Setting Up the Members-Only Pages

Actually, all you need do is setup a page which is the starting page for Members Only content.  This page address is then entered in the Configuration Page under Location of Members Only Pages.

And that's all you have to do, and the system will work.

However, that wouldn't be very secure. Anyone who knew the address of your Members Only content could go there, and view the pages.  But you want all viewers to be paid, right?

So you need to enter some code on those special Members Only pages. And this code is PHP code.  Thus, the pages need to be PHP-enabled. If they have the filetype of .php, then that will take care of that.  However, if they are .html pages, then you need to edit the .htaccess file in the root directory of your website.

Just add this line:

AddType application/x-httpd-php .php .html

Here's the code that needs to be on the Members Only pages:

Put this code at the very top of the pages:

<script language="php">
session_start();
</script>

It MUST be at the top because you'll get an error message is it isn't.

Then, choose anyplace in the page you like and put this:

<script language="php">
require("../maxmembers/toolbar.php");
</script>

This assumes that the Max Members system has been installed in a folder called maxmembers one level up from the location of the Members Only pages.

All this does is show a line like this:

Member Profile      Membership Pages        Logout

So it's probably a good idea to place it near the top of the page.

It also (and this is the important thing) checks that the person is logged in as a member and paid.  If not, this line is shown:

This page is only available to Members. Only members can
access the Members pages. Click Here for Home Page.

It also checks if a formerly paid membership has expired and puts out the appropriate messages.

(Signing Up / Logging In)