Customised Website Update Functions

You can update and upgrade your site as much as you like, at no extra charge. You can design and code your own pages using whatever software suits you, and then upload them using the utilities that we provide. Or, if you wish, we can put you in touch with a web designer who can build you an individually designed site which integrates with our facilities. (This is of course chargeable on an individual basis - email options@gpuk.net)

Unfortunately we cannot currently support Microsoft Front Page Extensions on GPUK.net. This is for security reasons, though in fact we can probably provide the functions that you require from Frontpage Extensions e.g. hit counters, search engine, uploading etc. Please enquire. However if you wish to use Frontpage Extensions we can purchase on your behalf an account completely separate from our diskspace (or we can advise you where you can buy an account yourself), but which will still be able to work with your .nhs.uk domain name and with our services such as the online appointments booking. Please see the Rates page for full details.

File Uploads

You can upload files to your webspace using your browser, as long it is fairly recent version which supports the relevant standards. You need Netscape Navigator 3 or later, MS Internet Explorer 4 or later, or MS Internet Explorer 3 with a patch applied, and some other browsers will also work. This shouldn't be a problem for you since version 5 browser have been in use for over a year, and that is most likely what you will have. Just try it and see.

You can upload to any directory in your webspace, though some are designated for use by GPUK.net systems and so we may overwrite files in those directories. Details are given on the uploading page, and and such directories contain a file readme.txt which explains this. You can also create directories according to your requirements (see below).

CAUTION. When you upload a file it will overwrite any file of that name in that same directory - before uploading newer versions be sure that you have backups of any files that you may wish to save since there is no undelete facility.

Follow the prompts to locate the required directory. When the directory selected for upload is the one that you require, enter the filenames for upload and press "Send Files".

Whilst you may upload up to 20 files at once, especially if you are uploading larger files it will be best to only upload a few at a time. You will not receive a success message until all files have been processed, and so if you try to upload many files you may be left wondering about the progress.

After uploading you will see a message confirming that the upload was successful and showing you your total diskspace usage. (This includes some backgrounds and logos, and also some hidden system files that we placed in your directory when your account was created, so don't be concerned if the total is not quite what you expected).

We initially set a low diskspace quota for all users. This is to deter abuse of our free unrestricted signup by those who wish to hijack such services for software piracy and suchlike. If you need more space then email support@gpuk.net stating your account name and your requirements. For accounts in good standing an increase in allocation up to 15Mb will be made free of charge. If you have large or even very large diskspace requirements we can oblige you but there may be an additional charge - we shall advise you in advance - please email accounts@gpuk.net and ask for a quotation.

If your upload was not accepted you may be given a reason. For security reasons we automatically screen uploads against various criteria, and some file types and/or content are rejected. If you feel that your rejected file should have been acceptable then please advise uploads@gpuk.net of the file type, file name including extension, and if it is less than 100kb in size you may send us the file as an email attachment so that we may examine it and determine the reason for rejection. We have a very strict security policy but are willing to facilitate uploads of additional file types where these do not pose a risk to either GPUK.net or its users.

In some circumstances where your file triggers our automatic surveillance for suspicious activity our engineers may receive an email alert and your account may be suspended pending investigation. This is for your protection, as well as for ours and the other users of GPUK.net, since the most likely cause of such activity is not due to your legitimate operations but because someone has gained control of your account (e.g. they have obtained your passwords) and they are abusing it.

File Deleting

You may delete files currently in your webspace directories. This will be useful if you wish to remove a document from your website because you wish it to be no longer publicly available, or to reduce your diskspace usage to make space for more file uploads.

CAUTION. There is no undelete facility so ensure that you have backups of any file for which you may have a use in the future.

Whilst you may delete surplus backgrounds and logos installed by us when your account was created (and we encourage you to do so for any which you do not want to use) you cannot delete the hidden system files. These latter use less than 300kb of diskspace so this is not a problem.

Follow the prompts to locate the directory/folder containing your files. You may select multiple files with a directory for deletion in one operation. When you select the file(s), enter your Admin code name and Admin password, and click "DELETE selected files", the files are deleted without further warning. The next page will show you your new current diskspace usage.

Creating Directories/Folders

At setup your account has a root directory and several subdirectories such as images, logos, and backgrounds. You may create as many subdirectories in as many levels as you need for your website. However do not create more than you need since this may hamper your ability to upload files in the future.

Follow the prompts, firstly to locate the directory in which you wish to create a subdirectory, and then to name and create your new directory.

Customising the Appearance of the Appointments/Repeat Prescription pages, etc

If you have customised your website by uploading your own web pages etc you should be wary of using the automated facilities for setting the style (backgrounds, logos, fonts, etc) of your website since the automated utilities may overwrite your uploaded files logo1.gif and background.jpg and stylesheet default.css. But you can still customise the appearance of your Appointments/Repeat Prescription pages by following the instructions here.

• Before uploading any files as suggested here, make sure that you download and backup any files which you may want to restore.

• To set the logo/graphic in the menubar, upload a gif file called logo1.gif to your logos directory/folder.

• To change the background upload a jpg file called background.jpg to your backgrounds directory.

• To change the font face/size/colour etc, upload to your root directory a stylesheet called default.css

• You may write your own stylesheet, or you may download ours and edit it to suit.

Change your Menu

The patients' pages (appointments, prescriptions, registration, contact, links, and the home page) all include a menubar with links to the other pages.

• If you are using all of these functions then there is no need to change the settings in this section.
  
  
• If you are only using some of these at present then you may wish to remove the links to the others.
  
  
• In this section select those that you wish to display then enter admin code name and password.
  
  
• Thereafter the menubar will include only your selections.
  
  

Add a Search Box to your site

We provide a site search tool which you may add to your pages. This indexes all of your pages whenever you select to reindex, and then visitors may search your site.

To setup the search option, or to reindex, use the "Configure Search Facility" option on the Admin page. Although you may not be concerned with displaying the box on the automated homepages, nevertheless you should select to display it or to reindex it. This activates it and creates the index. If you wish you may then select to remove it from display, and this will leave the index still available for your use.

To make use of the index include a form in your page using html code like that below:

<form method="post" action="http://www.gpuk.net/youraccountname/cgi-bin/htsearch.cgi">
<input name="method" type = "hidden" value = "All">
<input name="format" type = "hidden" value = "Long">
<input name="sort" type = "hidden" value = "Score">
<input type="hidden" name="config" value="youraccountname">
<input type="hidden" name="restrict" value="">
<input type="hidden" name="exclude" value="">
<input type="text" size="14" name="words" value="">
</form>