The list below is a brief description of each of the interactive tools available on this site. When I use the term interactive, I am referring to those web pages which allow the web visitor to provide input to the site, whether it be to write a note, sign a guestbook, upload a file, fill in a form, ask a question, or text-chat with others.
The first four TOOLS in the list (A,B,C,D) have existed on this site for a while, undergoing only slight modifications in recent history. Tools E and beyond are being installed and configured on our new server at AccuWebHosting.com, and will hopefully fill in some of the gaps and deficiencies in the first four.
Clicking on an item in the list will take you to a paragraph on this page with details about that TOOL. When a tool is ready for your use, a link to that tool will be placed at the end of the details paragraph.
A. NEWSbook :
The NEWSbook is configured much like the Guestbook (next), and is intended for the use of members of the Southern Maryland Barbershopper community (Tricounty Chapter, Patuxent Pearls, local quartets, etc.). You do not need to log in to make an entry or to add a comment to an existing entry.
Limitations: If you have more than 100 words in your message, it would be better to make brief mention of it here, and put your long message in the FORUMS (add a NEW TOPIC at Miscellaneous News). Also, because this is a NEWS book, the only files you can upload are small (less than 60 kilobyte) image files (gif or jpg type). Use the Scrapbook (item E below) for the big pictures.
If you need help in using this tool:
To exit from tool: There are links back to our HomePage and the CALENDAR.
A link TO this tool: Go to NEWSbook
B. Guestbook :
The Guestbook is configured much like the NEWSbook, and is intended for visitors to our site who are not part of our Southern Maryland Barbershopper community. You do not need to log in to make an entry or to add a comment to an existing entry.
Limitations: If you have more than 200 words in your message, it would be better to make brief mention of it here, and put your long message in the FORUMS (add a NEW TOPIC at Miscellaneous News). The only files you can upload are image files (gif or jpg type). The Scrapbook AND the 4Images Gallery below are intended for sharing photos of BARBERSHOP events, so this Guestbook is the place for your other photos: family portrait, your trip to Iraq, etc.
If you need help in using this tool:
To exit from tool: There are links back to the Pearls, Whalers, and TriCounty home pages.
A link TO this tool: Go to Guestbook
C. Chatrooms :
A nice place to have a text-chat with your acquaintances. Anything you type here self-destructs after 4 days (96 hours), so your intended chat-buddy needs to be notified by phone or email that you are trying to communicate.
Tell him:
D. InvisionBoard FORUMS and Calendar :
(Ready for use, details later)
Limitations:
If you need help in using this tool:
To exit from tool:
A link TO this tool: Go to IBForums Go to CALENDAR
E. Scrapbook :
Ready for use.
Limitations:
If you need help in using this tool: 1= Read chapter 1 2= Try it!
To exit from tool: If you aren't already on the opening page with the dancing crab on the left page, click on "contents" to take you back to the opening page. Below the crab, you should see a link Back to 'Tricounty Maryland Chapter home page'
A link TO this tool: Go to SCRAPbook
F. WEBlog :
(Webmaster is still working on the configuration, but you can take a look at progress?!? if you want to click on the link.)
Limitations:
If you need help in using this tool:
To exit from tool:
A link TO this tool: Go to TriCounty Chapter WEBlog
G. WEBcalendar :
ABANDONED: Intended as a place for anyone who wants to register and log-in to keep their own personal planning calendar.
Limitations:
If you need help in using this tool:
To exit from tool:
A link TO this tool: not yet!
H. 4-images Gallery :
I like the concept of this software, and like its 'navigation' system. In fact, it is probably the BEST place to upload pictures, animated images, even music (mp3,mid, NOT wav). PLEASE take a look at its capabilities, by clicking on the link below.
When you get inside a 'Category' and are looking at one or more thumbnail images, clicking on the image will open a page with the full-size picture and detail info below it. If you scroll farther down the page, you will see a small box labelled 'rate': click on the small white box to the left and select a number from 1 to 5, then click 'rate' to cast your vote! If only we'd had this when we were picking a new logo for our shirts!
Limitations: You HAVE to upload or link-to a file in order to make an addition to the gallery, and you MUST put something in the 'Headline' box, or your submission will be rejected.
You can also upload music files except compressed '.wav' files. You can't 'play' the music in 4images, but if you click 'download', your browser will ask you if you want to 'save' or 'open' the file. You'll find the 'hello' song in mp3 format in the gallery; read the detail info below the image, explaining your options.
You won't be able to SEE a file you have uploaded, until it has been approved by an 'administrator', which shouldn't take long, since an email goes out to him every time a new file is added.
If you need help in using this tool: I haven't found any 'help' documentation with this program, so the link below will take you to an introductory page, in which I will attempt to explain the functions and features available. If you get lost while you are in the gallery, and can't find the exit, you will have to click on the '4homepages.de' link at the very bottom of each page and look for answers on the author's website (I hope you read German).
To exit from tool: Click on 'Home' in the upper-left to get to the opening page with the categories listed. There you will see 'Return to Tricounty Chapter HomePage' near the top of the page.
A link TO this tool: Go to 4-images Gallery
I. Address Book : Still in development, but ready for use by the Southern Maryland Barbershopper community. This address book is in our 'members-only' folder; you will be asked for a username and password to access the addressbook, learning tracks, and anything else that is placed in here. I will be re-issuing a common username and password for access to this folder in the near future (when I get the 4-part tracks for ZIP-A-DEE DOO-DAH uploaded).
- - As it exists, it displays a list of the addressbook entries sorted by last name, the 'search function will search for anything you type in the box and bring back a shorter listing of entries that match your search text. I added a drop-down selection box and a new data-element I call 'category' to make the search routine more useful. For instance: =tm= is the category code for current active TriCounty Chapter active members, =ti= for TriCounty inactive members who are not coming to rehearsals but are still SPEBSQSA-registered members. Other categories are 'event coordinators', 'business sponsors', which should give you an idea of the 'intended use and purpose' of this AddressBook.
Limitations:
1- You can't 'sort' by category or anything else (I'm trying to build a program to do that).
2- a printout of the 'details' page fills up a whole page (with a lot of spaces). I'm working on reformatting that page to display more compactly without hampering readability.
3- I had to build a routine to disable the 'delete' function; it was too easy to click the wrong icon and wipe out a record inadvertently. The 'fix' is imperfect, and you'll get a blank page if you try to delete; click the back button on your browser if this happens.
4- a lot more..... you'll make your own list when you visit.
If you need help in using this tool: send 'rolanbob' an email
To exit from tool: link at top and bottom of each page
A link TO this tool: Members-Only. Click on Addressbook after log-in