“Right, but <%if category_id%> is going to be a null if statement if $category_id is not passed into links.html.”

Exactly, that’s why you have <%if category_id%>

“I tested this earlier by saying <%if category_id%><li><%else%>test<%endif%> and it printed test, of course, because $category_id is not declared.”

Exactly , Its only declared in the Category Template and that’s why you have <%if category_id%>

“<%link_results%> is not in your link.html though, so <%if link_results%> is an anomaly to links.html.”

Exactly, its in your search results, so the <%elseif link_results%> <ul><li> will only show up in the search results.

“There has got be an easy way to insert <li> in some pages but not in others.…………….”

Yes there is, as mentioned a dozen posts ago.
<%if category_id%> <ul><li>
<%elseif link_results%> <ul><li>
<%else%>
<%endif%>

Glad you got it worked out.

Regards

minesite