After several years of waiting, we're finally ready to announce that some new features have been added to the STCA web site. Over the next couple of months, new pages are going to be added to the site in the Members Only section. 

For the past five years, the STCA website has been hosted on an Internet Web server that the American Kennel Club (AKC) has graciously provided free of charge to each of the Parent Breed Clubs.  The familiar URL for the STCA Home Page (http://clubs.akc.org/stca) will remain the same.  But earlier this year the STCA Board of Directors approved a request from the Web Technology Committee to purchase our own Internet Domain Name and web space on a full service Internet server.  So the STCA has a new Domain Name ( www.stca.biz,) but don't bookmark this site because it is NOT going to be used to replace or relocate the STCA's primary Home Page.

What the new server is going to be used for is to help implement some new features.  Some of these new features are already in service.  For instance, the On-Line Rescue Application is already hosted on the new server.  This service allows applications from all over the country to be emailed directly to a Rescue Coordinator in the applicant's vicinity.  We have also relocated Mary O'Neal's Pedigree Search database to the new server and have upgraded the site with several new features.

Greetings,

You're here because you heard that we've added some new features to the STCA website.  You've probably noticed that the format of the Rescue Coordinator Listing and the On-Line Rescue Application have changed recently.  If you read the Introduction, you know that the On-Line Rescue Application is now hosted on a new server.  Most of the page layout and many of the navigation links still look the same, but the URL's for these pages has changed. 

What has also changed is the way the pages are actually created.  Notice that the URL's now end with ".asp" instead of the usual ".htm"  This is because the pages now take advantage of new capabilities on the server, including access to an on-line database where much of the web page content is stored.  In fact, all of your contact information including name, address, email, phone, etc. is stored in the database.  Each time someone requests one of these pages, the web server checks the database for the latest information.  Any changes to the database are reflected in the very next request for the page, and this sure beats having to rewrite the web page every time one of you needed to update your phone number or correct something that was recorded incorrectly in a previous update.

But the great news is YOU can edit the database!

Yes, this is true.  Not only do I no longer need to rewrite the Rescue Coordinator web page each time there is a change, but you can actually get to the database and make changes yourself. (And when you change the database, the change will be reflected in the next request for the page.)

So how do you get access to the database?  Well it all starts with having a Username and Password for an account in the Members Only section of the web site.  The process works something like this:

• Click on the Members Only link * to take you to the Login Page
• Enter your Username and Password on the Login Page
• Click on the "Enter" button and you will automatically be linked to the Rescue Group Home Page within the Members Only site.
• The Rescue Group Home Page has a link where you can view your contact information and another link where you can actually edit the information.

(* Note, many of the Members Only hyperlinks throughout the STCA web site do not take you to the Login Page. Instead they are still linked to the "Under Construction" page that we were forced to put up earlier.  Until you bookmark the login page, be sure to use one of the primary pages within the Rescue corner of the STCA website -- all of these pages should take you to the Login Page.  The link at the top of this page works.)

Don't know your Username and Password?

But wait just a minute.  You say you don't know your Username and Password?  Well that would have bee difficult to tell everyone this information and still try to keep it private.  You really DO NOT want to share this information or use someone else's account within the Members Only section.

The first time you visit the Login Page you will probably need assistance getting into the site. Luckily there is a button on the page where you can get the necessary help.  I've also repeated this link below so that you can use it from this page also.

Rescue Coordinators: Click Here for first time assistance.

What this link will do is take you to a page that will ask you for the following information:

• Surname  (Just your last name, not your full name or Username)
• Rescue State (Just the two-letter-abbreviation for the state where you are listed in the Rescue Coordinator page.)
• Email Address (The Internet email address listed on the Rescue Coordinator page where you receive On-Line Applications.)

With this information, the web server will look you up in the database and if everything matches exactly, then the server will send you an email with your Username and Password to access this account in the Members Only section.

A Couple of Points:
-- The information needs to match exactly; so check to make sure that you name is spelled correctly, that you are using the correct two letter abbreviation and that the email address is correct.
-- If you are one of the Rescue Coordinators that is listed more than once on the Rescue Coordinator page; then you will have more than one account and each account will have a different Username and Password!  When accessing the Members Only site, you will need to login to each separate account, and you will only be able to edit the information for the account you are logged into.
-- Don't have an Email Address?  Well you still have an account in the Members Only section, but we don't have an easy way to distribute the information to you.

So Check Your Email

Go ahead and check your email.  It only takes a few minutes at the most for the system to send you and email with the Username and Password.  Note that the email will use dash marks instead of quotation marks to specify both values.  The dash marks are NOT part of the field, so do not use them when logging in.

After clicking the "Enter" button on the Login Page, you will be taken to the Rescue Group Home Page.  Please understand that this section of the web site is STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION and things will be changing as we continue to refine the site.  At the moment, there are two links on this page of particular importance.  They look something like the following:

View my Contact Info: 
Will bring up a new window with your current Contact Information.  The display is also formatted in a way that will help you understand how the data is used to create the information that is displayed in the Rescue Coordinator listing. 
Please view this page before attempting to use the Edit link.  The most important thing is to make sure you know that you have logged into the correct account.
Also note that you will need to use the Back button on your Browser to return to the Home Page listing.

Edit my Contact Info:
By clicking on this link, you will actually open a connection to the online database and retrieve a complete listing of all of the data stored for your account.  Each field is shown separately as a data entry table against a light blue background.  Each field is pre-populated with the current data for your account.  When using this form, please consider the following guidelines:

• Make sure that you are editing the correct record.
  (Use the "View my Contact Info" link first, and do not edit a record that does not belong to you.)
• Type carefully.
  (If you make a mistake or do not wish to make any changes, please click on the [Back] button at the top of the form.)
• If you don't want to make any changes, click the [Back] button.
  (Using the [Back] button will insure that you properly close the connection to the database without recording any changes.)
• Double check all changes.
  (Please take a second to double check your changes before submitting them to the database.)
• Click the "Update Details" button to record your changes.
  (Once you are certain everything is correct, click on the "Update Details" button at the bottom of the page. This will record all of your changes in the database and you will see a confirmation page explaining that the changes have been recorded.)

(After updating your record, you will need to use the Back button
on your browser to return to the Rescue Home Page.)

Additional Points

Change your Username and Password:
Once you have successfully logged into the site, everyone should consider using the edit capability to change your pre-assigned Username and Password.  All of the account Usernames in the entire database need to be unique.  If you try to use a Username that someone else has already chosen, the system will let you know that it cannot accept your submission.  Usernames and Passwords can both be any combination of letters and numbers.  Please do not use something that might be easily guessed.  If you should happen to forget the new values, use the first time assistance link on the Login page.

Going on Vacation:
One of the "Features" of both the Rescue Coordinator Listing and the On-Line Application Form is that they sort everything according to the assigned Rescue State.  If you'd like to be temporarily dropped from these pages, simply go into the database and delete this value in the database.  (Use the Backspace or Delete key to make sure that you do not store a space character.)  When you return from vacation, login and restore this field to the correct two-letter value (Upper Case).

Alphabetical Listing:
At the top of the Rescue Home Page is a link to an Alphabetical listing of everyone in the Rescue Group database.  This is a convenient way see who is listed and which states they cover. The listing is alphabetical by Last name, and there is even a link for the coordinator's email address.

Enjoy -- Comments and Suggestions

Need a new listing or want to create a new account:
Please contact Pat Gruda.  As the National Rescue Coordinator, all requests for new accounts need to go through Pat.

Additional Comments or Suggestions
Please contact Jim Orsborn

Your time is coming SOON.  However, at this time we have only opened the Members Only section to the Rescue group. Check back later and look for future updates in the Bagpiper for announcements concerning the regular STCA Membership section.

The Web Technology Committee is responsible for maintaining the STCA's Internet Website.  We are a volunteer group, and with all of the new changes we could really use some additional assistance.  If you have any experience maintaining your own website, or if your have an interest in learning more about how you could help in other ways we would love to hear from you.

Some of the technical areas where we could use assistance include:

• Active Server Page (ASP) code
• Perl scripting
• Using on-line databases (Access)

Some of the non-technical areas where we could also use assistance include:

• Editors
• Story Writers
• News Reporters
• Research Assistants

(Note: Experience with any web page layout program
would be helpful, but is not required.)

If you are interested or would like more information please contact:

Jim Orsborn,  jto@mitre.org
Web Technology Committee Chair
(978) 667-4510 Home
(781) 377-6314 Work

Mike Cerone, stcaweb@minglewoodkennels.com
Web Technology Committee