Well, actually, we think it works quite well. The ads on the right side of this page are displayed with CellarWebAds.
Oh, wait. You wanted to know how it all works. OK. Here we go!
There are several database tables that CellarWebAds uses. They are all described in the installation documents included in the CellarWebAds download. Here's how those tables work together to display (and track) a random set of ads. You might want to also look at (and print) the Screen Shots document.
A CellarWebAds template is used to specify a group of ad slots. Each ad slot has a priority, a graphic image, and a target (where you go when you 'click' the ad). When the ad is displayed on the web page, the 'view' is counted in a table. When an ad is clicked, a 'click' is counted in a table.
A rate table specifies the cost of the view and click. A campaign table is used to specify the parameters of an ad campaign, which specifies the graphic to use, when to display the ad, and what rate table is used for the ad. The campaign table also references the client's name and billing information for that advertisement.
All of those tables are used to build an ad display. The templates are randomly selected, and the ads that are specified by the templates are also randomly selected, without duplicating a specific ad graphic.
Once you set up the information in the tables, two simple PHP commands are used to display the ads on your web site. We use various styles to keep things neat and organized. You can use the commands anywhere on your page, although the default location is the right side column.
The information in the tables is protected by an administrative user name and password, so that only authorized users can change the table information.
CellarWebAds includes various reports of the tables, and it is quite easy to change and add information in the tables. And we have a billing report that is used to bill your customers. Look at the Screenshots pages for examples about the various tables and reports in CellarWebAds. If you want to see CellarWebAds in action, the ads on the right side of the pages on this CellarWebAds web site are displayed with the CellarWebAds program. You can also check out some other Live Sites that are using the CellarWebAds program. (If you want to add your site to our Live Sites page, just let us know via the Comment form.)
The design of the CellarWebAds programs is optimized so that there are a minimum of supporting files. There's the main program, an 'include' file for commonly used functions, a CSS style file, and some images. And we've provided a way for you to modify the styles and graphics that are used by the program.
The PHP source code is copyrighted, but you can modify it if you want. We recommend that you use the customization techniques described in the technical documents to change the operation of the program (mainly the styles and graphics used), rather than changing the base source code. This will allow you to easily install CellarWebAd program updates without breaking your modifications.
We think that CellarWebAds is a great and easy way to display advertising on your web site (and to make money from that advertising since CellarWebAds keeps track of ad views and clicks). And the program is free. Although we would appreciate any donations to help us in further development of CellarWebAds.
If you have any questions, comments, or problems, please use our Contact form. And don't forget about the 'Donate' page.
Thanks!
The CellarWebAds team
