Has Anyone Ever...
 

Has anyone ever had the misfortune of having to install a link list script on a LL that's been run by hand for oh, 5+ years? I know about all the great scripts out there but what I need a script to do is be able to integrate into my site while keeping my site layout the same (or close to the same) and also be able to keep my page names the same (amateurs.html, teens.html, etc.). I use Link Up Gold on one of my LL's and it's great and all but I wouldn't be able to keep the set up I have now on my other LL.

Any suggestions or am I just pretty much out of luck and need to start over and do things right (with a script) in the first place? |huh

You could get gossamer threads links2 and modify your category template to be a simple list of sites and insert that into your current pages with php or ssi.

Thanks HarryMuff!

You should be able to do that with DragonList. Just create the link display code and insert into your existing pages. Awesome script and great support.

Both those scripts mentioned should do what your looking for as they are template based. The biggest difference between them is that dragonlist requires the submitter to sign up and login to submit a site, and links 2 will allow anyone to submit.

Thanks guys. |thumb What I should have mentioned in the first place was what Lemmy said about just inserting code into existing pages. That's what I'm wanting to do. Just generate code, insert into pages and let the script add in the links and do the rest. I kinda like the idea of having submitters create a login account to submit. These scripts are just so pricey. :( I know I'm going to have to spend money though on a great script because my link list is just getting out of hand.

In the long run, a quality script will be money well spent |thumb

I ran into the situation you describe when I converted FPP to script the first time. Ended up solving as desbribed in this thread with ssi calls.

The new custom script is more flexible so that's not an issue now. But, a custom script has sooooo many other issues |banghead|

Did you write the script yourself? If not, care to recommend a reliable script writer? Maybe I'll be better off purchasing a ready-made one. So confusing and so many options. |loony|

No, I didn't write it...and that's been part of the problem...keeping a decent coder working. Went through 2 prior to the guy who works on it now.

In hindsight, I'd absolutely go with an off the shelf script by someone who's known and trusted. If you have any special tweaks you want/need, talk to them about it and they very well may be able to do it for a reasonable fee. I've heard nothing but rave reviews of Dragonlist by Venturi and Mishi |thumb

I don't even wanna think about how much cash I've sunk into this script |loony|

I think I'm leaning towards Dragonlist as it does everything I need and is a little bit cheaper than some other scripts out there. Not to sound like a cheapskate or anything! :D

Just solving the changed URL's should be easy. If you're on a Linux server, an htaccess file would solve that right away with a 301 redirect. You won't be losing any PR that way either.