---------------------------------------------------------------------08.aug.2001----- ..::LvL CMS (v0.1) - http://lvl.sourceforge.net -----------------------------------------------------------------------Tigger-oN----- This is one of them 'really good' help files that tells you bugger all about what you have downloaded or how to use it. All that is below is only a very quick run through of what you need to do and what you have. The ASP and SQL script is supplied 'as is', any harm or fame it brings you is your problem. Use it at your own risk. Contents; * The GNU General Public License * Requirements * Where to put the files * Making the MS-SQL Database * Now what? * Who did this? * Thanx ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The GNU General Public License ..::LvL CMS has been released under the GNU General Public License, for online info about this license try http://www.fsf.org/copyleft/gpl.html Consult the LICENSE.txt include within the download. If 'LICENSE.txt' is missing then you do not have an official release. Visit http://lvl.sourceforge.net and grab the latest release. In its basic reading you are free to do what you like with the released version of this code so long as you make the source code freely available. The source code will also need to be included on any compiled media released as well. For example; You make a CD-ROM based on this code, then you are required to include the source code. You should also reference your sources somewhere publicly. You can do this by stating something like the following on your site; Based on the ..::LvL CMS Where '..::LvL CMS' is a hyperlink to http://lvl.sourceforge.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Requirements In order to run the ..::LvL CMS you will need a number of Microsoft programs. Biggest and badest one is MS-SQL. The CMS will work fine with SQL2000 but may require a few tweaks to the 'lvlCMSvX.sql' file. If you receive any errors just open it up in notepad and do a search and replace on the problem. If you have SQL7 the 'lvlCMSvX.sql' should run fine the first time, but do you really want to use my table names? You will also need an IIS web server, version 4 (NT) or 5 (2000). So long as the web server can make a TCP/IP connection to the SQL server you do not need anything else. If you are running the SQL and web server on the same box you will have no problems at all. Some functions may require IIS 5, there is a good chance that these functions will have a work around as the code did start out on an IIS 4 server. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Where to put the files Extract the files to a web accessible folder with directory structure. If you need more info then this project is above your skill level. Stop now and go and research how IIS, SQL and running an ASP web site works before going any further. ASP will NOT load from your hard drive like HTML does. It requires an IIS web server. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Making the MS-SQL Database In the 'SQL_scripts' folder you will find a .sql file that can be run to generate all the required tables. The ..::LvL naming conventions are a little rough and may not suit your own project, however they will work with the proved code :] I would highly suggest you edit the table names and fields to suit your project and edit the ASP code to reflect these changes. If you have never run a SQL script then open up the file in a text editor and check it out, its just a bunch of queries really. If you have never run a SQL query (i.e., you have always used a GUI) then now is a good time to learn :] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now what? If you have extracted the ASP files to your web environment and run the SQL script its now time to edit the main ASP page to reflect your own environment. Open up /asp/processpage.asp and edit the main variables at the top. The SQL connection is a TCP/IP one which will not require a DSN. A lot of people believe this is a slower method to make a connection but I find it a lot more reliable than a referenced DSN. Also the connection string is very messy, this is something I've been meaning to clean up for ages. The method currently being used was intended to be a temporary method, laziness (and lack of time) has stop me for fixing it. (I cringe every time I look at that code!). Once you have edited asp/processpage.asp load up your site and fix the problems. You will also want to password protect the /admin folder :] Have fun and I hope this helps to get you started. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Who did this? The majority of the ..::LvL CMS has been put together by me, Tigger-oN with a huge amount of suggestion and code contributions from mand0g. I can be contacted (for what ever reason) at: tigger@ebom.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanx * Huge thanx to mand0g who has coded up entire sections of ..::LvL and put up with my obsession! Without her the ..::LvL would not have been as successful, stable or even here today. * GameSpy Network for putting up with my complaints and hosting ..::LvL * Pappy-R and Hellchick (and the rest of the PlanetQuake staff) for pimping ..::LvL as much as they have! Without these guys no one would know about ..::LvL * Sourceforge for providing an excellent free service for Open Source developers! * Qmap.org for being Qmap.org :] * All the level authors that have submitted levels to ..::LvL over time. * AND all the people that have visited ..::LvL, downloaded levels, ranked them and left comments!!!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------