Managing uploads and downloads from networks
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There is a fast track version of this if you prefer.

The administrator of the network should decide -- with the help of systems staff -- when and how often to upload and download data to the network.

The basic process for uploading and downloading is the same: each network member has a unique URL for uploads and downloads.

The URL is composed off a special code that prevents others from downloading your content or uploading to your account. If you belong to more than one network, you have a unique upload/download URL for each.

To change the secret URL for a network
We think it's unlikely that you will want to change your secret URL, but if you want to do so, you may.

To change your secret upload and download URL go to the "My Nets" page. If you belong to more than one network, find the panel for the network you want to change and click the link that says "make a new upload/download URL."

Notice that the upload and download URLs in the panel now change to reflect a new URL. If you have set up your own servers to perform automated uploads and downloads on your site, don't forget to change the URLs your automated processes use to reflect the newly created URLs.

Manually performing downloads and uploads
By using the URL approach, we save you from having to log into your account in order to upload files. This allows for extremely easy automation of uploads and downloads as well.

Manual download: Go to the My Nets page and scroll down to the network you want to download from and click the "download now" link. If you click "download now" you will get a browser dialogue box to specify where to save the file with your network ads. Once you tell the browser where to put the ads, the download begins.

Manual upload: Go to the My Nets page and scroll down to the network to which you want to upload and click the "upload now" link. You will be taken to a form that allows you to select the file to upload, etc. Fill in the form and click submit and the upload begins.

Automating uploads and downloads
Most sites will find it easier to automate the upload and download process. It's easy to do this. Here are our recommended steps:
  • Automate the dumping of a file that will be uploaded to CityTools, how you do that depends on your system and your IT department needs to do this.
  • Once the file is dumped use a command line web tool -- we strongly recommend you use "curl" for this -- to upload to CityTools.
  • Automate the downloading from CityTools -- again we strongly recommend that you "curl" -- to download files from your network(s).
  • Automate the loading of the file from CityTools into either your web system, your front end system or both (depending on the agreements with your other network partners).

A few words about "curl"
A free and open source program, "curl" has been in use for years at organizations around the world. It's battle tested and very reliable.

More importantly it runs on nearly any kind of system -- from mainframes, windows machines, to any flavor of Unix or Linux, to Macs -- heck we wouldn't be surprised to find curl running on a toaster.

In most environments, it's very easy to install. In fact, the odds are good it's already installed in your computer room. The Curl website has packages available for most operating systems, as well as information on downloading.

We have a quide to configuring curl to use with CityTools.

Tips!
click on an item below for more info

The 15-minute sign-up howto

The full version of the 15-minute setup howto is here

"fast track" version of the 15-minute howto (experienced users)

Here you go!
 fast track howto

Upload and download Howto

There is a detailed and fast track version.
 The detailed version is here

The fast track version is here

How do I resign from a network?

There is a howto that discusses how to resign from a network

Control incoming feeds in a network

There is a Howto on managing feeds from other network members

Control HTML in your network feeds

There is a Howto about controlling HTML in your network feeds.

Edit: Change map from your categories TO the network

A howto about editing the maps of your categories TO the network is available

Edit: Change category maps FROM network to your categories

A howto on changing the incoming mappings from the network is available

Invitation-only network passcode howto

A howto on changing the passcodes for invitation-only networks is available

Send other publishing members a message

There is a Howto that explains how to send other publishers a message

Admin: managing members

There is a Howto that deals with managing member access. It's only relevant if you are an administrator of a network.

Join a private network

Instruction on how to join a private network is available.

Admin: Add/reorder network categories

A howto dealing with adding or reordering network categories is available

Admin: Rename network categories

A howto on changing network category names is available.