The M-C-M Simple Family: Frequently Asked Questions
Part I - Including General Questions, Technical Questions, and Licensing

For updated information about the Simple Family, please visit: http://www.mcmtech.com/download/faq.html

 

GENERAL QUESTIONS - What it does, what is it, what will it do for me?

What is the M-C-M Simple Family?
M-C-M: Manage Custom Messages. The M-C-M Simple Family is a family of software products (members include Simpson, Simpson Plus, Simpleton, and M-C-M Lite) which allow users to design and manage rotating Web billboards, using simple forms. Visit the Simple Family home page at http://www.mcmtech.com

Who needs M-C-M Simple?
Anyone who wants to get the message across on his or her Website in a compact, attractive, attention getting, efficient - and simple to use - way. M-C-M Simple products are specially designed for Thin PCs and NCs, but they are appropriate for "Regular" PCs as well.

How can I try out one of the Simple family software products?
To sign up for a fully-working (but time limited) trial copy of M-C-M Simpson or to download M-C-M Lite (our freeware product), visit http://www.mcmtech.com/getit.html To have fun trying to post a message of your own (without purchasing or downloading a trial copy), visit: http://www.mcmtech.com/play/s/upsrd.html , http://www.mcmtech.com/play/s_p/fe-or-west.html or (for M-C-M Lite) http://www.mcmtech.com/play/lite/upltrd.html

How can I purchase one of your Simple software products?
Good Question! Just visit one of our Resellers' On-Line Stores (for a full list visit http://www.mcmtech.com/wheretobuy.html). JUST DO IT!

Where can I see a price list for your M-C-M products?
Just visit http://www.mcmtech.com/order/srpup.html).

Do you offer any discounts for high volume purchases?
Sure. Please send us an e-mail with your name, product name(s), and quantity and we'll send you a competitive quote!

What is M-C-M Technology?
M-C-M is a new technology that allows for immediate, on-line posting and editing of texts, data, and images on Web sites in the form of attention getting, attractive headline messages.  Adding one of SNG's four M-C-M Products (including M-C-M Air and the M-C-M Simple family - M-C-M Simpson, Simpson Plus and Simpleton) to an intranet or Internet site allows any authorized user to regularly update and modify the site, providing new information without HTML programming knowledge.

Can we use the Simple Family software on our intranet?
Of course. Using one of our Simple software, you can post up to 22 messages for office/company staff from any office (or home) computer. The best part is that posting and updating messages is easy and user-friendly - any authorized company employee can learn to post messages and have fun doing it. Use our Simple software to post and update messages for your colleagues - your messages will appear on their screens immediately without their reloading the URL! Click here to see an example.

How does M-C-M Simpson differ from Simpson Plus and Simpleton?
Well...in short: Simpson is the basic - he allows you to create 22 messages with sub-headers and headers and to easily input headlines using a simple form. Not only can up update messages with Simpson, but you can also customize frame colors, cycles, URL links, etc. Simpson Plus includes Web graphic support and allows you complete control over foreground and background colors, outline "flame", headline intervals, sizes of headers and subheaders, Web Graphics, 3D Frame, etc. (again, using a simple form), plus up to 15 messages. Simpleton is designed for low budget customers - it's a "lite" version of M-C-M Simpson that costs only $39 SRP ($34 "street") and doesn't require cgi capability. For more details, please visit: http://www.mcmtech.com/compare.html

What is M-C-M Lite?
M-C-M Lite is our freeware product. It has only four rotating messages and very basic "customizing" features. Download it for free! If you like it, purchase one of the more sophisticated M-C-M models...

What are sub-headers and headers?
On M-C-M Simpson, for example, you can type a single word or several word header to announce your message and grab your audience's attention. Then you can add a longer sentence to get your message across. For example, TODAY (Header) Is Tuesday and it's cold outside (sub-header).

How come you only offer 13 colors? Why don't you offer more font types?
If we were to do so the software would no longer be cross-platform and multi-lingual. This would mean that many people visiting your site would not be able to read the messages you post. To see the list of colors available, visit: http://www.mcmtech.com/colors.html

I received the fully-operational evaluation software and want to convert it to an unlimited version.
That's great! Just go to the store from which you downloaded the software and you will receive instructions on how to purchase more licenses. You can also make your purchase by visiting http://www.mcmtech.com/wheretobuy.html. Finally, if you are an ISP, e-mail us to discuss special arrangements.

What do you mean by 'updatable' headers?
By updatable, we mean that users don't need to go to their Web pages and start doing HTML editing and uploading (and all that mess) every time they want to update a new messages/headline. All they have to do is to connect to the WWW (aren't we all there all the time anyhow..) and input the new messages into a simple cgi form, click "Update It" and viola! That's it - fast, simple updating. It's much easier this way... To see an example, visit http://www.mcmtech.com/play/s/upsrd.html or: http://www.mcmtech.com/play/s_p/fe-or-west.html. Note: With Simpleton, the procedure is a little bit different (but still simple). You simply type your messages on your computer and upload the file to your server... You can choose this "FTP Updating" mode for Simpson and Simpson Plus if you prefer as well. (To see how it works, visit the Simpleton "tour" at http://www.mcmtech.com/simpleton/snscrn1.html)

What is the difference between M-C-M Simple and Java-based tickers?
It's a totally different concept. "Tickers" constantly run the same messages and most of their features are created with permanent "parameters." With M-C-M Simple the messages and all of the information to customize your header is flexible and updatable using the Update It! form and the M-C-M Wizard.

Is M-C-M some sort of service that you're offering to update messages?
Not at all. M-C-M Simple is a line of software products and not a service.

 
 

TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

(see Installation and Troubleshooting sections in faq02.html for additional technical questions)

Do I need to install a special server to use M-C-M Simple?
Absolutely not. The Simple family will work on any server. To use the cgi updating mode for (Simpson and Simpson Plus), your server does need to have cgi (perl) capabilities, of course, but all of our software also comes with the option of updating using the "FTP" mode.

What does "PathToInFile" in "upsprd.html" mean? [the default value is listed as: "/usr/people/lily/htdocs/8/g/mcmsimpson/"]
The "PathToInFile" value is the location of your In-File. Typing in this path indicates that the software should check that location (directory-path) for your In-File (i.e. upsin.mcm). Typing in this value helps the Perl interact with (i.e. read-from and then write-to) the In-File. This path is also sometimes called either the "absolute path" or the "relative path" to the particular directory in which the In-file is stored (The absolute path lists all the directories and subdirectories you need to go through to find the file - as in the example above. The relative path only lists the the last directory - e.g. .../mcmsimpson/). You can list the "PathToInFile" in either format. Your server-maintainer (i.e. webmaster) should be able to tell you what this path is, as he/she sets these parameters.

My webmaster told me that I can't use *.pl files, but that I can only use *.cgi files. Now what?
In this case, go to http://www.mcmtech.com/download/s_p/SPCgi.zip and for Mac users: http://www.mcmtech.com/download/s_p/SPCgi.hqx and d/l and use the *.cgi files you find there in place of the *.pl files that come with your software. Upon extracting the *.zip file from this URL, you should see three files: ups_prd.html, ups_prd.cgi, ups_pin.cgi. Follow the installation instructions as if you were installing the original *.pl files, but use these instead.

Will the Simple family affect the traffic on my site?
Yes, it will definitely bring more hits... One thing to note: Simple software has been developed to allow you to control how often the software checks your server to see if you have posted new messages. The second line of the header tag asks you after how many cycles you want the messages to be updated. If you choose "1", the software will re-download your headlines after each cycle, i.e. every time the header runs-through all of your headlines. If you choose "1", you may notice that this increases the bytes of traffic on your site. If you would like to limit the traffic, and/or if you only plan to update your headlines once or even several times a day, you can set Simple to check for updates after 5, or 100, or 1,000 (or whatever) cycles.

How can I change the rate at which Simple reads new data/checks for updated headlines?
Easy. There's a param-tag in Simple which you can edit. Just change the "CyclesTillRead" value on the updating form (you can do this using the M-C-M Wizard on SNG's site). A cycle means your software runs through all of the messages/headlines you have entered. Each headline is shown for 5 seconds, so that if you have 22 messages and you set the "CyclesTillRead" for 5, your software will check your server approximately every ten minutes (5 seconds * 22 messages = 120 seconds (2 min.); 2 min. * 5 = 10 minutes). That means if a user is plugged into your site for around ten minutes, your software will contact your server to see if there have been any updates and, if there have, will automatically update the messages on the user's screen.

Does M-C-M Simple support Java?
Of course. Our Simple software is written in Java! That's why it m-o-v-e-s...

Will the applets in M-C-M Simple secretly send out e-mail, jeopardize my site's security, install viruses on my customer's computers, or connect back to your server and collect data on the people that visit my site?
No, of course not! Those are the kind of rumors that are usually spread by Sun's (the creator of Java programming language and Java applets) competitors... Don't believe the hype! You should also know that Java applets have security measures built in, such as the fact that they only interact with the server from which they are downloaded (i.e. your server).

How can I find out about updates, patches, and new versions of the Simple software?
We are working constantly to improve The Simple Family. SNG has designed a special page on our Web site for this purpose. All updates and new product releases are located at: http://www.mcmtech.com/getit.html (you can find a lot of free stuff there too!)

Does SNG have an upgrade policy?
Of course. Currently, all customers receive free upgrades for 6 months after purchase.

How do I purchase an upgraded version if my free six month period has passed?
All of our products are upgraded on a regular basis. Currently, all upgrades are done directly with SNG. To purchase an upgrade for the M-C-M products, please visit:http://www.sngchicago.com/dlstore/

Is M-C-M Simple designed to work with Windows 95?
Yes, it can work with OS/2, Windows 3.x/95/NT/CE, MacIntosh, UNIX, etc. In addition, Simple is designed to work directly with the files on your Web site, using any Web browser you choose (Netscape, Explorer, HotJava, etc.).

Is M-C-M Simple a real software, or only an applet?
It is a full software product including cgi forms, .mcm files, etc. Applets include only .class files to be entered into any Web page and interact with your Web server. M-C-M Simple creates a whole environment, including perl-scripts, text files, .mcm files, etc.

 
What is the difference between JavaScript and Java?

Java is an object-oriented language with classes and inheritance. To create software in the Java language, you write a Java program and compile it into a file of Java bytecodes. There are two types of software that can be written in Java.
a) applications, which are like regular software and include environment, etc.
b) applets, which are, in effect, tiny applications that handle all of their environment themselves. Applets can be easily used within HTML files, as they are totally independent. Applications need the 'environment' around them (i.e. user-interface, etc.).
In an HTML file, you include reference to an applet, and when a Java-enabled browser encounters the applet, the browser downloads the applet and runs it. M-C-M Simple software includes Java applets, among other things...

What's the difference between M-C-M Simple and common JavaScript?
There are several major differences:
a) To write with JavaScript, you have to have expertise writing programming; with M-C-M you don't. JavaScript looks like this:

       <HTML>
       <HEAD>
       <TITLE> Writing text on a document</TITLE>
       </HEAD>
       <BODY>
       <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT">
       <!-- Hiding the code
       document.write("Welcome to Chicago Web Site at
       http://www.mcmtech.com !");
       // done hiding -->
       </SCRIPT>
       </BODY>
       </HTML>
b) A headline created with M-C-M Simple can include subheaders, styling, color choice, alignment, etc. Creating such attractive features (and updating headlines) would be a complicated process using JavaScript and the average user would have no idea how to do this. M-C-M Simple makes creating and updating attractive headers and messages a simple task for anybody.
c) M-C-M Simple headlines can be updated anywhere, at any time, from any computer in the world with Internet access (you can update your headlines for people back home when you're on vacation visiting your friend in Timbuktu, as long as she has the Web and a computer).
d) Most important - M-C-M Simple runs more elegantly - messages are automatically and seamlessly updated on users' screens and do not require Reloading or Refreshing URL page. Just go to your Web site, fill in the form (such as the one at: http://www.mcmtech.com/play/s/upsrd.html or: http://www.mcmtech.com/play/s_p/fe-or-west.html) and post it... So elegant...

How much space will M-C-M Simple take on my server?
On average it will not take more than 40kb. (0.040MB)

Why is M-C-M Simple software so 'light' - i.e. why does it contain so few files?
Actually, you can thank Sun, Inc. for that... They're the ones who invented the Java programming language, which is a great environment for developing new applications that are cool, platform independent, and light weight. Why develop a program that takes up half of your computer's hard drive if we can supply it all to you in 40 K? (In addition, you should know that our software was originally designed for NC and Thin Client machines - that's why it doesn't have any .exe or .dll files - but it's been adapted so it works on all computers.

Is M-C-M Simple Software a 16 bit or 32 bit software?
It is a cross-platform software. This means that it will run on ANY platform that has Java capabilities...
 
 


LICENSING

What kind of agreements and warnings come with M-C-M Simple?
Read the agreement (LICENSE.html) on your screen (also available at http://www.mcmtech.com/download/LICENSE.html). This agreement contains important information about the terms and conditions regarding use of M-C-M Simple.

Can you tell me how your license agreement works?
When you purchase a single license for one of our Simple software you will be able to place the M-C-M Simple header on your Website domain in as many places as you like. There are two limitations to the license:
1) Your license is valid for a single Website domain.
2) You cannot upload our Simple software to more than one directory on your site. Doing so will significantly slow your site's operation.

Can I make multiple copies of M-C-M Simple?
Yes and No. When you buy a license for Simple family software, you are entitled to make as many copies as you want and place it on as many places on your Web site as you want. However, you can only place one set of headlines on your Simple software. That is, you can copy the same header several times, but the messages will be the same on each copy. If you want to be able to post more than one series of messages at a time, you will need to purchase more Simples or to purchase one of our Multiple License versions (Five License version or Unlimited License version).

What is an Unlimited License and what's the difference between it and a Single License version?
An Unlimited License version of one of our Simple software provides you with as many copies of the software as you like so that you can create as many series of messages as you like for your Web site (the purchase applies to a single domain). With a Single License, you are entitled to make as many copies of the software as you want, but you can only place one set of headlines on your Simple software. That is, you can copy the same header several times, but the messages will be the same on each copy. With an Unlimited License, each Simple header on your Web site can have its own unique series of messages. A Five License version gives you five Simple headers to place on your site.

 
 
 

CLICK HERE TO READ FAQ PART II

 
 

http://www.mcmtech.com/download/faq.html
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M-C-M and The M-C-M Simple Family are trademarks of SNG CHICAGO