Complete PowerSeek SQL Feature List

Listed below are most of the features available with PowerSeek SQL

PowerSeek SQL literally comes with hundreds of features and options. We have listed most here. The Control Panel has been built with practicality in mind so that things are mostly self-explanatory. The Control Panel also contains a lot of text that explains all workings & options in detail. It can be thought of as a visual tool that puts everything together - all in one place where it can be easily used and understood.

Categories

Categories are designed to support a multilevel category hierarchy.
You can choose to run a static or dynamic directory. (More Info)
Add/Edit/Move/Delete Categories. (More Info)
Add more than one or batches of categories at a time.
Crosslinked (or symbolic links) are supported for categories. (More Info)
Categories can be set to be hidden. Comes in handy to store links for later review. (More Info)
Categories can be locked if you don't want new submissions to be done in some categories. (More Info)
Categories can have related categories that can be displayed when category pages are viewed. (More Info)
Categories can have an additional page title with meta descriptions and keywords for Search Engine
Optimization. (More Info)
If a static Directory is used then specific categories can be generated. (Handy when a small change has been made to a category.) An update function is also available to update any changes so that all HTML files don't need to be re-generated.
Banner groups or groups of banners (created in the Banner Manager) can be targeted at categories to be content sensitive. (More Info)
Custom templates are supported so that specified categories may have a different or custom look and feel. (More Info)
Easily preview categories from the Control Panel when working with categories from the Directory Manager.
Category Includes gives you the ability to automatically include any categories on any external web page or PowerSeek template. Use Category Includes to list any categories on any web page or anywhere within your Search Engine & Directory. (More Info)
Numbers next to categories (indicating the amount of links in categories) when browsed by visitors can be displayed or not.
New graphics can be displayed next to categories indicating new links inside categories.
RSS Feeds can be provided for categories.

Links

Add from 1 to 5 links at a time. Also included is a meta tag fetcher to automatically fetch the titles, description & keywords of URL's supplied - speeding up the process of manually adding links.
Link owners can receive email notification when their link has been added. The email being sent is customizable.
Crawl for links with the crawler. 2 Crawlers Included. ( Crawler 1 / Crawler 2 )
Import links from the Open Directory Project. (More Info)
Edit/Delete any links or batches of links.
Move/Copy any links or batches of links to other selected categories.
Links without URL's are supported. (For something like a Yellow Pages Directory)
Links may have extra fields so that each link can contain extra information like addresses or telephone numbers. Also let's you collect extra information when adding links or when new submissions are made. (More Info)
Image uploading is supported for links from the Control Panel. Submitters may also upload an image with their link. (More Info)
Any file types can also be uploaded and implemented or displayed with link listings like videos for example. Submitters may also upload any file types. (More Info)
Links can be modified via password or via user account where a user needs to register an account before being able to post a link. (Optional)
Email can be sent to link owners with built in mailer. (More Info)
Links in categories can be sorted Alphabetically, by clicks, by number of votes, by popularity or from latest to oldest.
The number of links that is displayed on a 'per page' basis can be configured.
Uploaded images can have a set pixel-width and height.
The maximum allowed size when images/files are uploaded by submitters may be configured.
Link styles/displays can be completely customized. (All HTML/text displayed to end users are customizable) See customization below for more on the customization options.
A broken link option is available where broken links can be reported by visitors. (Note that PowerSeek also comes with a broken link checker - see Plugin's below for more information)
Comments can be posted for any link. See: Reviews/Comments for Links below.
Link owners and the Administrator can receive email notifications when comments are posted for links. (Optional)
Links can be rated by visitors. (Votes are recorded). Links can also have rating images to indicate it's average rating by visitors.
Popular links can be indicated with a 'popular' graphic. The amount of clicks can be specified before a link will be regarded as popular.
New links can be indicated with a new graphic where the link receives a new graphic if it is new. (This time frame where a link is regarded as new can be specified)
Each link may have a page of it's own where additional information about the link can be displayed. (This is where extra fields can come in handy) - The look and feel of this extra page is completely customizable. This page is also generated when the Static Directory option is used.
An option where the URL's of links can be hidden or not is available.
A setting where links can be opened in new windows or not when clicked can be specified.
Date formats of links can be configured.

Premium Links

Premium links are supported where they can have a different look and feel. You can also sell premium
links. (More Info)
New premium links may have an expiry date where they will expire when a specified time frame has been reached. This expiry time frame can be configured so that all new premium links are valid for the specified time frame when submitted.
Premium links can be set never to expire.
Premium links will always be displayed first (or above) standard links in categories.
The positions of Premium Links can be controlled in categories.
Premium links can also be browsed/viewed/deleted/edited/moved/copied with a Premium Link browser from the Control Panel. (More Info)
Email can be sent to Premium Link owners or Premium Link owners who's Premium Links expired.
Email addresses of Premium Link owners can also be retrieved for third party mailing software.
Premium Link emails can be customized. (Email sent to users who submit premium links) (More Info)
Premium links have their own 'More Info' templates and modify templates. This provides the ability for premium links to have extra information that standard links don't have in combination with Extra Fields/Keys.
Click here for more on Premium Links...
A configuration option is also available to additionally charge for standard links.
Standard links can now be charged for in addition to Premium links.

User Registration System
The use of the user registration system is optional. Submitters are required to register (sign up) and validate their email address to be able to submit links when the user registration system is in use. If it is not in use then submitters don't have to register an account to be able to submit links. The features described below are available when the user registration system is in use.

User accounts can be searched, browsed or edited from the Administrator Control Panel. (More Info)
A login option is also available to log into any user account from the Administrator Control Panel.
All fields or only specific fields of user accounts can be searched from the Administrator Control Panel.
Extra fields for user accounts are supported. This enables you to specify extra fields to collect extra information from users when they register. It can come in handy to collect telephone numbers, or addresses, or any other information from users when they register an account. (More Info)
When the user registration is in use, users have their own control panel where they can login to modify links or post additional links. (The user control panel's look and feel is completely customizable via HTML templates or also called skins)
Email validation is supported where a user must validate his/her email address when registering an account. This eliminates spam submissions.
A mailer is available from the main Administrator Control Panel to send email to users who registered user accounts.
Links that are not linked to a user account can be linked to user accounts from the main Administrator Control Panel.
Click here for more on the User Registration System ...

Customization

All HTML and Texts displayed to visitors to your Search Engine are 100% customizable. The customization options allows you to build a Search Engine & Directory with a totally original look and feel. The customization options makes PowerSeek very flexible.
PowerSeek uses templates or skins that can be customized with a template system where all templates can be customized from. The templates are ordinary HTML files that can be edited with any web editor. (More Info)
Template Includes are available that act like SSI's (Server Side Includes) throughout all templates. This makes changes to site headers, footers or menu bars an easy task where you can only edit one piece of HTML code and the changes will be available throughout the entire Search Engine & Directory.
Templates can be previewed after they have been edited.
Click here for more on the customization options available...

Front Page or Index Page Customization

There are many ways to create the front page or the Index page of the Search Engine & Directory. (More Info)
The columns / row height / spacing of the categories for the front page can specified.
The font and font sizes of category displays can be customized.
'New' graphics can be displayed next to categories or not.
Link numbers can be displayed next to categories or not.
The Control Panel provides the code for the Search Box/button that can be placed in any HTML file or PowerSeek template.
Specified main categories can be excluded from displaying in the Front Page.
Sub categories and category descriptions can be excluded or included.
Many other options and setups available.
Click here for more on front page creation

Searching

PowerSeek SQL uses a relevance algorithm for accurate search results.
The number of matches displayed on a 'per page' basis can be configured.
An IP blocker is available to limit the number of searches done on an hourly basis. (To block spammers from spamming 'most searched for' keywords.
All keywords searched for are recorded so that you can view search statistics.
An advanced search is available.
The advanced search can also be used to create custom searches with. (More Info)
A Control Panel search is available where links that has been searched for can be edited/moved/copied/deleted.
A Category Search is available from the control panel where matched categories can be edited/moved/deleted.
Category searches can be created to only search specific categories. (More Info)
A SearchFeed and Kanoodle plugin called 'PPC Feed' is now included with PowerSeek SQL. It enables you to display targeted Kanoodle or Searchfeed PPC links with PowerSeek SQL search results and inside categories. You get paid for clicks on these links.

Reviews/Comments for Links

Reviews or comments can be posted for any link.
Approval of reviews/comments submitted by visitors are available for approval by the administrator from the control panel before they are made available for display with links. (More Info)
User comments/reviews with a comment submit box can be displayed on the 'More Info' pages of links.
When the user registration system is in use a setting is available where only registered users may post comments for links. (Optional)
Image authentication is available (to avoid automated spam submissions) for comment submission areas. Image authentication requires users to type letters that is displayed as images. This makes it impossible for automated submission scripts to submit spam comments.

New Submissions

New submissions are available for approval by the administrator. Links are only included in the Index once the Administrator has approved new submissions.
Reciprocal link checking is available with new submission forms (for premium links and/or standard links). The reciprocal link checker will check if the submitter has linked to a specified address before it will accept a new submission. This is optional for standard and premium links. (More Info)
Image authentication is supported with submission forms so that automated submission services cannot submit spam submissions to submit forms. Image authentication requires users to type letters that is displayed as images.
Image or any file-type uploading by submitters is supported. (Optional) (More Info)
Customizable email autoresponses are available when visitors submit links and/or when their link is approved/denied. (More Info)
A spam filter is available to block spam submissions. It can also be used as a bad-word filter. Spam submissions can also be blocked from the new submissions approval area so that the same submission can not be submitted again. (More Info)
Link listings can easily be moved or copied to other categories from the new submissions approval area.
Link listings can easily be edited or deleted from the new submissions approval area.
Click here for more on new submissions ...

Static Directory (HTML Generation)
These options are available when you run a Static Directory.

Custom file names are supported for 'more Info' pages. The titles of links are used to create file names. This is to improve Search Engine positions for 'more Info' pages and make them more relevant to Search Engine results from Search Engines.
Custom file names are supported in categories that have 'more' pages. For example, if a category has 100 links and 10 links are listed on a 'per page' basis then page 2 to 10 will have the file name of the existing category. This is to improve Search Engine positions for 'more' pages and to make them more relevant to Search Engine results from Search Engines.
HTML files can be generated from the Control Panel and/or SSH/Telnet if available. (More Info)
The file extensions in which HTML files are generated can be specified.
Changes to generated files can be updated so that you don't have to re-generate all HTML files when there was changes to links or when new links/categories was added/deleted/edited. (Can be done through the web browser or SSH/Telnet) (More Info)
A scheduler like the UNIX CRON program can be used to generate HTML files on a scheduled basis.
Click here for more information on running a static Directory...

Plugins:
Listed below are plugins included that comes with PowerSeek by default.

The banner manager - Plugin

The banner manager plugin is a banner rotator that let's your rotate banners in any PowerSeek categories or PowerSeek templates. You can also use the banner rotator to rotate banners on any web page or other web site.

Banners can be content sensitive in categories. What this means is that you can target banners or groups of banners specific at categories.

Banner groups are supported where banner groups can be created to only display specific types of banners.

Banner impressions and clicks are recorded for statistical displays with graphs.

The weight of banners can be set so that some banners will be displayed more than others.

Expiry dates are supported so that banners can expire.

The number of banner impressions can be configured for groups of banners.

A default banner group can be specified so that when banners expire that there is something to display in their place.

HTML code is provided that can be placed inside any web page or web site where banners should be rotated.

Click here for more information on the banner rotator...

Email Mailing and Address Retrieval - Plugin

This plug-in let's you send email to link owners. It has been created to be light on any mail server and will send a specified amount of emails at a time not to overload a mail server.

Messages can be personalized with the link owner's link details.

Supports the sending of test messages before the actual mailing is done.

The Premium Link Manager (for premium links only) also comes with the same mailer.

Click here for more information on the mailer options

Reciprocal Link Checker - Plugin

Has a multithreaded crawler (very fast) to check for the existance of reciprocal links. In other words it will check if your reciprocal link still exist on the web sites of link owners.

Comes with a powerfull mailer to send email to link owners who removed your reciprocal link.

Includes management options to send email to link owners or edit/delete/move links where your reciprocal link has been removed.

Will keep history of the times reciprocal links was not found at the web site of link owners. This will provide you with information on each date when the crawler could not find your reciprocal link.

Top Search Term Includes - Plugin

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

The number of keywords displayed can be configured.

The style of the keywords (fonts, font sizes, etc.) of the keyword displays can be customized.

You can set up more than one include to display 10 most searched for keywords or 50 most searched for keywords.

Can be easily included on any PowerSeek page/template or any web site or web page by copying and pasting JavaScript code into HTML files or PowerSeek templates.

Click here for more on the Top Search Terms Includes Plugin

Spam Filter - Plugin

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.

You can filter new submissions (deny listings) that contains specified keywords, email addresses, Domain names or IP addresses.

You can also block (and delete the submission at the same time) new submissions from the new submission area so that the same submission can not be made again. IP Addressees can also be banned.

The spam filter can also be used as a bad word filter for family friendly Search Engines & Directories.

Broken Link Checker - Plugin

The broken link checker enables you to check for broken links. After the check has been done you are provided with the lists of broken links found where the broken links can be removed.

The broken link checker is multithreaded for optimum speed when checking for broken links.

Broken links can be checked from a web browser or Telnet or SSH.

Individual categories can be checked for broken links.

Click here to find out more about the broken link checker...

Search Term Statistics - Plugin

This plugin displays search term statistics to the administrator. (Keywords that has been searched for visitors)

Comes with accompanying graphs.

Data Backups - Plugin

Enables you to make data backups of all links and categories. (Makes a backup of the entire database)

Popular and New Link Includes
Popular & New Link Includes enables you to create lists of links which are the most popular or lists of links that are the newest in specified categories or globally. These lists can then be included (displayed) in any existing HTML pages or PowerSeek templates. This comes in handy if you want to display the most popular or latest links of specific categories - inside specific categories. It can also enable you to display the most popular and latest links of the Entire Search Engine in any PowerSeek template or external web page. A good example can be found here. Look for the 'Popular' links listed near the bottom of the page.

Create as many lists as you need. (Most popular or latest links)

Link displays (or the styles of links) can be completely customized. You can include the titles, descriptions, URL's, ratings, clicks, etc. with the link displays.

Can be easily included on any PowerSeek page/template or any web site or web page by copying and pasting JavaScript code into HTML files or PowerSeek templates

The number of links to display can be specified.

You can globally get the most popular links or latest links or the most popular or latest links from specific categories.

You can find out more about Popular and New Link Includes here...

Category Includes - Plugin
Category Includes can be used to create more than one front page (or index page) listing main categories or any sub categories of any category. It can be used to display a category list on any web page or PowerSeek template. Another way of saying the above would be to say that it can be used to create "extra category displays." You can use it to have, for example, indexes to the left hand side of your pages or PowerSeek templates. Thus creating category navigation bars.

Create as many category displays as you need.

Can be easily included on any PowerSeek page/template or any web site or web page by copying and pasting JavaScript code into HTML files or PowerSeek templates.

List categories in a single column or multiple columns (up to 5 supported).

Many options available to change the category display styles. (Customize the fonts, sizes, etc.)

Also supports the displays of link numbers next to categories or 'new' graphics to indicate new links inside categories. (Optional)

You can find out more about Category Includes here...

Crawler - Plugin (Linux/Unix Only)
The Crawler Plugin enables you to obtain relevant links to keywords supplied. These links are obtained from google.com and then crawled for titles and meta descriptions & keywords. The crawled links can then be categorized into the PowerSeek categories.

Multithreaded for speed.

The number of links to crawl and number of threads to use is configurable.

Crawled links may be reviewed/edited/deleted before moving into PowerSeek categories

PPC Feed - Plugin
Lets you Turn your copy of PowerSeek into an instant PPC Search Engine. The PPC-Feed plug-in enables you to add instant PPC results to your PowerSeek search results and categories. It gets PPC results from SearchFeed.com or Kanoodle.com (which ever you choose or both) and displays it together with your search results or categories. The PPC links displayed are targeted. This means that the PPC links displayed are targeted at the keywords that have been searched for or the category keywords if the PPC results are displayed inside categories.

With the PPC-Feed Plug-in you sign up for an account at SearchFeed.com and/or Kanoodle.com. After that you configure the PPC Feed module to use Kanoodle and/or SearchFeed to display PPC links with your Search Engine. You will then get paid for every click that is made on the PPC links you display from Kanoodle and/or SearchFeed.

Features:

Choose the number of Kanoodle.Com/SearchFeed.com PPC link results you would like with your search results.

Look and feel of PPC results are completely customizable with templates - Works in the same manner as PowerSeek's link style templates.

Configure backfill links/advertisements to display in the event where Kanoodle and/or Searchfeed returns no PPC links.

You can include PPC links in your nomatch.html PowerSeek template. This means PPC results will be displayed in the event where nothing in your PowerSeek database matched an end-user's keywords.

The following options are available for Kanoodle.com PPC link results:

Enable Backfill - In the event where there are no PPC links to display, a link will still be displayed.

You can choose to include 'adult' PPC links' or choose to display adult PPC links only.

Comment/Review Editor - Plugin

Makes it easy to edit/delete any comments posted for links. (All in one place)

Total Link Include - Plugin

Let's you include the total amount of links and/or categories in the database on any web page or PowerSeek templates. (Handy to indicate how many links the database has)

Customizable via template. (Change the font, font size, etc.)

Obtain HTML code to place in any web page or PowerSeek template.

Template Switching Tool - Plugin

PowerSeek comes with a set of pre-designed templates. (Click here to see a preview.) This plugin enables you to switch to different template sets.

Import/Export Utility - Plugin

Import tab delimited text files that contains links with categories into PowerSeek or export links to tab delimited text files.

The importer/exporter can be configured to accept fields in any order.

Importer supports file uploading.

Export links from any specified category or export all links to tab delimited text file.

Specialized Search Creator

Enables you to create specialized searches for visitors. You can configure what fields should be searched including extra fields. This is comes in handy to create zip code searches, city searches, business type searches, etc.

Raw SQL Query Tool - Plugin

Let's you run raw SQL queries on the PowerSeek database.

Master Template Importer - Plugin
Enables you to specify a master template. This master template will be implemented throughout all PowerSeek templates. The master template will act like a frame with for example your graphics, menu bars, buttons, links, etc.

Comes with a wizard for easy implementation.

Has the ability to restore the default templates that comes with PowerSeek.

Spambot Disabler - Plugin

All PowerSeek scripts now comes with 'hit spamming' protection.This functionality allows you to ban spam bots, email harvesters or any automated spider or crawler that uses excessive server resources by repeatedly loading scripts in a short period of time. (Completely configurable)

Category Search Creator Plugin

Allows you to easily create forms to search specified categories.

Also see the PowerSeek documentation for more explanations on features and options.