How to Post CrossMgr Results to Facebook

Post date: Aug 17, 2013 9:43:20 PM

Facebook does not allow any other content than photos to be posted - not html files, and not pdf files.

Consider these four ways to post CrossMgr results to Facebook:

1) Post the CrossMgr HTML output in pastehtml, then link to that from Facebook

2) Post the CrossMgr HTML output to dropbox, then link to that from Facebook

3) Create a pdf file from CrossMgr and post it to Scribd, then link to that from Facebook

4) Generate graphics files (png) from CrossMgr, and post those files directly to Facebook (not recommended).

Each method has advantages and disadvantages.

Method 1: Post the CrossMgr HTML output to pastehtml, then link to that page from Facebook

Recommended.

From CrossMgr, do a "File/Publish Results as HTML...". This will generate an html file with the results and write it in the same folder as the race file with a ".html". Now, login to pastehtml with your Facebook login.

On your computer, open the results .html file with Notepad. Do a "Edit|Select All", then "Edit|Copy" or Ctrl-c.

On the pasthtml page, select the entire contents of the "Paste your HTML code or plain text" section. Press Ctrl-v to replace this with the CrossMgr html contents. Then click on "Publish Page". Keep clicking through the preview even if you don't see anything. Use the address returned from pasthtml as a link on your Facebook page.

Advantages: shows complete CrossMgr output, dynamic results categories and lap data, animation, "Google Earth Ride" button, searchable on the page with Ctrl-f, and indexed by Google and other search engines.

Disadvantages: A bit of cutting-and-pasting to get the html file posted properly in pasthtml, and you have to include the link in Facebook.

Method 2: Post the CrossMgr HTML output to dropbox, then link to that page from Facebook

Recommended.

From CrossMgr, do a "File/Publish Results as HTML...". This will generate an html file with the results and write it in the same folder as the race file with a ".html". Now, login to dropbox. If you don't have a login, you will need to create one.

Upload the CrossMgr html results file to you Public folder in dropbox. After the file is uploaded, right-click on it and select "Copy Public Link". Paste this link in Facebook.

Advantages: shows complete CrossMgr output, dynamic results categories and lap data, animation, "Google Earth Ride" button, searchable on the page with Ctrl-f, and indexed by Google and other search engines.

Disadvantages: You have to set up a dropbox account. However, if you install the dropbox client, it will automatically synchronize files on your computer with dropbox. This means that if you change the results, they will automatcially synchronize without having to report them. You have to include the link in Facebook.

Method 3: Create a pdf file from CrossMgr and post it to Scribd, then link to the pdf file from Facebook

Somewhat recommended.

Download and install TinyPDF. Print CrossMgr results, and select the TinyPDF printer. This will prompt you for the name of your the pdf file you want to save. After generating the pdf file, log into Scribd with your Facebook login. Upload the pdf flie. Post the Scribd link on your Facebook page.

Advantages: nice printed-page look, shows complete CrossMgr output, searchable on the page with Ctrl-f, and indexed by Google and other search engines.

Disadvantages: Have to download TinyPDF. No animation, no dynamic results categories or lap info, no "Google Earth Ride" button. A bit of trouble to save and post the pdf file to Scribd and include the link in Facebook.

Method 4: Generate graphics files (png) from CrossMgr, and post those files directly to Facebook.

Not recommended.

From CrossMgr, do a "File/Publish Results as PNG (for Facebook). This will write all the results to a 'ResultsPNG" folder in the same folder as the CrossMgr race file.

Log into Facebook. Select "Add Photos/video". On your computer, go to the "ResultsPNG" folder. Drag-and-drop all the png files into your Facebook post.

Advantages: "quickest and dirtiest" way to post CrossMgr results to Facebook.

Disadvantages: because the results files are in a bitmap format, they are neither dynamic nor searchable. They cannot be searched with Ctrl-f, and none of the search engines (like Google) can search them. The graphics files are also very large compared to html or pdf files. The graphics look "pixelated" at higher magnification and blurry when printed.