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Getting Started

 

This document provides information about domain names, editing HTML, and accessing the control panel.  It serves as a basic introduction to web hosting and is intended for beginners.  Experienced users may skip this document, except for the section entitled Accessing the Control Panel for the First Time.

 

Registering a Domain

 

Domains are a unique way to identify yourself on the Internet.  There are two parts to a domain: the name and the extension.  The name is the description of yourself or your site (for example, the name "dogfood" in dogfood.com).  The extension represents the domain category.  For example, the .com extension means "commercial," .net means "network," and so on.  There are many extensions available today: .biz (business), .info (resource sites), .us (American sites), .ca (Canadian sites), to name a few.  The "www" is automatically inserted by the web server that hosts your site and is not part of the domain name.

 

You cannot use a domain name until you register it.  In addition, you cannot register a domain name that is owned by someone else.  The registration process is fairly simple:

 

1. Decide on a domain name and extension.

2. Register your domain name.

3. Get a web hosting account.

 

To register a domain name, locate the text box at the top of the screen titled "Search for a Domain Name" and type in the domain name that you would like to have (ex. mydomain.com).

 

After you find the domain name that you want you will be asked if you would also like a web hosting account. Answer "Yes" to this question and enter in the additional information required.

 

If you are still confused about domain names we are the best resource available. We can assist you in the domain registration process and ensure that everything is configured properly.

 

Transferring a Domain

 

Transferring a domain can mean two things: switching the domain name to another registrar, or altering the domain record to make the domain point to a new host.  We are concerned with the second definition.  A domain has to be told which web host to direct visitors to, and this is done by changing the domain's name server records.

 

For example, say you purchased a hosting account.  You will need to put our name servers in your domain record.  These name servers might look like:

 

ns1.classicwebdevelopment.com

ns2.classicwebdevelopment.com

 

You will then visit your domain registrar's home page, sign in, and edit your domain record.  Each registrar is different, but there will be fields in your domain record called "name severs," "primary/secondary name servers," etc.  It takes 12-48 hours for the change to take effect.

 

Editing HTML

 

HTML, or hypertext markup language, is the language that tells web browsers how to display a page.  For example, to <b>bold</b> text in HTML, you would start with the <b> tag and end with </b>.  Anything between these tags will appear bold (visitors will not see the <b></b>).  When someone visits www.yourdomain.com, they are actually accessing the index.html file in your main web site directory.

 

Editing HTML can be done using software specifically designed for the task.  Examples include Microsoft FrontPage, HotDog Professional, and Macromedia Dreamweaver.  There is also shareware and freeware HTML editors available from popular download sites such as download.com.  

 

Even the best HTML editing software can be confusing for beginners.  If you fall into this category, we suggest using an online site builder / HTML generator.  No knowledge of HTML is required -- online site builders ask you questions and then form a web site based on that information.  Some site builders allow you to control the look of the site, insert graphics, scripts, etc.  Most site builders are free but the more advanced ones charge an access fee.  Some free site builders include:

 

http://www.3zweb.com/free/index2.htm

http://www.searchbliss.com/free_web_tools_html.htm

http://www.applelinks.com/tools/webpage.shtml

 

If you do not have the time or do not like the results of creating your own website. We can create the website for you. We can guarantee that the website is created properly since we create all the HTML and additional code by hand. This is much more accurate since software such as Microsoft Frontpage is often guessing which code to use. This often results in a buggy website. We also have a team of graphic artists that will create a design that will give you the very best representation.

 

Accessing the Control Panel for the First Time

http://www.yourdomain.com/config  You can access the control panel by adding /config to your domain or subdomain address. This will take you to classicwebdevelopment.com where you can login at the top of the page.

Once signed into the control panel you should do two things.  

 

First, click on the "Message System" link at the top-right of the page. Important messages about your account may come through the message system, so we recommend that you enter your e-mail address at the bottom of the screen and check the checkbox.  If you do this, the control panel will e-mail you when a message comes in.

 

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Second, return to the main menu and click on the "Statistics / Logs" icon.  About halfway down the screen there will be a box to enter your e-mail address.  Confirm that the e-mail address in the box is accurate.  If not, change it and click on the "Save" button.  It is important to have a valid e-mail address in this box because the control panel will e-mail you whenever your account is close to going over its bandwidth limit.

 

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The Ticket Support System

 

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The control panel features a built in message system.  Clicking the "Message System" link at the top of the screen will bring you to the message system menu.  "N messages waiting" will always be displayed next to the link.  Messages may contain important information, so read them as soon as possible.

 

The message system has two components: a ticket support system and a private message system.  If you needed assistance, you would click the "Create a Ticket" link.  Our support staff would respond to this ticket and you would click on the ticket name to read it.  Private messages are shown in the same table.  Private messages are different because they are not responses to a support ticket.  Private messages can include scheduled downtime alerts, system-wide announcements, and warnings that your account is reaching its limits.  To read a private message, click on its title.

 

Creating a Ticket

1. Click the "Create a Ticket" link.

2. Select message priority:

Low:  Problem is not causing immediate difficulty.

Medium:  Problem is causing immediate difficulty.

High:  Problem needs to be addressed right away.

3.  Enter a subject that describes the problem in a few words.

4.  Explain the problem in full detail.

5.  Click "Save."

The support staff may respond to your ticket and close it.  A ticket will be closed when the problem is resolved; that is, there is no need for the ticket any more.  If you have new messages waiting and don't see them in in the ticket listing, click on the "View Closed Tickets" link.  If you feel that your problem has not been resolved then you may reply to the closed ticket.

 

Changing Your Password

 

To change your password, click on the logical-emphasis: yes button located at the top-right corner of the screen.  You will be asked to enter your current password and then your new password twice.  Click the "Submit" button to confirm and save.  The control panel will reject your password if it is too short or contains inappropriate characters.

 

Important note:  This feature only changes the password for your username.  Other e-mail accounts, databases, FTP accounts, etc. will not be affected by the password change.

 

Signing Out

 

To sign out of the control panel, click on the logical-emphasis: yes button.  You will be taken to a screen confirming that you have signed out successfully.  Click the the link to sign back in.

 

Important note:  Many browsers keep your control panel session in memory even after you sign out.  If you are not the only one that uses your computer, then be sure to close all running copies of your browser before leaving your workstation.  This will clear the browser's memory and make it impossible to sign into the control panel without the correct password.

 

Need more help?

 

Please login to the control panel, at the top of this page, and submit a support ticket for more assistance..