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Portal Administration
Several of Spider’s configurations are contained within the web.config file on the root of the website. The user friendly way to access this file to make changes is through the “Portal Administration” control. Please be aware that any changes to this file will result in Spider restarting when saved which will log out existing users. Be mindful of this when making changes.
As well as the web.config configurations, there are specific setting for other modules which are selectable from the drop down menu. When saving changes to the web.config, Spider will restart itself, causing users to have to log in again. This does not occur when making changes in the other menu options.
A few specific settings currently aren’t accessible through the Spider Configuration Editor, for example the keys relating to Active Directory (AD) authentication. To access these, find the “web.config” file in the Spider’s installation directory (i.e. ..\Spider\web.config), and edit it with your preferred XML editor. To enable AD, the “SecType” key under the “secSettings” element should have a value of “AD”, and the “domain” key under the “appSettings” element should have an empty value (i.e. value = “”) unless otherwise advised by PCSchool.

Configuration Key for Active Directory authentication
The following keys are editable from the Configuration Manager.
PCSchool Directory | This is the location of PCSchool folder structure. This is the directory where the Documents andRreports are found. If the pcschool is on different server, use the UNC path to avoid any permission issues while accessing the files |
FormPeriod | Set to TRUE if you want to have the hard coded Form Class in the teacher timetable and in roll marking |
NZ | TRUE if you are a New Zealand school |
Comment_Length | This constrains the maximum number of comment characters that should be allowed from Spider Result Entry |
DocumentManagementFolderPath | ***Superseded*** Path to the Document Management folder. It is suggested to use a UNC path the same as below. |
DocumentManagementFolderNetworkPath | ***Superseded*** The UNC path to the document manager |
SMTP_SERVER | The SMTP server name for sending email |
SMTP_FROM_EMAIL | The default from email address to be used for generic emails. We recommend noreply@your.domain |
SMTP_PORT | The SMTP port of the email server. Normally its 25, although for Gmail its 587 |
SMTP_AUTH_USER | If sending through an authenticated mail server (Gmail), then a valid user is needed for authentication. |
SMTP_AUTH_PASSWORD | The authentication password for the above user. |
SMTP_MODE | TEST sends email only to the test email address. LIVE sends emails to the intended recipients |
SMTP_TEST_EMAIL | The email address to which mail has to be send when in TEST mode |
SMTP_USE_SSL | True – if you want to enable SSL. SSL is enabled only for secure ports |
HOME_URL | The external URL of spider if you have one. Otherwise the internal address. |
PAYMENT_RESPONSE_XML_LOCATION | ***Superseded*** The location to store the online payments response which contains info on whether it was success and what account should this be applied to |
PAYMENT_RESPONSE_XML_ARCHIVE_LOCATION | ***Superseded*** Where to store a copy of this response. This location files can be used for any further verification if needed |
PAYMENT_GATEWAY_MODE | TEST – try the payment gateway in test mode, so no actual payments are completed. To make it live, change the value to LIVE |
PAYMENT_GATEWAY_PROVIDER | ***Superseded*** Supported providers are: PXPOST = Direct Payment Service (AUD, NZD) SSL required PXPAY = Direct Payment Service (AUD, NZD) SSL not required DIRECTONE = Direct One Payment (AUD) ADN = Autherize dont net PAYPAL = Pay Pal |
WorkArea | If Spider is looking at main work area, keep its value blank “” otherwise enter the name of the work area folder. |
TT_DATE_SHOW | TRUE – if you want to show the dates in teacher timetable |
TT_SHOW_SUBTTCODE | TRUE – if we want to show the subject code in teacher timetable |
TT_PERIOD_WITHOUT_ROLL_COLOR | The HEXADECIMAL colour for rolls periods without rolls being marked in timetable |
TT_PERIOD_WITH_ROLL_COLOR | The HEXADECIMAL colour for rolls periods with rolls being marked in timetable |
SHOW_ATTENDANCECODES | TRUE – if you want to show the attendance codes in roll marking attendance statuses xml |
RES_SHOWNOTASSIGNED_TEACHERSUBJECTS | TRUE – if you want your result entry to show the subjects where teachers are not assigned. This works only with a specific result entry xml format named “StudentAllSubjects” |
DefaultSettingUserPassword | The identity “Login” name that should be used if anyone tries the guest login in Spider home page |
ShowDefaultSettingUserMenu | The password that should be used if any one tries the guest login in Spider home page |
CURRENT_VERSION | The version of your Spider |
COMPANY_NAME | The name that should appear on the notifications sent out from the Spider. This is generally your school name. |
ENABLE_MULTICAMPUS_FILTER | TRUE – if you need to show multi campus filter on. If this is true, then the data will be based on the campus of the person who has logged in |
IMAGE_LOCATION | The location where crystal report should look for any student/staff images if it has to print it |
DEFAULT_COUNTRY | ***Superseded*** NZ for New Zealand – AUS for Australia |
BUILD_FROM_TT_TICKED | TRUE if you want the “Build from timetable” checkbox ticked by default in the roll marking screen |
PROFILE_UPDATE_VERIFICATION_EMAIL | The email address to which updated profiles are sent for verification before submitting to database |
ENABLE_GUEST_LOGIN | TRUE if you want the “Guest Login” icon to appear on the login page of Spider |
CHANGEPASSWORD_TIP | The tip/instruction to be shown on the change password screen |
PAYMENT_GATEWAY_SURCHARGE | ***Superseded*** The surcharge that should be applied to the payments. Put 0 if no surcharge required |
CALENDAR_TAB_YEAR_VISIBLE | TRUE if you want the year tab in calendar view. Year view will look complex if there are lots of events happening at the school |
CALENDAR_TAB_MONTH_VISIBLE | TRUE if you want the month tab in calendar view |
CALENDAR_TAB_WEEK_VISIBLE | TRUE if you want the week tab in calendar view |
EMAIL_ADDRESS_SEPERATOR | This can have the value of ; or , Some mail servers prefer ; as the email separator. If this is not properly done, then when sending emails to more than one person in TO address, emails are send only to one person |
SHOW_ALERTS_FROM_ABSENCEENTRY | TRUE if you want to show the student/family alerts to show near the student name in absence entry |
LIBRARY_SEARCH_DEFAULT_TYPE | What should be the default search type in library interface? Values can be S=Subject, T=Title, A=Author, E=Series |
EMAIL_FROM_BEHAVIOURNOTES | TRUE if you want the sending email from behaviour notes feature. This will enable the staff to send the behaviour information to a set of users |
ENABLE_DOCUMENTMANAGER | ***Superseded*** To enable/disable document manager from inside controls like student info. If it has a T, then only for teachers, if it’s TS, then teacher and student etc, TSC is for teachers, students and caregivers |
ENABLE_EMAIL | To enable/disable email from inside the controls like student info. If it has a T, then only for teachers, if it’s TS, then teacher and student etc, TSC is for teachers, students and caregivers |
ABSENCE_REVIEW_INCLUDE_ROLL | TRUE if you want the absence review to include roll statuses. This will slow down the screen a lot however. |
SMTP_AUTH_USER_PARENT | When using a secure mail server like Gmail, all the emails should be authenticated by a valid Gmail accounts address. Put the username that should act as authentication username when a caregiver tries to send email through Spider eg: for interview booking |
SMTP_AUTH_PASSWORD_PARENT | When using a secure mail server like Gmail, all the emails should be authenticated by a valid Gmail accounts address. Put the password that should act as authentication password when a caregiver tries to send email through Spider eg: for interview booking |
LIBRARY_SEARCH_SHOW_MAPS | TRUE if you want to show maps in the library search |
FEE_PAYMENT_SURCHARGE_WARNING | ***Superseded*** The warning message instructing the caregivers that using the payment portal to pay their outstanding fees can invite some extra charge. Put his message if you have a payment gateway surcharge mentioned above |
FEE_PAYMENT_SUCCESS_MESSAGE | ***Superseded*** The message that should appear when the payment was successful. This can be something like… “Our accounts department will be updating your account within 24 hours.” |
ENABLE_STUDENT_ALERTS | Who should see the alerts when they login. Put T if only teachers need to see the alert, TS for teachers as well as students, TSC for teachers, students and caregivers |
SHOW_RESET_MERITS_DEMERITS | TRUE if you want to show the merits/demerits section in Behaviour Notes |
EMAIL_FROM_STUDENTMEDICALENTRY | TRUE if you want the email feature from medical entry. This will allow the staff to send the details of the medical entry to a set of users |
INTERVIEW_ENABLE_MULTI_PARENT_OPTION | TRUE if you want to enable multiple parents to book for simultaneous interviews |
MARKBOOK_SELECTION_BGCOLOR | The background colour for the currently selected column of the markbook be. |
SHOW_LIBRARY_CALLNO_LOCATION | TRUE if you want to show the “callno” location in library as an image |
HOME_URL_INTERNAL | The INTERNAL URL of Spider. If you want the Spider links use internal URL when within the campus |
AUTOSTART_ORDER_APPROVAL | Do you need the work flow based approval emails to be automatically started when the order is saved. TRUE/FALSE |
AUTO_DECODE_COMMENTBANKCOMMENTS | TRUE if you want the comments to decode automatically when you click on “Add” button near to comment bank selection row |
ENABLE_NONSYNCH_SAVE | TRUE – if you want to have the [non synch] button on the markbook |
ABSENCE_ROLL_REVIEW_DAYRANGE | The number of days prior to which the unexplained absence is to be calculated. By default it will be 7 which shows the data for the last 7 days |
TEACHER_STATUSES_TOSHOW | The teachers codes to be shown in Spider menus. These can be seen by going to “Staff View” in PCSchool and clicking on the […] button for selecting the staff code |
CAREGIVER_ABSENCESTATUS_FILTER | If the value is TRUE, then this will filter the absence statuses to see if the overall status is an absence. This is used only for caregivers – as when they login they don’t need to see that their child is absent if it’s not a real absence |
TT_LOGIC_NO | 1 if the start day is Start Monday and 2 if the start day is cycle day |
PAYMENT_SUCCESS_NOTIFY_EMAIL | Email address of the person whom should receive the email once a payment is made |
ENABLE_FORGOT_PASSWORD | TRUE if you would like the forgot password to be shown on Spider’s login page. False will set it hidden |
INCORRECT_PASSWORD_COUNT_STAFF | The number of incorrect attempts for staff login before the account is locked. If 0 then the account will never be locked |
INCORRECT_PASSWORD_COUNT_STUDENT | The number of incorrect attempts for a student login before the account is locked. If 0 then the account is will never be locked |
INCORRECT_PASSWORD_COUNT_CAREGIVER | The number of incorrect attempts for caregiver login before the account is locked. If 0 then the account will never be locked |
OPTIONAL_PAYMENTS_CAPTION | The caption that should be shown for the “Optional payments” section in the “Pay Student’s Fees” control. |
INTERVIEW_ENABLE_SEND_MESSAGE | FALSE means don’t show the send message button on the interview booking screen for caregivers |
PROFILE_UPDATE_SPIDERLINK_ENABLE | TRUE means, show the hyperlink to update the student/family profile in Spider (if it exists) |
ENABLE_PERIODSELECTION_STUDENTBASEDREPORT | Show period selection on the student info screen. T for teacher, TC for teacher and caregiver etc |
ENABLE_CHANGEPASSWORD | Do you wish to enable Change password through spider. Normally this is hidden if its a AD enabled school as they might have their own mechanism for password generation |
SHOW_STUDENTINFO_FROM_ABSENCEENTRY | If the value is TRUE, then spider shows the student info when the “i” button is clicked from ABSENCE ENTRY v2. |
LOAD_DEFAULT_EMAIL_AUTHENTICATION | If the value is TRUE, then the authentication username/password is loaded as per the Spider config. This is normally used by schools who require authentication for sending emails and who are using BULK EMAILING in Spider. In most cases bulk emailing in spider uses these authentication details. |
ENABLE_REPORTALIAS_IN_REPORTLAUNCH | Show report alias on the report list. T for teacher, TC for teacher and caregiver etc |
HOME PAGE CONFIGURATION
Also available are a few configurable items for the HOME PAGE
STUDENTBEHAVIOUR
When using Behaviour Notes (version 1), the “DEFAULT_BEHAVIOURNOTE_TYPE_V1” key determines which type of note will be populated first when behaviour notes is run from “My Classes” or “Absence Entry.” Both of these controls load the entry screen by default, so the type will be now be based on above selection.
Spider’s Login Screen
- Determined by “ENABLE_FORGOT_PASSWORD” value
- Determined by “ENABLE_GUEST_LOGIN” value
- Determined by “SPIDER_LOGIN_MESSAGE” within “Configure Spider Web Info” menu
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