Manialinks easy and fast
0. Content
1.System
1.1 Idea
1.2 Extensions
1.2.1 Boxes-Instances
1.2.2 Designs
1.2.3 StarterPacks
1.3 Multiuser
1.4 Different Gameversions
1.5 Different Languages
2.Installation
2.1 Systemrequirements
2.2 Instruction
2.3 First Steps
2.4 Installation of Extensions
3.Use
3.1 On-Manialink administration
3.1.1 Boxbar
3.1.2 Quickbar
3.2 Uploads
3.3 Settings
3.4 Updates
3.5 Statistics
4.Special Thanks
5.Links
1.1. Idea
The simple idea behind Boxes is to offer a Manialink CMS that grants you unlimeted Possibilities. From TMF we know the CMS MyManialink, that got some competition by time, but was spread so widely by good reasons! The problem of the spread of the few succesfull CMSystems is a huge ammount of Manialinks looking quite similar or revealing their CMS on the first look.
While Boxes seperates from the concept of fixed pages and fixed layouts, the user can create his very own layout easily: Like one may know it from operating systems of mobile devices, the widgets can be moved with the mouse all over the window and placed on different pages.
1.2. Extensions
1.2.1. Boxes/Instances
In our system the the different plugins are called "Box". Once such a Box is installed on your Manialink, you can create as many "Instances" as you want (exceptions existing).
For every Box you can select a Style it is displayed in. The way a Box works stays the same, while the style influences the appearance of the Instance.
1.2.2. Designs
On the one hand Boxes have the possibility to display independet styles, on the other hand we established the concept of "Designs". These contain various plugins themed in one Style to create a more or less uniform appearance. Designs only contain the Styles themselves - to use them, the certain Box has to be installed!halten jedoch nur die Styles für bestimmte Boxes; diese müssen vorher bereits installiert sein.
1.2.3. Starterpacks
Starterpacks are .zip-files, that can be easily installed on the Manialink and bring a complete appearance to you. They contain Boxes, Styles, a bunch of pages and already placed instances on the pages. From this point on you can of course re-arrange everything on the Manialink as known. Due to the named facts, the installation of starterpacks overwrites all existing pages and instances!
1.3. Users
Boxes enables multiple users, free editable ranks and settings about the authorizations of each rank. Ranks can be created on your own and edited, the respective authorizations can be selected by clicking in a neat list
1.4. Maniaplanet, Trackmania Forever and your Browser
Because the topic became recent by now, Boxes is primary for Maniaplanet, so it enables ManiaScript for one or another effect.
For our TMF fellows, Boxes recalculates all scales when you open the Manialink in the TMF browser.
Even on top of that Boxes comes up with a webinterface containing some features of the in-game adminpanel. Here you can have a look on your Manialink statistics while on the move, edit users and a lot more. The main reason we wrote the webinterface is because Trackmania often creates Timeout-Errors when you tried to uploaded bigger files like skins to your Manialink - to avoid that you can quite similar to the in-game version upload your files to your manialink from a browser of your choice!
1.5. Different languages
Boxes comes up with a dictonary that at the time of release will bring only englisch and german translations by now. Every entry can be translated into a language of your choice to extend the dictionary. Existing entries can easily be edited. (These abilities are also available in the webinterface)
The used language is the user´s one if he transmits his data, otherways you can choose a standard language.ls ist eine Standardsprache auszuwählen.
2. Installation
2.1. Systemrequirements
To install Boxes you need the following requiremetns:
• About 6.5mb webspace
• At least PHP 5.3 for the Nadeo WebServices
• The PHP Extension curl, in case you want to use the WebServices
• MySQL 5.1.6 or newer
2.2. Instruction
To install Boxes, the downloaded Installpackage (.zip) has to be unzipped and uploaded to your webspace. After that you can open the install.php in MP or your normal Browser.
At first you have to establish a database connection - don´t worry, you can define a prefix for all tables in case you have only one database from your host. As example you could use "manialink_" and all tables would you "manialink_config" etc. In the following steps you have to create your admin user and register the Maniacode for the Gameversion(s) you need. The links to the respective playerpages are given. In case you leave these the fields for the maniacode blank, the URL to your files will be used to made your manialink accessable.
2.3. First steps
Once the installation is finished, the manialink can be opened. In the center you will find one single box: the loginpanel where you can log in with the just created admin user. Instantly you have access to the adminpanel and all the page configs.
The most simple way to start off is to install a starterpack. For that you have to upload the packages on the "Installer"-page of your adminpanel and than to install it with one more click. Like described in 1.2.3 all existing Pages and Instances will be overwritten!
In case you don´t want to use a starterpack, you can download plugins and styles on your own in our official Boxes Shop, upload them on your Manialink and install them just like you would have done with a starterpack.
Whatever method you choose, now you can arrange the boxes, pages, styles by placing, moving or deleting, fill the plugins with content - do what you want to make your Boxes Manialink unique!
In case you want to use ManiaConnect on your Manilink, you should register a ManiaConenct application on your Playerpage and register the needed data in the Adminpanel.
2.4. Installation of extensions
Because Trackmania uses to cancel uploads of bigger files, we suggest to use the webinterface for Boxes/Styles with big or many graphics (zip files bigger than like 2mb).
As well in the in-game adminpanel as well in the webinterface the following steps are mainly the same:
Choose "Installer" in the mainmenu and upload your zip-file in the upload form on the upper right corner. Don´t unzip it before! Alternatively you can upload the zip files directly via ftp. Here you have to pay attention to the folder structure!
Files uploaded via the first method will be listed under the category "Uploaded", the others under "Existing", both on the right side unter the upload form. One click on the "unbox"-icon in front of the names will install the Box. Now the plugins will appear in the left list and will be available on your Manialink.
3. Use
3.1. On-Manialink administration
Even while the most important settings can be found in the adminpanel like you are used to, there are a bunch of abilities drectly on the pages of the Manialink.
3.1.1. Boxbar
If you are logged in, at every Instance you will see the so called "Boxbars". Distinct icons represent options for the instances.
The "Move"-Icon starts and ends the ... well ... moving of the box
One Click onto the "Save"-Icon saves the current position.
Another Icon will open a poup with all the Instance-settings, containing a selection of the pages where the Instance is displayed, the ranks that can access the Instance, the coordinates, the styles etc.
3.1.2. Quickbar
The Quickbar is in the bottom right corner of the screen and contains all abilities of settings for the current page, for adding pages and Boxes, a list of all existing pages - even those that are not mentioned in the navigation.
By default you will find a button to hide the Quickbar, one to go to the Startpage of the Manialink and one to reload the current page.
All these options may vary by the used Quickbar version. Same thing goes for the Boxbar.
3.2. Uploads
In the view "uploads" - both in the adminpanel and the webinterface - you will find a list of available categories on the left into which you can upload files. After you selected one, on the right half there will appear an upload form and a list of the upload files with icons to delete every one of them.
As mentioned before we suggest to use the webinterface to upload bigger files, because there you probably encounter less problems.
We advise you against uploading files directly via ftp, this may have some difficulties before beeing able to use the files as consequence!
3.3. Settings
The settings the adminpanel offers are divided into two sides: the first one (upper right) contains all settings concerning the Maniacodes and the Nadeo Webservices (ManiaConnect and something like that for TMF).
The second one contains a list of all settings in the database - these entered by the system, by Boxes or Instances. Aren´t there any heavy problems, we advise you not to change something if you don´t know what you´re doing. It may have terrible consequences! If it is necessary to change plugin settings, the plugins will come up with an interface to edit settings.
3.4. Updates
The page "update" requires the Server-permission "allow_url_fopen". If granted, a changelog and buttons to update will be displayed. The button "Refresh" re-downloads all necessary files. This can be necessary when the system produces heavy errors so the "update" functions can also be found in the webinterface. The rest is self-explanatory.
In case your Manialink can´t connect to the Update-Server, you will be able to update your system from our shop.
3.5. Statistics
Like the name indicates, on this page you will have different views on visitor stats, clicks, logins etc. This won´t just be displayed in boring numbers but in neat diagrams - graphy, pies and maps!
If there is data given (ManiaConnect in MP, addplayerid in TMF) Boxes will list users with name, nickname, last visit and the ammount of visits!
In the adminpanel you have also the possiblity to select the statistics you are interested in by one single click in the calendar.
4. Special Thanks
Seeba: Tips, Plugins, Debugging, Betatest
Buddha: Betatest, Debugging
Maniablog.de-Team: Betatest and the very nice post
TomRiddle: Betatest, Debugging, Plugins
5. Links
Offizieller Manialink
Shop
Download
Blog
Have fun, Blade und P.Roni
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