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BigSender Administrator Guide
Configurator
Key to BigSender's simplicity and functionality is the Configurator which lets you customize 1) how BigSender performs, 2) BigSender's look and feel and 3) BigSender's outgoing messages (as indicated in the image below) without any programming or coding.
In fact, nearly all the questions in the Configurator have default answers so you can change only what you want, save and move on to using BigSender.
Every "prompt" in the Configurator (the words adjacent to the text field or checkbox) is linked to our exclusive SMART SPRING Popup Helper which, when clicked, will cause your browser to generate a small window with details on what that particular setting controls, whether it is a required field (meaning you have to provide an answer to save the settings) and, if appropriate, some ideas on possible answers.
When you click the "save settings" button, here's what happens automatically "behind the scenes" before you are taken to the BigSender user interface / main menu:
BigSender saves your Configurator settings as a separate reference file on the server. You may have many different Configurator settings to manage the same or multiple lists – just install a new BigSender Gateway by clicking on the "gateways" button among the admin controls in the main menu/subscriber form.
BigSender validates your Configurator settings to make sure BigSender will function correctly with your new settings. If an option hasn't been properly set, the Configurator will be returned to you with a note at the top of the page indicating the nature of the problem and suggestions for how to correct it. (Read below if the error message indicates the settings file could not be written.)
BigSender zaps your browser cookie for admin login.
BigSender saves your settings in a hidden file on the server.
BigSender creates your mailing list source file if it doesn't already exist.
BigSender creates your Message Archive directory if it doesn't already exist.
BigSender logs you in as the administrator if you've selected the username:password Security Method. A cookie is written to your web browser that keeps you logged in for the amount of time you selected or until you log out.
BigSender will now reference your new Configurator settings. Click the "settings" button among the admin controls in the main menu/subscriber form to change your Configurator settings any time.
What if my Configurator Settings Won't Save?
After clicking the "save settings" button, the Configurator may be returned to you with the message, "Sorry the BigSender Configurator settings file /home/web/cgi-bin/.bigsender.txt could not be written for an unknown reason."
The most likely cause is the /cgi-bin directory's permissions or properties are not sufficient to allow BigSender to write the Configurator settings file to that directory. On a Unix/Linux server, you could chmod that directory to 755 using AdminPro, FTP or Telnet. Failing that, you could also try:
- Be sure the BigSender Configurator interface is in your web browser first.
- Use Note Pad, SimpleText or other text editor to create an text file called .bigsender.txt (the file begins with a period).
- Type 1; (the number 1 followed by a semicolon) and a line return and save the file.
- Upload the .bigsender.txt file to your /cgi-bin/ directory and chmod to 755.
- Click the "save settings" button in the BigSender Configurator. Most of the time, that does the trick!
If your server wouldn't permit BigSender to create the .bigsender.txt file, it's also likely you will need to repeat the above procedure for creating a Message Archive directory on your server and for your starting list source file.
Security tip: upload a blank file named index.html to any new directories you create. Some webservers will display the content of a directory if it does not contain an index document.
Following the above steps will get you up and running quickly. However, feel free to contact us any time for assistance – included in your BigSender license.
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