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Webcomic Site Automation Tool Upgraded

David Schumacher has released version 7.2 of ATP Autosite. ATP is a "site automation script" that automates many tasks needed to update a daily (or less frequent) webcomic site.

ATP allows for archive navigation through back/next links, monthly calendar links, and a drop-down menu. Version 7.2 adds new features such as providing for a comic "title" and allowing for daily text with the comic to be archived.

2010 Update: David site stopped updating around 2003 and he pulled all versions of ATP from the site.  Not sure if there's another source for ATP available.  The only major site I'm aware of still using ATP is John Allison's Scary Go Round.

Webcomic Automation Systems

In our continuing search for the ultimate in webcomic automation systems, we bring you links to several not-quite-there-yet open source projects. Some require access to a MySQL database and other do not - this is obviously a key consideration if your host does not provide you with access to a MySQL database with your account. The three we review today do not require MySQL databases.

Need a Good Software Package to Run Your Webcomics Site?

There are several syndicate/host sites for webcomics such as Keenspot, Keenspace (free), and Modern Tales that automate much of the presentation and archiving of webcomics. There are also several free software packages for webcomics site automation in various stages of development, including AutoKeen Lite and ATP.

Debut of KeenPrime Hosting Service for Webcomics

Keenspot has long offered a free hosting service for webcomics, but one that has sometimes been too true to the phrase, "you get what you pay for."  Now Keen is getting into the paid hosting business, promising to offer packages with the full set of "autokeen" scripts used to support the comics on KeenSpot itself.

Hosting plans range from $10 to $50 a month and the terms and conditions (space, transfer limits, extras) seem roughly comparable to other options in the market, although it's hard to put a price on the autokeen script (which may still be the "crown jewel" of comic archiving systems).