Update! : The .zip file format allows all kinds of file types to be included now. If you want to submit anything using this format you still require to have one HTML page for on site. This document has been updated with the changes.
!! This only applies to the zipped resource format. For pdf / doc / rtf / txt / xls - files, all you have to do is submit..
Contents
1. Rules
2. Templates
3. Putting it online
1. Rules
The submission format
- Any file types can be included in the .zip file.
- Sub-directories are *not* supported. If you really need to have sub-directories within the resource I'd suggest you put a zip-file (that contains the sub-directories)
in the zip-file you upload to the site. You can put a word of explanation in the main HTML page telling the user they just have to unzip the file. By making a hyperlink
to the zip file in the HTML users can even download the zip in the zip directly from the site ! (for instance by putting this in the HTML : <a href "file.zip">Unpack this file</a>
You must include a text file "files.txt".
- You must provide at least one HTML page with the resource. HTML pages should be in the files.txt
- Graphics may be no larger than
500 pixels wide if used on HTML page, otherwise no restriction.
HTML Pages
HTML files may be called anything
except "navmenu.html" - each separate topic
should be on a separate html page, try not to spread a single topic
across multiple pages. The database will create a navigation menu
for you according to what you have specified in "files.txt".
Images
.jpg & .gif
images must not exceed 500 pixels in width if used on HTML page. For JPEG files do not use 'maximum' quality
- medium is fine, high is overdoing it a little. If your graphic
program only shows compression as a percentage, 40%-70% is adequate.
Remember, JPEG format is for photographic and smooth images, while
GIF format is for cartoon-style images with large areas of solid
colour. ONLY .jpg and .gif images are allowed.
FILES.TXT
"files.txt" must be
included in the zip file. This text file must contain each .html
filename and a short 20 character description of each .html
file. It must be written as follows;
( files.txt )
index.html
Lava World Intro
page2.html
Ecology
page3.html
Dangers
page4.html
Sample Adventure
|
--> |
(example only)
|
On line 1 comes the name of the first file, this will always
be index.html, line 2 is the description of the file
in line 1. Line 3 is the filename of the second page in this submission,
it has some weapon info on it, line 4 describes what information
in on the page i.e. 'Ecology'. As you can see, every second line
gives a short description or title of what is on the line above
it.
Note: only the first page must be called
index.html, the other files do not have to be called
page2.html or page3.html, these are examples.
Remember that you cannot call a file navmenu.html as
this file will be created by AlternityRPG.Net and overwrite any existing
navmenu.html file. You do not have to do this for images,
only .html page files.
What isn't allowed?
There are a few things you cannot have in your submissions, these are;
- hyperlinks - no links to *external* files outside the AlternityRPG.Net website.
- javascript - No Javascript or applet code can be used
- a file named "
navmenu.html" - the AlternityRPG.Net database will overwrite any existing navmenu.html to create links to your pages.
- directories - you cannot have directories into the zip-file !
2. Templates
Available templates
The following templates can be used as a basis to start creating your work.
| Additional rules |
This section covers house rules, new skills, Psionics, FX and any other changes to Alternity publications.
|
| Adventures |
This section is for pre-made adventures in any setting. |
| Campaigns |
This section is for complete campaign settings E.g.. Dark•Matter and Star*Drive, it can contain new rules, cybertech, equipment, aliens etc. |
| Cybertech |
Cybertechnology and Bio-tech. |
| Equipment |
Any kind of equipment not covered in another section can go here, this is for non-combat equipment - including computers. |
| Spaceships |
Spaceship designs. |
| Species |
Aliens, Races, animals, monsters etc. are all covered in this section. |
| Supporting cast |
Characters, Heroes, NPCs and SCs all go in this section. |
| Vehicles |
Non-space vehicles here. These include civilian (e.g.. hover cars) and military vehicles (e.g.. hover tanks) |
Weapons & armor
|
All personal arms and armor go into this section, this only covers combat equipment |
Using templates
We provide blank templates for most sections. These were made to keep a certain look throughout resources and provide common items which should appear in them.
Using them is highly recommended as AlternityRPG.Net submissions must be of a certain 'style'.
This is what the equipment template looks like..
<HTML>
<BODY>
<CENTER>
<!-- CHANGE THE FOLLOWING LINE, replace EXAMPLE.JPG with your image file name (case sensitive), DELETE the entire line if you do not have an image -->
<IMG SRC="EXAMPLE.JPG">
<BR></CENTER><TABLE BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=3 WIDTH="98%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" ALIGN="CENTER"><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH=50%>
<!-- CHANGE THE FOLLOWING LINES -->
Description and history of Equipment goes here
<BR>
The changes the item goes through as progress levels increase beyond PL 5 may
or may not be required.
</TD><TD VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH=50%><TABLE BORDER="0" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" BGCOLOR="#000000" ALIGN="RIGHT">
<TR><TD><TABLE BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=2 BORDERCOLORDARK="#000000" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#E0E0E0" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ALIGN="center" CELLSPACING="1" >
<TR><TD BGCOLOR="#aaaaaf" COLSPAN="2"><CENTER><B>Statistics</B></CENTER>
</TD></TR><TR BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"><TD ALIGN="RIGHT">Name</TD><TD ALIGN="RIGHT">
name of equipment here <!-- name of equipment -->
</TD></TR><TR BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"><TD ALIGN="RIGHT">Cost</TD><TD ALIGN="RIGHT">
$00 <!-- cost of equipment -->
</TD></TR><TR BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"><TD ALIGN="RIGHT">Avail</TD><TD ALIGN="RIGHT">
Military <!-- availability of equipment -->
</TD></TR><TR BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"><TD ALIGN="RIGHT">PL</TD><TD ALIGN="RIGHT">
0 <!--progress level of equipment -->
</TD></TR><TR BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"><TD ALIGN="RIGHT">Mass</TD><TD ALIGN="RIGHT">
00kg <!-- weight of equipment -->
</TD></TR><TR BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"><TD VALIGN="TOP">Notes</TD><TD ALIGN="RIGHT">
<!-- CHANGE THE FOLLOWING LINE -->
Additional information, special options etc.
</TD></TR></TABLE></TD></TR></TABLE></TD></TR></TABLE>
</BODY>
</HTML>
Everything between <!-- and --> (marked in green) will not show up in browsers. We have used them throughout the templates to
indicate what has to be modified with a small description. Editing a template this way is quite easy, you just have to replace "name of equipment here"
with the actual name for instance.
3. Putting it online
Uploading a new resource
When logged in, click the "submit material" link in the resources-box on the left. Fill out the fields and specify your zip-file.
Click "Add submission" to upload your resource. This may take a while, depending on the size of the file and your internet connection.
Once your resource has been uploaded, you can get a preview of how it will look on AlternityRPG.Net. Click the "My submissions" link which resides
in the resources-box when logged in to get to your resource. By clicking process, your resource gets processed for AlternityRPG.Net. You will see
an overview of the zipped files. On the bottom of the page you will see the following links, approve (if everything was okay),view and delete.
View the resource and if everything looks fine to you then approve it by clicking the "approve" link. If it's not okay you should delete the resource, make changes to your resource and
upload the fixed version. Also, try testing your resource in both Internet explorer and Netscape before approving it.
Once you have approved your own resource it gets passed to the AlternityRPG.Net staff, if you have played by the rules your resource will appear on AlternityRPG.Net within two days.
Updating a personal resource
Updating a resource is quite easy. You will see an "update" link under your own resource when logged in. Just click it and you will be taken to a form.
You have to specify the updated zip-file for uploading and have the possibility to update the resource description. When the upload is done, everything is just the same as when you have uploaded a new resource.
This means that you have to approve your updated resource.
Something to keep in mind is that your rid (resource ID) identifier in the url will be replaced with a new one. For instance, if you linked to your resource somewhere using the following url : http://AlternityRPG.Net/resources.php?cat=vehicles&rid=17&detail=1, and you have updated your resource since then, it means the link won't work anymore.
The updated resource gets a new resource ID.
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