TicketAssistant 4.0 TicketAssistant



I N S T A L L A T I O N S    G U I D E:

First, let us say, no Perl script needs editing to install this program. All editing for program variables is done via an online browser HTML form.

Because this program allows extensive customization, templates have been provided for your site's integration and custom HTML. These will need editing as desired, along with adding a few links within your site for inquirer's access. You may edit them online via the Admin Panel once the program is installed and setup, or, open the /cgi-bin/ticket_assistant/templates directory and edit them in a plain text editor of your choice. Just make sure they're edited before you show them to your users. Most contain instructions for their editing, so you don't want your users reading those.

By following the Guide below, reading carefully each instruction, you should have this Program uploaded and running within 10-20 minutes.

It is strongly recommended you do not change any of the basic structure outlined for the Program until you are 100% online and operational with all of its features. Only then, and only if you know what you are doing, you might tweak some of the settings: styles, colors, locations, etc. In other words, change first only the settings that will make it function properly on YOURSITE.ORG: server paths, URLs, etc. Then, do your customization.

(Hint: after you have it initally operational and before you do any customizing, you might want to do a backup of that copy you know is working correctly -- might save you some time, and headaches, later!)

So, if you're ready to get started, let's have some fun!

Steps:
1.
 OK, first things first; if you haven't read them yet, please read the documentation found in the 4 main links above the "Guide" link at left:   Description - Directory Tree - Features - License.   Thanks.

2.
Now the fun.

Open the following perl files (.cgi) in /program/cgi-bin/ticket_assistant/ and verify your server's path to your host's Perl program as indicitated on the first (top) line of the scripts. If you do not know, contact your host administrator or obtain a Perl program that will determine this for you. DO NOT edit anything further in the cgi files!
  • cancel.cgi
  • status.cgi
  • support.cgi
3.
 As in Step 2, open ALL the perl files (.cgi) in the following directory:

/program/cgi-bin/ticket_assistant/admin/

and verify your server's path to your host's Perl program as indicitated on the first (top) line of the scripts. Again, DO NOT edit anything further in any cgi file!

4.
 Browse to your /program/ticket_assistant/ folder that will be uploaded to your ROOT HTML directory and open and read the README.TXT file, following the instructions for the few simple steps needed to connect the Program to its supporting files.
5.
 Open your program /templates/support_form.txt template and edit your contact form as desired (see instructions within template). You may also edit the 2 other support form related templates at this time, or, access them after setup via the "Edit Templates" function on your Admin Panel.

E N D   O F F L I N E   P R E P S !
B E G I N   O N L I N E   S E T T I N G S !

6.
 Once you have all the above mentioned files preped properly (hopefully), log on to the NET, open your favorite FTP program (WSFTP, CUTEFTP, etc.) and upload all files as instructed in the Directory Tree, especially observing the proper format for uploading: ASCII or BINARY.

7.
After you have uploaded all files in their correct format as instructed, and before you attempt to access any cgi script, CHMOD the files as specified.

8.
FTP complete!

Before you access your new program ONLINE, just a couple of SETUP CAUTIONS:

  • Make sure you familiarize yourself with all the instructions below before proceeding.
  • After accessing your new program following the link below, it is extremely important that you read and follow the instructions on each page before taking action on the page.
    The program will guide you through the setup process within a few brief steps.
  • Do not press any "SUBMIT" Button more than once, nor REFRESH/RELOAD any page.
    If after page transition you may be unsure of something you did, simply continue through the Setup process. DO NOT GO BACK.
    You will have the opportunity to check/edit any possible errors after arriving at your completed ADMIN PANEL.
    • Note:
    If you have difficulty completing the Setup Process online, you can always edit the *.conf files offline and upload them.
    They are found in your /cgi-bin/ticket_assistant/tools/ folder as follows:
    - html.conf
    - panel_support.conf
    - site.conf
    - supform.conf

    After editing these, open your /data/ folder and edit:
    key.txt to read 2 instead of 0
    trace.txt to read 5 instead of 0

    Upload and CHMOD all edited files to their respective folders.
    That's it. From then on you should be able to edit them online through your ADMIN PANEL.
NOW, OPEN AND POINT YOUR BROWSER TO THE FOLLOWING URL:

http://www.yoursite.net/cgi-bin/ticket_assistant/admin/settings_main.cgi?action=list_conf&conf=1
(edit to reflect YOUR site name/url)


9.
Your MAIN PROGRAM SETTINGS (configurations) are divided into 4 sections:
(you will be guided through each one)
  • Site Configurations   (setting variables in site.conf)
  • HTML Configurations   (setting variables in html.conf)
  • SupForm Configurations   (setting variables in supform.conf)
  • (Admin Panel Configurations) - discussed later
Having accessed the link in Step 8 above, you are now viewing to set SITE CONF.

Don't worry about broken images! Don't worry about the BROKEN IMAGE TAGS or formatting. After you complete this SETUP, editing all your variables, THEY'LL WORK.

Edit this Form for your SITE requirements and SAVE SETTINGS. (You may access the help file by clicking on the ? button in the Site Configurations heading. Take your time. Get it right. Wrong settings on this form are the main reasons for unsuccessful installations.)


10.
On the SUCCESS PAGE after clicking on the SAVE SETTINGS button for your SITE settings, look up in the top-right corner of the SUCCESS page. See Program Settings? Click on the HTML program settings link.

11.
You are now viewing to set HTML CONF.

Edit this Form for your HTML integration requirements and SAVE SETTINGS. (Again, you may access the help file by clicking on the ? button in the HTML Configurations heading.)

Tip 1: Recommend leaving colors, etc. as is until you complete a working installation. You may access it at any time for editing after after a complete installation and testing.

Tip 2: To have copyright year auto-updated each year, type $year rather than 2005 in the "My Copyright" setting. Do this each time you edit your HTML conf.


12.
On the SUCCESS PAGE after clicking on the SAVE SETTINGS button for your HTML settings, look up in the top-right corner of the SUCCESS page. See Program Settings? Click on the SupForm program settings link.

13.
You are now viewing to set your SUPPORT FORM CONF.

Edit this Form for your custom SUPPORT FORM requirements and SAVE SETTINGS. Your settings should reflect your earlier edits for your support form: support_form.txt template. (Again, you may access the help file by clicking on the ? button in the Support Form Configurations heading.)


14.
CONGRATULATIONS! Now you are ready to access your new Admin Panel. On the SUCCESS PAGE after clicking on the SAVE SETTINGS button for your SupForm settings, click on any "Admin Panel" link. Follow the ONLINE instructions explicitly in your Admin Panel from here out.

IMPORTANT: It is required to click on "Save Settings" button on every online program settings form during installation, even if no edits are done.

15.
 After a successful installation, you now need to place links to your contact form wherever necessary within your site as follows:

http://YOURSITE.org/cgi-bin/ticket_assistant/support.cgi

making sure link points to YOUR actual loctation of this script.


16.
And finally, but no less important, DO NOT GO LIVE UNTIL YOU HAVE COMPLETELY TESTED EACH FUNCTION via your Admin Panel! We can't stress this enough! If you need help, see the Troubleshooting link at left.
C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !

That's it!   Mission accomplished!   You are now ready for prime time.

E x p l o r e   &   E n j o y !


ADDONS:

We have made available the following addons or enhancements:

- - - - - - - - -

- 5 additional color themes:

Download any or all. Included in each are instructions for creating your own theme for your site integration.

View and download:
http://ticketassistant.jdks.net/demo/themes/themes.html


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