Step 4: Uploading my data and mapping my categories
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You're almost done now. This is where you'll need the data file you got from your IT department. If you don't have that handy, stop here and come back when it is available.

If you have created a network category list, you will automatically be taken to the start of our special network wizard after saving the categories. If you have joined an existing network, you should to to the "map" control tab and click on the link that says "map your categories to the network".

The initial step consists of uploading your data file to CityTools servers. If you have done something like this before this step won't seem difficult. If you have never done it before, we have a quick little cheat sheet on uploading -- read it and then come back here.

Tip
Some people have told us they like to pull in a member of their IT staff during this step because they know the format of their files very well. This is the last portion of the process and it typically takes about seven minutes to do this -- sometimes 10 -- so it's not a big burden. Your choice, of course, and we're sure you can do it alone too.


For some people, what happens in Step 4 is difficult to visualize at first. Happily you're about to launch a software wizard that will guide you through the process and make it as easy as possible.

Better still, you only have to do this one time for every network you belong to. And once you do it once, it will be like second nature.

During Step 4 you're going to do something necessary in order to share with others: you're going to describe how your categories should be translated to other categories. It sounds scary, but it's not. In fact it's part of the core magic that makes sharing possible.

To understand what's going on with Step 4, please read this short description of category mapping.

The first part of this step varies depending on whether you created a network or joined an existing network. For either approach, the first thing you want to do is click on the “Map” tab.

Because the wizard takes control of the page progression, we can't give direct links to pages after this -- so if you haven't opened a second window in which to work on the networks, now is the time to do it. Read here, work there...

Now, if you created a network, go here.

Or if you joined a network, go here.
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.