#######################################################
#		Top Sites version 2.01
#     
#    	Created by Solution Scripts
# 		Email: solutions@solutionscripts.com
#		Web: http://solutionscripts.com
#
#######################################################
#
#
# COPYRIGHT NOTICE:
#
# Copyright 1999 Solution Scripts  All Rights Reserved.
#
# This program is being distributed as freeware.  It may be used and
# modified free of charge, so long as this copyright notice, the header 
# above and all the footers in the program that give me credit remain 
# intact. Please also send me an email, and let me know 
# where you are using this script. 
#
# By using this program you agree to indemnify Solution Scripts from any liability.
#
# Selling the code for this program without prior written consent is
# expressly forbidden.  Obtain permission before redistributing this
# program over the Internet or in any other medium.  In all cases
# copyright and header must remain intact.
#
######################################################

Welcome to Top Sites. You have just downloaded and unzipped
the orginal Top Sites from Solution Scripts. First released
well over a year ago. this is by far the premire ranking program
on the internet. This free version has been released as a preview
version to our sucessful Top Sites Professional edition. The Pro.
edition contains many many more features that add upon this version.
To get more infomation on the professional edition, and to see a live
demo of it, head to http://solutionscripts.com/vault/topsites

As of version 2.0 we have created a large online help manual to
help everyone through the process of setting up and running Top Sites.
This manual can be found at http://solutionscripts.com/man/top_sites
We also have created a more detailed step by step guide on setting up
Top Sites, and that can be found inside the manual at this url:
http://solutionscripts.com/man/top_sites/step.shtml


INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
--------------------------

When you unzip topsites.cgi it should contain 4 files, 
this readme file, topsites.cgi, newuser.cgi and 
variables.pl 

On the first line of topsites.cgi and newuser.cgi is the
call to perl. If perl is in a different dir than #!/usr/bin/perl
on your server than set these lines to reflect the correct path
if you are unsure, ask you hosts tech support where perl is located

Other than that first line, nothing else needs to be changed in
topsites.cgi or newuser.cgi. All configuration will be done in
the variables.pl file, open it up in your favorite text editor.

Below each variable in variables.pl is a short description of what
each variable does... For a more complete description we urge you 
to take a look at this page of the online manual for Top Sites
http://solutionscripts.com/man/top_sites/variables.shtml

Every server can be set up differently, so there are different right
ways and wrong ways for each server. What is contained in the variables.pl
file you have is what works on our site, this will be different from yours.
If you are confused, please check out the url given above... 


Now it is time to upload all the files to your web site.
Upload them to your cgi-bin, or make a new dir and chmod that dir to
777. All files must be uploaded in ASCII or Top Sites will not work.

Now chmod the two cgi file both to 755. Variables.pl does not need to
be chmoded... 

Chmod values of the two .cgi files:
topsites.cgi - 755
newuser.cgi - 755

As long as you have configured your variables.pl file properly, you 
should be ready to go. Call up the url of newuser.cgi in your browser.

As in http://www.domain.com/cgi-bin/newuser.cgi

This will display the join screen, fill out the form and make a new account.
If everything goes ok you will be displayed with a welcome screen and some 
html code. The html code is the code your members will need to put on their 
page to be ranked on your new Top Sites. Once that is complete, call up
topsites.cgi in your browser like so:

http://www.domain.com/cgi-bin/topsites.cgi

This will automatically create and forward you to the topsites.html page
which includes your rankings listing the new account you just made. 

From there on just send your visitors to newuser.cgi to signup for an account
and what the hits roll in.

If anything does not work properly you should receive an error message that
contains links to our online manual, with one going to a page helping you with
your specific problem. The manual can be found at:
http://solutionscripts.com/man/top_sites

-------------------------

The setup in variables.pl is the most basic setup that is available. We ask
that you get the basic Top Sites up and running before you try to add any new
configuration variables to variables.pl 

The other variables that are possible include, sending out a welcome email to 
all new members, changing how the members are ranked, and changing the look and
colors of topsites.html

To learn how to add these configuration variables to variables.pl, please surf
on over to:
http://solutionscripts.com/man/top_sites/advanced.shtml

You can also easily add text above and below your ranking table at topsites.html
instructions on how to do that are available from:
http://solutionscripts.com/man/top_sites/headers.shtml

And we have started a F.A.Q. at:
http://solutionscripts.com/faq/top_sites

Look for other great things from Solution Scripts in the near future and 
check out our existing products and scripts..... 

-Solution Scripts
http://solutionscripts.com
