I am having people add links with way to much info in the description field of my add links section. Is there anyway of limiting the number of characters people can add to the description field when they are adding their link?
appreciate suggestions

thanks

Good idea!

I've already implemented into Links 2.0, and yes, this would be also fine in Links SQL.
I will put this to my todo list for my Extended Links plugin, as this feature is also related to link features.
It seems I will have a lot work on the Extended Links plugin...

Best regards,
Webmaster33

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I had a guy write a promotional essay on his site, for my description field the other day. I think there should be a max numer of characters field in the admin panel.... and an alert box or something similar when the go over.

Hows that extended plugin coming along, when do you expect to release you first version?


http://www.iuni.com/...tware/web/index.html
Links Plugins

Below is a couple of links that may help, they won't work on all browsers but may with some of the long submissions.

http://javascript.internet.com/.../limit-textarea.html

http://www.cs.tut.fi/.../forms/textarea.html

Regards

minesite

Your suggestion only helps when you use javascript to count typed character number & stop entering longer text than maximum number.
However it is not enough and modification is also needed in Links SQL to validate the fields of submited link, including the content length of description field.

Best regards,
Webmaster33

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Thanks for the suggestions minesite. But I agree with webmaster here. Although I use exactly this type of javascript on some forms on other sites of mine, I think it is imporatant that links is able to do this internally without javascript. I am sure perl can cope with this, even though I dont know perl (yet)

Knewt: I have to correct myself about implementing the "description length limiting feature".
I can not decide yet, if I will implement the "description length limit feature", into Extended Links plugin, or I will develop a separate plugin, which has link add, modify, delete related features...

I'm developing it in my free time, so developments are going slowly. I would be glad to tell you, that it will come soon, but there is still what to do. Currently I can not tell you when will be exatly released, but as you will see I'm getting close to the finish line.
Let me show you, what is implemented already & what I plan to implement...

Features of my Extended Links plugin (currently implemented or under development):
- Sorting links in a category (link reordering) ascending-descending by selected field (earlier discussed as "Customized link sorting") - implemented
- 3 level [new] images feature (placed near links & near category names on category page &
home page) - implemented
- Page Timer to measure display time (displayable in templates) - implemented
- Link numbering (with multi page support) - implemented
- Quick jump to link previous-next, top, bottom - implemented
- Template based Related category names (format taken from relcategories.html) - implemented
- Short form name storage in the DB (space saving), then long form name display in links on category pages & home page. - implemented
- Display Last X links (displayed on home page) - under development
- Group by similar links (means: when we sort by a field type, the similar types are grouped & separated. If we sort by Contact_Name field, then same Contact Names will listed together, and separated from other Contact Names by separator lines) - planned
- Quick jump to Similar links group (downdrop menu to quickjump to groups on the page) - planned
- Display only filled fields in links - planned
- many options for all features above - planned

That's all currently. As you see most of the job is done, but there is still work to do.
The Extended Links plugin v1.0 will be commercial and will cost $67 (payment will be processed by Kagi or RegSoft).
Buyers will get 6 month free e-mail support and free upgrades for minor changes, bug fixes.
Main, major releases may have upgrade cost.

If anybody has ideas, related to link displaying, suggest it here, so I can add to the to do list.
Suggestions are welcome.

Also let me know, if somebody would be interested in this plugin, when it will be released (inquiries can posted here into the forum or by private message or by email).

Best regards,
Webmaster33

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Webmaster,

This sounds like quite the plug-in!

I am particularly interested in the numbering and spaning of link numbers. Does this go for search, and category displayed links?

Suggestions for plug-in, would have to be stats. I think I wrote a post somewhere recently on suggested stats plug-in. Just can't remember where off hand.

I wonder if any of these feature are something that GT will be including in LSQL though?

Sooke,

The Link numbering and spanning through more pages works correctly for me (as I tested ).
It works on category pages, but not on search results, yet. Good idea, I just forgot to implement it .
I will implement it on search pages, too. Thanks!
More questions would be fine to discover, if a plugin feature knows what you want. It helps me to find what else feature could be need.

Stats? What kind of stats?
I think statistics would need separate plugin, and should not go into a link displaying related plugin.

Best regards,
Webmaster33

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For Stats, I am thinking:

• total queries, total today
• total users, new users today
• top visiting user, top links submitter (user with most links)
• total editors, number of categories with editors, number without
• number of categories each editor currently is assigned, and which ones (title/link)
• number of categories which have no links in them
• number of categories which have more than X links in them
• most popular category, least popular category
• categories which have a directory depth greater than X.... allows you to see subcategories which are getting burried too deeply!

And more, and more... I know this sounds overwhelming, but for those who are running very large directories, some/most of these things would be very useful tools in my opinion anyways.

You might be right though, a seperate stats plug in may be in order for this due it being a differnt thing.

Yes, I aggree the stats features you suggest would be very useful!
But I think some months will go away, before development of a stats plugin could be started...

Best regards,
Webmaster33

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What about featured links which change appearance when the isPriority is set? Not only are they listed at the top, but you can define what the appearnce will be in the plugin. Just another maybe, I don't know how may people would be interested.

The top/bottom go directly to a page feature you have sounds good also!

Top/bottom go Quicklinks already implemented.

Featured links are planned, but it will not be the exact part of Extended Links plugin, because it would be a special feature with billing management features and would cost much more than Extended Links plugin.

I'm thinking, that I develop Featured Links plugin as plugin of Extended Links plugin.
Sounds strange? Plugin of a plugin? Yeah.
It seems it is possible, but I will see how will I able to solve this.

Sorry, if I don't plan to give a Featured plugin within Extended Links itself, but this feature is something, what people will use to make money... So I can not sell it as a cheap $60-70 price, will be some times higher.
I hope you understand my viewpoint.

Best regards,
Webmaster33

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Hi Sooke

"What about featured links which change appearance when the isPriority is set? "

Try modifying the link.html with:

<%if isPriority%>
Changed link appearence!
<%endif%>


<%ifnot isPriority%>
Standard link appearence!
<%endif%>

Regards

minesite

You mentioned this plugin makes changes to builtin code therefore you'll hit problems with upgrades and that almost defeats the object of a plugin..

Sooke

Try this link

Re: number of total categories

http://www.gossamer-threads.com/...ategories%20;#148524

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total editors and total users and number of links and how many categories

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Its a bit old but may help point you in the right direction.

Regards

minesite

Minesite,

Your suggestion helps him in one statistic feature, but I think Sooke wants more than this: complete statistics about his site.
I understand his feel, because many times I would like to check a lot kind of statistical parameters about my site, database growth, several category stats, several links stats, etc.
I think there is a high need for complete statistic features in LinksSQL, so we will see if GT team wants to implement statistical features or somebody will need to develop statistic plugin...

Best regards,
Webmaster33

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Yes, you are right, I may have problems with upgrades because the plugin replaces some builtin code parts. I know about this, but I don't feel it so big problem.

1) Many parts of Links SQL are not changing from release to release.
2) If changes were done in common codes what the plugin also use, I will do the upgrade.
Of course these upgrades will be released free of charge for my registered users.

Best regards,
Webmaster33

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Hi Minesite,

That simple huh?

I guess it would still be nice to tie together a lot of the ideas and bits and peices that people seems to be using and wanting on this forum.

I also think that before releasing any commercial or other plug-in, it might be prudent to check with the Gossamer Team to see if it conflicts or parallels with their to-do list for near future upgrade to Links.

Thanks for the link to those totals Minestie...

I would still like to see a complete stats plug-in though which is developed and improved with requested suggestions as time goes on.

I would write this my self, honestly, but I am pre-school with perl at the moment. I just learned what a scaler was yesterday!!

This is what it comes down to:





I wonder just how many users out there would actually want this and would even pay for such a thing if need be? Good one for a poll don't you think?

I might be able to come up with a stats plugin over the next week.

Paul, I've said it once before, and I am going to say it again:

You are an asset to this forum!!!

I am thinking that not only the Length of the description and/or title of a link be limited, but why not strip out html as well?

You could end up with people putting in bolding, italics, or worse, links!

I personally check every post which goes in ... I dont just click Validate blindly. But this would be especially nice for those who have automatic validation and don't want html in their links!

I was trying to figure out an SQL statment or two which would go through the database and strip html from Description and Title... but it did not look that simple. I have seen a few functions written in visual basic which do this, I am sure there is a way.

Ah that was something I was going to ask.....the Title limit feature in the "Extended" plugin seems a bit redundant to me...you can already do this by default in the admin panel.

Strip out html:

^[^><]{5,500}$

There you go two birds, one stone.....no < or > allowed in the field...min length 5, maxlength 500

Hi Paul,

At the risk of sounding an idiot, is html stripping something I can already do from the admin panel?

Sorry I really don't know what ^[^><]{5,500}$ means or where you place this?

You'd place that in the regex field for your column on the Database > Links > Properties page.

^ # Match from the start
[^><] # Disallow any < or > in the field
{5,500} # Must be at least 5 chars and no more than 500
$ # Match right to the end

Excellent!!! You learn somthing everyday.... or my case a load of things.

Make sure it works before you get too happy :)

Paul, sorry, just a question on this:

If I now try to add a description when adding a link which is less then 5 characters, say I just put the letter 'T' links returns:

Description can not contain the value 'T'

Any way of getting to be a little more desciptive of what the actual error is in this case like:

Description must be at least 5 characters

Unfortunately not....Links SQL processes the forms using a central processing system which uses default error messages.

You could put a little comment next to your add form like "No html please" and/or use some javascript to count the description and popup a message if it is too long.


...or something similar.

Great , thanks

I don't aggree with your solution. Ok, it is easy to install & works, but it will block even those characters, what user wants in his text, but which are no html tags.

My opinion is to encode any special character to html entity so the user will not able to put any html strings in your text. If the user puts html into the text, it will display as text.
E.g.:
< should encode into &lt;
> should encode into: &gt;
& should encode to: &amp;

This way, any html will display as text.
The best known solution, to stop users to post html.

Currently I use this encoding way on my working site, under Links v2.0.
Therefore I'm sure I will also implement this into one of my planned plugins. Probably to a plugin which is related to Link adding (maybe under the name of "Link Posting Tools" plugin).
It may be available as separate plugin or as plugin for my upcoming Extended Links plugin.
Link Posting Tools plugin will probably have features like:
- html protection,
- link preview,
- maximum Description length allowed,
- error checking features of filled fields,
- setting required fields,
- setting one required field of X fields,
- etc. (you may ask).
Of course all features will be optional.

Best regards,
Webmaster33

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>>
I don't aggree with your solution.
<<

Now theres a surprise ;)

>>
but it will block even those characters, what user wants in his text, but which are no html tags.
<<

Such as?....the only thing it blocks are < and > and there should be no reason for those in a description in any case. By encoding the tags someone could still paste a huge chunk of code into the description field whereas with mine they can't do that so in that respect it forces a more valid description.

>>
Link Posting Tools plugin will probably have features like:
- html protection,
- link preview,
- maximum Description length allowed,
- error checking features of filled fields,
- setting required fields,
- setting one required field of X fields,
- etc. (you may ask).
Of course all features will be optional.
<<

Again, most of these features exist by default. That is the whole point of the database editor

Personally, I do not like to force my users, not to use < or > characters, because they are characters, which could be freely used on any site & description (just to mention, if a site has an image,
where they use -=<MYSITE>=- as their special site name & image. Or when the user describes a directory in depth, like: Computers => Accessories. Just a few small examples.)

So I will not block usage of < or > characters. But of course I HAVE TO protect my site from the abuse, so the HTML usage. Therefore I use encoding.

Again, that's only my personal opinion, I told you already in my previous post.

Flame on...
It seems you are very against me. Your answers shows that. I don't know why. The reason, that sometimes I don't aggree with you, does not mean that I don't respect you and your prestige here in the forum. It only means, I have different opinion in some subjects. Not more, not less.
I will not dispute or argue with you about that.
Flame off...

Users will decide, if they use your suggestion or later will use the feature in one of my planned plugins.

Best regards,
Webmaster33

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>>
Flame on...
It seems you are very against me. Your answers shows that. I don't know why. The reason, that sometimes I don't aggree with you, does not mean that I don't respect you and your prestige here in the forum. It only means, I have different opinion in some subjects. Not more, not less.
I will not dispute or argue with you about that.
Flame off...
<<

Why would you think that?...its only constructive criticizm.....I've seen you disagree with my ideas too but I never thought you hated me

...Im not saying my ideas are better than yours or vice versa ...each should be given a fair hearing.

If you want to include existing features in your plugin and expand them a bit then its your plugin you can do as you please and if people buy it then that's even better....I just thought I'd show that you could do it without going to the trouble of writing a plugin. Everyone has different needs for their directory....if you want to allow < > in descriptions then go for it....but I personally wouldn't allow it so I gave a possible solution for those that think the same as me....and if only sooke found it useful then it was still worth posting.

Paul,

I'm glad you say that! I can just aggree with that. Constructive criticizms are always welcome!

>...Im not saying my ideas are better than yours or vice versa
>...each should be given a fair hearing.
Cool

Peace,
Webmaster33

If you are ever in doubt as to the intentions of my replies....assume I don't mean to be a meanie.

Sometimes I crawl out of bed (like in the other thread of Andy's) and see something I disagree with and then go off on one because I'm half asleep....I start getting a bit more cheery at 11am

I am so glad you fellows made up!

I think both of your ideas are valid, and being more a user than a programmer, I rely on constructive critisim and different ways of doing things being presented.

So good for both of you!

Hi Webmaster,

How's your plugin coming along?

I am interested in the number of my links in particular:

1. Link
Description blah blah

2. Link
Description blah blah

and so on...

I told you, link numbering feature is already implemented into the plugin. Many features already works, but there is no admin interface, there are no options, no installer, yet.
The current finishing state percent of Extended Links plugin is about 70%.

Please, be patient about the plugin release. It depends on my free time. I'm sure the v1.0 final version will be not finished earlier than this summer.

However, if you and some other users asks for an Early Preview Release (EPR), then I will release it, so you can buy it. Later, when the final version will be released, you can upgrade to final version for free.
But note: if I release an EPR, it may not have admin interface and there may not have options, yet. Moreover, buyers of Extended Links EPR plugin, will get e-mail or IRC help, if they have problems installing it.

Let me know, what you would like.

Best regards,
Webmaster33

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Thanks for the update webmaster.

As I don't know exactly how many others are interested in your plugin or what will be included with the next update of Links, I might just wait for the finished product. I do understand you are writing this in your spare time, just wanted to know how things were going with it Thanks.