PowerSeek SQL Documentation >> 11. How To's, Tips & Tricks

PowerSeek SQL Manual Index 1. Installation 2. The basics in 20 minutes 3. Settings 4. The Directory Manager 5 . Front Page Setup 6 . Customization (Look & Feel) 7 . Static / Dynamic Directory 8 . The User Manager 9 . Maintenance 10. Premium Links 11. Plugins 12. How To's, Tips & Tricks 13. PowerSeek SQL Mobile Edition

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12. How To's, Tips & Tricks

     12.1 How to Create Your Front Page or Index Page in 10 Minutes or Less
     12.2 How to enable Reciprocal Link Checking and Reciprocal Link Validation
            12.2.1 How to enable Reciprocal Link Checking
            12.2.2 Reciprocal Link Validation
     12.3 File Uploading, Images, Videos and Files
            12.3.1 How to place/use images in link listings with tags
            12.3.2 How to display and let submitters upload an image with link listings
            12.3.3 How to display and let submitters upload multiple images with link listings
            12.3.4 How to display and let submitters upload videos with link listings
     12.4 How to use PowerSeek SQL as a CMS (Content Management System)
     12.5 How to build an Image Gallery with PowerSeek SQL
     12.6 How to charge for standard listings
     12.7 Blocking Spam Submissions & Automated Spam Submission Scripts
            12.7.1 How to block automated submission services and spammers from using the 'Add URL' forms.
            12.7.2 How to block automated submission services and spammers from using the 'Comments' forms.
            12.7.3 How to block automated submission services and spammers from using the 'Broken Link Report' forms
            12.7.4 How to block automated submission services and spammers from registering user accounts
     12.8 Using listings without URL's
     12.9 Recommendations For Large Search Engines
     12.10 New & Popular graphic indicators
            12.10.1 What it is / used for
            12.10.2 Settings
            12.10.3 Implementation
            12.10.4 Customizing the 'new' & 'pop' graphics
     12.11 How to optimize generated (static) category pages for Search Engines
     12.12 How to display listings in more than one column

 

12.1 Howto: How to Create your Front Page or Index Page in 10 Minutes or Less

In this Howto we will use JavaScript Includes to create your Front Page or also referred to as the Index page of your Search Engine & Directory. This tutorial will give you a very good idea on how to use the functions explained to create category lists of your categories for example. There are a couple of other methods to create your front page. They are explained here: 5. Front Page Setup

Step 1. Set up your main categories for display

Go to your PowerSeek SQL Control Panel and click on the Plug-In's tab. After that click on the 'Category Includes' link. A popup window will appear. Click the button called 'Add Category Include'.

Now supply an Include Name. In this example, use the name myfront

Now enter the Category ID as 0 (zero). This will indicate that we are going to display the Root categories of you Directory.

After that, go through the settings. You can also leave the rest of the settings as they are to change them at a later stage.

After going through the settings click the 'Add' button.

Now you have just created a Category Include so that you can include your front page categories inside a web page.

Step 2. Create a Front Page (HTML File)

In the previous step you have set up a Category Include which you will include in any ordinary HTML file.

Now start up your Web Editor and choose to create a new HTML file. Save it as mydocs.html or any name you choose. You can also use the following HTML code and save it in the file called 'mydocs.html':

Step 3. Insert JavaScript Code Into Your Front Page to include your front page categories

Now you should have created a file called mydocs.html

Go back to the Category Includes popup window where you added the new Category Include in Step 1. You will see the Include Name, myfront with edit, delete, etc. options next to it.

Click on the Generate / Get HTML link. After that you will be presented with a Scrolling Text Box containing JavaScript Code. Copy and paste the JavaScript code into the page (mydocs.html) you have just created. The mydocs.html will then look something like this:

Save the file and upload it to any location on your web host. After the file was uploaded, load the file inside your browser window and you will see that your main categories are included inside the page automatically. When you generate HTML files, this include is automatically updated to reflect changes of your main categories if there was changes.

 

12.2 How to enable Reciprocal Link Checking and Reciprocal Link Validation

12.2.1 How to enable Reciprocal Link Checking

The Reciprocal Link Checker will check if a submitter placed a link to your web site when he/she does a new submission. You can have this enabled when visitors submit standard and/or premium links. If you are new to PowerSeek SQL then it would be best to first customize the look and feel of your Search Engine and Directory before you enable the Reciprocal Link Checker. This will ensure that you are familiar with the terms and references in the instructions below.

Follow the following steps to enable reciprocal link checking:

Step 1 - Enable the Reciprocal Link Checker Settings

Go to the PowerSeek SQL Control Panel >> Settings >> Global Engine Settings >> 5. New Submission Settings

Look for 3 settings that reads:

Enable the reciprocal link checker for standard URL's?
If you would like to check for a reciprocal link when a visitors submits a standard link then set this to 'Yes'.

Enable the reciprocal link checker for premium URL's?
If you would like to check for a reciprocal link when a visitors submits a premium link then set this to 'Yes'.

If you answered 'Yes' above then specify the URL that should be looked for at the submitters web site:
On your submission forms you will need to provide the submitter with HTML code that he/she can place on his/her web site. This HTML code will need to include a URL to your web site. Specify that URL in this setting. The reciprocal link checker will connect to the submitters web site and download the page and look for this URL inside the page. The page it downloads will be the reciprocal link the submitter provides on the Add URL form.

Step 2 - Edit Add URL forms

Go to the PowerSeek SQL Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 3. Add URL Templates. These are the forms that is displayed to visitors when they need to enter their link details to do a submission.

If you enabled reciprocal link checking for standard links then edit your standard Add URL form/template. Add the following to the form/template within the scope of the <FORM> tags of the page:

Reciprocal Link: <input type="text" name="reciprocal" size="45"> (This it the URL on your web site where you have placed a link to us)

If you enabled reciprocal link checking when visitors submit a premium link then edit the Premium Add URL form as well and add the same HTML code.

Now you will only be able to accept submissions from visitors who have placed a link to your web site.

Step 3 - Edit Modify forms

Go to the PowerSeek SQL Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 3. Add URL Templates

If you enabled reciprocal link checking for standard links then edit your standard modify form/template. Add the following to the form/template within the scope of the <FORM> tags of the page:

Reciprocal Link: <input name="reciprocal" type="text" value="!!modify_recip!!" size="45"> (This it the URL on your web site where you have placed a link to us)

If you enabled reciprocal link checking when visitors submit a premium link then edit the Premium Modify form as well and add the same HTML code.

12.2.2 Reciprocal Link Validation

PowerSeek SQL also comes with a 'Reciprocal Link Checker/Validator' plugin that will check that your link is still available on web sites that placed a link to your own site when they did a submission. This plugin will go through all links that has a reciprocal link and check that your link is still available. After it checked all reciprocal links it will provide you with options to email link owners where your reciprocal link was not found anymore. Also inlcuded in the options provided to you is an option to remove sites from the Index where your reciprocal link could not be found.

The Reciprocal link checker will also keep track of the times when it checked links for your back link. You can for example send link owners a warning if your link has been removed. If you checked it the third time in 3 weeks for example and your link is still not back (even after sending email to the user with the built-in mailer function) then you can remove the user's link from the Index.

The plugin can be found in the Control Panel >> Plugins >> Reciprocal Link Checker

 

12.3 File Uploading, Images, Videos and Files

PowerSeek SQL has powerful functions regarding file uploading. It has functions where each listing can have images, videos or any other file types. This gives you the ability to build Product Catalogues, Property Directories, Travel Directories or any kind of Directory or Portal where listings needs to display images or videos on 'more info' pages for example. Remember that you can always add extra data fields for any other data that needs to be available with link listings.

 

12.3.1 How to place/use images in listings with tags

This is a quick or simple way of inserting or adding images to link listings. This method does not involve uploading images. If you want to upload or have users upload images then see: 12.3.2 How to display and let submitters upload an image with listings or 12.3.3 How to display and let submitters upload multiple images with link listings

Adding images to link listings with tags

To use images in link listings use the [img] tag. For example:
[img]http://www.yourdomain.com/image.gif[/img]

Images are supported in the description field or any other extra fields/keys that you create.

Adding images that is hyperlinked with tags

In the event where you would like images to be linked to the URL of the link listing use the [imglnk] tag. For example:
[imglnk]http://www.yourdomain.com/image.gif[/imglnk]

The image will be displayed in the link listing and will be linked with the URL of the link listing.

Note: This is a quick way to add an image to a link listing. For more comprehensive options where images or any files can be uploaded, and images uploaded by end users doing new submissions, see:12.3.2 How to display and let submitters upload an image with listings or 12.3.3 How to display and let submitters upload multiple images with link listings

 

12.3.2 How to display and let submitters upload an image with link listings

If you are new to PowerSeek SQL then it would be best to first get familiar with the template system. First customize the look and feel of your Search Engine & Directory and then come back to enable image uploading. You can find out how to customize the look and feel of your search engine by clicking here. First customizing the look and feel of your Search Engine will help you understand the terms and instructions below much easier as you will be familiar with the template system.

To let visitors upload an image with their link submission follow the following steps:

Important Note: The instructions below are only suited if you would like visitors to upload one image with their link listing. By default PowerSeek SQL comes with one image upload field. If you would like to display multiple images with link listings and have users upload multiple images when submitting a listing then follow these instructions.

Step 1 - Image Upload Settings

Go to the PowerSeek SQL Control Panel >> Settings >> Global Engine Settings >> 3. Directory/Category Listing Settings

Look for a settings that reads:

If you are using an uploaded image with link listings and there is no image for the link listing then you can specify the path to a default image that will display: (Leaving it blank will results in nothing being displayed)
If you would like to display a default image with link listings that has no image then provide the path to the image here.

Would you like uploaded images displayed with link listings to have a fixed width and height? If so then please supply the width and height. If not then set the values to be zero.
Here you can set a fixed width and height for all uploaded images with link listings.

Enable image uploading from submission forms?
If you want visitors to be able to upload images with their submissions then set this setting to 'Yes'.

What is the maximum size of an image file that may be uploaded?
Images exceeding this size will not be accepted.

Step 2 -  Edit Add URL forms to include an Upload Field

Go to the PowerSeek SQL Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 3. Add URL Templates. These are the forms that is displayed to visitors when they need to enter their link details to do a submission.

Open the Add URL forms for standard and premium links. Look at the source of the form and find the form declaration. It will look something like this:

<form method="POST" action="!!addurlcgi!!">

Modify it so that it looks like this:

<form method="POST" action="!!addurlcgi!!"   ENCTYPE="multipart/form-data">

You need to modify the form declaration to indicate that we are now also accepting a file to be uploaded. The part you add to the form declaration is: ENCTYPE="multipart/form-data"

Now add the following to the Add URL form: (This is the upload field that visitors will see when submitting a link)

Upload an image: <input type="file" name="image" size="51">

You may click this link to see an example of how an Add URL template with upload field looks like.

Step 3 -  Edit Modify forms to include an Upload Field

Go to the PowerSeek SQL Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 3. Add URL Templates >> Edit the 'Modify Link Standard' and 'Modify Link Premium' templates and add the following to both templates:

Like in step 2 modify the form declaration of both templates. Change the line reading:

<form method="POST" action="!!modify_cgi!!">

Change it so that it looks like this:

<form method="POST" action="!!modify_cgi!!"   ENCTYPE="multipart/form-data">

Now add the following code inside the form:

%%image%% [imgtext]No Image Available[endimgtxt]

In the line above %%image%% is replaced by a previously uploaded image. The text between the [imgtext] and [/endimgtxt] tags will be displayed if no image is available for the link. If an image is available then this text won't be displayed. You can also specify your own text between the  [imgtext] and [/endimgtxt] tags. (It is customizable)

Now also add the following to the form:

[delbtext]Delete Image?[enddelbtext] %%delete_checkbox%%

In the line above the text between [delbtext] and [enddelbtext] will be displayed when an image is available for the link. You can customize this text by specifying your own text. (between the [delbtext] and [enddelbtext] tags). The %%delete_checkbox%% is replaced by a checkbox that users modifying their links can check if they want to remove the image from their listing.

Now also add the following to the form:

Now add the following to the form as well: (This is the upload field that visitors will see when modifying their link to be able to upload a new image and replace the old image)

Upload an image: <input type="file" name="image" size="51">

You may click this link to see an example of how a Modify template with upload field looks like.

Step 4 - Customizing link style templates

This section explains how to include uploaded images with links. (when visitors are browsing categories or searching for links, etc.) To include images with links that users uploaded do the following:

Go to the PowerSeek SQL Control Panel >> Settings >> Template Manager

Edit the following templates: tmplsearch.html, tmplsearch_prem.html, linkinfo.html, linkinfop.html, lsearchres_loc.html, lsearchres_loc_prem.html, whatsnew_lists.html,  whatsnew_lists_prem.html,
tophits_listings.html, tophits_listings_prem.html

The above mentioned templates are all link style templates. It defines how link listings will look like when they are displayed.

To each template add the variable word !!link_image!! - This word will be replaced by the uploaded image for links. If the link has no image and you chose to have a default image displayed in the settings as explained in step 2 above then the default image will display. If no default image was specified then nothing will display.

 

12.3.3 How to display and let submitters upload multiple images with link listings

This section will explain how to display more than one image with link listings or more than one image on 'more info' pages of link listings using 'Upload Fields'. It will also explain how to let users upload images.

Firstly you will need to create 'extra upload fields' that will be responsible for storing the image files. To do this go to the
Control Panel >> Settings >> Extra Fields/Keys

Now choose to add a new Extra Field. Choose the field to be a 'File Upload Field'.

Specify a name and descriptive name for the field. In this example we will call the name: 'image1' and the descriptive name 'Image 1'.

Press the 'Next' button. In the following screen set the following options to:

Visible when browsing control panel?	Yes (set it according to your own preference)
Text or HTML if no file is available:	Not Available
Accepted File Types?	.gif,.jpg,.png
Error text indicating that the file type is incorrect:	The image file type for you are trying to uploaded is not valid.
Required with new submissions?	No
Text indicating that a file upload is required:	You are required to upload an Image File
Pre-Append HTML or Text:	<img src="
Append HTML or Text:	">
Maximum Upload File Size:	10
Text indicating that the file size is to large:	The file you are trying to upload for 'Image 1' is to large in size.

After you added this 'Upload Field', add as many 'Upload Fields' for the image uploads you require.

To display the image files in link listings go to the:
Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 1. Default Category/Directory Templates >> Link Style

Edit the 'Link Style' template and include the 'Upload Field Name' where you want the image to display. In this example we will display the image contained in the 'image1' 'upload field' we just created. We will then add image1 (the word image1) to the link style template to display an image with link listings if available. If you added more than one 'upload field' for images then also place the names of the 'upload fields' for the other images inside this template.

You can also do the same with the 'Premium Link Style' template as explained above to display images with 'Premium Links'.

To display the image files on the 'more info' pages of link listings go to the:
Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 1. Default Category/Directory Templates >> Link Info

Edit the template and place !!image1!! where you would like to display the Image file of the field 'image1' if an image is available with a listing. Remember that in this example we added an extra field with the name image1. If you added more than one 'upload field' for images then also place the names of the 'upload fields' for the other images inside this template.

You can also do the same with the 'Link Info Premium' template as explained above to display images on the 'more info' pages of 'Premium Links'.

If you would like to have end users upload images with their link listings then you will need to edit the 'Add URL' and 'Modify' templates. To do this, do the following:

Go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 3. Add URL Templates

Edit the 'Standard' or 'Premium' Add URL template that is displayed to an end user doing a New Submission. This template contains the fill-in-boxes to supply a Title, Description, etc. for their listing.

Look at the HTML source code of the templates 'Add URL' templates (Premium or Standard)' and find the form declaration. It will look something like this:

<form method="POST" action="!!addurlcgi!!">

Modify it so that it looks like this:

<form method="POST" action="!!addurlcgi!!"   ENCTYPE="multipart/form-data">

Inside the 'Add URL' templates (Premium or Standard) add the following: (within the scope of the Add URL form)

Image Upload: <input type="file" name="image1" size="20">

Remember that in this example we added an extra field with the name image1.

Note that when editing the 'Add URL' templates that you can click on 'Explanation of Variables Used Inside This Template' for an exaplanation of the variables available inside the template. It will also provide instructions on how to implement extra fields including 'extra upload fields'

To implement the ability to modify a listing containing image files, edit the 'Modify' templates. To do this go to the:
Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 3. Add URL Templates

Now edit the Modify templates (Standard or Premium) that is responsible for displaying the link listing details like the title, description, URL, etc. when an end user chooses to modify a listing.

Look at the HTML source code of the modify templates (Premium or Standard) and find the form declaration. It will look something like this:

<form method="POST" action="!!modify_cgi!!">

Modify it so that it looks like this:

<form method="POST" action="!!modify_cgi!!"   ENCTYPE="multipart/form-data">

Add the following to the modify templates (Premium or Standard):

%%image1_file_with_link%%
[image1_no_filename_text]No File Available [image1_no_filename_text_end]
<br> <input type="file" name="image1" size="20"><br>
[image1_del_text]Delete File? [image1_del_text_end] %%image1_checkbox%%

Explanation of the HTML code above:

%%image1_file_with_link%%
This is replaced by a link to the image file.

[image1_no_filename_text]No File Available [image1_no_filename_text_end]
If no file was uploaded yet then the 'No File Available' text will be displayed. You can customize this text to your own words.

<br> <input type="file" name="image1" size="20"><br>
This displays a field with a 'Browse' button to upload a new image file.

[image1_del_text]Delete File? [image1_del_text_end] %%image1_checkbox%%
This provides an option to Delete the current uploaded file with a checkbox. Note that this option will only be displayed if it is not required that the end user provides a file upload. If you are requiring end users to do an image file upload with their new submission then this option won't be available because it will give them the ability to delete the image file that was already uploaded. Note that in this situation that end users can always replace an existing file with a new one.

Remember that in this example we added an extra field with the name image1. You can follow the instructions in this 'howto' to implement the display and Uploading/Modifying of each extra upload field you created.

Note that when editing the 'Modify' templates that you can click on 'Explanation of Variables Used Inside This Template' for an exaplanation of the variables available inside the template. It will also provide instructions on how to implement extra fields including upload fields for modification.

Additional Notes:

Note that you can display the images in other templates as well. The other templates where images can be displayed are under the:

Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 2. Search Result Templates >> Links Style (lsearchres_loc.html) and Premium Links Style (lsearchres_loc_prem.html)

Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 3. Add URL Templates >> Account Links Style (rgs_acclinks.html) and Account Premium Links Style (rgs_acclinksp.html)

Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 4. Rating Templates >> Main Rating Page (rate_it.html)

Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 5. Comment/Review Templates >> Main Comment/Review Page (review_it.html)

Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 6. What's New Templates >> What's New Listings Style (whatsnew_lists.html) and What's New Listings Premium Style (whatsnew_lists_prem.html)

Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 7. Top Hits Templates >> Top Hits Listings Style (tophits_listings.html) and Top Hits Listings Premium Style (tophits_listings_prem.html)

Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 9. Favorites >> Favorites Link Style (fav_standard.html) and Favorites Premium Link Style fav_premium.html)

 

12.3.4 How to display and let submitters upload videos with link listings

Firstly you will need to create an extra upload field that will be responsible for storing video files. To do this go to the
Control Panel >> Settings >> Extra Fields/Keys

Now choose to add a new Extra Field. Choose the field to be a 'File Upload Field'.

Specify a name and descriptive name for the field. In this example we will call the name: 'vupload' and the descriptive name 'Video Upload'.

Press the 'Next' button. In the following screen set the following options to:

Visible when browsing control panel?	No
Text or HTML if no file is available:	Not Available
Accepted File Types?	.avi
Error text indicating that the file type is incorrect:	The video file type for you are trying to uploaded is not valid.
Required with new submissions?	No
Text indicating that a file upload is required:	You are required to upload a Video File
Pre-Append HTML or Text:	<embed SRC="
Append HTML or Text:	" width="128" height="128"></embed>
Maximum Upload File Size:	1000
Text indicating that the file size is to large:	The file you are trying to upload for 'vupload' is to large in size.

To display the Video files on the 'more info' pages of link listings go to the:
Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 1. Default Category/Directory Templates >> Link Info

Edit the template and place !!vupload!! where you would like to display the Video if a video is available with a listing. Remember that in this example we added an extra field with the name vupload.

If you would like to have end users upload videos with their link listings then you will need to edit the 'Add URL' and 'Modify' templates. To do this, do the following:

Go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 3. Add URL Templates

Edit the 'Standard' or 'Premium' Add URL template that is displayed to an end user doing a New Submission. This template contains the fill-in-boxes to supply a Title, Description, etc. for their listing.

Look at the HTML source code of the templates 'Add URL' templates (Premium or Standard) and find the form declaration. It will look something like this:

<form method="POST" action="!!addurlcgi!!">

Modify it so that it looks like this:

<form method="POST" action="!!addurlcgi!!"   ENCTYPE="multipart/form-data">

Inside the 'Add URL' templates (Premium or Standard) add the following: (within the scope of the Add URL form)

Video Upload: <input type="file" name="vupload" size="20">

Note that when editing the 'Add URL' templates that you can click on 'Explanation of Variables Used Inside This Template' for an exaplanation of the variables available inside the template. It will also provide instructions on how to implement extra fields.

To implement the ability to modify a listing containing a video, edit the 'Modify' templates. To do this go to the:
Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 3. Add URL Templates

Now edit the Modify templates (Standard or Premium) that is responsible for displaying the link listing details like the title, description, URL, etc. when an end user chooses to modify a listing.

Look at the HTML source code of the templates 'Add URL' templates (Premium or Standard) and find the form declaration. It will look something like this:

<form method="POST" action="!!modify_cgi!!">

Modify it so that it looks like this:

<form method="POST" action="!!modify_cgi!!"   ENCTYPE="multipart/form-data">

Now add the following to the modify template:

%%vupload_file_with_link%%
[vupload_no_filename_text]No File Available [vupload_no_filename_text_end]
<br> <input type="file" name="vupload" size="20"><br>
[vupload_del_text]Delete File? [vupload_del_text_end] %%vupload_checkbox%%

Explanation of the HTML code above:

%%vupload_file_with_link%%
This is replaced by a link to the video file.

[vupload_no_filename_text]No File Available [vupload_no_filename_text_end]
If no file was uploaded yet then the 'No File Available' text will be displayed. You can customize this text to your own words.

<br> <input type="file" name="vupload" size="20"><br>
This displays a field with a 'Browse' button to upload a new video file.

[vupload_del_text]Delete File? [vupload_del_text_end] %%vupload_checkbox%%
This provides an option to Delete the current uploaded file with a checkbox. Note that this option will only be displayed if it is not required that the end user provides a file upload. If you are requiring end users to do a video file upload with their new submission then this option won't be available because it will give them the ability to delete the video file that was already uploaded. Note that in this situation that end users can always replace an existing file with a new one.

 

12.4 How to use PowerSeek SQL as a CMS (Content Management System)

As of version 4.1, PowerSeek SQL comes with functionality where extra 'Content Fields' can be added. (Extra fields/keys gives you the ability to add/collect extra information with link listings like addresses, telephone numbers, images, files, videos, etc.) Content fields have the ability to store articles and additionally these fields come with a WYSIWYG Editor to add/edit the contents of these fields. The WYSIWYG editor is a fully functional web editor and also has CSS ability where a CSS files can be used. The WYSIWYG Editor allows you to add any kind of content with font styles, font colors, tables, or content with any kind of HTML elements with ease.

In the example below we will add a Content Field so that we can store an article with each link listing. In the example below we will build a typical Article Directory that stores articles and provides articles to it's visitors.

Step 1 - Create an extra content field to store articles

To do this go to the PowerSeek SQL Control Panel >> Settings >> Extra Fields/Keys

Click the 'Add a New Extra Field' button

After doing that choose 'Content Field' from the 'Field Type' selection box. Then specify a name and descriptive name for the Content Field you are about to add and click the 'Next' button. In this example we will use Article as the field/key name and Article as the descriptive name.

Go through the details of the following screen and click the 'Add Field/Key' button.

Step 2 - Add an Article

Go to any category (if you already have categories) in the PowerSeek SQL Control Panel >> Dir Manager. You will see that all link listings listed in your categories will have an extra clickable link that you can click that has the descriptive name of the Content Field you just created in step 1. When this link is clicked a Wysiwyg Editor is opened where you can add an article with the WYSIWYG Editor.

To add a new link listing with an Article click the 'Add Link' button to add a new link listing in any category. Note that a link listing only needs a title as this field is the minimum requirement for a link listing to be created. After clicking the 'Add Link' button to add a new link listing a popup window will appear. Now specify a title for the new link listing and click the 'Add Listing' to add the new listing. After the listing have been added you will be presented with the option to edit the Content Field you added in Step 1. Click this option and the WYSIWYG Editor will appear for you to add a new article that will be associated with the link listing you just added.

Step 3 - Display Articles on 'more info' pages of listings.

You should now have created a Content Field in step 1 and added an article in step 2.

To display Articles on the 'more info' pages of link listings go to the Control Panel >> 1. Default Category/Directory Templates >> Link Info (linkinfo.html)

Now add add !!Article!! somewhere inside the 'more info' or also called the 'link info' template where we would like the contents of articles to display. Note that Article is the field/key name we specified in step 1 as the name of the extra content field/key. If you used another name then use the other name with double exclamation marks on each side. Save the template after the changes has been made.

Now go to the Control Panel >> Dir Manager - find or browse to the listing you added in step 2 and click the 'Preview' link to view a preview of the category containing the link where you have also added an article to it. When viewing/previewing the link in the category, click the 'More Info' link available with it to view the 'More Info' page of the link. You will now see the article that you added in 'step 2'.

Step 4 - Accept Article Submissions with the Wysiwyg Editor (Optional Step)

If you want your visitors to be able to submit articles with the Wysiwyg Editor when submitting a listing then follow this step. If you don't want users to be able to submit articles with the Wysiwyg Editor then you can skip this step. Here we will add the Wysiwyg Editor to the Add URL and Modify forms. Note that this step can only be done if you are using the User Registration System to accept new submissions. This setting is enabled by default with PowerSeek SQL.

Go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 3. Add URL Templates

Now click to edit your standard or premium 'Add URL' template - (This template is used when a user submits a new listing.)

After doing the above the window will open displaying options to edit the template. When here, click on: Variables Available

After clicking on 'Variables Available' a popup window will appear. You will see a table listing the extra fields you have created and suggested HTML code to use. Copy and paste the suggested HTML code for the content field and place it inside your standard and/or premium Add URL template(s). This HTML code will represent the Wysiwyg Editor and will be used to display the Wysiwyg Editor when a user does a new submission.

In the explanation above you should now have added the HTML code to the Add URL template(s) that is used to provide the Wysiwyg Editor to users when submtting a new listing. Note that you can add the HTML code for the Wysiwyg Editor to the Standard and/or Premium Add URL templates. We will now add the Wysiwyg editor to the 'Modify' templates so that users can also use the Wysiwyg editor to 'Modify' content fields when modifying their listings.

To add the Wysiwyg Editor to the modify forms do the following:

Go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 3. Add URL Templates

Now click on 'Modify/Edit Link Standard' or 'Modify/Edit Link Premium' to edit a modify template.

After doing the above the window will open that lets you edit the Modify Template. After the window has opened click on: Explanation of Variables Used Inside This Template

After clicking on 'Explanation of Variables Used Inside This Template' scroll down. You will see a table listing the extra fields you have created and suggested HTML code to use. Copy and paste the suggested HTML code for the content field and place it inside your standard and/or premium Modify template(s). This HTML code will represent the Wysiwyg Editor and will be used to display the Wysiwyg Editor when a user modifies the content field of an existing listing.

Notes:

The Wysiwyg Editor in 'Add URL' and 'Modify' forms is not recommended for a Directory where the User Registration System is not in use.

If you run a Static Directory then you will need to generate the HTML files for your articles to show up.

The Wysiwyg editor is a fully functional web editor where you can use any kind of HTML elements including editing the HTML source code.

The contents of Content Fields can also be displayed in link listings when categories are browsed or searched. The contents of the Content fields can also be displayed in the 'Top Hits', 'Whats New', Favorites, Ratings, and Add Comments pages.

12.5 How to build an Image Gallery with PowerSeek SQL

This 'How to' will explain how to build an image gallery with PowerSeek SQL. It mostly involves changing aspects of the PowerSeek SQL templates.

Requirements:

PowerSeek SQL requires one of the following Perl modules to automatically resize images to thumbnails: Image::Magick or Image::Resize

PowerSeek SQL will tell you if one of these are not available on your host when you want to perform an image resizing operation. If you don't have one of the Perl modules installed then contact your web host and ask them to install the Perl module called Image::Magick or Image::Resize - Note that it is much easier to install Image::Resize than Image::Magick.

Step 1 - Add an Upload Extra Field

Below is an explanation on adding an extra upload field. This field will be used to store large image files for the image gallery.

Go to the Control Panel >> Settings >> Extra Fields/Keys

Click 'Add a New Extra Field'

From the 'Field Type:' drop down menu choose 'File Upload Field'.

Specify a Field/Key Name. In this example we will use the name BigImage.

For the 'Field/Key Descriptive Name:' we will specify the name 'Big Image'.

Now click the 'Next' button.

On the next screen for the setting: 'Visible when browsing control panel?' specify 'No'

For the setting: 'Accepted File Types?' specify: .jpg,.jpeg

For the setting: 'Required with new submissions?' specify: 'Yes'

Leave the settings for: 'Pre-Append HTML or Text: and 'Append HTML or Text:' blank.

Set the setting: 'Maximum Upload File Size:' to 2000

Click the 'Add Field/Key' button.

We have now just added an upload field that will store large images for the image gallery.

Step 2 - Upload Images

PowerSeek SQL by default has one standard image field where an image can be uploaded. In this example we will use the standard image field available with PowerSeek SQL to store thumbnails of large images. We will display these thumbnails within categories as thumbnail images and when clicked we will be displaying the larger image on a 'more info' page. The larger image will be stored in the 'BigImage' extra field we added in Step 1.

To upload images go to the Control Panel >> Dir Manager >> Enter any category. If you don't have categories then add some. Click the 'Add Link' button when in a category. A popup window will apear. In the popup window to add a link specify a title for the image. Scroll down to the 'Image:' field and click 'Resize Options'. Another 'popup window' will apear. Leave the 'Image Width in Pixels to resize to:' setting blank. Set the 'Image Height in Pixels to resize to:' setting to 130 and click the 'Save' button.

The Resize Options lets you specify to what width and/or height images will be resized to when uploaded.

You should now have specified a title and configured the resize settings for the standard 'Image' field. Now, click the 'Browse' button for the 'Image' field and choose an image from your hard drive to upload. This image will be uploaded and automatically be resized to the thumbnail size when this listing is added.

Now next to the 'Big Image' field click the 'Browse' button and choose the same image as you have chosen for the 'Image' field. This image will not be resized and will serve as the large image.

Note: There is a plugin available that can help you rapidly add images if you have thousands of images for example. The way this plugin works is that you upload your images via FTP. This plugin will then automatically take these images and resize them as thumbnails and add them as listings for image gallery purposes. In other words it will resize the image and place it in the standard image field as a thumbnail and place the larger image in an extra upload field in a batch-like process. This plugin is available in the Control Panel >> Plugins >> Thumbnail Batch Resizer & Importer

Step 3 - Edit Templates to Display Thumbnails and Images in Categories

For us to continue you will need at least 10 listings containing images in at least one category. What this means is that you need at least 10 listings containing a thumbnail in the standard 'Image Field' and an image in the 'Big Image' field. If you do not have this amount of listings with images then add more listings with images. (This is explained in step 2 above)

Edit the Default Category/Directory Templates:

Go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 1. Default Category/Directory Templates - Edit the 'Main Category/Directory' template. Replace the text reading: %%searchresults%% with the following HTML code:

<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3">
<tr>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%searchresults%%</td>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%searchresults2%%</td>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%searchresults3%%</td>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%searchresults4%%</td>
</tr>
</table>

Explanation of the HTML code used above: The HTML code above defines 4 columns that will list thumbnails. Up to 6 columns can be used. %%searchresults%% represents the first column. %%searchresults2%% represents the second column, etc. Note that you can use columns not only to create image galleries but to list links/listings in columns for example.

Edit the Directory Links Style Template:

Go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 1. Default Category/Directory Templates - Click on the 'Links Style' link to edit the 'Links Style' template. Remove the existing HTML code and place the following HTML code inside this template:

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tr><td height="170" align="center" valign="top">
<p><a href="!!more_info_url!!">!!link_image!!</a><br>
<a href="!!add_to_favorites!!"> Add to Favorites</a><br>!!rating_image!!<br>!!new!!<br>!!pop!!</p>
</td></tr>
</table>

Explanation of the HTML code used above: The HTML code above defines a thumbnail that will be displayed inside category pages.

Note: You can still create premium listings with thumbnails to display some thumbnails first just like with premium links. If you would like to do that then you can edit the 'Premium Links Style' template and place the same HTML code inside it as indicated above.

Edit the Link Info or also referred to as the 'More Info' template:

Go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 1. Default Category/Directory Templates - Click on the 'Link Info' link to edit the 'Links Info' template. This template is also referred to as the 'More Info' template some times. Place the following HTML code inside this template where you want the larger image to apear when a thumbnail is clicked:
<img src="!!BigImage!!" width="750" alt="Wallpaper">

Note that you will probably want to remove or re-arrange other things inside the 'Link Info' template like the Listing Title, URL since no URL is being used, Description, Rating function, etc..

Preview the changes you just made.

Go to the Control Panel >> Dir Manager and preview the category where you have uploaded the images as explained in Step 2.

Step 4 - Edit Other Templates to Display Thumbnails

Edit Search Results Templates to display Thumbnails:

Go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 2. Search Result Templates - Edit the 'Main Search Page' template. Replace the text reading: %%searchresults%% with the following HTML code:

<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3">
<tr>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%searchresults%%</td>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%searchresults2%%</td>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%searchresults3%%</td>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%searchresults4%%</td>
</tr>
</table>

Explanation of the HTML code used above: The HTML code above defines 4 columns that will list thumbnails. Up to 6 columns can be used. %%searchresults%% represents the first column. %%searchresults2%% represents the second column, etc. Note that you can use columns not only to create image galleries but to list links/listings in columns for example.

Go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 2. Search Result Templates - Click on the 'Links Style' link to edit the 'Links Style' template. Replace the existing HTML code with the following HTML code:

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tr><td height="200" align="center" valign="top" class="plain_text">
From:<BR>
!!category!!<BR>
<a href="!!more_info_url!!">!!link_image!!</a><br>
!!rating_image!!<br>
!!new!!<br>
!!pop!!</td></tr>
</table>

Explanation of the HTML code used above: The HTML code above defines a thumbnail that will be displayed when a match is found when a search is performed.

Edit the What's New Templates to display thumbnails:

Go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 6. What's New Templates - Edit the 'Main What's New Page' template. Replace the text reading: %%whats_new_listings%% with the following HTML code:

<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3">
<tr>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%whats_new_listings%%</td>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%whats_new_listings2%%</td>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%whats_new_listings3%%</td>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%whats_new_listings4%%</td>
</tr>
</table>

Go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 6. What's New Templates- Click on the 'Links Style' link to edit the 'Links Style' template. Replace the existing HTML code with the following HTML code:

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tr><td height="200" align="center" valign="top" class="plain_text">
From:<BR>
!!category!!<BR>
<a href="!!more_info_url!!">!!link_image!!</a><br>
!!rating_image!!<br>!!new!!<br>!!pop!!</td>
</tr>
</table>

Edit the Top Hits Templates to display thumbnails:

Go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 7. Top Hits Templates - Edit the 'Main Top Hits Page' template. Replace the text reading:%%tophits_listings%% with the following HTML code:

<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3">
<tr>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%tophits_listings%%</td>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%tophits_listings2%%</td>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%tophits_listings3%%</td>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%tophits_listings4%%</td>
</tr>
</table>

Go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 7. Top Hits Templates - Click on the 'Links Style' link to edit the 'Links Style' template. Replace the existing HTML code with the following HTML code:

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tr><td height="200" align="center" valign="top" class="plain_text">
From:<BR>
!!category!!<BR>
<a href="!!more_info_url!!">!!link_image!!</a><br>
!!rating_image!!<br>!!new!!<br>!!pop!!</td>
</tr>
</table>

Edit the Favorites Templates to display thumbnails:

Go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 9. Favorites - Edit the 'Main Favorites' template. Replace the text reading:!!favorites!! or %%favorites%% with the following HTML code:

<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3">
<tr>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%favorites%%</td>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%favorites2%%</td>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%favorites3%%</td>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%favorites4%%</td>
</tr>
</table>

Go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 9. Favorites - Click on the 'Favorites Link Style' link to edit the 'Links Style' template. Replace the existing HTML code with the following HTML code:

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tr><td height="200" align="center" valign="top" class="plain_text">
From:<BR>
!!category!!<BR>
<a href="!!more_info_url!!">!!link_image!!</a><br>
<a href="!!remove_link!!">Remove</a><br>
!!rating_image!!</td></tr>
</table>

Step 5 - Change Settings

Go to the Control Panel >> Settings >> Global Engine Settings >> Click on 4. Search Settings

Make sure that the setting reading: 'Remove duplicate links from search results?' is set to 'No'

Step 6 - Edit the Add URL and Modify templates to let users upload images

Follow the instructions below if you want to let users upload images. Note that if you don't want users to upload or submit images then you can remove the 'Add URL' links from the templates. You can skip this step if you don't want to let users upload or submit images or listings.

Go to the Control Panel >> Settings >> Global Engine Settings >> Click on 3. Directory/Category Listing Settings - Make sure that the setting reading: 'Enable image uploading from submission forms?' is set to 'Yes'

Go to the Control Panel >> Settings >> Global Engine Settings >> Click on 3. Directory/Category Listing Settings - Make sure that the setting reading: 'What is the maximum size of an image file that may be uploaded?' is set to 10 or a setting that is acceptable for the thumbnail size that will be uploaded by end users.

Go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 3. Add URL Templates - Copy and paste the HTML code of the 'Add URL' template that is 'in use' into your web editor.

Look at the source of template and find the form declaration. It will look something like this:

<form method="POST" action="!!addurlcgi!!">

Modify it so that it looks like this:

<form method="POST" action="!!addurlcgi!!"   ENCTYPE="multipart/form-data">

Now add the following to the Add URL form: (This is the upload field that visitors will see when submitting a listing/image)

Upload a thumbnail: <input type="file" name="image" size="51">

In step 1 we added an extra upload field called: BigImage - Now add the following to the template so that users can specify a large image to upload:

Upload an Image: <input type="file" name="BigImage" size="51">

Now copy and paste the source code of the Add URL template back and save the template.

Go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 3. Add URL Templates - Copy and paste the HTML code of the 'Modify' template into your web editor.

Look at the source of template and find the form declaration. It will look something like this:

<form method="POST" action="!!addurlcgi!!">

Modify it so that it looks like this:

<form method="POST" action="!!addurlcgi!!"   ENCTYPE="multipart/form-data">

Now add the following HTML code to the template. This code is used so that users can upload a new thumbnail image.

Upload a New Thumbnail: %%image%% [imgtext]No Image Available[endimgtxt]<br>
<input type="file" name="image" size="51">

Also add the following HTML code to the template. This code is used so that users can upload a new image. Remember that in Step 1 that we created an extra upload field called BigImage

Upload a New Image: %%BigImage_file_with_link%%
[BigImage_no_filename_text]No File Available [BigImage_no_filename_text_end]<br>
<input type="file" name="BigImage" size="51"><br>

Now copy and paste the source code of the Modify template back and save the template.

Note: If you are going to have images that is treated like premium links and are going to have premium submission and premium modify forms then you will need to edit the 'premium add url' and 'premium modify' templates in the same way as explained above.

 

12.6 How to charge for standard listings

To additionally charge for standard listings, go to the
PowerSeek SQL Admin Control Panel >> Plugins >> Premium Link Manager >> Premium Link Settings

Now supply the URL to your order processor's order form in the second fill-in-box. (Where asked if you would like to charge for standard listings)

You can leave the fill in box blank if you don't want to charge for standard listings.

 

12.7 Blocking Spam Submissions & Automated Spam Submission Scripts

This section explains how to implement Captcha's on various forms where users submit data when registering an account or adding URL's, etc. If you have PowerSeek SQL Ver 2.4 or higher then the options explained below will be enabled by default and you won't have to do anything to enable the options explained below as they will already be enabled.

12.7.1 How to block automated submission services and spammers from using the 'Add URL' forms.

If you have PowerSeek SQL ver 2.4+ then image authentication will be turned on by default. If you have an earlier version then you will need to follow the steps below to turn on image authentication.

The image authentication (Captcha's) function will enable you to display images where submitters need to type the matching letters displayed on the images. This ensures that automated software are unable to submit submissions because the automated scripts will not be able to read the images to supply the matching letters displayed as images. In other words the image authentication creates a situation where the 'Add URL' form needs to be completed by hand.

1. To enable image authentication go to the Control Panel >> Settings >> Global Engine Settings >> 5. New Submission Settings - Set the setting reading: ''Enable Image Authentication:' to 'Yes'.

2. Now go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 3. Add URL Templates

Edit your 'Add URL' template & 'Premium Add URL' templates to include a fill-in-box with the name 'letters' and a variable called %%imgbox%% as the value - also add a hidden variable with the name 'ia' and value !!ia!! - see the add_url_med.html and add_url_medp.html (it comes with the latest version of PowerSeek SQL) for an example of what needs to be included in the 'Add URL' and 'Premium Add URL' form.

If you are unsure on what to do in this step, just take the add_url_med.html and add_url_medp.html templates from the latest version of the .zip installation archive and re-customize them and use them instead. If you are using the 'Add Url Form' for large search engine support (add_url.html and add_urlp.html) then you will need to edit add_url.html and add_urlp.html instead of add_url_med.html and add_url_medp.html

3. Go to the Control Panel >> Settings >> Text Configurations - Under the 'Add URL' section the last fill-in-box will be blank. Enter the following text inside this fill-in-box: The letters you typed, did not match the image letters displayed to you.

How to turn off image authentication

1. To disable image authentication go to the Control Panel >> Settings >> Global Engine Settings 5. New Submission Settings - Set 'Enable Image Authentication:' to 'No'.

2. Now go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager. Edit your 'Add URL' and 'Add Premium URL' templates and remove the fill-in-box with the name 'letters'. Also remove the %%imgbox%% variable from the templates. If you are using the 'Add Url Form' for large search engine support then you will need to edit add_url.html and add_urlp.html   instead of add_url_med.html and add_url_medp.html

 

12.7.2 How to block automated submission services and spammers from using the 'Comments' forms.

If you have PowerSeek SQL ver 2.4.2+ then image authentication for the reviews/comments pages will be turned on by default. If you have an earlier version then you will need to follow the steps below to turn on image authentication.

The image authentication function (Captcha's) will enable you to display images where submitters need to type the matching letters displayed on the images. This ensures that automated software is unable to submit because the automated scripts will not be able to read the images to supply the matching letters displayed as images. In other words the image authentication creates a situation where the 'comments' form needs to be completed by hand.

1. To enable image authentication go to the Control Panel >> Settings >> Global Engine Settings >> 6. Comment/Reviews Submission Settings - Set 'Enable Image Authentication:' to 'Yes'.

2. Now go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 5. Comment/Review Templates

Edit your 'Main Review Page' (review_it.html) template to include a fill-in-box with the name 'letters' and a variable called %%imgbox%% as the value - also add a hidden variable with the name 'ia' and value !!ia!! - see review_it.html (it comes with the latest version of PowerSeek SQL) for an example of what needs to be included in the 'Main Review Page' form.

If you are unsure on what to do in this step, just take the review_it.html template from the latest version of the .zip installation archive and re-customize them and use them instead.

3. Now go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 1. Default Category/Directory Templates

Edit your 'Link Info Templates ' (linkinfo.html and linkinfop.html) templates to include a fill-in-box with the name 'letters' and a variable called %%imgbox%% as the value - also add a hidden variable with the name 'ia' and value !!ia!! - see linkinfo.html and linkinfop.html (it comes with the latest version of PowerSeek SQL) for an example of what needs to be included in the 'Main Review Page' form.

If you are unsure on what to do in this step, just take the linkinfo.html and linkinfop.html templates from the latest version of the .zip installation archive and re-customize them and use them instead.

Remember that if your running a static directory you will need to regenerate the html files for the changes to take place.

How to turn off image authentication

1. To disable image authentication go to the Control Panel >> Settings >> Global Engine Settings >> 6. Comment/Reviews Submission Settings - Set 'Enable Image Authentication:' to 'No'.

2. Now go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 1. Default Category/Directory Templates . Edit your 'Link Info'  and 'Premium Link Info' templates and remove the fill-in-box with the name 'letters'. Also remove the %%imgbox%% variable from the templates.

3. Now go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 5. Comment/Review Templates - Edit your 'Main Comment/Review Page' template and remove the fill-in-box with the name 'letters'. Also remove the %%imgbox%% variable from the templates.

 

12.7.3 How to block automated submission services and spammers from using the 'Broken Link Report'

If you have PowerSeek SQL ver 3.0.4 and up then image authentication will be turned on by default when visitors report problems with links. If you have an earlier version than PowerSeek SQL ver 3.0.4 then you will need to follow the following steps to turn it on.

The image authentication function (Captcha's) will enable you to display images where visitors reporting problems with links need to type the matching letters displayed on the images. This ensures that automated software are unable to submit spam because the automated scripts will not be able to read the images to supply the matching letters displayed as images. In other words the image authentication creates a situation where the 'Report Broken Link' form needs to be completed by hand.

Step 1: To enable image authentication for the 'Report Broken Links' function go to the Control Panel >> Settings >> Global Engine Settings >> 1. General Settings - then scroll down to to the setting reading: 'Enable Image Authentication for the 'Report Broken Links' function:' - Set this setting to 'Yes'.

Step 2: Now go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 8. Broken Link Templates.

Edit your 'Broken Link Page' template to include a fill-in-box with the name 'letters' and the text %%imgbox%%. %%imgbox%% will be replaced by images that will be displayed. Also include the text or variable word !!problem!! somewhere in the form. This will be replaced by text telling the user that he/she typed the letters wrongly for images displayed. (In such an event)

If you are unsure on what to do in this step, just take the brokenlink.html template from the latest version of the .zip installation archive and re-customize it and use this template instead.

How to turn off image authentication

Step 1. To disable image authentication for the 'Report Broken Links' function go to the Control Panel >> Settings >> Global Engine Settings >> 1. General Settings - then scroll down to to the setting reading: 'Enable Image Authentication for the 'Report Broken Links' function:' - Set this setting to 'No'.

2. Now go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager. Edit your 'Report Broken Link' template and remove the fill-in-box with the name 'letters'. Also remove the %%imgbox%% variable word from the templates.

 

12.7.4 How to block automated submission services and spammers from registering user accounts

If you have PowerSeek SQL ver 4.0.1+ then image authentication for the 'register' form will be turned on by default. If you have an earlier version then you will need to follow the steps below to turn on image authentication when users register accounts to submit listings. Note that the registration form is only used when the 'User Registration System' is in use.

The image authentication function will enable you to display images where submitters need to type the matching letters displayed on the images when registering an account to submit a new listing. This ensures that automated software are unable to register accounts and will ensure that no automated process can register user accounts.

1. To enable image authentication for registration forms go to the Control Panel >> Settings >> Global Engine Settings >> 5. New Submission Settings - Set the setting reading: ''If you are using the 'User Registration System', would you like to enable Image Authentication to the Registration form?' to 'Yes'.

2. Now go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 3. Add URL Templates >> New User Registration (rgs_register.html)

Edit the 'registration' template and include the following HTML code between the <FORM> tags of the registration form:

%%imgbox%%<br>
Type in the letters as indicated above:<br>
<input type="text" name="letters" size="20">

3. Go to the Control Panel >> Settings >> Text Configurations - Under the 'User Control Panel and Registration Text' section the last fill-in-box will be blank. Enter the following text inside this fill-in-box: The letters you typed, did not match the image letters displayed to you.

 

 

12.8 Using listings without URL's

By default when no URL is supplied when adding a listing from the Control Panel it will be accepted and treated as a link without a URL. When viewing the listing, it will automatically not be linked because the scripts recognizes that it does not have a URL.

When adding a link without a URL from the Control Panel just leave the 'http://' text as is where you normally supply a URL.

Important Note:

If you accept new submissions where the addition of URL's is optional you will need to do the following:

Go to the Control Panel >> Settings >> Global Engine Settings. Go to the '5. New Submission Settings' section. Look for an option that reads 'Check that a URL is present when submitting a new listing:' - Set this to 'No' so that users are not required to supply a URL when doing a new submission.

 

 

12.9 Recommendations For Large Search Engines

PowerSeek SQL has been built to support Search Engines with hundreds of thousands or millions of links, but please keep in mind that the more links you have, the more processing power and memory (RAM) you will need. The amount of traffic you receive might also influence the amount of processing power you have available.

• If you have more than 60 000 links then please generate all categories/directories so that it is available as HTML files (run a static directory). This ensures that the minimum amount of server resources are used when users browse your Search Engine & Directory. Just loading normal HTML files is probably a couple of times lighter on resources than executing CGI scripts.   

• Use Telnet/SSH when generating HTML files. This is many times faster and lighter on server resources.

• If you have more than 70 000 links we recommend that you switch to a dedicated server. This amount is a ball park figure. Note that this figure may vary and also depends on the traffic your Search Engine & Directory receives.  

• Use MySQL's FULLTEXT searching with PowerSeek SQL. To set this option, go to the Control Panel >> Settings >> Global Engine Settings >> 4. Search Settings

• Use the 'Add URL' form for Large Search Engines. See:
  9.1.1 Medium-Sized and Large-Sized Search Engines Add URL Forms

 

12.10 New & Popular graphic indicators.

12.10.1 What it is / used for:

The 'new' graphics next to your directories indicate that there are new links {urls} inside categories or it's sub-categories. Different colortypes indicate different levels of “newness”.
Popular links are indicated in the same way, but with their own graphic.

12.10.2 Settings

Various settings about the 'new' graphics can be set when you go into the ‘Control Panel >> Settings >> Global Engine Settings >> 9. New & Popular Indication Settings

12.10.3 Implementation

For categories:

To have the 'new' graphics displayed next to categories, you need to include the necessary variable inside the template HTML code. For example, by including the variable, !!new!! into the directories1.html template will result in the ‘new’ graphics being displayed next to categories where new links has been added.

For Links

To have 'new' and 'pop' graphics displayed next to links that are considered to be new or popular, you need to include the necessary variable inside of the template HTML code. For example, by including the variable, !!new!! and !!pop!! into the tmplsearch.html template will result in the ‘new’ and 'pop' graphics being displayed next to links - if link listings are considered to be new or popular.

Eg.

<li><font face="Arial" size="2">!!title_with_link!! !!new!! !!pop!!</font></li>

Templates where the !!new!! & !!pop!! variable words can be used in, are:

• Category link style templates: tmplsearch.html, tmplsearch_prem.html

• Search results templates: lsearchres_loc.html, lsearchres_loc_prem.html,

• Link information templates: linkinfo.html, linkinfop.html

• The what’s new template whatsnew_lists.html, whatsnew_lists_prem.html

• The popular hits template tophits_listings.html, tophits_listings_prem.html

12.10.4 Customizing the 'new' & 'pop' graphics.

The 'new' and 'pop' graphics can be customized to your liking by editing and/or overwriting the following files:

new1.gif
new2.gif
new3.gif
pop.gif

The above files are located in your PowerSeek SQL 'html' directory. This directory is explained in the PowerSeek SQL installation instructions.

 

12.11 How to Optimize Generated (Static) Category Pages for Search Engines

How to add Page Titles and Meta Tags for Categories:

All web site owners including Search Engine owners normally want as much traffic as possible. This is one of the vital things when it comes to owning a successful Search Engine & Directory. Promoting your Search Engine & Directory is one of the most important things you can do.

PowerSeek SQL provides you with the ability to provide custom page titles and meta descriptions and keywords for generated category pages. The title of the page will normally play a large role in gaining a good position in the search results of other Search Engines. There are other Engines out there where Meta tags also plays a large role.

To provide custom page titles and meta descriptions and keywords for generated (static) category pages add an additional title to each category. Also add meta descriptions and keywords. This can be done when adding or editing a category from the Dir Manager. It will be best to supply the key words or phrases in the title on what the specific category is about. Note that the title you supply will also show in the search results of other Search Engines that people browse when they are searching. Ensure that you create a readable title that makes sense.

Also make sure that the description describes what the page/category is about. Ensure that the meta keywords you supply in the meta keywords box is available throughout the category page and is relevant to what is provided in the specific category.

After supplying custom titles, meta descriptions and keywords to categories, edit the template that is used to display categories with. This can be done by going to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 1. Default Category/Directory Templates >> Main Category/Directory (defdir.html)

Make sure that the template contains the following between the <title> tags. For example:

<title>%%custom_pagetitle%%</title>

Make sure that the template contains the following between the <head> tags. For example:

<!-- Hide %%metadescription%% // End Hide -->
<!-- Hide %%metakeywords%% // End Hide -->

Note that if you are using custom templates for categories that you will need to edit the custom category display template instead of the default category template.

How to add Page Titles and Meta Tags for 'More Info' pages of links:

This section explains how to add page titles and meta tags for the 'more info' or also called 'link info' pages of link listings.

To add a title to the 'more info' pages of link listings go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> Link Info (linkinfo.html) - Now make sure that the text between the <TITLE> tags reads: !!title_without_link!!

Between the <HEAD> tags add the following:

<META name="description" content="!!description!!">
<META name="keywords" content="!!keywords!!">

The above will place the title of the link for the 'more info' page as the page title. It will then also place the link description as the meta description and the link keywords as the meta keywords.

Now go to the Control Panel >> Template Manager >> Link Info Premium (linkinfop.html) - Now make sure that the text between the <TITLE> tags reads: !!title_without_link!!

Between the <HEAD> tags add the following:

<META name="description" content="!!description!!">
<META name="keywords" content="!!keywords!!">

 

If you need a custom page title, custom meta description and keywords specifically for the 'more info' pages of links then you can create extra fields to enter an additional custom link title, meta description and meta keywords when adding or editing links.

 

12.12. How to display listings in more than one column

This section will explain how to display listings next to each other in columns. Up to 4 columns can be used. To display listings in columns, do the following:

1. Go to the PowerSeek Control Panel >> Template Manager >> 1. Default Category/Directory Templates >> Main Category/Directory (A popup window will open which will allow you to edit the 'Main Category' template.

2. Inside the 'Main Category' template replace %%searchresults%% with the following HTML code:

<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3">
<tr>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%searchresults%%</td>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%searchresults2%%</td>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%searchresults3%%</td>
<td width="25%" align="center" valign="top">%%searchresults4%%</td>
</tr>
</table>

The above HTML code will display listings next to each other in 4 columns. If you would like to display less columns like 2 columns for example then you could modify the HTML code to look like this for example:

<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3">
<tr>
<td width="50%" align="center" valign="top">%%searchresults%%</td>
<td width="50%" align="center" valign="top">%%searchresults2%%</td>
</tr>
</table>

Notes:

• Up to 4 columns are supported.
• %%searchresults%%, %%searchresults%%2, %%searchresults3%% and %%searchresults4% represents a column where listings will be displayed.
• If you would like to have 2 columns then use %%searchresults%% and %%searchresults2%%
• If you would like 3 columns then use use %%searchresults%% and %%searchresults2%% and %%searchresults3%%
• If you would like 4 columns then use use %%searchresults%% and %%searchresults2%% and %%searchresults3%% and %%searchresults4%%

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