The New File Manager: Upload Files and Make a Splash with a Custom Main Page

[Junaid Basir]

Today, we’re launching a very exciting new feature that I know a lot of Network Creators are going to be thrilled with: a File Manager. This will enable you to both manage files on your Ning Network and customize your members’ experience. Available for Ning Pro accounts, it will allow you to — among other things — create an impressive “splash” page your members will see before visiting your network.
I wanted to spend a few minutes today letting you know how you can get started with the File Manager, as well as give you some examples of how you might want to use this new feature. If you’re a Pro user, you’ll find the File Manager on your My Network page. Simply select Content and choose the File Manager from your left-hand navigation area.
 

Add and store files

Need to add a file to your network? You can do this from the "Add files from your computer" section. Depending on the needs of your network, this could be HTML pages, image files, additional resource files like CSS, JavaScript — or just about anything else. Once a file is successfully uploaded, it will receive a permanent link. Click on "Copy Link" to view the permanent link. If you ever need to remove a file, you can simply delete it by choosing the "X" icon.

 

Add HTML Pages and the files that support them

If you’ve ever wanted to add full-fledged HTML Pages — without having to host the supporting files somewhere else — you now can. By adding custom HTML Pages in this way, you can provide sharp-looking, consistent content to your network, while still allowing your members to view navigational elements, footer links, etc. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Upload all of the resource files you’ll need for the HTML Page.

2. Reference the permanent URLs (that are assigned to the files you’ve uploaded) for these resources in your HTML Page.

3. Upload your final HTML Page.

 

Add your own custom Main Page

You can customize the member experience by offering your members a different Main Page when they navigate to your network. Setting it up is very easy. Click on the radio button next to the HTML page you would like your members to see. Anyone who visits your Ning Network will see this specific HTML page instead of the default Main Page. You can make this selection for HTML files only. To change this back to your default Main Page, simply choose the radio button for the default Main Page file.

Custom Links

Want to give an HTML Page you’ve upload a custom URL? Click on the "Customize Link" for any HTML file. In the dialog box that shows up, enter a custom link of your choice and click Save. [Note that this option is only available for HTML files.]

 

Both you as a Pro Network Creator and your Administrators have access to this new feature. We hope you like this new functionality and will find it invaluable in enhancing and managing your Ning Network!

[Graham Daley]

Can we upload PHP scripts using this?

[Jens]

Hi Junaid,

i replied to some of your discussions - asking you somethings - but no response at all. If you like to know what I am thinking about this: a file manager without a file directory is useless. I can upload files to my network directly and can save the very long URL in a special txt file on my computer. I don't need this tool because it is not a manager - it is only a storage.

Maybe i haven't get the sense of this improvement. please tell me for what i can use it to improve the functionality of my network. Can I improve with that tool the event calendar or the invite page - I don't think so - but why are these topics are ignored here in this forum and in the help center?

Stay tuned and thanks a lot for your good hard work,
Jens

[Thomas Hoey]

Lets put it simply. I have a splash page, now. I didn't before. My visitor count went up, since I put the splash page up and it is easier to use the file manager to upload files for ning server use. So it is a step in the right direction. For the future... 1) real name files, 2) overwrite options, 3) sub-directory support (all pretty basic ftp functions)
Now we will start looking at the viability of adding html pages with full page IFrame support.

[Patrick Chappelle]

I think a couple of nc's posted links to theirs here.

[Thomas Hoey]

Um. It's pretty basic but it does what we need which is to get folks to sign up.
www.carnytown.com

[adrian gladney]

Is it possible to display embed codes for the files i upload so my members can copy? i tried and can't so i have to ask.

[Patrick Chappelle]

Your file uploads provide yo with a link that you can share with your members. For instance, this is an mp3 file I uploaded using the file manager.

[adrian gladney]

Thanks x but Im trying to add preset comments to my site. I just need to figure out how to make embed codes for them? cant find that info anywhere. what i want is to place a file, then under the file display the embed code for members to copy and past.

[soaringeagle]

i have been trying and trying to get some answers to simple questions with no luck
so ill try again

if i make a splash page and use the replace front page option, when in the site and you click main/home button will it take you to the splash page, or the current front page?


2 is there an easy way to add the current menubar to the splash page?

and ill add 1 more
3 all the current links in google indexing the front page, will those now point to the splash page or the original front page?

[soaringeagle]

ok nevermind i figured out most of what i nedded to know
but
i had to create a nrew home button, however the sitename link in the header still goes to the splash page how can i reset that to go to the new main page

you really should havehad all this automatic when the front page became /main/ all links like the main/home button and the sitename should auto update to /main/

i cant fond any wauy to change the sitename link

[Hertz Nazaire]

I want to be able to do /page.html with custom url I could move over so many now dead links from moving my site to ning

 

well at least I got around to adding the splash page

[Sue Wolff]

We have a Plus account and only need the file manager for one month each year. Do my files become inaccessible if I only pay for Pro one month then go back to Plus?