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Difference between revisions of "Content Restrictions"

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(Cleanup page, talk about how to secure the file.)
(actually use my edits that got blown out on a login)
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There are limitations on the origin of images that can be displayed by a fresh installation of BZFlag. These can be configured by the user.
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BZFlag offers a content restriction feature that can be used to limit what various clients will download.
  
==Default Content Restrictions==
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The primary use of these restrictions is to limit the downloads of images so that parents can prevent inappropriate images being shown to their children.
  
By default the game-client will only allow downloading images from the [http://images.bzflag.org official BZFlag image-server]. Those images all comply with a strict policy that can be found at the [http://images.bzflag.org/submitimages/tos.php BZFlag Image Uploader Terms Of Service].
 
  
Map creators can upload image-files to this server through the [http://images.bzflag.org/submitimages/ BZFlag Image Uploader].
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==Defaults==
This procedure has a few drawbacks however:  
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By default there is a single level of content restriction in place. Only images hosted on the [[http://images.bzflag.org|BZFlag image submission system] will be allowed. This system has a 'family friendly' [http://images.bzflag.org/submitimages/tos.php|content policy] and all images are reviewed manually by project staff to ensure that they follow the policy and are properly licensed.
* Images need to get explicitly allowed by a moderator before they get in, this is a slow process. This way it becomes impractical to have dynamic content.
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* Each image needs to have some license associated with it. Map makers often just want to make a map without being bothered by the legal aspects of it.
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==Configuring Content Restrictions==
 
==Configuring Content Restrictions==
Each BZFlag client-installation has a file called DownloadAccess.txt which controls what servers are allowed to serve images.  
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Content restrictions are controlled by the file '''DownloadAccess.txt'''. This file may not be created by default and if it does not exist the user should simply create a file with the correct name.
  
===Location of the DownloadAccess-file===
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===Location===
Depending on your platform the location differs:
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The location of the file depends on the operating system that the client is installed on:
 
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* Windows: OSDRIVE:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\BZFlag\2.4\DownloadAccess.txt
* Windows: My Documents\My BZFlag Files\DownloadAccess.txt
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* OS X: ~/Library/Application Support/BZFlag/DownloadAccess.txt
 
* OS X: ~/Library/Application Support/BZFlag/DownloadAccess.txt
 
* Linux: ~/.bzf/DownloadAccess.txt
 
* Linux: ~/.bzf/DownloadAccess.txt
  
===Modifying the DownloadAccess-file===
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===Modification===
A simple text-editor can be used to modify this file. On windows the program "notepad" will do just fine.  
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The file can be edited in a normal text editor, such as ''Notepad'' or ''TextEdit''.
If you do not want any content-restrictions at all you can replace the whole content of the file with the line
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allow *
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If the user would like to add additional sites to the allowed list they can simply add a new line as follows
If you only want to allow a specific server then add '''on top of the file''' the line
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allow some.image.server
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  allow url.to.the.site.com
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If the user would like to allow all sites they can simply add a wildcard instead of a site name
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  allow *
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===Parental Security===
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Parents may wish to secure the file from editing in order to prevent a child from circumventing any restrictions. Securing the file involves setting the child's user account in such a way that it does not have permission to edit the file. This method varies by OS and can be found using simple internet searches.

Revision as of 18:40, 13 February 2012

BZFlag offers a content restriction feature that can be used to limit what various clients will download.

The primary use of these restrictions is to limit the downloads of images so that parents can prevent inappropriate images being shown to their children.


Defaults

By default there is a single level of content restriction in place. Only images hosted on the [image submission system will be allowed. This system has a 'family friendly' policy and all images are reviewed manually by project staff to ensure that they follow the policy and are properly licensed.

Configuring Content Restrictions

Content restrictions are controlled by the file DownloadAccess.txt. This file may not be created by default and if it does not exist the user should simply create a file with the correct name.

Location

The location of the file depends on the operating system that the client is installed on:

  • Windows: OSDRIVE:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\BZFlag\2.4\DownloadAccess.txt
  • OS X: ~/Library/Application Support/BZFlag/DownloadAccess.txt
  • Linux: ~/.bzf/DownloadAccess.txt

Modification

The file can be edited in a normal text editor, such as Notepad or TextEdit.

If the user would like to add additional sites to the allowed list they can simply add a new line as follows

 allow url.to.the.site.com

If the user would like to allow all sites they can simply add a wildcard instead of a site name

 allow *

Parental Security

Parents may wish to secure the file from editing in order to prevent a child from circumventing any restrictions. Securing the file involves setting the child's user account in such a way that it does not have permission to edit the file. This method varies by OS and can be found using simple internet searches.