Best Link List software ?

[Pervy]

Hi Guys,

I don't post here very often but do read from time to time, anyway I now have something to ask the experts here.

I run Foxy's Sex Clearinghouse (I purchased the domain from the original owner Tech Chick aka Foxy a while back).

I re-designed her old site using Gossamer Threads but am not really very happy with the software (or my crappy design).

What link list software would you recommend ?

Also does anyone know of a good designer / programmer that can build me a great looking Link List ?

Thanks all,

Pervy

[plateman]

Link Admin - Mrmarylou installs it and is a nice guy, Oh and its a great script, and i use it and many others..

[Pervy]

Originally posted by plateman
Link Admin - Mrmarylou installs it and is a nice guy, Oh and its a great script, and i use it and many others..

Thanks plateman,

do you have a link for Link Admin ? presumably there is a site I can read about it on

Pervy

[MrMaryLou]

The link admin url is http://www.usefulscripts.com/scripts...ial/linkadmin/

[Pervy]

Originally posted by MrMaryLou
The link admin url is http://www.usefulscripts.com/scripts...ial/linkadmin/

Thanks MrMaryLou.

Do you have a demo I can see ?

Pervy

[eman]

Linkadmin is a great script - probably the best out there - but in the past I've had reason to wish that the support was (a whole lot) better.

Mr MrayLou is now chief bartender - so hopefully all issues are now covered.

[DangerDave]

Pervy,

Which version of GT? Links SQL?

I would disagree that LinkAdmin is the best LL software around..(and I will probably be the only one!) GT's Links SQL is far superior script IMO

DD

[Pervy]

Hi Dave,

I'm using Links 2.0 rather than the SQL version. Perhaps I should look into what the differences are.

Basically I am willing to stick with what I have, but would like something with better support and that is easier to customise.

Don't suppose you know of anyone that does custom design and coding of Gossamer Threads do you ?

Pervy

[eman]

Originally posted by DangerDave
GT's Links SQL is far superior script IMO

DD

Hi DD,

Do you use GT? If I thought I could get my site looking as good as yours with GT's script I might well switch over

[Pervy]

Originally posted by eman
Hi DD,

Do you use GT? If I thought I could get my site looking as good as yours with GT's script I might well switch over

I just checked out DangerDave's site and I have to agree its pretty awesome.

I knocked my site up pretty quick, and I'm no designer as you can see if you check it out http://www.sexclearinghouse.com

Pervy

[DangerDave]

I'm using Links 2.0 rather than the SQL version

Links2.0 is good but it does have the limitations of a "free" unsupported script..

'Unsupported' is not quite fair... there are a huge amount of helpful forums at GT


but would like.... ..... that is easier to customise.

L2 is customisable.. but definitely has it's limits, on number of sites you can have in the DB, and formatting is very much down to the webmasters coding skills.


Don't suppose you know of anyone that does custom design and coding of Gossamer Threads

There are people that do this .. including myself... but it will cost you $$


Eman...

I have used Links SQL for about... shit... umm 3 years now I think.. and some 86,000 submissions later... I love it more and more. I have not "used" LinkAdmin, but I have seen it in action. It is a v. good LL script, but like most has limitations in some areas.

Links SQL, does not have any significant limitations that I know of, and if you find one you can normally code around it..



Pervy,

What changes did you want to do to your site?script?

DD

[MrMaryLou]

I have never worked with the sql version of it so I really cant comment one way or the other but the 2.0 version has the template drivin admin and that I hated LOL but Richards linkadmin is not template driven at all it does what its supposed to and thats manage the links

[eman]

Originally posted by DangerDave
[b]Eman...

I have used Links SQL for about... shit... umm 3 years now I think.. and some 86,000 submissions later... I love it more and more. I have not "used" LinkAdmin, but I have seen it in action. It is a v. good LL script, but like most has limitations in some areas.

Links SQL, does not have any significant limitations that I know of, and if you find one you can normally code around it..

DD

Thanks for the info DD.

One thing I've really hated about Linkadmin is the general failure of the support - nobody could be bothered to answer my questions. I've been frustrated by this on more than one occasion. (OK, Richard finally turned up trumps when I phoned him, but that was more a case of responding to embarrasment than serving commitment) .

I'd like to record that DD was a saviour to me in my early days before I got a proper script - he set me up with an email system that served me well for a year or more. Thanks DD - you've been a real mate )

[Cleo]

I'm using another script to manage my link list. Actually an old unsupported one, but with enough hacking it does do what I need it to do. It is also template driven but my solution was to have it just write out a txt file of my listings that I then pull into my pages using either SSI or PHP. I did the same thing with my TGP script as I hate dealing with templates. So you can have any script do includes, you just have to have it write out a txt file when it compiles.

[Pervy]

Originally posted by DangerDave

but would like.... ..... that is easier to customise.

L2 is customisable.. but definitely has it's limits, on number of sites you can have in the DB, and formatting is very much down to the webmasters coding skills.

Agreed. And my design and coding skills just ain't up to the job...


Don't suppose you know of anyone that does custom design and coding of Gossamer Threads

There are people that do this .. including myself... but it will cost you $$

$$ is always an issue, but we can obviously talk about that ;-)

Pervy,

What changes did you want to do to your site?script?

A couple of things to start with...

I'd like to make the categories in 3 columns rather than the 2 its currently in.

I'd like the results to display new links first and then the remaining links in that category to be randomised

I'd like a nicer design - or at least my current design cleaned up a bit

I like this layout and functionality a lot.... obviously not looking to copy it but it has some nice features http://all-sex-links.com/

Pervy

DD

[Kezza]

Originally posted by DangerDave
Pervy,

Which version of GT? Links SQL?

I would disagree that LinkAdmin is the best LL software around..(and I will probably be the only one!) GT's Links SQL is far superior script IMO

DD

I have no experience with LinkAdmin, but definitely agree with Dave here that Gossamer Threads offer exceptional products.

We use Links SQL on many domains and LOVE it! but even links2 is very congfigurable. (and you cant knock the price!) Mark has helped quite a few friends out with mods that have made their link lists A1 with sort mods, blacklists etc.

K

[Bill]

Which are the best basic mods to add to Links 2 for running an adult LL?

Where can you get the best mods for an adult LL? Are they all at the GT mods pages or are there iother sources for good mods packages?

[Pervy]

Originally posted by Bill
Which are the best basic mods to add to Links 2 for running an adult LL?

Where can you get the best mods for an adult LL? Are they all at the GT mods pages or are there iother sources for good mods packages?

Hi Bill,

There are no mods which I would say are necessary for running an adult LL, it al depends on what you want.

All the mods I have applied to my site came from reading the Links2 customisation forum.

A word of warning however, if you plan to try and mod your site by following the forum, make sure you backup the files before you apply the changes and read everything as many of the mods are buggy.

Pervy

[Bill]

Hi Pervy, I've been familiar with Dave's http://quicklinklist.com/ for a while, and I'm using it's lists of features as a guide, but there are some mods and line items there that I don't fully understand, and I'm trying to figure out what they are.

I plan on trying the enhanced templates mod and the page titles mod later on today, but I want to know what the SE friendly enhancement is?

As originally configged, Links 2.0 has the categories appear as subdirectories, and I'm trying to figure out how to get the categories to appear as html pages off the domain name.

It seems like a nice easy friendly script, overall.

[Pervy]

Originally posted by Bill
Hi Pervy, I've been familiar with Dave's http://quicklinklist.com/ for a while, and I'm using it's lists of features as a guide, but there are some mods and line items there that I don't fully understand, and I'm trying to figure out what they are.

I plan on trying the enhanced templates mod and the page titles mod later on today, but I want to know what the SE friendly enhancement is?

As originally configged, Links 2.0 has the categories appear as subdirectories, and I'm trying to figure out how to get the categories to appear as html pages off the domain name.

It seems like a nice easy friendly script, overall.

Well having looked at what they do...

How good are you at installing scripts ? If you can install a basic script then you can save yourself $50 as that is what they charge to install the script as it comes from Gossamer Threads.

Next question is are you capable of using a text editor, an ftp program and follow basic instructuctions in which case you could install all the mods yourself.

I've not found the SE Friendly enhancement (about to look for it) but I've made several mods to my site.

Out of the box Links2 puts the categories into one column. I have modded mine to have 3 columns. It wasnt too hard to do.

I've added a Top 5 Newest Links (its down the bottom of the screen for testing purposes whilst I re-design my pages)

I've modded the script so the links get randomised (based on if they are New, Rated etc) when I do a build so that older links don't get lost at the bottom of the pile.

My site is here btw http://www.sexclearinghouse.com

I'm not sure how to get the categories as html off the domain... It might be something to do with the enhanced templates mod I applied but which I havent utilised.. I seem to recall something about that.

Pervy

[Marker]

Originally posted by Bill
Which are the best basic mods to add to Links 2 for running an adult LL?

Where can you get the best mods for an adult LL? Are they all at the GT mods pages or are there iother sources for good mods packages?

Hi Bill,

I have put together a little package that I have installed for a number of people using Links2. Many of these mods I have written myself.

The package includes:

- Modify the main config file so it will only accept submissions from your add cgi file (This is supposed to be an existing feature on Links2, but there is a bug in the code and this mod fixes the bug)

- Mod to check for duplicate urls on submission

- Checks for banned domain on submission (editable url list from an admin screen)

- Checks for banned submitters IP (editable IP list from an admin screen)

- Add IP field to your data base to show submitters IP (for banning purposes)

- Checks for banned email addy (editable list from an admin screen)

- Check Title and description against a list of banned words (editable lists from an admin screen)

- Add a confirm details page to the submission form (one extra step to stop auto submitters)

There are plenty others that can be installed, but this is the basic package that I offer that seems to stop crap submissions.

I currently charge $70 for this package fully installed.


Other Modifications that you may be interested in are:

- Category Menu: This gives a list/menu of top level categories anywhere on your templates

- Different category and/or link template for each category

- Display sub categories on your main page underneath top level categories

- If you are using related categories - add a description for each related category


If you (or anyone) would like some more information please feel free to hit me up on icq 69715711

Cheers
Mark

[Bill]

Hey Mark, I was thinking you were a person who would have a lot of knowledge on this topic.

I expect to buy the first package you mention for my second upcoming project, which will need a blacklist. This first practice linklist will be a partner submit only, while I learn this script.

Do you have a overall list of mods you do?

Pervy, I've already been able to install the script, pretty easy actually. I'm thinking the SE friendly link enhancement is just having the actual URLs of the links printed to the page, rather than using the jump.cgi to manage and record the clicks. I already have been able to do that by modifying the link.html file.

I'm trying to figure out how to get the home.html template to print to my main page rather than to the index.html of my domain. It's beginning to look like the only way to do this is to create a home_2.html template and define a the main page name as a second index in the build_index setting in links.cfg. Then it builds both the home.html and the home_2.html, and names the second my main page name.

I'm still looking for alternatives to this, but searching for this in the forums has not been easy.

I'm surprised, I would have thought many people would like to have an index.html for their list that didn't have the categories on it, for additional advertising effectiveness.

[Pervy]

Hi Bill,

It sounds like you have done your homework and have a pretty good grasp of the script already.

Mark's mod package sounds interesting, that is the first I have heard of it and I too am now considering having those mods done to my script.

In link.html did you change all the occurrences of %db_url% to %url% (I know thats not quite the right syntax... but I'm sure you know what I am referring to) ?

As for having a secong index page, I've not got a warning page and have been thinking of this problem as a way to have a warning/entry page first, followed by the actual main page (index2.html)

Pervy

[stuveltje]

Marker have fixed my linkscript of gossamer with some great things i have the new options for a copple of months now, i have a blacklist on domain, ip, words, email, he fixed the limited amound of characters in the descr of the submit form, he fixed an extra page for me when people submit, they have to confirm on the second page after they submit a site, this to stop autosubmitters, it is great, it made my life much easier to run a linksite!!! I realy would recomment to catch up with marker for the extra options if you run gossamer linkscript on your linksite!!

[Marker]

Originally posted by Bill
I'm trying to figure out how to get the home.html template to print to my main page rather than to the index.html of my domain. It's beginning to look like the only way to do this is to create a home_2.html template and define a the main page name as a second index in the build_index setting in links.cfg. Then it builds both the home.html and the home_2.html, and names the second my main page name.

Hi Bill,
Try this:

Open links.cfg and find:

# Build Options
# --------------------------------------------------------
# Setting for popular cutoff, can either be a percent (i.e. top 3%), or
# a fixed value (i.e. top 10). Enter 0.03 or 10 respectively.
$db_popular_cutoff = 20; # Top 20
# Number of days a link is considered New.
$db_new_cutoff = 14; # 14 days old.
# Return search results bolded (1 = yes, 0 = no).
$search_bold = 1;
# The name of an index file.
$build_index = "index.html";
# The extension to use for non index files:
$build_extension = ".html";

Change it to:

# Build Options
# --------------------------------------------------------
# Setting for popular cutoff, can either be a percent (i.e. top 3%), or
# a fixed value (i.e. top 10). Enter 0.03 or 10 respectively.
$db_popular_cutoff = 20; # Top 20
# Number of days a link is considered New.
$db_new_cutoff = 14; # 14 days old.
# Return search results bolded (1 = yes, 0 = no).
$search_bold = 1;
# The name of the home page.
$build_home_index = "index_2.html";
# The name of an index file.
$build_index = "index.html";
# The extension to use for non index files:
$build_extension = ".html";



Then open nph-build.cgi
go to the sub "build_home_page" and find:

open (HOME, ">$build_root_path/$build_index") or &cgierr ("unable to open home page: $build_root_path/$build_index. Reason: $!");

Change it to:

open (HOME, ">$build_root_path/$build_home_index") or &cgierr ("unable to open home page: $build_root_path/$build_home_index. Reason: $!");



Then find:

print "\tOpening page: $build_root_path/$build_index\n";

Change it to:

print "\tOpening page: $build_root_path/$build_home_index\n";



And finally in the sub "build_all" find:

print qq|Building <A HREF="$build_root_url/$build_index">Home Pages</A> . . .\n| :

And change it to:

print qq|Building <A HREF="$build_root_url/$build_home_index">Home Pages</A> . . .\n| :


Hopefully that should do what you are looking for

I'll get a list together of the mods I have done/assembled and let you know

Mark