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[iUNI] Remote Counter 2.0.0 - 2.0.4

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[iUNI] Remote Counter 2.0.0 - 2.0.4

Version 2.0.0 - 2.04

This thread is for version 2.0.0 to 2.0.4 of Remote Count




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

Last edited by:

Ian: Jul 23, 2002, 11:56 AM
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Re: [Ian] [PLUG-IN] REMOTE COUNTER V2.0.1 In reply to

TOP X COUNT TAG EXAMPLE OUTPUT


EXTRACT FROM INBUILT DOCUMENTATION:



Top X Count

# This subroutine returns the toplist
# Called with <%Plugins::RemoteCount::TopXCount('TopX','Max Title Length', 'Sort Order')%>
# Order:
# iox - IN OUT EXP
# ixo - IN EXP OUT
# xoi - EXP OUT IN
# xio - EXP IN OUT
# oix - OUT IN EXP
# oxi - OUT EXP IN

Example: <%Plugins::RemoteCount::TopXCount('100','75', 'xio')%>

Returns the top 100, with titles capped at 75 chars, and order by Exposures, In's then Out's


Note: "Birds of a feather floc ..." This would be a setting of 23 for example... giving a total string length of 27 (4 for the space and three dots).

Lastly, you can adjust the rc_rank.html template so that the tag output displays exactly the way you want it.



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

Last edited by:

Ian: Jun 22, 2002, 6:59 PM
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Re: [Ian] [PLUG-IN] REMOTE COUNTER V2.0.1 In reply to

WHAT IS REMOTE COUNTER?

Remote count is a clever little script which allows you to place a page counter, or a graphic of your choice onto a remote site, and maintain the count in your links database. It also directs anyone who clicks on the graphic or custom "Powered By....." text to either the detailed page of the link, or your home page - YOU DECIDE. No matter what, you bring more traffic to your site.

Example (Courtesy of Brian):




Other information about this plugin can be found:


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

Last edited by:

Ian: Jun 22, 2002, 7:12 PM
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Re: [Ian] [PLUG-IN] REMOTE COUNTER V2.0.1 In reply to

CORRECTIONS

I have recieved a suggestion (another good one!!) and I have also found a little bug which is now fixed:

  1. When you click on the counter on the remote site, the page is opening in the little frame. This can be fixed by adding the part in red to your rc_counter.html template:

    <p align="center"><a href="<%url%>" target="_blank"><%hits%></a><br><b>
    <font size="2" color="#000080">By Categories.ca</font></b></p>

    That will fix the counter... the fix for the image (which I just did) is in the code itself.
  2. Adding URL/Hyperlinking to the Titles in the TOP X Count list. <<DONE!!



I have just installed RC Count onto Categories.ca, and it seems to be working great now. It took me 20 minutes to install RC, modify my cool template, and rc templates. Not bad. It may take longer depending on how many mods you have to do in your own templates, but it was not a difficult install.

EDIT: The titles are hyperlinked so that the URL is not revealed on mouse over, and when clicked, the click is recorded - just like Links handles a displayed URL in your categories.


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

Last edited by:

Ian: Jun 22, 2002, 11:44 PM
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Re: [Ian] [PLUG-IN] REMOTE COUNTER V2.0.1 In reply to

You can see a demo of the TopX tag and RC plugin at work (when I am not testing the plug-in) at:

http://www.categories.ca/Cool/

You will see that I have actually replaced the built in what's cool that links generates with the top X tag from RC. This is because RC produces more than just a hit top list.




http://www.iuni.com/...tware/web/index.html
Links Plugins
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[PLUG-IN] REMOTE COUNTER V2.0.2 In reply to

2.0.2 IS NOW IN THE DOWNLOAD AREA





http://www.iuni.com/...tware/web/index.html
Links Plugins
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Re: [Ian] [PLUG-IN] REMOTE COUNTER V2.0.1 In reply to
Ian:

I notice you are using <IFRAME> tags for the counter.

Is this tag compulsory or can <IMG> tags be used as an alternative? The reason I ask is that whilst <IFRAME> works well with the latest browsers, some browsers do have some problems properly displaying their contents.

Thanks,



Clint.
--------------------------
http://AffiliatesDirectory.com
The Affiliate Programs Directory
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Re: [Clint] [PLUG-IN] REMOTE COUNTER V2.0.1 In reply to
Hi Clint,

I am sure this might be possible - I have not tried it yet. But any method which make the page active and easily able to load the cgi should work.

This does not involve any code changes for the counter, you could play around with the included template file for displaying the counter and see what works. I too will have a look at this.

Thanks!


SUGGESTIONS



On another note: Since going to bed last night - and I am writing this just on my way to breakfast, I have received another load of great suggestions. Some are more difficult than others, so I will put these on hold till I know how to do them (and have some time).

One I am going to look at fairly soon is:

  • The ability to turn off the remote counting function for busy sites. As you can imaging, if a site is getting a thousand plus hits an hour, things are going to start adding up on your server resources! (thanks for this suggestion). The problem I see with this, is you can't stop someone visiting your site normally, so you can't stop them placing your counter onto their site (even if it is not functional). You could just change the rc_code for the associated link in your links table (easily done), and this would stop the counter working all together. What could be programmed in, is that you have the ability to simply stop the cgi from incrementing the hits, even wall a call is made to it to do so. But I still don't see the need to program this, as you can still do this by changing the code, so the site owner does not know what it is. Anyways, I need some input on this before going any further with this idea.




Just to recap: Each link is given a code by RC you can assign. By default, all codes are 0 initially, allowing anyone to place the code onto their site, as long as they know their link number and the method for which to call the file. Simple enough. For increased secuirty, you can place up to a 10 digit code with each link, which will stop code/link# mismatches from doing anything. This is already built into RC.


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

Last edited by:

Ian: Jun 23, 2002, 9:17 AM
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Re: [Ian] [PLUG-IN] REMOTE COUNTER V2.0.1 In reply to
Nice work Ian.



I have an idea for it as well. What if there were a topx per category?

Secondly, what if the results page could be syndicated allowing another website to show the top 10 links in X category with just a simple copy n paste code? This of course would only need the rank and title. I,O,X would not be needed to be shown on a remote site.

Top 10 Bikini
1. The Bikini
2. G String Central
3. ETC...

Just set up the links to open to the detail page on the LinksSQL site they are based on in a new window.

Just a couple of ideas to extend marketing!

Smile
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Re: [Teambldr] [PLUG-IN] REMOTE COUNTER V2.0.1 In reply to
Hi Brian,

Great suggestions!

One thing that springs to mind, is server resources though. I think super computer required if you have a lot of busy sites running the these functions on your site. I guess this depends on the number of likley people using this, and the power of your setup.

Food for thought for sure.


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

Last edited by:

Ian: Jun 23, 2002, 10:37 AM
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Re: [Ian] [PLUG-IN] REMOTE COUNTER V2.0.1 In reply to
To give you an idea I am running 3 syndication programs that are in use on roughly 10,000 sites and my CPU is running at about 7 to 12 percent. Of course this is on an NT server so I am not sure how the Penguin would do with it. Tongue
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Re: [Teambldr] [PLUG-IN] REMOTE COUNTER V2.0.1 In reply to
"I am not sure how the Penguin would do with it"

Yeah, that is going to get a comment for sureTongue

Quote:
Top 10 Bikini
1. The Bikini
2. G String Central
3. ETC...

Nice sites you picked to!


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

Last edited by:

Ian: Jun 23, 2002, 10:41 AM
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Re: [Ian] [PLUG-IN] REMOTE COUNTER V2.0.1 In reply to
Oh well, NT is the brunt of most jokes here so we need to throw out a penguin comment here and there to keep them honest. LOL

Well I am off to brunch. Bats and Birds oh my!Wink
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TRASNPARENT COUNTERS In reply to

TRANSPARENT COUNTERS

If you want to make your counter have a transparent background (so that users can keep there site's nice look) use the following: (I do this on categories)

<%--
File : rc_counter.html
Description : template for the counter displayed on remote site
:
Tags : <%url%> - must be included
: <%hits%> - counter
--%>
<body style="background-color:transparent" >
<p align="center"><a href="<%url%>" target="_blank"><%hits%></a><br><b>
<font size="2" color="#000080" face="SansSerif">By </font></b>
<font size="2" color="#FF3300" face="SansSerif">Categories.ca</font><b><font size="2" color="#000080" face="SansSerif"></p>
</font></b>
<!-- Powered by http://www.categories.ca -->
</body>

And for the in-line frame:

<IFRAME frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="120" height="55"
SRC="http://www.categories.ca/cgi-bin/rc_handle.cgi?CODE=0&ID=SITENUMBER" ALLOWTRANSPARENCY="true">




I just got my first user (without my even suggesting it!)




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

Last edited by:

Ian: Jun 23, 2002, 12:15 PM
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Re: [Ian] TRASNPARENT COUNTERS In reply to

IDEA

I am thinking it would be nice to be able to send the user directly to your Top List page when they click on the counter or graphic.

I will consider adding the option for you to be able to specify where the user is re-directed... there may be some problems with this, as every-ones site is different, but I will look into it for a future version anyways.




http://www.iuni.com/...tware/web/index.html
Links Plugins
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Re: [Ian] TRASNPARENT COUNTERS In reply to

NEW for Next Version



I have added "Total Links Being Tracked" to the statistics. This is based on all links which have an IN value greater then 0.


http://www.iuni.com/...tware/web/index.html
Links Plugins
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Re: [Ian] TRASNPARENT COUNTERS In reply to
I think that directing the other sites traffic to their detail page on your site is the most interactive unles the site is not running detailed pages. Then it moght be best to take them to the review or rate section for the link on your site.



Just a thought!
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Re: [Teambldr] TRASNPARENT COUNTERS In reply to
Yeah... I am one of those people who don't use detailed pages, hence the idea.

Currently RC will send them to either the detailed page, or the your home page... there is an option in the settings.

The what's cool page is where most would stick this list I would imagine, so I could easily add this as a third option in the settings.

EDIT: the rate or review section is also a good idea.


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

Last edited by:

Ian: Jun 23, 2002, 3:33 PM
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Re: [Ian] TRASNPARENT COUNTERS In reply to
The reason I suggested those two sections is due to the interactivity. But maybe the right answer is to make it configurable to the site owners needs by offering an open slot for the third. So Detail Page, Home Page and then Open Slot.



Just a thought!
Quote Reply
Re: [Teambldr] TRASNPARENT COUNTERS In reply to
Yes, user specified URL. I will look into this I think, sounds good! (Another settingWink)


http://www.iuni.com/...tware/web/index.html
Links Plugins
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Re: [Ian] TRASNPARENT COUNTERS In reply to
More settings! That is almost as good as Angelina Jolie in her satin sleep wear being chased by the Iluminati!Tongue
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Re: [Teambldr] TRASNPARENT COUNTERS In reply to
Is that girl in your user pic holding an oozi?


http://www.iuni.com/...tware/web/index.html
Links Plugins
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Re: [Ian] TRASNPARENT COUNTERS In reply to
That is an oozie.

That is Lara Croft, Tomb Raider! (aka Angelina Jolie!)Tongue
Quote Reply
Re: [Ian] TRASNPARENT COUNTERS In reply to
I am thinking about a javascript version of the counter (my javascript skills are not that great), but this is an example of how another counter company uses javascript to display a remote counter:

Code:
<SCRIPT TYPE="text/javascript" LANGUAGE="javascript">
s="na";c="na";j="na";f=""+escape(document.referrer)
</SCRIPT>
<SCRIPT TYPE="text/javascript" LANGUAGE="javascript1.2">
s=screen.width;v=navigator.appName
if (v != "Netscape") {c=screen.colorDepth}
else {c=screen.pixelDepth}
j=navigator.javaEnabled()
</SCRIPT>
<SCRIPT TYPE="text/javascript" LANGUAGE="javascript">
function pr(n) {document.write(n,"\n");}
NS2Ch=0
if (navigator.appName == "Netscape" &&
navigator.appVersion.charAt(0) == "2") {NS2Ch=1}
if (NS2Ch == 0) {
r="&size="+s+"&colors="+c+"&referer="+f+"&java="+j+""
pr("<A HREF=\"http://www.TheCounter.com\[/url]" TARGET=\"_top\"><IMG"+
" BORDER=0 SRC=\"http://c3.thecounter.com/id=2423218"+r+"\"><\/A>")}
</SCRIPT>
<NOSCRIPT><A HREF="http://www.TheCounter.com" TARGET="_top"><IMG
SRC="http://c3.thecounter.com/id=1234567" ALT="TC" BORDER=0></A>
</NOSCRIPT>
Any suggestion on how to incorporate this with RC would be appreciated. I will be looking into this myself also.


http://www.iuni.com/...tware/web/index.html
Links Plugins
Quote Reply
Re: [Teambldr] TRASNPARENT COUNTERS In reply to

UPDATE



Ok, the actual diversion URL is not in yet, but for 2.0.3 you will have these options for where to send users who click on your remote counters (or images):
  • Home (default)
  • Detailed page for the link
  • Whats Cool Page (this is where I keep my Top X List)
  • Top Rated



A Note on Transparancy with In Line Frames



In line frames are supported from IE 4 or so, but if you wish to use the transparent background, users with IE5.5 or newer will be the only ones to be seeing this. I have made my default background white, which is probably the more common background color used on website. This means users whose browsers do not support transparent backgrounds, will see a white background. Please feel free to read the reference at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/...nefloatingframes.asp


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

Last edited by:

Ian: Jun 23, 2002, 8:10 PM
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