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Custom Header And Footer For Each Link

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Custom Header And Footer For Each Link
Hi.

Each Link owner would want a custom Header and Footer for following pages:

  • Contact Us (Running Andy's Contact_Page plugin)
  • Detailed Profile (rewritten mod_rewrite)
  • Rate (the default rate.cgi)
  • Refer (Running Andy's Recommend_It Plugin)
Qstns:

  • Any Plugin available which would accomplish this? If yes how much does it cost?
  • Would the images uploaded for the header have to be reuploaded during edits?
  • What would be the level of changes needed for templates (running modified default version)
Could reply at hypertherm at postman.net or PM me.

Thanks
HyTC
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Re: [HyperTherm] Custom Header And Footer For Each Link In reply to
Hello HyperTherm,

I have not yet used Andy's Contact us plugin, but if you are able to insert the Link ID on that page, then I think you should be able to do it all easily - but please do test and see if it works, cuz I might also be wrong.

Here is what I would do:
  • Within link property create text ares fields like user_header, user_footer
  • Setup this fields within on link add page, assuming you want to have seperate header/footer for every link and not for every user.
  • Within these templates (rate.html, detailed.html, refer.html - just make sure that I have named them right), you can add tags like
    <%if user_header%><%user_header%><%else%> Regular Header <%endif%>
    and for the footer, you can have
    <%if user_footer%><%user_footer%><%else%> Regular footer <%endif%>

I above method words, then I do not think you will need to do any real big modification or updates.

Hope I was able to help.

Vishal

Vishal
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Re: [NeedScripts.Com] Custom Header And Footer For Each Link In reply to
Hi Vishal.

Thanx and i would give it a try. But with a further query before i try it out:

Say i create the Header and Footer Text Areas in the Links Table.
A Link Owner with me, has a subdomain hosting space (http://linkowner.linksite.com)also provided by us by default (otherwise we just don't accept inclusion in directory). But i would not expect the Link Owner to be proficient with html stuff, so it's basically we that would have to create the logo, images etc and upload it to the subdomain (the <%URL%> basically) and then submit the html code to the two text areas before validating. Fine so far.

But during edits, i would not want these two text areas to be available for editing by the link owner. I think that should be possible. Am i right?

Thanx
HyTC
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Re: [HyperTherm] Custom Header And Footer For Each Link In reply to
Quote:
Say i create the Header and Footer Text Areas in the Links Table.
A Link Owner with me, has a subdomain hosting space (http://linkowner.linksite.com)also provided by us by default (otherwise we just don't accept inclusion in directory). But i would not expect the Link Owner to be proficient with html stuff, so it's basically we that would have to create the logo, images etc and upload it to the subdomain (the <%URL%> basically) and then submit the html code to the two text areas before validating. Fine so far.


You seem to be having a very nice system in mind :) Keep up the good work.

Now back to your question.

Here is another way to look at things.

Pick your favorite HTML editor, I normally use FrontPage 2003, but I believe you will be using DW :)

Now forget that you are using Links SQL, and create a page just with the header the way you want the final output on your website to be. Do the same thing and create a footer. Both the pages will have a logo space, and other info space as you desire.

Now divide the header page content into parts editable and non-editable. Suppose you have 5 parts in total, Logo, Title Text, Title Description, User Menu & Phone Number. Now suppose you don't want the end user to be able to edit Logo, Title Text & Title Description.

Now within link properties you need to create 5 fields, instead of just 1 (user_header). Name each field with the above parts or as you desire.

Now within link add and modify page, while working on the form you just need to make sure that the fields you don't want users to edit, does not appear. :) Do the same thing with footer. So in this way you control the options and user behaviour.

I think this should solve your problem.

Also, while working on this method, if I can be of any help, please do let me know.

Vishal

Vishal
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Re: [NeedScripts.Com] Custom Header And Footer For Each Link In reply to
Hey

Thanx.
I just did a quick test and found that it worked.
So with this, it's workable.

Sice the link owner gets a subdomain hosting space, and we do the site normally a small 5 page site with "four pages coming from LINKS SQL" :), I would think of playing with "if then else" in the three templates (header/footer/menu.html's) and see if that Admin Headache of bothering about additional columns could be avoided. Thanx for showing me the light :)

I am on frontpage too as DW is bit too "unfamiliar to eyes" :). Though editing with FP sometimes really messes up templates ... can't blame ...a M$ product afterall.

Yeah we are trying to build up some competition for the "Conventional Big Players" in YP market by packaging:

  • 100MB+ WebMail Account (user@domain.com) using Gossamer Mail
  • 30 MB Subdomain Hosting With FileManager (Mod By Charlie) To Handle Files On Subdomain. (http://user.domain.com) ... We do the home page and take four pages from LINKS SQL :). Though I have FTP Access to subdomain ready too (using Gossamer Mail user Table for authentication) but i am really not providing it as of now.
  • One Links Submission (on domain.com)
  • 6MB Classifieds Account (would love to shift to second copy of LINKS SQL with accessories but no money to spare :/ )
  • If anyone wants subdomain access though primary domain then at additional cost :)
And at the end of the day, if we really rope in good number of clients, then a Printed Business Directory where each subscriber gets some ad space for free :)
If we earn something out of it, then perhaps GT Auto Responder Account to every link owner :)

Naah ... I am not Advertising ... Just extrapolating ... For Vishal ... hope not overstepping ...

Hey you are already helping me aren't you. Even after having played with templates of GT for so long, i thought all this would be costing me some dough but it came about settling with just spending few hours on templates :)

Would get back in case i get jammed.
Me always reachable at hypertherm at postman.net

Thanx Once Again
HyTC

Last edited by:

HyperTherm: Sep 22, 2004, 6:24 AM
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Re: [HyperTherm] Custom Header And Footer For Each Link In reply to
Quote:
I just did a quick test and found that it worked.
:) I am glad that the problem is solved

Quote:
Though editing with FP sometimes really messes up templates ... can't blame ...a M$ product afterall.
Hum.. interesting, I mean, I created *all* the templates for the site Need Scripts using combination of FrontPage 2003's WYSIWYG and text editor and didn't had even one single problem. If you can tell me what code did FrontPage changed, then I might be able to help, cuz many a times it is mainly the settings within the tool.

Quote:
One Links Submission
This gives me an idea, especially for your business, maybe you can use it.

Setting up link directory is a huge problem things especially for most business who are not aware of Links SQL.

Now why not offer all your clients their own Link Directory Section, where they can also work with link exchange with their target audience and any way they like it.

Within your directory you can make a category like Partners and within that one sub category for every user who is willing to pay you 5 bucks/month (or anything you like or even free). Now make that user as editor within that category, so they can add/edit/modify links within that category as desired.

Also, make sure that their header and footer appers on their category, should be every easy to setup new template for every category (about 2 hours of work for initial template set for first user and then 10 minutes max for every other user)

Also, within this template do not use <%title_linked%> so most of the surfer will think it is the users directory and your users will love you for that.

Also, if you wish, within the footer, you can have a small text link or image linking to your main service website. Cuz most users who are having their own directory are lot likely to pull in many visitors who might also convert as a customer for your business, and might want to signup for a account for themselves. So doing this would actually generate more clients for you without you having to work, as your clients will be working for generating clients for you ;)

This idea can be played a lot and might be useful to you.
------------------------------------------------------

Again, I am glad I was able to help.


Vishal

Vishal
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Re: [NeedScripts.Com] Custom Header And Footer For Each Link In reply to
OK I would try going about this way:

Have two ENUM type columns for header/footer Yes/No
Deafult would be No ... as site on subdomain is completed after the links is validated.

With the above in place, would just try playing with inclue_header.html, include_searchbar.html include_menu.html and include_footer.html with "if then else"

I can percieve where i would get jammed with this:

The header basically is logo.gif on <%URL%>, another image perhaps to link back to parent site (so that it appears that parent site is advertising on the Link Owner's Site/Links). So far fine. The only thing which could get me stuck would be:

The table background color, which would has to be identical with the format on the site on Subdomain and could/would vary from site to site (ie link to link). A tougher way would be to have a 1X1 pixel image to fill up the table background ... as last resort but any other easier solution possible?

HyTC.
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Re: [NeedScripts.Com] Custom Header And Footer For Each Link In reply to
Hi.

While on FP, i think many a times i messed up Gmail templates.
While on LinksSQL, i think i messed up detailed.html quite a number of times. Actually i do check few things on netmechanic for html errors and perhaps correcting those messes it up.

On Your idea ... Yes that would be a good proposition. Right now we are proposing to work with Partners ... not as Directory Owners but as Marketing Partners on huge cut :). Slow and Steady ...

We are pricing it lower than what Yellow Pages players charge for just a 1CM listing in Printed Directory. Yes you are right, the *probable link owners* have to be talked to a lot and that's a pain ... not surprising ... that's what marketing and fighting against big giants is all about. Perhaps our sales could be slow, but at the same time we are slowing down their sales too ... ;)

Thanx
HyTC
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Re: [HyperTherm] Custom Header And Footer For Each Link In reply to
Do you know that FP2003 has inbuild in HTML validator? and other stuff :)

Quote:
The table background color, which would has to be identical with the format on the site on Subdomain and could/would vary from site to site


I tried to think for an solution, but am not able to find any real good solution. But below is the best thing I found:

1) Allow users to input the color code (or bg image url) for the background, and also make a very detailed and nice tutorial section if you have to. So you don't have to worry about the type of bg color, as it is upto them now, and if they have any problems, then they can read the guide and still got any problems, then they can finally contact you.

Hope this helps.

Vishal

Vishal
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Re: [NeedScripts.Com] Custom Header And Footer For Each Link In reply to
Hi.

Quickest and shortest Solution:

Enum Type Columns : Link_Header Link_Footer in Links
Defaults to No for both.
If the user puts up his site on the subdomain (http://user.linksite.com) then this remains No and the default header and footers are displayed.

If we do the site for the client (http://user.linksite.com) then Those Links will have the above two columns set to Yes.

Then Just played with include_header.html

<%--
File : include_header.html
--%>

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"
<%if Link_Header eq 'Yes'%>background="<%URL%>/bg.gif"><%else%>
background="<%build_images_url%>/default/bg.gif"><%endif%>
<tr>
<td width="100%"><div align="center"><center><table border="0" cellpadding="0"
cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<tr>
<td valign="center">
<%if Link_Header eq 'Yes%>
<a href="<%URL%>"><img src="<%URL%>/logo.gif" alt="<%Title%>" border="0"></a></td>
<%else%>
<a href="http://linksite.com"><img src="<%build_images_url%>/default/logo.gif" width="280" height="68" alt="Edited ...." border="0"></a>
<%endif%>
</td>
<td></td>
<td><div align="center"><center>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<tr>
<td valign="center"><p align="right">
<%if Link_Header eq 'Yes%>
<a href="<%db_cgi_url%>/contact.cgi?ID=<%ID%>"><img src="<%URL%>/banner.gif" border="0">
<%else%>
<a href="<%db_cgi_url%>/contact.cgi"><img src="<%build_images_url%>/default/banner.gif" border="0" width="321" height="68">
<%endif%>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</center></div></td>
</tr>
</table>
</center></div></td>
</tr>
<tr><td width="100%">
<%include include_search_bar.html%>
</td></tr>

Know needs cleaning up maybe ... but it worked.
Nothing needed for support except that:

1x1 px bg.gif same as the background color of the banner and logo of client which they would have to upload to their subdomain (<%URL%> )

height of logo and banner restricted to 68 max
combined width restricted to 700 max
Most of the time it's we who would have to do this ... so no issues on support.

So far so good. Footer issue would be avoidable for the time being as we would be laying our claims to it ... at least for the time being :)

Thanks
HyTC