File Codes

Site Builder uses a system of codes to help you create your pages quickly and easily. Whenever you see something like this, *file1234*, Site Builder is telling you that this code will connect your pages to other pages, files, photo albums and groups of documents.

Following are the file codes used by Site Builder:

• *file1234* = The asterisks surrounding the word file and a numbered code will create a link to a file that you have uploaded into the File Library.
• *program1234* = The asterisks surrounding the word program and a numbered code will create a link to the main program page which corresponds to the number.
• *page1234* = The asterisks surrounding the word page and a numbered code will create a link to the sub-page which corresponds to the number.
• *group1234* = The asterisks surrounding the word group and a numbered code will create a bulleted list of links to the documents in the group.
• *album1234* = The asterisks surrounding the word album and a numbered code will create a link which pops open a photo album with all of the photos in the group.
• *guest1234* = The asterisks surrounding the word guest and a numbered code will create a link to a guestbook as long as it is associated with the Site Builder site.
• *survey1234* = The asterisks surrounding the word survey and a numbered code will create a link to a survey as long as it is associated with the Site Builder site.

To use a file code, simply place the code with asterisks in any Text Editor or link field in Site Builder. The system will automatically convert it to the appropriate link or list of links.

File Types

You can upload any type of file into the File Library.  However, unless the general public has the ability to view the file, it will be worthless.  Here are some recommendations of file types:

Graphic Files

Essentially there are two types of graphic formats supported in the Site Builder:

• JPEG (.jpg) - JPEG files are typically used for photographs.  JPEG files are compressed, and when compressing you can control the 'quality' of the file.
• GIF (.gif) - GIF files are generally used for most graphics other than photographs.  The file size is typically determined by the size of the image, and the number of colors used.

The following file types are not supported as graphics in the Site Builder (or most of the web for that matter)

• TIFF
• PNG
• BMP
• PICT
• EPS
• PDF (see description of PDF below)
• Data Files

Document Files

PDF -  PDFs are the most universal file type on the internet.  PDF documents have the advantage of combining text and graphics in a format that will look nearly identical on every computer.  To create a PDF document, you may need to purchase Acrobat Acrobat Standard or greater edition.  PDF documents will open in a new window, they cannot be displayed along with the other items on a page.  A link will be created when using the File Library to access a PDF document. 

Word - Microsoft Word files have a few advantages, which must be weighed against their disadvantages.  They allow you to create documents that will be used as forms to be filled in later, or documents that can be changed by the users that download them.  The disadvantages come up when your users do not have the same version of Word, or they do not have the fonts that you used in your document. If you use Word, consider keeping your documents extremely simple to insure compatibility.

PowerPoint/Excel - PowerPoint and Excel documents have the same problems as Word. If you use PowerPoint or Excel, consider exporting your documents as PDFs prior to posting.

Microsoft Publisher - Microsoft Publisher is the least recommended of the standard Office programs.  It is highly suggested that you convert to PDF.

Other File Types - No other data file types can be used by enough of the public to make sense putting them on your site.  It is recommended that you convert to PDF.  If the file must remain in its original format, we suggest that you put a note in the link, telling the users what type of file it is.