This page answers questions that are frequently asked regarding Union congregational websites on our server.

• Who uses this service?
  Over 300 Union congregations have websites on our server, and around half that many have websites elsewhere linked from our directory of congregations.

• Why would a congregation want to have a website?
  There are many answers; here are a few:
  • Some congregations use their websites the same way they use publicity - to present a positive, inviting face to the world. One congregation in greater Boston reported that several people showed up a prospective member open house because they had seen the congregation's website.
  • Other congregations find their websites important tools for establishing and maintaining a strong Jewish presence in their communities and the world. And they find strength in being part of our Movement and represented by website in the Union directory of congregations.
  • Yet other congregations use their websites as a way to keep in touch with students and others who are living away from the local area. In one case, a young adult found the website of the congregation where he had been confirmed, he renewed contact with the rabbi via e-mail.
  Additional answers can be found in the archives of the urj-web discussion group.

• How much does it cost?
  It is free of charge to Union congregations in good standing.

• How can I request an account?
  Use the form for requesting an account at http://urj.org/cpages/raccount

• How can I request an account for some other Union affiliate or group?
  Use the same form used by congregations and clearly identify the group you represent.

• How can I transfer ownership of an account to someone else?
  To transfer ownership of an account to another person, please have that person send mail, including his/her name and account id, to webmaster@urj.org - with a copy to you, the current account owner. Also, please request that person to familiarize him/herself with on-line information about congregational websites.
  (To unsubscribe from urj-web, please see on-line information about urj-web.)

• How can I put up a Web page if I have no experience?
  Use the Union create-a-page form. Over 40 of the congregational sites at our site were built using that form.

• What if I use the create-a-page form and my page does not appear? You will be notified by e-mail when your page is installed - typically within 24 hours. If you do not receive confirmation, please notify us promptly.

• What is a URL and how do I establish links from other Web pages?
  A URL is an address of a file (Web page, image, etc.) on the Web. ("URL" is an abbreviation for "universal resource locator".) To establish links from other pages to yours, send mail to the owners of those pages requesting this, or use the forms provided at some sites for this purpose.

• How can I get a more convenient URL for my website?
  Once you have uploaded one or more pages to your website, you can use the form on the page that discusses Shorter URLs for Reform websites.

• What can I do to help search engines find and index my site?
  Be sure to include HTML "META" tags named "DESCRIPTION" and "KEYWORDS" in the "HEAD" section of your home page. The Union create-a-page form uses this capability.

• How can I change or expand my website once I have used the create-a-page form?
  There are three ways to modify/update/extend your congregational website.

  1) Start from scratch using the Union form.

  2) Use the updating capability of this form introduced on 8/22/97.

  3) "Save" the html for your current home page, edit it using a text editor or

  Web authoring tool, and install it on our Web server.

  4) Make a whole new page/website using an editor or authoring tool.
  Obviously, 3) and 4) require skills beyond those of filling out a form. Relevant information is provided in the various pages at http://urj.org/cpages/
  You can also refer to the step-by-step instructions offered by the Northeast Region of Union.

• What is FTP?
  FTP - file transfer protocol - is a technology that can be used to move files of information between computer systems on the Internet. One of its many applications is to move HTML and image files from local systems to Web servers.

• I am not quite sure how to proceed beyond using the Union form. I have done some html tutorials and have a few books, but I would appreciate further guidance
  Essentially all the guidance we have to offer is embodied in the form itself and in the pages on designing and creating congregational Web pages.
  • If you know some HTML, you are welcome to apply that knowledge in your use of the form, particularly in the "Other Information" field, to enhance its appearance with bold, italics, and links.
  • Adopt an incremental approach to website development; start small and grow both your skills and your results together.
  • Test your knowledge of HTML by "saving" your home page to your own system. Then edit it (for example, using "write" under Windows) to add new features or information, and see how it looks. Duplicate the page, edit the copy to contain some particular information (e.g., temple calendar) and link to the new page from the old, and see how they look. Repeat these steps.
  • At the same time, install FTP software and practice uploading any old file to your congregational website. Then, one day, upload the revised home page and any others you have created. Bingo! You're on the way!!!
  • And, please remember the best advice of all; find someone in your congregation who already has some of these skills and ask this person to accompany you through a couple of new experiences - editing a file, downloading FTP software, etc.

• My pages look fine on my local system, but why don't the links (or images) work when the pages are uploaded?
  There are several possible reasons:
  1. If you install a file named index.htm as a home page, you must delete the file named index.html installed when your account was created.
  2. Links to pages and/or images were specified with characters in the wrong case. Web server software is case-sensitive.
  3. Your website was created with software tools that generate links that fail when the pages are uploaded to a different server. Either review the instructions for using those tools or send a request for help to the urj-web discussion group including the name of the specific tools you used.
  Note: At one time, another reason might have been the use of .htm rather than .html file name suffixes, but that restriction was eliminated on 1/26/97

• How much space are we allowed?
  Each Union congregation is allotted at 20MB of disk space at no charge for their account. Only a small percentage of Union accounts have needed extra space beyond the 20MB quota. If you would like additional space, you may purchase this from us. Pricing for additional space can be found at http://urj.org/cpages/rates.

• How do we upload our pages by ftp?
  Instructions for uploading information to a congregational website are posted at http://urj.org/cpages/install

• What do I do if I need help with my website?
  
  • There is probably someone in your congregation who has the necessary skills and who could be of help.
  • Browse the archives of the urj-web discussion group or send a message to the group, one of whose members may very likely come to your aid.
  • Send mail to webmaster@urj.org.
  • Check out our webmasters-for-hire page for additional resources

• Can I use Microsoft FrontPage Extensions in my website?
  We can install FrontPage Extension capability to any congregational site with a virtual domain. If you do not have a virtual domain on our system, we cannot install it for you. Pricing and instructions on setting up and acquiring a virtual domain can be found at http://urj.org/cpages/domains. Once your virtual domain has been installed on our server, there is no additional charge for Frontpage Extensions.

• How can I control the amount of mail I receive from the uahc-web discussion group?
  Follow the instructions to request that mail be sent to you in daily batches or to subscribe to uahc-web-admin, which distributes official notices only.

• Why does computer jibberish appear in my messages to uahc-web or any other Union hosted list?
  For the best explanation and instructions on configuring your email program to remedy the problem, please see: http://www.expita.com/nomime.html.

• Can another member of our congregation make changes or do they have to come from my E-mail address?
  Anyone who knows the id and password for your account can change the contents of your website -- so guard them and remember them.

• Where can I find Union logos and other images to which I can link?
  The images used in the Union pages can be found in directories named "gifs". For example, the Union logos on this page can be found in http://urj.org/image and are named logo_md.gif and logo_sm.gif.

• How can I add a visit counter, e-mail response, guestbook, etc. to my website? (What about CGI?)
  All of these capabilities - and more - fall under the rubric of CGI (common gateway interface) and are described on our CGI page.