Special types of networks
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There are four types of networks you may create on CityTools:

  • News -- this type of network kind of speaks for itself, doesn't it?
  • General classified -- anything that you can put into a classified can go here
  • Automotive -- a subset of general classifieds, with extra fields
  • Real Estate -- a subset of general classifieds with extra fields

Each type of network has certain required and optional columns of information that circulates to other members of your network(s).

All types share four optional elements:
  • unique id -- we automatically apply a unique ID uploaded content, but you may add your own if you have special purposes for your network.
  • URL -- all content may have its own URL and the URL can point to anything you like
  • Pub date --– the date of publication
  • expire date --– all content expires in 31 days on CityTools, but you may use this field to specify a shorter expiration.
Source fields
In addition, during downloads, we automatically add fields containing the name and URL of the source site, just to make sure everyone knows where the content is coming from and who it belongs to.

The columns of information in each type of network

News
Required
  • body -- this is the body of the news story
  • headline -- the headline of the story
  • byline --– who wrote it
  • category -- this allows members to organize stories by category
Optional
  • News networks use the basic optional fields mentioned above

Classified
Required
  • ad text --– this is where the body of an ad resides.
  • category --– we have to know where to put the ad!
Optional
  • Classifieds share the basic optional fields listed above

Automotive
Required
  • ad text -- this is the body of an ad
  • category -- what category should an ad be assigned?
Optional
  • Automotive network ads have the same basic optional fields
    • as all the others, but also they have special optional fields
  • make
  • model
  • year
  • mileage
  • price
Real estate
Required
  • ad text -- the body of an ad
  • category -- the category of the ad
Optional
  • the same basic optional fields as above, plus...
  • primary location id -- for example, a city name
  • secondary location id -- for example, a neighborhood name
  • bedrooms
  • bathrooms
  • sq feet
  • extras - any extras that someone might want to add
  • price
Which to choose for a classified network
The purpose of the extra information in the real estate and automotive networks is to allow publishers to invite vehicle dealers or real estate companies to join the network and feed ads into it.

Since real estate companies and dealers have such addtional information, it permits the network content to be deeper.

Meanwhile, since all networks have the basic ad text and category fields, members who can't deliver the more detailed information may still participate in the network.

By using the extra fields, other publishing members of the network may load the specialty networks (automotive and real estate) into relational databases to provide a better user experience.

So if you anticipate that members will have additional data, then choose either an automotive or real estate network.

On the other hand, if you know all members will have simply ad body text and categories, a general classified network is best -- even if it only contains real estate and automotive ads -- because there's no point in having to see the additional columns of information if they're always going to be empty.
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.