1. Customizing ACT!’s Welcome Page Geoffrey Boulden Nov 25, 2009

2. Agenda  Set Low Expectations  How the Welcome page works  Demonstration  Discussion of what is permitted  Because I’d like to know  Q & A  Time Investment - 1 hour

3. Here it is. (It’s a Web Page)

4. Main Components  C:\Program Files\ACT\ACT for Windows\Home  Your Website – ACTStartUp page  Optional, dynamic…  Installing it  Tools I Use  Notepad++ for editing html and xml files.  KompoZer for editing web sites  These are free -> ideal for ACC’s  Basic html/xml skills

5. The \Home Folder  All local content is here.  Not Database specific!  \Images contains icons and background pictures.  \Styles\HomePage.css is the style sheet.  \OpcoContent\Defaultopco.htm is the welcome screen you get when offline.  \XML\Data.xml is all of the content.  Concentrate on Opco areas  \Scripts – 3 java scripts determine the programming behind these pages.

6. \Images Default Icon size is 24x24 Can be changed by altering.sectionImg in HomePage.css Keep it 24x24 Icons and Background Image go here

7. \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

8. \XML\Data.xml All of the content for the welcome page Line 280-ish. Shared Opco section tag – put your business name there 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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. My Home Folder & This presentation On my “junk” ftp server ftp://www.twelve3.com/ACTWelcomePage

12. 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.

13. If Sage is Listening… What can ACC’s do with the welcome page? Or Can’t

14. Thank You! Questions Have a great Thanksgiving Geoffrey Boulden Twelve/Three Marketing, Inc. 4043 Maple Rd Suite 204 Amherst, NY 14226 (716) 837-5727 geoff@twelvethree.com