If you can't find a ring to join that is on topic for something you love, then you can create your own! This FAQ explains some of the most common questions of new ringmasters.
what do I need to create my own ring?
Each web ring has essentially three "elements" if you will. The web ring system, the web ring owner, and the ring sites. You need to choose which method you will use for the web ring system. For a discussion of this, please see the "history" section.
Once you've picked a system, you need to create the "ring home." For this, you need to know some html because you will need to create the pages which make up your ring, and the html fragment that people will add to their site. You'll also need a place to host your ring. Check with your internet service provider, they usually give you some web space as part of your dial-up package.
If you don't know any html, don't worry, there is plenty of help out there. For example, I have a tutorial on basic html here. And, if you need a good html editor, I swear by the Coffee Cup HTML Editor. But really, most of the absolutely necessary elements for a web ring can be copied and pasted, so you really don't need to know a whole lot of html. Check out my samples and feel free to use them as an example.
Finally, you need some people to join your ring. This is the toughest part because without members, a ring is useless. This is why it's important to check and make sure there aren't already six web rings with the same purpose as yours, and if there are, that you have the best "ring home!" : )
how does the web ring system know which ring is mine?
When you sign up for a web ring, you are asked to choose a "ring id." This ring id is called in the ring fragment and tells the program which ring is yours. In all of the examples below, --ringid-- denotes this special name for your ring.
You probably want to keep it simple, but at the same time keep it related to your ring. For some examples, a few of my ring ids are as follows: rachellering, onlychild, and totheleft.
how does the web ring system know which site to go to?
Whenever someone joins a ring, their site is assigned an identification number. Typically, the ring's home page is id number 1, the next site to join is number 2 and so on. The program uses a special tag in each of the links so that it knows which site it is looking for. If you use a Ringlink system, then your members can choose their own id -- or there is an option to have the ring assign a number.
In each of the examples below, id=--id-- denotes this part of the link address.
The ring system server keeps track of who is in your ring and what web address belongs with which id number.
what link options can I add to the ring fragment?
The typical web ring links are "join" or "home" "site owner's e-mail" "next" "next 5" "list" "previous" "previous 5" and "random" "site owner's url"
The various options are discussed in greater depth in the "options" section.
what variables will the web ring system automatically fill in for my ring?
When you create the "raw fragment" discussed below, you can set it up so that in ring management, it will be converted for the specific site before being sent to the new ring member. The following variables apply:
| Ring Title: | $::ringtitle |
| Ring ID: | $::ringid |
| Site ID: | $::siteid |
| Site Title: | $::sitetitle |
| Site Owner's E-Mail: | $::wmemail |
| Site Owner's Name: | $::wmname |
| Ring ID: | ***RING ID*** |
| Site ID: | ***SITE ID*** |
| Site Title: | ***SITE TITLE*** |
| Site Owner's E-Mail: | ***SITE EMAIL*** |
These variables are put in the ring fragment you create for your ring. I have used them in the examples below to show you how to use them.
where can I find suitable images for my ring?
This is one of the trickiest parts of being a ringmaster. You have to be careful about where you get your ring image lest you infringe on another's copyright. Try to be creative and make one yourself. But if you can't, then use an image that is guaranteed to be royalty free, or ask permission of the creator if you find one you like.
Check out ArtToday for some royalty free clip art.
what is the "raw fragment?"
The "raw fragment" is a very necessary part of your web ring. It is the code that members will display on their site. If you want web ring to e-mail the code to members when they sign up, then you need to make the code available in ring management. Also, in some cases, the ring joiner will not be able to get the code from the e-mail, either because their e-mail program will parse it, or it never comes. . .or who knows. This is why you'll want to put it on your site some where.
The "raw code" means they can see it to copy and paste and it will not be customized for their particular site. You'll want to make sure they know which variable need to be replaced with their information.
I suggest you keep with the variables above so that the same "raw code" can be used in ring management. Below are several examples of ring fragments and the variables.
what are some ring fragment options?
There are many many ways to set up your ring fragment! Graphical fragments, text fragments, or fragments that incorporate both. Some things to think about are load time, aesthetics, and functionality.
Your typical ring fragment is made up of tables which gives a lot of room for structure and uniqueness through colors and organization.
I've set up a number of ring fragment options in the "options" section and have provided the code which you can copy and alter to suit your needs.
how do I make the raw fragment visible?
When I created my first ring, I wasn't all that knowledgable about html and it took me some time to figure out just how to make the raw code visible. If you simply place the ring code on the page, the browser will interpret the code and display the ring. However, there are a few options for forcing the browser to show the html rather than the resultant ring.
Probably the easiest way is with the <XMP></XMP> tags. These neat little guys force the browser to show the ring's html rather than the ring itself. Click Here to see how to set it up using a ring fragment from above.
If you want to look really html savvy, then you can use these nifty little tags:
They can be a bit tedious, however, because you have to replace all of them. Click Here to see how to set it up using a ring fragment from above.
Another option is to place the fragment in a text area box. To do this, you create a form with one element, the text area. Click Here to see how to set it up using a ring fragment from above.
where can I go for help or to meet other ringmasters?
Ring owners at WebRing can join the ringmaster's mailing list (instructions sent with new ring information) or they can visit the Yahoo! webringnews Club.
RingSurf ring owners can visit the "Help" section.