Sure!  And here I
am...

Requirements to join:
=====================
   * A Wildcat! 5 or WinServer system that is up 24 hours/7 days a week.
     Part time systems will NOT be accepted.

   * Your site must be family-safe.  This means your site must not contain
     pornography, violence, inappropriate language, or any other content
     not suitable for family viewing.  In other words, your page must be
     rated "G".  Please keep our ring a clean one.

   * A link must be made on your home page in the \http\public directory.
     You can also create a separate page to put the ring link on if you so
     desire.  This still has to be in your \http\public directory and you
     must also make certain the _URL_ you supply points to this location.

   * Your site must be accessible from the ring.  If yours is a pay system,
     users must be able to access free areas...if they cannot access your
     site, there is no point in being part of the ring, right?  Your system
     should offer something for free too.  Maybe files or doors. Perhaps
     you like to program, or create graphics, you might want to offer things
     for other Wildcat! 5 sysops.  Make it worth the surfer's time to stick
     around on your site.

   * Keep the RingMaster up-to-date with any problems!  Sites not following
     the rules, incorrect links or URLs, or the ring not working because a
     site has dropped from the net without notice is not cool. Please e-mail
     ringmaster@visiblespectrum.com ASAP if a problem is found with any site.
     I will try to fix it as soon as I can.

   * Please also keep your site information current...use the Edit Site URL
     link below.  It is very simple to do.  With more than 50 sites in the
     ring and new ones joining, it is not practical for the RingMaster to
     stay on top of things.  Again, if your URL changes, the ring may not
     work properly...it's going to be your responsibility to maintain your
     site info.

     This is a free service provided by Visible Spectrum Online and
Webring.org. If it benefits your system after linking up and you feel like
you owe money to the service, please send funds to either site if not both
to help keep it going. <grin>

Files included in this archive:
===============================
wc5ring.txt.....you are reading it now
wc5ring.htm.....the HTML code, edit cut and paste
wc5ring1.htm....another sample, use either, or customize to taste
wc5ring1.gif....wc5ring logo w. black background
wc5ring2.gif....wc5ring logo w. white background
wc5ring3.gif....wc5ring logo w. transparent background

     This package includes everything to get started.  It includes 3 GIF
files that need to go into your graphics directory (use any or all as you
like) and the HTML snippet that needs to be pasted to your home page.  If
you know HTML well, feel free to edit and make changes.  Please enable all
7 links...next, previous, skip, random, list, etc.  I've found that when a
dead site is encountered, it's easier to get around it when all the choices
are available to the user.  And of course the join link that should point
to my site.

Getting into the ring:
======================
     Okay, visit my site www.visiblespectrum.com and follow the WC5Ring
link, then click on the 'Want to join...?' link.  Read and follow the
directions.  You can skip over the portions relating to the GIFs and
pasting of the HTML code since they are included in this archive.  Fill
out the form, paste the included HTML code into your page, edit as per
the following...

     ** Important! **  You must make the following editing changes in the
HTML code to make it work on your site.  Do this after you have filled out
the form as you'll need to have your site ID# handy.

Where it says. . .

   _YOUR_URL_HERE_               paste your full URL.

   _YOUR_E-MAIL_ADDRESS_HERE_    paste your e-mail address.

   _YOUR_NAME_HERE_              paste your name.

   _YOUR_SITEID#_HERE_           paste your web ring site id#.

     When you submit the form, you will be in the webring queue...after I
have checked some things out and tested your URL, etc., you will be added
to the ring and an e-mail will be sent to you saying so.  You do not have
to wait until you've been added, add the webring stuff now.  The links will
not function til your site is added but it will nto hurt to have it done.
That's it!

Editing your Site Information:
==============================
      NOTE:  Use this link anytime you need to edit your site info when
there is a change in your e-mail address or URL, etc.  Be sure to keep
your passowrd, it will be needed to access the edit function.

  ** Bookmark it! **

   www.webring.org/cgi-bin/webring?ring=wc5ring;edit

     If you have any questions, please e-mail me any time.

   Robert Clark  -=-  Visible Spectrum Online  -=-  (541) 574-9262
          Internet  -=-  Web/Telnet/FTP visiblespectrum.com
             E-mail  -=-  ringmaster@visiblespectrum.com

