9. Plug-Ins

     9.1 The Premium Link Manager
           9.1.1 What is premium links and how to add them?
           9.1.2 Premium Link Settings
           9.1.3 Sending Email to Premium Link Owners
           9.1.4 Retrieving Email Addresses of Premium Link Owners
           9.1.5 Customizing Premium Link Email Responses
           9.1.6 Expiry Emails
           9.1.7 Sending Expiry Emails to Premium Link Owners Who's Premium Links is About to Expire
           9.1.8 Browsing and editing premium links
     9.2 The Banner Manager
           9.2.1 How to rotate banners in categories
           9.2.2 How to target banners at content
           9.2.3 Displaying banners with search results
     9.3 Email Mailing & Address Retrieval
           9.3.1 Sending Email to Link Owners
           9.3.2 Retrieving Email Addresses on a Per Category Basis
     9.4 The Spam Filter
     9.5 The Broken Link Checker
           9.5.1 How to configure the Broken Link Checker
           9.5.2 How to check for broken links using the control panel (browser)
           9.5.3 How to check for broken links in specific categories
           9.5.4 How to check for broken links from SSH/Telnet
           9.5.5 How to manage broken links that has been reported by the Broken Link Checker
           9.5.6 How to manage broken links that has been reported by visitors
     9.6 Data Backups
           9.6.1 How to Configure the Backup Utility
           9.6.2 How to restore backed-up data
           9.6.3 How to backup data
     9.7 Top Search Term Includes
           9.7.1 How it works
           9.7.2 Setting up a Top Search Term Include
           9.7.3 Previewing your Top10 listing
           9.7.4 Getting the JavaScript code to place on your site
           9.7.5 Keeping the lists up to date
     9.8 Popular & New Link Includes
           9.8.1 How it works
           9.8.2 Creating a Popular or New Link Include
           9.8.3 How to list the most popular & most recent links in external pages or templates
           9.8.4 Keeping the Includes up to date
     9.9 Category Includes
           9.9.1 How it works
           9.9.2 Creating a Category Include
           9.9.3 Previewing your Category Include
           9.9.4 Getting the JavaScript code to place on your site:
           9.9.5 Keeping the lists up to date
     9.10 Total Link Include
           9.10.1 Workings
           9.10.2 Keeping the include up to date
     9.11 The Template Switching Tool
     9.12 The Link Crawler Plugin
     9.13 The Import & Export Plugin (Importing or Exporting Links)
           9.13.1 How to Import Links into PowerSeek
           9.13.2 How to Export Links From PowerSeek

9.1 The Premium Link Manager

The Premium Link Manager enables you to change various aspects of your premium links and settings regarding your premium links.

9.1.1 What is premium links and how to add them?

Premium links are links that is always displayed first before any other link listings in any category. Premium links are also displayed first before any other listings in the Control Panel. They can also be configured to display first in Search Results. Premium links can also have a different 'look and feel' or list extended information or have images, etc. for example, to differentiate it from standard links.
 
You can add premium links by clicking the ‘Add Link’ button when in the Dir Manager. When adding a link, assign a value in the ‘Premium Position’ field to make it a premium link. You can give the premium link any value. If you have more than one premium link in the same category, the premium link values will determine which premium links are displayed first. The premium link with the highest value (number) will be displayed first and the premium link with the second highest value will be displayed second, etc.

You can also change any existing links into premium links, by editing any standard links and assigning Premium Position values to them.

To change a premium link so that it is not a premium link anymore, edit the premium link from the control panel. Then assign a premium value of 0 (zero) to the  link's  ‘Premium Position’ field. After this the premium link will be regarded as a normal link.

The templates used for premium links can be configured in the Template Manager of the Control Panel. This provides the option where premium links can have a different or enhanced look that separates normal links from premium links. All premium links can have an enhanced look that differentiates it from normal links, by customizing the premium link templates.

9.1.2 Premium Link Settings

To configure some aspects of the premium links, go to the Control Panel > Plug-Ins > Premium Link Manager. Then click on the ‘Premium Link Settings’ link. Below is an explanation of each setting:

Premium Link Order Form URL: (URL to your order processor)

If you are selling premium links, you may add the link to your order processor's payment form here.

After submitting a new premium link listing end-users will be redirected to the URL (Payment Form) you supply to pay for their premium listing. The URL above could be a link to your order processor's payment form that has been set up by you, like PayPal, WorldPay, etc.

If you are not going to sell premium link listings but still want to have the option where end-users may add premium link listings, then you may just create an ordinary HTML page where it states that the premium link submitted was submitted successfully. Then enter the URL to this page in this field. (Order Form URL)

If you would like to sell standard listings as well then provide the Order Form URL for standard listings here:

If you would like to sell standard links/listings in addition to premium listings then you may provide a URL here where users submitting URLs will be redirected to. This URL could be a URL to your order form (from your order processor) where payment by the user is made to purchase the 'Standard' link listing.

For how many days is a premium URL/Listing valid?

When a premium link listing is submitted via the Premium Add URL form, then it will receive an expiry date according to the number of days you specify here. Premium links that has expired will be treated as normal links. (Links that are not premium link listings)

Would you like a 'Welcome Email' to be sent to users when they submit a premium URL?

You can customize the Welcome Email here:
PowerSeek Control Panel > Plug-Ins > Premium Link Manager > Welcome Email

Would you like to be informed via email when a Premium URL is submitted?

You will be informed via email when a premium URL has been submitted when this is enabled. You can customize the Email here: Control Panel > Plug-Ins > Premium Link Manager > New Premium Submission Informer Email

Would you like to send an email to premium link owners that their there link will expire in one month:

This email can be customized when in the Control Panel >> Plugins >> Premium Link Manager >> Expiry Emails - (Note that you have to use a CRON program to send out emails. See the '9.1.6 Expiry Emails' for more on this)

Would you like to send an email to premium link owners that their there link will expire in one week:

This email can be customized when in the Control Panel >> Plugins >> Premium Link Manager >> Expiry Emails - (Note that you have to use a CRON program to send out emails. See the '9.1.6 Expiry Emails' for more on this)

Would you like to send an email to premium link owners that their there link has expired:

This email can be customized when in the Control Panel >> Plugins >> Premium Link Manager >> Expiry Emails - (Note that you have to use a CRON program to send out emails. See the '9.1.6 Expiry Emails' for more on this)

 

9.1.3 Sending Email to Premium Link Owners

To send email to premium link owners go to the Control Panel >> Plug-In's >> Premium Link Manager >> Send Email to Premium Link Owners

You will be provided with the following options:

From Email Address
This is the email address from which you will be sending email to premium link owners.

From Name
The email will be sent from this name. You can specify your name or company name here.

Subject
This will be the subject of the email.

Message
This will be the email message that will be sent to premium link owners. You can personalize this email by using variables inside the message.

You may use the variables (words) as listed below inside the email message. It will be replaced by for examples the names and details of premium links.

%%title%%
This will be replaced by the title of the link.

%%description%%
Replaced by the description of the link.

%%keywords%%
Replaced by the keywords of the link.

%%url%%
Replaced by the URL of the link.

%%name%%
Replaced by the name of the contact person for the link.

%%rating%%
Replaced by the rating of the link.

%%votes%%
Replaced by the votes the link has received.

%%hits%%
Replaced by the hits (clicks) the link has received.

%%expiry_date%%
Replaced by the date when the premium link expires

Only send email to link owners who ticked the subscribe box when they made a submission.
When a premium submission is made there is an option to tick a subscription box. If you select this option to only send email to link owners that checked this box then only email will be sent to them.

Prevent duplicate emails
Note that owners of multiple premium links will only receive one email if this box is checked.

Only send email to link owners who's premium link expired - If this box is not checked then email will only be sent to existing premium link owners. (Links that are premium links that has not expired.)
Only send email to premium link owners who's premium link expired.

Number of Emails to Send at a Time
The mailer will only send this specified amount of emails at a time. Setting this value too high might overload your mail server. Sending only a limited amount of email messages at a time will avoid overloading of the mail server.

Sending a Test Email
You can fill in this field with your own email address to send yourself a test message to see how the message will look like when users receive it. When you send yourself a test email then no users will receive the message. The message will only be sent to yourself.

9.1.4 Retrieving Email Addresses of Premium Link Owners

This option allows you to retrieve the email addresses and link details of Premium Link Owners. This can come in handy if you would like to export premium link details or if you would like to use a third party mailing client to send email with.

9.1.5 Customizing Premium Link Email Responses

Welcome Email
This email will act like an auto responder when an end-user submits a premium link. You can customize it by going to the Control Panel > Plug-Ins > Premium Link Manager > Welcome Email

New Premium Submission: Acceptance Email

This email is sent to a user when his new premium submission has been approved for inclusion into the directory. You can customize it by going to the
Control Panel > Plug-Ins > Premium Link Manager > New Premium Submission Acceptance Email

New Premium Submission: Rejection Email

This email is sent to a user when his new premium submission has not been approved for inclusion into the directory. This might be due to non-payment or other reasons. You can customize it by going to the
Control Panel > Plug-Ins > Premium Link Manager > New Premium Submission Rejection Email

New Premium Submission: Informer Email

This email is sent to you, to inform you that a new premium submission has been made. You can customize it by going to the Control Panel > Plug-Ins > Premium Link Manager > New Premium Submission Informer Email

9.1.6 Expiry Emails

Note that these emails are only sent when you have a scheduler program or the Unix CRON program set up to execute the script that sends these emails. The script needs to be run or be executed on a daily scheduled bases. See 9.1.7. below to see how to configure this.

9.1.7 Sending Expiry Emails to Premium Link Owners Who's Premium Links is About to Expire

You will need to execute exp_emails.cgi on a daily basis to be able to send out emails to premium link owner's who's premium links are about to expire. You will normally want to use the Unix CRON program to accomplish this. Many hosting companies provide options to use the Unix CRON program. The Unix CRON program is a scheduler which will execute files on a scheduled basis. (Once a day or any time interval you specify)

Note that you cannot just execute exp_emails.cgi with the Unix CRON program. The reason for this is that exp_emails.cgi needs to be executed in the working directory where it resides.

To make the directory in which exp_emails.cgi resides in, the working directory, you can create a Unix shell script, (Almost like a dos batch (.bat) file) that executes generate.cgi

The shell script should look something like this:

cd /home/yourdomain/www/cgi-bin/admin # Change to exp_emails.cgi working dir
perl exp_emails.cgi # Execute exp_emails.cgi

Note that a shell script is a normal text file that you create and upload to your web host or server. Also note that you will most likely need to assign executable permissions to it (permissions of 755) - Click here to find out how to set file permissions.

9.1.8 Browsing and editing premium links.

You can browse/view/edit premium links by going to the Control Panel >> Plug-Ins >> Premium Link Manager >> Browse/Edit Premium Links

Note that premium links will also always be listed first in categories inside the Directory Manager for editing/moving/copying/deleting. Premium links will also always be indicated where-ever it is listed in the PowerSeek Control Panel.

9.2 The Banner Manager

The Banner Manager enables you to rotate content sensitive banners inside your categories and to rotate banners on any web page or inside any template of PowerSeek. Detailed logs will also be kept of all impressions and click-through's.

You can rotate banners in your directories/categories by defining/creating banner slots in the directory/category template(s). Groups of banners can be assigned to these banner slots from the 'Dir Manager' to specific categories/directories.

To make use of banner rotation when end users do searches, you can make use of banner HTML code that you can place inside your search template. You may get the HTML code for banner groups from the Banner Manager.

9.2.1 How to rotate banners in categories

The instructions below assume that you are using the Default Directory HTML Template (defdir.html) in your directories/categories.

To rotate banners in your categories you can do the following.

Step 1
Go to the Template Manager and click on 1. Default Category/Directory Templates >> Main Category/Directory

Step 2
Now copy and paste the HTML code of the template into your Web Editor to edit the template.

Step 3
Lets say you have 4 locations in this HTML template where you want to place banners. These 4 locations should each rotate banners. Place the word/variable %%bannerslot1%% in the location where you want the first banner rotated.

Place the word/variable %%bannerslot2%% in the location where you want the second banner rotated.

Place the word/variable %%bannerslot3%% in the location where you want the third banner rotated.

Do the same with the fourth banner you want rotated.

Step 4
Now you have defined banner slots. You may define up to 5 banner slots in the ‘Directory Template HTML Code’. Save defdir.html or copy and paste the HTML code from your web editor into the 'template manager' and click the save button.

Step 5
Click the 'Plug-ins' tab and then click 'Banner Manager' to go to the banner manager.

Step 6
In the Banner Manager you can add groups of banners. Each group can contain banners that are to be rotated. Create a group by clicking the ‘Add New Banner Group’ button and then create the banner group.

Step 7
After the banner group has been created, edit the banner group you have just created, by selecting ‘Add/Edit/Delete Banners of Group’ from the drop down box and by pressing the ‘Go’ button.

Step 8
Add all the banners that you would like to be rotated for this group.

Step 9
Now you should have defined banner slots in your ' Main Category/Directory Template' (defdir.html) and you should have created a banner group containing banners.

Go to the Dir Manager and to any category that you would like the banners of the group that you created to be rotated. In the 'Banners' column listed next to each directory/category you will see the word/link 'None'. Click on this link and a popup window will appear. The group that you have defined/created will be available for selection for any of the banner slots that you added in the ‘Directory Template HTML Code’. (defdir.html) Select the group for the specific banner-slot where you would like the banners rotated.

Step 10
Now you can add more banner groups so that other banners can be rotated in the banner slots that you have defined.

9.2.2 How to target banners at content

To target banners, insert banner slots in the category template(s) that is used for your directories/categories (custom category templates also supported). Once the banner slots are present, go to the 'Dir Manager' and assign groups of banners to be displayed in specific directories/categories.

For example: You can create a banner group called 'Entertainment' and just add entertainment related banners to this group. Lets say you have an entertainment category/directory with link listings. Ensure that the template used by the 'Entertainment' category or directory has banner slots. From the 'Directory' manager choose what groups of banners needs to be displayed in Entertainment.

9.2.3 Displaying banners with search results

You will need to define/create a banner group in the 'Banner Manager'. Add the banners to this group that you would like to be rotated when displaying search results.

After you have banners in the group that you plan on using in search results, get the banner rotation HTML Code. This can be done by selecting the banner group in the Banner Manager, and then by selecting 'Get HTML Code For Use on Other Pages'. After this click the 'Go' button next to the drop down menu.

Insert the HTML code in the 'Search Results Template'. To do this go to the 'Template Manager' and click on '2. Search Result Templates' >> 'Main Search Page' (searchres.html) to edit the Search Results template.

9.3 Email Mailing & Address Retrieval

9.3.1 Sending Email to Link Owners

To send email to link owners go to the Control Panel >> Plug-In's >> Email Mailing & Address Retrieval >> Send Email to Link Owners

Below is an explanation of the options available to you before you mail the link owners:

From Email Address
This is the email address from which you will be sending email to link owners.

From Name
The email will be sent from this name. You can specify your name or company name here.

Subject
This will be the subject of the email.

Message
This will be the email message that will be sent to link owners. You can personalize this email by using variables inside the message.

You may use the variables (words) as listed below inside the email message. It will be replaced by for example the names and details of premium links.

%%title%%
This will be replaced by the title of the link.

%%description%%
Replaced by the description of the link.

%%keywords%%
Replaced by the keywords of the link.

%%url%%
Replaced by the URL of the link.

%%name%%
Replaced by the name of the contact person for the link.

%%rating%%
Replaced by the rating of the link.

%%votes%%
Replaced by the votes the link has received.

%%hits%%
Replaced by the hits (clicks) the link has received.

Only send email to link owners who ticked the subscribe box when they made a submission.
When a submission is made there is an option to tick a subscription box. If you select this option to only send email to link owners that checked this box then only email will be sent to them.

Exclude Premium Links in Mailing
Email will not be sent to premium link owners if this box is checked.

Prevent duplicate emails
If checked then owners of multiple links will only receive one email.

Number of Emails to Send at a Time
The mailer will only send this specified amount of emails at a time. Setting this value too high might overload your mail server. Sending only a limited amount of email messages at a time will avoid overloading of the mail server.

Sending a Test Email
You can fill in this field with your own email address to send yourself a test message to see how the message will look like when users receive it. When you send yourself a test email then no users will receive the message. The message will only be sent to yourself.

9.3.2 Retrieving Email Addresses on a Per Category Basis

To retrieve email addresses go to the Control Panel >> Plug-In's >> Email Mailing & Address Retrieval >> Retrieve Email Addresses of Link Owners

The Email Address Retrieval function enables you to retrieve email addresses and link details of link owners. You will want to retrieve email addresses if you want to for example use third party mailing software.

 

9.4 The Spam Filter

The Spam/Keyword filter enables you to block submissions that you do not want included in your new submissions area for approval. This can be useful to completely ignore spam, a spammer, or to keep your Directory family friendly. Note that once you added keywords here, the submission containing those keywords will be blocked completely and the blocked submission will only show in the 'blocked log'. The submitter will get the idea he submitted successfully but the submission will have been in fact blocked. Use with caution as you can block submissions that you don't want blocked.

How to add a new spam filter

Go to the Control Panel >> Plug-In's >> Spam Filter

Choose one of the following options to add a spam filter.

Keywords Filter
If keywords match inside the title, description or keywords of a submission then the submission won't be accepted. This can also be used to accept only family friendly submissions by excluding listings that contain offensive words.

Email Filter
If any email addresses in this filter is found in a new submission then the new submission will not be accepted.

Domain Name Filter
If any domain names inside this filter is found in a new submission then the new submission will not be accepted.

IP Filter
Submissions will not be accepted when the submitters IP address is present within this filter.

There are also options available from the new submissions area when approving new submissions to block links via the Spam Filter.

9.5 The Broken Link Checker

Note that you need the LWP::Simple Perl module installed to be able to check for broken links. In most situations chances will be that you have it installed. In some cases it is not installed and you will need to contact your hosting company to install it for you. (Most hosts normally will do that for you) - An error will occur when you try to run the broken link checker when it is not installed. (Normally an Internal Server Error)

9.5.1 How to configure the Broken Link Checker

To configure the broken link checker go to the
Control Panel >> Plug-Ins >> Broken Link Checker >> Configure Broken Link Checker

The following configuration options will be available to you:

Number of threads to open when checking links:
This is the amount of browser windows (frames) that will open to check for links. (via <iframe> tags). If you are not sure what this setting means then leave it at 10. Note that using many threads may place a substantial load on the server. If you are on a shared host then keep this around 10

Time Out value in seconds:
This is the amount of seconds the link checker will wait to connect to a URL to check if it exists. If a connection could not be made within this time frame then the link checker will not wait anymore for a connection and mark the link as faulty as a time-out error occurred.

Number of threads to open when checking links via SSH:
This is the amount of thread processes that will be created to check links.

 

9.5.2 How to check for broken links using the control panel (browser)

Go to the following location in your control panel:
Control Panel >> Plug-Ins >> Broken Link Checker >> Check All Links Now

The "broken link checker" checks which links (in your search index) are pointing to nonexistent pages or pages that had problems when loading.

Important note: Do not check for broken links in more than one browser window, because the link checker uses files to swap out data. A second instance of the link checker will cause clashes with the files being used.

If you have more than 15 000 links, then it is strongly recommended that you check for broken links via telnet/ssh. It is many times faster than checking for broken links through the browser.

 

9.5.3 How to check for broken links in specific categories

Go to the following location in your control panel:
Control Panel >> Plug-Ins >> Broken Link Checker >> Category IDs To Check Links In

Examples of what you could specify above: 343,42,3,1 - Please specify category IDs above where links resides in, to check for broken links in specific categories. Separate the category IDs via comma's. You can get category IDs or assign category IDs by clicking the 'Browser' button next to the fill-in-box.

 

9.5.4 How to check for broken links from SSH/Telnet

Telnet or SSH into your host.

From the Telnet/SSH command prompt, type in:
perl linkchecker5.cgi

 

9.5.5 How to manage broken links that has been reported by the Broken Link Checker

Go to the following location in your control panel:
Control Panel >> Plug-Ins >> Broken Link Checker >> Manage Broken Links found by Link Checker

 

9.5.6 How to manage broken links that has been reported by visitors

Go to the following location in your control panel:
Control Panel >> Plug-Ins >> Broken Link Checker >> Manage Broken Links Reported by Visitors

PowerSeek comes with an option where visitors to your Search Engine & Directory can report broken links. The functions here enables you to manage these links reported by visitors as broken.

 

9.6 Data Backups

9.6.1 How to Configure the Backup Utility

Go to the Control Panel >> Plug-In's >> Data Backups

Click on the 'Configure' link to configure the backup & restore utility.

• mysqldump - (Unix/Linux Only)
  mysqldump is a mysql program that dumps the entire contents of a MySQL database to a text file. -  Recommended
  
  You will be asked for the paths to the mysql and mysqldump programs when configuring the use of  mysqldump as a backup method. The best way to get these paths would be to contact your hosting company and to ask them the full server paths to the mysql and mysqldump programs so that you can make and restore backups of your mysql database.
  
  The default location of these files on Linux based operating systems normally are:
  /usr/bin/mysqldump
  /usr/bin/mysql
  
  Note that the paths above might be different on your host.
   

• MySQL's DATA INFILE AND OUTFILE SQL Syntax
  This method involves selecting all data from the PowerSeek tables and dumping them to text files. This backup method will not work in most situations as your host has probably disabled the this kind of functionality for security reasons. In this case use the mysqldump method to backup your database.

 

9.6.2 How to backup data

Do the following to backup the entire contents of your Search Engine & Directory.

Step 1: Go to the Control Panel > Plug-Ins > Data Backups

Step 2: Click the 'Backup Database' link.

Step 3: After clicking the 'Backup Database' link, the PowerSeek backup script will back up all your database tables. All data in the database PowerSeek uses will be exported to your 'data' directory and placed inside a subdirectory called dbbackup. The 'data' directory is explained in the installation instructions of PowerSeek.

Step 4: Now transfer the entire contents of the 'data' directory to your hard drive so that you can back it up on a CD or some other suitable medium.

 

9.6.3 How to restore backed-up data

Note that the restoration of a data backup will put your Directory (links, templates, settings, etc) back into the state that it was when you made the backup.

To restore a backup do the following:

Step 1: Transfer the contents of the 'data' directory that you backed up previously from your 'hard drive' to your PowerSeek 'data' directory.

Step 2: Assign the permission setting of 777 to all the files that you transferred to your 'data' directory. (Including sub directories with their files) - You can find out how to set file permissions here.
 
Step 3: Go to the Control Panel > Plug-Ins > Data Backups

Step 4: Click on the 'Restore Database Backup' link.

 

9.7 Top Search Term Includes

This plugin enables you to display keywords that was 'most searched for' on your Search Engine, by including the 'most searched for' keywords in any external web page or PowerSeek template.

9.7.1 How it works

This Include works tightly with the Search Term Statistics that displays keyword statistics between a certain time frame. Top Search Term Includes calculate what was 'most searched for' on your Search Engine. You can display the output on any HTML page by pasting the given javascript code after setting up the Include.

9.7.2 Setting up a Top Search Term Include (to display keywords that was most searched for)

Click the 'Top Search Term Includes' link on the plug-ins page and click on the 'Add Top Search Term Include' button.

Explanation of the various settings used to set up the include:

Name:  This is just a name to differentiate between other Search Term Includes. Choose a name for the Include.

Number of Keywords:   Setting this to for example, 10, will have the effect of displaying the 10 most searched for keywords. Thus; 50 will give you the top 50.

Template:  The HTML here are solely responsible for the look/feel of the top Search Keywords that will be displayed. By default, listings display underneath each other, but can be tweaked/customized to your liking by editing the provided html code.

When done, click the add include button.

9.7.3 Previewing your Top Search Term Include

Press the preview link to the right of the name of your Search Term Include.

Note that the 'Preview' is just to test/preview the Include.

9.7.4 Getting the Javascript code to place on your site

The generate/get-javascript link serves two functions:

• The include will be created and saved as a JavaScript file inside powerseek's html directory

• You will be provided with the JavaScript code to place inside your existing web pages or templates of PowerSeek to display the Top Search Terms. (Include)

9.7.5 Keeping the lists up to date

These includes are dependant on the search statistics and will automatically update every time you use the 'Generate HTML Files' link (in the control panel) to update your pages. You can also, but don't need to, manually regenerate (using the generate link) each JavaScript include, to update the Includes.

9.8 Popular & New Link Includes

Popular & New Link Includes enables you to create lists of the links that is the most popular and/or latest links for specified categories or globally. You can include these 'link lists' via 'JavaScript Includes' into other existing HTML pages or your PowerSeek templates. Popular & New Link Include pages are automatically generated/updated when generating HTML files.

9.8.1 How it works

Let's say for example that you have the following main categories: Entertainment, Business, Health, etc. With Popular & New Link Includes you can list the most popular and recent links from the Entertainment category on any external page or any PowerSeek template. The same goes for any other categories, Business, Health, etc. You could also, for example in your PowerSeek templates, list the 10 most popular links in your Directory or the 10 latest links in your Directory.

9.8.2 Creating a Popular or New Link Include

Go to the Control Panel. Then click the 'Plug-Ins' tab. Now click on the 'Popular & New Link Includes' link. Click on the 'Add Link Include' button.

Below is an explanation of what you need to supply to create the include:

Include Name: This is the name of the include. Choose a name.

Include Type:  This indicates if you would like to display the most recent or the most popular links.

Premium Links Only: If this is checked then only 'premium' new or 'premium' popular links will be included.

Category ID: This is the ID of a category. You can get category IDs by clicking the 'Dir Manager' tab. Then click the 'edit' link next to any existing category. After that scroll down to 'Related Categories' - then press the 'Browser' button next to the fill-in-field.

Popularity: This setting is only valid if this Include will display popular links. If you are creating an include that lists the most popular links then you can choose by what popularity will be determined by. It could be determined by votes or the number of clicks - of links.

Number of Links: This is the number of most recent or most popular links that will be available in the include.

Link Template: This is the template HTML code that will be used to display the most popular or most recent links. It works in the same manner as the link-style-templates available in the Template Manager. This means that you can customize the link displays in the include and give it any look and feel you have in mind.

9.8.3 How to list the most popular & most recent links in external pages or templates

All includes will be listed in a table when you enter the Popular & New Link Includes section. Click on the  Generate / Get HTML link next to the include to get JavaScript code which you can insert into your PowerSeek templates or external pages. Once the JavaScript code has been added to your templates/pages the include will display the most popular or recent links of the category specified for the include.

9.8.4 Keeping the Includes up to date

When you generate HTML files the Popular & New Link Includes are automatically updated.

 

9.9 Category Includes

Category Includes enables you to create "extra category/directory displays"; You can use it to have, for example, indexes to the left hand side of your pages. Thus creating a Navigation bar:

You can include the category links into any HTML pages via JavaScript or PowerSeek templates. Category Includes are automatically generated/updated when you generate your HTML files.

9.9.1 How it works

You can display the output on any html page or PowerSeek template by copying and pasting the given JavaScript code after setting up the include in 9.8.2.

9.9.2 Creating a Category Include

Go to the Control Panel. Then click the 'Plug-Ins' tab. Now click on the 'Category Includes' link. Click on the 'Add Category Include' button.

Below is an explanation of what you need to supply to create the include:

9.9.3 Previewing your Category Include:

Press the preview link of the include to allow the include to display a category list, similar to that on your main page, but "tweaked" according to the display settings you've set in 9.8.2.

9.9.4 Getting the JavaScript code to place on your site:

The generate/get-html link serves two functions:

• The include will be created and saved as a JavaScript file inside of PowerSeek's 'html' directory.

• You will be provided with the JavaScript code to place inside your existing web pages or templates of PowerSeek

9.9.5 Keeping the lists up to date:

You can manually regenerate each JavaScript include to update the lists, by using the generate/get-html link. Note that when you generate your HTML files, the Includes are automatically updated.

 

9.10 Total Link Include

The Total Link include is designed to count the total number of directories & links in your database, then write a JavaScript file for you to include anywhere on any html pages or PowerSeek templates. The include works with a template that allows you to customize the way in which the totals are displayed.

9.10.1 Workings

Go to the Control Panel. Then click the 'Plug-Ins' tab. Now click on the 'Total Link Include' link.
Choose from the various options:

Edit Total Link Include
This option allows you to customize the look & feel of the totals that is to be displayed.

Generate the include/Get html code
The include will be created and saved as a JavaScript file inside PowerSeek's 'html' directory. You can display the output on any html page or PowerSeek templates by pasting the given JavaScript code into the desired location of your web pages or Powerseek templates.

Preview your generated Total Link Include
Pressing the preview link allows you to view the results of your work in the template manager. Useful to judge the output before including the code elsewhere.

9.10.2 Keeping the include up to date

You can manually re-generate the include to update the totals, by using the generate/get-html link. Note that the JavaScript file is automatically updated when you generate HTML files.

9.11 The Template Switching Tool

35 Template sets comes with PowerSeek Ver 2.3.3 and later. These template sets has been created for use with PowerSeek as a means of providing newcomers of PowerSeek with startup templates if they choose to use these templates. To use one of the templates sets, go to the Control Panel >> Plug-In's >> Template Switching Tool

You can get a preview of the various template sets available here.

Choose one of the templates and press the submit button to switch to the selected template set. Note that switching to another template set is destructive. Your existing templates will be destroyed and replaced by the template set you have chosen. If you have made any changes to your existing templates and switch to another template set then your existing changes/customizations to your existing template set will be lost.

If you have made customizations to your templates and want to try some of the templates that comes with PowerSeek, then make a backup of your existing templates and data.To find out how to make a backup of your templates and data see:
9.6.1 How to backup data

If you want to restore your templates, restore the contents of your 'data' directory that you backed up. (backing up the contents of your 'data' directory is explained in the backup instructions.

 

9.12 The Link Crawler Plugin

The Link Crawler Plugin is used to fetch links from Google.com to include into your Search Engine & Directory. It has been created to speed up the process of populating PowerSeek with links. It will fetch links from Google.com according to keywords you specify. For example, if you have a PowerSeek category called: 'Business >> Import & Export' then the keywords you would use to crawl for Import & Export web sites would be 'Import Export'. The crawler will do a search query at Google.com for 'Import Export' and retrieve the URL's provided by Google.com - The crawler will then take those URL's and download the pages situated at the URL's obtained from Google.com - After that the crawler will extract the titles, meta descriptions and keywords of pages downloaded. You can then include & categorize these links into your PowerSeek categories.

To use the crawler, go to the Control Panel >> Plug-In's >> Crawler

Once inside the Crawler utility add a new Category by typing in the name for a new category. After typing in the name press the 'Add' button to add the new category. All links you crawl for this specific category will be imported/placed inside this category so that you can browse them at a later stage to include the links you find suitable for your Directory.

You will now see your newly created category. You will see three options available for this new category. The first option ‘crawl’ enables you to crawl links for this Category. The 'Index' option allows you to view links that has already been crawled/fetched. The 'Delete' option will delete the category and any links that resides inside it.

To crawl links, click on the ‘crawl’ link next to the category you just created to crawl links that is to be placed inside this category.

You will now notice there are four fields to be filled in:

Number of Crawler Threads to Open
The first field ‘Number of Crawler Threads to Open’ specifies the amount of threads that will be used to crawl and index the links. A lower value is recommended for slower servers as well as to limit resource usage since this could cause a problem on certain hosts.

Crawler Time Out
This option specifies how long the server will wait to establish a connection to a ‘URL’ before it skips that specific ‘URL’.

Number of Links to Retrieve from google.com
The ‘Number of Links to Retrieve from google.com’ field specifies the amount of links it will attempt to crawl. The first amount of links will always be the most relevant to your keywords.

Keywords to Search for at google.com
The actual keywords the crawler will base its search for links on. If no other keywords are specified it will use the category name as a keyword by default.

Include Crawled Links that have no meta descriptions
This checkbox allows you to crawl links that have no meta descriptions though it is recommended that this option be left off.

After you have chosen the options that best suit your purpose, click on ‘Start Crawling’ button.

In the next window you will see text at the top reading ‘After all threads have completed, click here to review the sites that have been crawled’. Click this link when all the threads has completed it's crawling process. This link will take you to the category’s index page where crawled links are placed in. From there you can move the crawled sites into the PowerSeek categories.

When inside a category of links that was crawled, you will see a drop down box with the following options:

Move Selected Links to PowerSeek Categories
Allows you to select a PowerSeek Category to move the links to.

Edit Selected Links
Allows you to edit links before moving them to the selected PowerSeek Categories

Delete Selected Links
Allows you to delete crawled links.

 

9.13 The Import & Export Plugin (Importing or Exporting Links)

This Plug-In allows you to import links into PowerSeek from delimited text files or export links into text files from PowerSeek.

9.13.1 How to Import Links into PowerSeek

The importer will import links with categories. To use it follow the following steps:

Step 1 - Go to the Control Panel >> Plug-In's >> Import Utility >> Choose Import

Step 2 - Make sure the file you want to import is in the correct format

Note that it is critical to make a backup of your database before using the importer. Files to be imported that is not in the correct format can cause problems.

- The file you are planning to import needs to be in the following format:

• Records must each end with a carriage return (Each record should be on a new line)

• Fields must be delimited by tab, colon, or semi-colon (Tab recommended)

- Each record in the text file should at least have a category present. Category levels must be separated by a slash character. For example:

Business
Business/Investments
Business/Investments/Stock Exchange

Step 3 - Specify the layout of the text file you are importing

You will see drop down menu's. Specify via the drop down menu's how the fields are arranged inside the text file you are about to import. Note that there will probably be fields that is not present in your text file. Set the drop down menu's for these fields to be 'Blank'. Note that is is vital that you configure the fields via the dropdown menu's to be in the correct order according to the order the fields are in the file you are importing.

Step 4 - Specify a the text file by pressing the browse button so that it is to be uploaded.

Step 5 - Press the 'Import' button to do the import.

 

9.13.2 How to Export Links From PowerSeek

The exporter will export all links from the PowerSeek database.

Go to the Control Panel >> Plug-In's >> Import Utility >> Choose Export

Choose how you would like to arrange the fields to be exported and how to delimit the fields and format the date.

Then choose to export it to a file or download it.