Admin Help


An explanation of all the lovely settings.

Sitename

Shows in the title bar and a few other places.




Site Slogan

Shows in the title bar. Not really required, but looks nice.




Site URL

The URL for the site. This is used in a few places, such as e-mails that are sent out.




Site E-mail

The main e-mail address for the site. Most e-mails that are sent show this address as the from and reply to address.




Database Config Path

This is the direct server path for the folder where the database login and password reside (dbconfig.php). For security reasons, it's a good idea to put it outside of your html directory where it can't be easily accessed.



Stories Path


This is the direct server path for the folder where the stories folder is located. This is only applicable if "How to Store Stories" is set to "files". Most of the time, you can just set this setting to "stories" (no quotes).



Table Prefix


It is possible to run multiple instances of the script off of one database, by setting the table prefix during install (this causes whatever prefix you set to be appended to the beginning of the tables, i.e. prefix_fanfiction_authors). You must indicate that prefix here in the settings.



How to Store Stories

You have a choice about how to store the text of the stories. Both ways have their pros and cons:

MySQL: This doesn't require writing to the server, and if safe-mode is on, then this is really your only option. If you have a lot of stories, though, it can really fill up your database and make things run slowly.

Files: This choice will store the text of the stories to .txt files on the server, in the stories folder. Safe-mode must be off for this to occur. This will take up less server and mySQL resources.

Regardless of which you go with, pick one and stay with it! Changing to a new mode will completely mess up your archive, as the stories stored in the old way will not display with the new setting.




Validate all stories

Setting this to yes, means that stories submitted to the archive will not be moderated in any way. Setting it to no makes it so that stories submitted by unvalidated authors are put in the queue to be reviewed by an admin.




Number of Categories

If you have only one category, you should set this to "Only One". Doing so will create shortcuts in a few areas of the site, where category selection is required when there are more than one category.



Number of Category Columns

The number of columns when displaying the categories on categories.php and index.php. The code will insert a </tr><tr> into the code, so that the categories will start to print onto the next row. Note that your skin must be using tables for the categories display, and must have the {categorycolumn} attribute input in the appropriate place for this to work.


Turn on News Comments

Allows people to make comments to news stories. You must be sure to include the appropriate attribute in the newsbox.tpl file (the attribute is
{newscomments}) for people to be able to click and then add a comment.


Allow Favorites

Allows members to list their favorite stories and authors under viewuser.php.


Number of Updated Stories

Sets the number of recently updated stories listed on the index page.


Number of days to limit Most Recent:

Sets the number of days stories will be listed in the Most Recent page.


Date Format Stories/News

Sets the date formats used in several places on the site. Story blocks can have a different date format than the news items. Should you not like any of the date formats listed, take a look at the file called timefunctions.php. You can modify one of the settings to display in whatever format you want there.



Turn on Reviews

Reviews, of course, allow for people to submit public reviews that stay permanently on the site (readers can also submit personal reviews through an e-mail form).




Anonymous Reviews

This only applies if reviews are turned on, of course. Setting this to yes allows readers to submit reviews without being logged in.




Ratings System

This only applies if reviews are turned on. You can turn this off, or turn it to stars (one through 5 stars), or a like/dislike setting.




Round Robins

Round robins are stories in which multiple people can add to it. If you don't want people submitting this kind of story, be sure to turn this setting off.




No Unsolicited Submissions

Essentially, what this means is that no one can submit a fanfiction to your archive. Only you as the admin would be able to add fics. This will turn off the Login link, so that people can not create new accounts or login.




Default Items Per Page

The number of items per page that display when people search, or a list of stories display.




Allow Image Uploads

If you'd like people to have the ability to upload images to include with their stories, set this to yes. The images are stored in each author's folder in the stories folder.




Max Image Width & Height

These only apply if image uploads is set to on. The max size is set in pixels.




Default Skin

This is the skin that will show to non-members or guests just browsing the site.


Language

Change the language used on the site.  Note:  Wording within skin files will need to be changed manually.


Password Setting

Sets the mode for password generation when new members sign up.  The default is randomly generated passwords sent via e-mail to the user.  You may also allow the member to choose their own initial password with immediate log-in privileges.


Alerts On

This refers to author/story update alerts sent to members via e-mail. You can turn this function on or off sitewide. If it is set to on, members have the option of choosing to receive e-mail alerts when their favorite authors or stories are updated.


Age Statement in User Profile

If your archive allows adult content or if your locality requires it, setting this to yes will cause an age statement to appear on the registration and personal bio page.  If a member has confirmed their age, this will allow them to by-pass the warning pop-ups associated with ratings.


Warn only once

This setting lets you allow visitors to receive the warning pop-ups on your site only once. Logged-in members who have confirmed the age of consent statement by-pass pop-ups altogether.


Minimum/Maximum Word Counts

Set the minimum and maximum word counts for chapters. Leave blank or enter 0 to impose no limits.  These limits are only in effect for the story text NOT summaries, personal bios, reviews, etc.


tinyMCE

Turn the tinyMCE WYSIWYG editor on for all textarea inputs on the site. Note: If tinyMCE is enabled, tinyMCE's cleanup function will run before tags are stripped using the allowed tags below. See TinyMCE's documentation for information on how it cleans input.


Allowed Tags

Defines the allowable HTML tags throughout the site.  The defaults are: <b> <i> <u> <center> <hr> <p> <br> <blockquote> <ol> <ul> <li> <img> Note: If tinyMCE is enabled, tinyMCE's cleanup function will run before tags are stripped using the allowed tags below. See TinyMCE's documentation for information on how it cleans input.


Story Index

Defines whether or not a story index appears for multi-chapter stories.


Default Sort

Defines the default sort method for stories on the site.  This may be by date (most recent first) or alphabetically.


Reviews Author May Delete

Defines what reviews, if any, an author may delete for their stories.  Options are all reviews, no reviews, and anonymous reviews only.