Server Plugins for Instant Extensibility
Server plugins let you add new functionality, Web applications,
and customization components on the fly, with no scripting required.
Visit our plugin server and tell it to install applications for you,
including Web logs (blogs), online brainstorming, Wiki areas, shared customizable online databases
called Neurons, and much more.
New Plugin Architecture
A patented plugin architecture allows you to add or update features without upgrading your server or paying for expensive custom development. Add weblogs, an enhanced LiveX live messaging system (now with buddy lists), an enhanced Pollster (put polls in the sidebars now), a unique "Brainstorming" decision-making module, MonitorX to track what's happening on your site in real time, any of several sysop utilities, and more - with hundreds of plugins yet to come.Instant Software Updates
Click a link, and our Plugins Server will let you know about updates to the plugins you have installed. Install the updates instantly, without any file manipulation or templates!
FTP Service and Web Publishing
Web Crossing is now a complete Web, Email, FTP, and Newsgroup
server. You can run your whole site with our secure, scalable,
customizable and extensible technology.
Built-in FTP
Upload files to your Web Crossing-served site without FTP software. Control access permissions on all files with access lists. Allow users to create their own web pages!Web Publishing
Upload files from FTP or your browser and apply Web Crossing access controls to them. Wrap HTML files in any Web Crossing Theme for instant look/feel changes.File System Mirroring
The Web Crossing directories on the server are mirrored inside Web Crossing, allowing you to wrap Themes around HTML files, set access lists on folders containing HTML files, serve HTML files as templates, set object properies for files, and more.
Complete Cosmetic Makeover, with Themes
Web Crossing 5.0 contains extensive cosmetic improvements for no-hassle customization, with built-in Themes, and thousands of great looks available with just a few mouse clicks.
New Default look
A fresh, new, sophisticated default look, with a unique dynamic tabbed interface, an easier-to-read folder view, a new message view with numerous new options, and a simplified new toolbar.Themes
Change look and feel instantly with a single click. Choose from several built-in Themes or create your own look with web forms. Share your Theme with friends or associates, or move your Theme to another server. Thousands of possible looks, with 8 icon sets and nearly 30 sets of buttons to choose from.
Page Component Options
Top Level
Brand-new choices for all the core elements of the discussion interface. Choose the combination that works best for your site:Folder View
- An new top level page with extra HTML fields and formatting
- Classic top level page
Message View
- A table-based folder view and a "quick jump" menu for fast navigation
- A folder view with "on the fly" sorting by author, title, and more
- Classic folder view
Toolbars
- A new message view with user "sigs," tracking of edits and replies, user post count, and more
- Classic message view
- A new streamlined minimal toolbar
- A clean text toolbar if you prefer text links to buttons
- A new toolbar with proportionally-sized buttons and button rollovers, where you can choose the exact button colors
- Classic toolbar
Folder Themes and Virtual Areas
All the new cosmetic choices are settable on a folder-by-folder level. Assign a completely different Theme to each folder, including buttons, icons, and page components. Optionally make any folder a "virtual area" which appears to be a self-contained site.Complete CSS Support
We've completely overhauled the HTML code to make it compatible with CSS, even for Netscape 4. Use our stylesheet or write your own.Font Choices
Set a sitewide font-face and size without editing CSS. Users can override these choices in their personal preferences.Localization
Offer your site in several languages - users can choose at registration or in their personal preference. Or, in an all-English site, change the built-in terminology. For example, change all mention of "discussions" to "topics," or customize any text in the interface for your users.Section 508
Our servers are now Priority 1 Section 508 compliant for accessibility.Folder Page Layout Controls
Options to hide the title, backpath, or buttons to make a folder page a "content page."Emoticons
Twenty expressive inline emoticon graphics automatically replace trigger characters such as ":)" or ":smile:". Emoticon images can be replaced, triggers are sysop-editable, and users have a preference to turn them off, and sysop can add or remove emoticons from the supported list. Get creative!
... And More
Many more updates, including...
Webmail Improvements
- SpamX for absolute spam control: Using a "whitelist" system, users can require human correspondents to reply to an automatically-generated email which places them on the user's whitelist, and all future correspondence is automatically accepted.
- New Site-wide spam filters: A new site-wide email rules option allows application of the sysop email rules to all incoming email. Users have this feature turned on by default, and may turn it off inside their Email Preferences. A user's personal email filters always take precedence
- Added new "next message" and "previous message" navigation arrows while reading an email message. The navigation also indicates if the next/previous message has already been read or not (by link color and text indicator).
- Added a Webmail user preference to automatically mark deleted items as "read". This allows a user to get rid of a lot of junk email, for example, without having to manually go in and empty the TrashBox in order to turn off the "You Have Email" signal. The default remains the same as it was - items are not marked as read unless the user sets this preference.
New Attachment Controls
More than one attachment per message. Delete or add new attachments on the edit message page. Optionally allow images smaller than specified dimensions to be shown inline.Export and Import of Javascript Objects
Site export and import now includes JavaScript objects and properties, allowing you even more freedom to move material between servers.Improved Search
Standard search results page includes bolded keywords in text excerpts. Enhanced search interface to do searching by date, with special sorting.Server HTML Compression
Optional compression for HTML page serving - speeds up serving by up to 10 times.Moderated Message Email Notification
New optional email notification for moderated messages awaiting approval.