Link List Script
 

Hi all. I seem to have found myself in a jam. I've been running my link list for awhile now with no script in place. Crazy, I know! My LL is really growing and with that comes things I need a script to do (i.e..; blacklist, recip checker, etc.). Currently, I do everything by hand and rely on board posters to list cheaters and black listed domains. This has become VERY unproductive! I've looked at various scripts to use but all would require my current (PR ranked) category pages to no longer be used and in their places new category pages usually in a sub-directory. What to do?!

I really need to implement a script before this site grows any bigger. Maybe a custom script is needed? Any help would be greatly appreciated. |blowkiss|

When I started, I did everything by hand and it is a pain and takes so much more time. Honestly, it sounds like making your own script would be the perfect choice. You could intergrate it into your current site/pages. php/mysql would be my choice. Course it will take some time getting all the current links into the new databse, but when done, much could be automated.

I made my own link script, sure if I can learn it, you could too..:) You could even start with the basic setup and add on over time. Least get it up and running and saving you some time.

Sure you could find some one to do it for you, but I am guessing it would'nt be cheap.

ronnie

Thanks for your reply Ronnie. Because I'm so inept at anything technical, I doubt I could write my own script. If I was to attempt it though, where should I look to get started?

As I mentioned, php/MySQL would be my pick. Easy to learn and use, plus most any hosts provide both for free or included in most hosting packages. Get a php/mysql book(s), there are tons of them out nowdays, many easy ones, even dummies versions, I have a few of those..:) Search G for php/msql. I have learned alot here and have gotten quick help many times, www.sitepointforums.com , they have forums for both php an mysql. There are so many samples on the net, far too many to list.

ronnie

Another possible option for you would be to use ssi calls...

Let the script write to whatever pages are necessary for it to function...then use ssi calls in your existing pages to call in that data :)

Ladydesigner, I think that all you need to keep your site structure intact is mod_rewrite. Mod_rewrite is a VERY POWERFUL Apache module, that allows you (among others) to internally rewrite URLs. For example:

1/ user reqests http://www.yoursite.com/links/lesbians.htm
2/ mod_rewrite rewrites URL to http://www.yoursite.com/my_new_linklist_script_page.php?category=lesbians and Apache serves that page to the browser

All can be done with a few lines in your .htaccess file and with such a solution you can use almost any LL script you wish. Good luck.

Hi ladydesigner,

I'd say you would definitely better off with a script to run your link lists. There are many commercial options available which are easy to install and maintain - particularly if your host is cooperative.

Alternatively if you are after a script to manage it for you I'm sure I could help you out.

Cheers,

Allan

Thanks for all the suggestions! I'm looking into some options now that I didn't realize where available until I posted this here. :)

Heyho,
if I were you I wouldn't start to learn PHP, I would prefer Python. If you are a little bit practised you can get into all that Python stuff over a weekend or two.

I just wrote my own little linklist script by myself yesterday. Ok it hasn't many feautures, it is just like :

- user submits page
- page gets checked for recip
- admin has to approve page


it works pretty well, is confortable and I just needed about 2 hours to write it.