Customizing ACT!’s Welcome Page

Geoffrey Boulden

Nov 25, 2009

Agenda

8 Set Low Expectations

8 How the Welcome page works

8 Demonstration

8 Discussion of what is permitted8 Because I’d like to know

8 Q & A

8 Time Investment - 1 hour

Here it is. (It’s a Web Page)

Main Components

8 C:\Program Files\ACT\ACT for Windows\Home

8 Your Website – ACTStartUp page8 Optional, dynamic…

8 Installing it

8 Tools I Use8 Notepad++ for editing html and xml files.8 KompoZer for editing web sites8 These are free -> ideal for ACC’s8 Basic html/xml skills

The \Home Folder

8 All local content is here.8 Not Database specific!8 \Images contains icons and background

pictures.8 \Styles\HomePage.css is the style sheet. 8 \OpcoContent\Defaultopco.htm is the

welcome screen you get when offline.8 \XML\Data.xml is all of the content.

8 Concentrate on Opco areas8 \Scripts – 3 java scripts determine the

programming behind these pages.

\Images

• Default Icon size is 24x24• Can be changed by altering .sectionImg in

HomePage.css• Keep it 24x24• Icons and Background Image go here

\Styles\HomePage.css

• Cascading Style Sheet• Determines the look of the welcome page• Edit with Notepad++• Change fonts, colors, background image• Tread lightly

\Scripts• These control the actions of the links• Whether the page in on line or offline• They can tell if the user is Admin/Mgr/Standard and

modify content. Nice!• I really wouldn’t touch them

\XML\Data.xml

• All of the content for the welcome page• Line 280-ish. Shared Opco section

• <Title> tag – put your business name there• <imgsrc> tag – point to an icon in the images folder.

• Line 304, OpCo Content Links• opcoOnlineUrl – displays a web page if machine is

online• Point this to a small page of your own that you maintain• http://www.twelve3.com/ACTStartUp/index.html• opcoDefaultURL – displays a local html page in the

OpcoContent folder in case the machine is offline.• Named defaultopco.htm

Your ACTStartUp Web Page

• OpcoOnlineUrl tag in Data.xml• Can be anything as long as it is small

• 33% column width and 300px height?• Links to your website/partners

• Services• Add-ons• Events• Support Links• Map

• Random Message or Jokes

Making it part of your installs

• Build your own home folder• Add Images• Change Data.xml• Optional – change HomePage.css

• Replace the Home folder in the ACT Installer with your modified folder

• Very Easy• Works for Std & Prem/Corporate.

My Home Folder & This presentation

• On my “junk” ftp server• ftp://www.twelve3.com/ACTWelcomePage

Home Silly Demo

• I said it was silly

• Changes to the welcome page seem to refresh best when opening ACT!. Some do change when closing or re-opening a database.

If Sage is Listening…

• What can ACC’s do with the welcome page?• Or Can’t

Thank You!

• Questions• Have a great Thanksgiving

Geoffrey BouldenTwelve/Three Marketing, Inc.4043 Maple RdSuite 204Amherst, NY 14226(716) 837-5727geoff@twelvethree.com