DO NOT create any new members until you have performed all of these steps.

Now that you have successfully installed Link X Pro, you should begin by setting the preferences for the program.  Most of the functionality throughout the program is controlled by your settings in the preferences. 

1. To access the preferences, begin by logging in to Link X Pro as the administrator.  Access Preferences on the navigation bar at the left side of the screen under "Other Options".
2. Enter your email address.  This address is used to send all notifications when a new member joins the exchange.
3. Select the appropriate Mail Component that is installed on your server.  If unsure, click the Perform Test link to run a test of all components.  For a list of supported components, please click here.
4. Enter a valid mail server.  If using CDONTS you do not need a mail server.  The mail server is typically mail.yourdomain.com
5. Enter a message that will be sent to your members upon joining the exchange.
6. Select the date format of the server.  This is the Actual Server Date format and not the date format you desire.
7. The next three parameters are populated automatically (Physical Server Path, URL to Images, and Host URL of Link X Pro Program), however, they should be checked for accuracy.
8. Enter the name of the exchange, followed by the URL of the homepage of your exchange.
9. Enter the Default Exchange Weight.  Please see the help file for more information on the exchange weight.
10. Enter the unique click hour.  For example, if set to 1 and a user clicks the same banner 10 times it will only count as 1 click.
11. Enter the number of free credits for new members.  For example, if set to 100, each new member will be given 100 free banner exposures.
12. Fill in the template options.  These option define the color of all table backgrounds. the top bar color, as well as the font properties.  You can also enter any HTML that you would like to appear at the top and bottom of each page.
13. Under member options, check the options appropriate for your exchange.  These options are outlined in the help file.
14. If your exchange requires a member agreement, enter it into the member agreement box.
15. Lastly, enter the connection string for connecting to the Ban Man Pro SQL database.

The Link X Pro categories allow you to categorize your members so that they can choose what types of banners will appear on their web site.  This also allows you to serve targeted, paid advertisements in each category.  By default the product has a number of pre selected categories.  You are free to delete these and create your own.  For example, if your exchange is for software developers, you might create a category for each development language such as Visual Basic, C, C++, Java, etc.

Define all the banner sizes that will be supported by your exchange.  Most exchanges run a standard 468X60 banner.  Your exchange can support more than one banner size or placement.  For example, you might run two 468X60 areas, one for the top of pages and one for the bottom.  You might also decide to run a square ad, for example, 125X125 is a common size.

Now that you have configured the Link X Pro preferences, categories and banner sizes, you are ready to link to Ban Man Pro for serving the paid advertisements.

By now you should have fully installed Ban Man Pro.  Login to the Ban Man Pro administration area.  The default login name and password are Admin1.  You can access Ban Man Pro via http://www.yourdomain.com/banmanpro/default.asp

You can also access Ban Man Pro by clicking "Manage Paid Advertisements" under the Paid Ads section of Link X Pro.

Once logged in, click on preferences on the yellow navigation bar at the bottom.  Go through and set your preferences.  Be sure to enter your email address, mail component, and mail server.

Each Link X Pro banner size/category combination requires a corresponding ZONE in Ban Man Pro so that a paid advertisement can be served and so that banners of the proper size are served.  These zones will also allow you to serve targeted ads to each Link X Pro category.  We suggest naming your zones according to the category/banner size combination.  For example, if the category is Arts & Entertainment and the banner size is 468X60, name it "Arts & Entertainment 468X60".  You must create at minimum one zone and additional zones can be created at a later date.

Note:  You should now also take the time to create at least one advertiser, banner and campaign.  You should then assign this campaign to the zone that was just created.  Be sure to weight the banner within the campaign at 100, and the campaign within the zone at 100.  This will allow you to more thoroughly test the application since the paid advertisement will appear during your testing.  If you need a test image feel free to use http://www.linkxpro.com/banmanpro/images/paidadvertiser1.gif

Now that you have defined at least one zone in Ban Man Pro, you are ready to associate this zone with your Category/Banner Size combinations.  Go back to the Link X Pro administration  and click the "Define Zones" link under "Paid Ads".  You should now go through each Category/Banner Size combination and select the appropriate Ban Man Pro zone.

You should design a page on your web site to advertise your exchange as well as to link your members to:

• New member signup page
• Existing member login screen.

If you click Links under "Other Options" you will be shown a list of important links.  If your exchange uses an agreement you should link new members to the agreement page, otherwise link them directly to the signup page.

To signup yourself as a member of the exchange, select "Links" under the "Other Options" section.  Follow the link called "New member signup page if using an agreement".  Signup and join the exchange.  Once signup up, login as the exchange member and upload at least one banner.  Create the ad tags and put them on at least one test page.

Now that you have joined the exchange, login as the administrator of the exchange and approve both the member and the banner(s).

You can now test to see if the banners appear by viewing the test page.  Note: You will most likely only see Paid Advertisements at this time.  If you have selected the option to show your own banner on your site, then you may also see your banner that you uploaded as part of the exchange.  To fully test the application you should add 2 or 3 exchange members and show banners for each one.  As each exchange member accrues credits their banners will begin appearing.  Until credits are accumulated, only paid advertisements will be shown.