If you want to be a web ring junky, then you have to joins some web rings. . .the more the better! This FAQ tells you how to do that.
where do I find rings to join?
The best place to look for rings to join is the ring system directory: Ringlink's Directory; WebRing's Directory; or Ring Surf's Directory. You can also do a search in any engine and get tons of hits. Another great way (arguably the best way) to find rings to join is to visit the web ring pages of your favorite sites and see what rings they have joined.
what is the "queue" and how do I get in?
The queue is where your information goes when you fill out the ring's submit form. It is the place holder for new submissions to the ring so that the ring's owner or helper can make sure your site meets the criteria and/or check to make sure you have properly added the ring fragment to your pages.
To get in, you usually go to the ring's home page and look for joining instructions. Usually the ring owner will have a form directly on their site, or a link to the program's form page, that you fill out. Sometimes ring owner's will ask that you "pre-apply" by e-mail or something and be accepted before you actually apply to the ring.
how do I get from the queue to the ring?
Typically, once you have placed the ring fragment on your site, you will e-mail the ring owner or helper, or in some cases, other ring members, and ask them to add you to the ring. Yahoo!'s new ring will automatically add your site for the ring owner. Each system and each ring owner will have a different way of accepting sites into their rings.
how do I get the images to my server?
Getting the images from the ring's site to your server is a matter of downloading and uploading. See the "images" section for more detailed instruction.
how do I get the ring fragment on my page?
Getting the fragment onto your page is a copy and paste procedure. This is discussed in more depth in the "fragment" section.
what if I want to join, but I don't like the ring fragment?
This is something you have to take up with the ring owner. Manipulating the graphic is a copyright infringement. Furthermore, some owner's expressly state that you can't alter the code. Sometimes, the owner will welcome alternate ring fragments, so it can't hurt to ask. You should always ask if this is something you want considered. It's good netiquette.
what if I join and I never get added to the ring?
This could mean that the ring owner has abandoned the ring. If you've tried unsuccessfully to contact the ring owner, and if you've tried having a ring member add you and that doesn't work, then contact ring system's owner and see what they say. It's possible that the owner has officially abandoned the ring and you can adopt it, or they might have another suggestion.
what if I can't find a ring to join?
If you can't find a ring to join, then you should consider creating your own ring! Tips on how to do this are in the "create" section.
how do I change my site's information?
Once you are in the queue or the ring, you can always edit your site information. The owner might have the form for entering ring management on the ring home page, or you can access it from the ring system.
Generally, you will need the ring's id and your site id and password.
how do I find the ring's id?
If you need to know the ring's id for some reason (like to edit your site info or get your password) you can find it in several different ways: 1) look in your ring fragment for something like "ringid=XXXX"; 2) do a system search for the ring name and hover your cursor over the link...
how do I find my site's id?
To find your site id, look in the ring fragment on your site for id=# where # is your site id. If you can't find it this way, then go to the ring's list page and look for your site. In WebRing, place you mouse over the link for your site and look in the status bar. Your site id is the number after id= near the end of the url. In RingSurf, it's the number next to your url.
how do I find my password if I lost it?
It is likely that the ring owner has provided the password form at the ring home page, but if not: for a Ringlink ring, you'll need to go to the system's homepage and find the "ring admin" page; for WebRing, go here and follow the instructions; and for RingSurf, go here and enter the ring id and site id and hit login, it will give you the option of having your password sent.
what do I do if the ring's home page is missing?
This is another good indication that the owner has abandoned the ring. Check out the suggestions above.