Customize facebook fan page by static fbml app

Posted by mahmud ahsan on September 8, 2009 in Facebook | 30 Comments

static_fbml Sometimes you may need to customize your facebook fan page. Then

what will you do ?

Possible solutions:

  1. To develop a customize application for this purpose
  2. If there are any such application for this purpose then will use it (free)

When will you develop your customize application for facebook page?
If you need to use any scripting language like php, asp, jsp. You may need to call some facebook api then you should choose this solution. Click here to see how to develop customize facebook application for fan page

Is there any such app for this purpose if i don’t need to use scripting language like php, jsp?
Yeah, there is a nice app developed by Facebook called Static FBML

static_fbml

Please visit this app. In the figure you’ll see there is an option “Add to my page”. Just click here to add this app in your page. After clicking it you’ll see the pages’ name to those you are admin. Then visit your page and click Edit Page. Here you’ll see one instance of this app


static_fbml2

Now click Edit. You’ll see the following figure:


static_fbml3

Now write a title in the “Box Title” option and in the “FBML part“  write css/html and FBML to customize your page tab. After doing that, please click Save Changes.

Now visit your page. In the right side you’ll see a (+) icon like the following figure.
static_fbml4
and in the search availabe tabs: write the title you put as Box Title.

To see sample of fbml code that you want to use in this app, visit my another post and copy/paste the code of that post in this app’s FBML part and check what happens.

Advantage:

  1. no need to buy hosting
  2. all data are stored in facebook database
  3. simple to use
  4. it’s free

Disadvantage:

  1. you couldn’t use scripting language like php/jsp/asp
  2. you couldn’t call facebook api

reference: FBML

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Comments (30)

 

  1. [...] if you want to see how to install an app in facebook fan page, please check this post. Here a procedure is shown to setup facebook app in fan [...]

  2. puneet says:

    mahmud,
    hi.

    this is excactly what i was looking for. What do you choose for the application type in facebook : FBML or iFrame?

    I tried creating a sample application and running into issues. Would it be possible to provide a link to working source code for the sample application?

    thanks
    puneet

  3. John Booth says:

    Do you know of a Static FBML reference? It seems like some user related FBML commands don’t work.

  4. Miss52 says:

    The G-20 specifically limits its perspective to that of nations which have the money. ,

  5. I’ve created a video tutorial for installing Static FBML on Facebook. Tell me what you think…. http://www.learntowebdesign.com/2009/11/install-fbml-on-a-facebook-page/

  6. Valerie says:

    This is a great tool! Thanks for the brief tutorial. Made it super-simple to really pimp my page.

  7. Glenn says:

    Check out some interesting stuff you can do on your Facebook Fan page. Steps & code provided. Click on “Fan Page Utilities” tab and become a fan to check out the contents of the page

    http://www.facebook.com/webwhispers

  8. Owen says:

    Hi. When I can’t see the edit option for the FBML app when I go to edit page. I have already made Static FBML one of my favourite pages. Any suggestions?

  9. Mahmud Ahsan says:

    @Owen, refresh your broswers several times and please try again. Hope you’ll see.

  10. E Khan says:

    I’ve created a small facebook page but I’m unable to hide/remove ads.

    Is there any script available with step by step instructions that will stop displaying these ads on my page.

    I use IE browser for facebook page.

    Appreciate

    Regards
    E Khan

  11. I’ve been doing a lot of research on static FBML to build my page, and I was able to put together something nice.
    Added a flickr slideshow, a youtube video, an “upload your photo” link, used clicktoshow, clicktohide, share page with friends, fb:name and fb:profile-pic.

    It’s really not as scary as it looks like!

    I’m not an expert, but I’ll be happy to answer any questions about my page (www.facebook.com/hiltoncaribbean).

    Regards

    Ruth

  12. KerryAnn May says:

    When I click on the Statis FBLM app, the apps page only gives me the option to add it to my favorites, it doesn’t give me the option to add it to my page.

    I am the administrator of our page. Help!

  13. KerryAnn May says:

    I figured it out late last night with another person’s help. I wasn’t an administrator because I created the Fan Page using an email address other than the one associated with my personal facebook page! So I added myself as an administrator and it worked like a charm!

  14. Ronny Tanzil says:

    hi, do you know how to add a “personal become a fan button” in fan page? so i can insert the name of every fan to my database :) thx. i found that iframe can’t be used any longer :(

  15. mahmud ahsan says:

    Hi Ronny, Using static fbml app you can’t retrieve your page’s fan’s user id. You have to develop your own customized facebook app for fan page to retrieve user’s id.

  16. Andrew says:

    Hello,

    Thanks for the tips. Here’s what I’m looking to and I’ve been thinking about trying this a number of different ways but I am making a tab for a facebook fan page for Studying Abroad and want to connect students to photos of other students currently abroad that are publishing their pictures on flickr, picasa, photobucket, facebook, etc.

    One thought is to use Yahoo Pipes and mash all of the different photo RSS feeds into one and then make a FBML slideshow to display the RSS. The problem is I can’t find any examples of people doing this but I feel like this would be a really useful/cool feature.

    Another idea is maybe using the flickr tab and importing all the different photos into a flickr account.

    Or maybe just manually post the pictures from the different students as appropriate but I was hoping to do something more interactive/hands free.

    Any ideas or links would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

  17. mahmud ahsan says:

    @Andrew, I value your opinion and the features your told here. It is possible to develop your features for facebook page app, but then you couldn’t use this static fbml app. You have to develop your own customized app with your features.

  18. Tom Story says:

    I just created a 520px Flash template that edits with Notepad.
    This best for your own photo and video galleries without the FB restrictions. It is now on sale on ActiveDen.net for $17

    http://activeden.net/item/facebook-static-fbml-app-520px-site-template/94839?ref=venataur

    The 8 lines of code you need for this whole template is included in the directions and walkthrough. I have sold 25 templates this week and the ones I have seen look awesome.

    I would love feedback on this. Here are two demos
    http://facebook.com/venataur
    http://facebook.com/lakefront – >> About LFB tab

  19. mp3box says:

    Thanks for the tips

  20. Tim says:

    awesome facebook FBML templates can be found at http://www.flashmint.com/show-type-facebook.html

  21. Maurizio says:

    Hi Mahmud,
    do you know how to include a video within a jpeg in static FBML?

  22. Manuel says:

    Hi Mahmud,

    We have created a custom facebook app:

    http://apps.facebook.com/festival-estivale/

    but we are unable to add it to our fan pages.

    We tried to add it following your instructions to the following fan page but it is not being displayed:

    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tenerife-es-asi/128666600498311?v=app_4949752878&ref=ts

    Facebook tells us that the app has been added as a box but I cannot find when viewing the fan page profile.

    The app is not in the application directory.

    May I ask you wat can be the reason ?

    Best,
    Manuel

    • mahmud ahsan says:

      Manuel, please check in the application setting (Authentication Settings) Facebook Pages is marked or not. And for facebook page app you have to set the page name in profile setting (Tab name, Tab Url). Please remember normal app can’t be set in facebook page until you do the both setting.

  23. digitalpbk says:

    How do I install an app on the fan page which is not in the app directory?

  24. Ibees says:

    Hi frndds . i’ve recently made a new facebook FANS page without any any prepration. i ‘ve added an FBML box too. But I dntk knw wht to do with It. Will any of U all helpp me. thnx

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