 |
|
Why did you change?
Top
|
|
Readers have a greater need to make their time on the Web more efficient. The new farmprogress.com allows you to build your own Web experience giving you access to a host of information from a single Web portal. As you use the site you'll find there are ways to add content that will be specific not only to your farm, but to your lifestyle. We've incorporated a list of special features you can use to make this home page your own.
And we're always looking for more ways to add content, so if you have ideas for features you want on the site, send those suggestions to E-Content Editor Jason Vance at help@farmprogress.com.
|
|
|
What makes this site different?
Top
|
|
By using a "module" approach, you are able to bring in a variety of content from other sources into one place. That means you'll have the information you need when you log in, customized for your farm business. And you can bring in outside content easily too simply by using special feeds called RSS (for Really Simple Syndication) that pulls in information from a wide range of sites.
You can even bring information about your non-farm interests into this site to enhance your Web experience. Want to know about your favorite sports team? Have a hobby that has a favorite Web site? If it offers an RSS feed you can easily add that to your version of this site.
|
|
|
Why would I want to register?
Top
|
|
Registering for this site allows the system to match your preferences with your username and password. When you register we do add "cookies" to your site that allow our system to remember your preferences. If your computer loses those cookies, all you have to do is login again and your settings reappear just as you saved them.
In addition, you can be part of the conversation. Whether it's our Discussion Boards where we want to hear from readers, or other special content we'll be developing, it's easier to get to if you register.
In addition, all new site registrants will receive Farm Futures Daily for free. This twice-daily marketing newsletter offers you in-depth risk management information from top Farm Progress and Farm Futures editors every day the market is open.
|
|
|
What do you do with the information?
Top
|
|
|
We keep your information private, however, if you allow us to we can send you offers and special notices provided by our advertisers, or from us. However, your privacy is very important to us.
|
|
|
The site seems to be made up of a lot of boxes, what does that mean?
Top
|
|
We call those boxes "modules" and each is a kind of small Web browser that allows you to bring in special content you can get to from one location. You can move those boxes around on your screen to get a design that best suits you. For example, if weather is a little more important than risk management, you can move the Weather module (or box) up to a higher position.
Just left-click on the top module bar and while holding down your mouse button, slide the box to its new location. Release your mouse button and the box should drop into place.
|
|
|
What is a module?
Top
|
|
|
The module, or box, is your window into specific Web content. Each one offers access to feeds of information from other sites, links and other tools you can use. In the future you'll find modules that offer video, audio and other tools for your farm.
|
|
|
Why do some boxes have green bars, and others have gray bars?
Top
|
|
|
Green-bar modules include content from Farm Progress sources, from our many magazines to our farm shows. The green bar tells you that's content from Farm Progress. If the bar is gray, you have a module on your site with information from an outside source.
|
|
|
How can I customize this site?
Top
|
|
At the top right of the site is a large green box that says "CLICK HERE TO CUSTOMIZE PAGE." If you click that a window opens with a wide range of choices for your operation from modules we've suggested, to other services under News, Weather, Multimedia. Selecting those will open a new module, or box, on your home page and offer up that content.
It's easy to add, and remove, content. Use the Customize button to add content. If you have a module you want to take off your home page simply click the X box at the top right side of the bar on the top of the module.
If you have content from a favorite site we don't list here and they have an RSS link on their site you can add it using our RSS Feeds tool. Really Simple Syndication is a simple way to get information from a wide range of sites. All you need is the Web address (or URL) from the Web page with the RSS feed from that outside site. You paste that into the RSS tool you'll find under Customize, name it, and your content will flow into the farmprogress.com home page.
To close the customize window, simply click on CLICK HERE TO CUSTOMIZE PAGE again.
|
|
|
I can't see everything at once, how can I change that?
Top
|
|
This depends on the screen size of your computer. However, if there are items that are too low you have a couple of options. First you can move the box of content to a new location that's closer to the top of the screen. Or you can "collapse" boxes where you don't always need to see content to get more screen room.
To collapse a live module, click on the box in the top bar that's to the left of the X. This will leave the module on your site, but make it compact and give you more screen space.
|
|
|
What is an RSS feed?
Top
|
|
Really Simple Syndication allows you to bring in a wide range of content right to the farmprogress.com home page. Many major sites now offer an RSS feed using an orange-box link or some other symbol to tell you that content exists. All you need to do is click that link and get to that page. It might be a page filled with hard-to-read coding and information.
Now, go to the address bar at the top of the page, copy that address (highlight it all and hit ctrl-C on your keyboard). Go to the RSS tool under the Customize button at farmprogress.com and under RSS Feeds there is a page for adding an RSS feed. Paste that address you copied into the space marked URL. Below that give the feed a name, such as "Bob's NY Times RSS Feed" and then click "Add RSS" and the new module will open on your site.
You can move that module somewhere on the screen that's easiest for you. That's all there is to it.
|
|
|
If I want to add information to my site how do I do that?
Top
|
|
|
You can use the RSS tool outlined above. If it is not an RSS feed, you may not be able to add that at this time. However, we are working on new ways to bring more content into this site, so check back in the future.
|
|
|
I use several computers and I want to get to my version of the site on all of them, can I do that?
Top
|
|
|
Yes, if you register and set up your home page, then you can log in on any computer and using your user/password combination you'll be linked to your custom home page design. That's a key benefit of registering for the site.
|
|