I have a database created of "Indexfinger", approx. 4,000 sites and 3,000 categories. Now, can this be imported into "Links"?

Assuming that this is a flat text database... I've found that the easiest way is to import the entire database into Microsoft Excel. From Excel, you can set up your database the same way as it will need to look (minus the "|") and add all of the additional No's, Yes's, NULL's, and other fields that you've added. Then I've found I can do a catalog mail merge within Word and use the Excel file as the data source. Word will spit out a nicely formatted text file and all you have to do is save it as links.db or categories.db. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any problems.

I have no idea how indexfinger stores it's data, but my answer would be probably Yes. Post three or four lines of the data and I can probably put together a perl script that will convert your files.

Cheers,

Alex

Hi Alex,

I have supplied you with:
1 example of a category in the front page,
1 example of a subcategory following fron page,
2 example sites

Every category is a single text file and every category and subcategory is also a single text file each.

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The reason I have considered changing programs is that I am lacking performance at this level. Indexfinger performed well when it was smaller size, but lacks performance at a higher level. One of the reasons is that it recreates every html page over, rather than just updating new entries.
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Thanks for your interest

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Main group - Category - Front page- Example (1)
gp2|Education|
Education
<a href="http://www.domain.com/index.shtml">Home</a> /
<a href="http://www.domain.com/html/gp2.shtml">Education</a>

Sub-group - SubCategory - of Front page- Example (1)
gp10|sgp70|sgp2702|Components|
Computers & Internet / Hardware / Components
<a href="http://www.domain.com/index.shtml">Home</a> / <a href="http://www.domain.com/html/gp10.shtml">Computers & Internet</a> / <a href="http://www.domain.com/html/sgp70.shtml">Hardware</a> /


(Site example 1)
st459|gp2|909990658|Family Education Network|http://familyeducation.com|Whether you have a 5-year-old or a daughter just entering college, Family Education Network addresses concerns that will interest you and your family.|0|0

(Site example 2)
st1459|sgp356|911023733|Alverno College|http://www.alverno.edu/|Get to know this independent, four-year liberal arts college for women. You can apply to the college, shop for books or just get the introductory information on academic programs online.|0|0

[This message has been edited by Ricardo (edited January 19, 1999).]

Actually, can you email it to me so I make sure the forum doesn't mess up the formatting? Send it to alex@gossamer-threads.com.

Cheers,

Alex

Actually if you are comfortable with emailing the data files, I'll do the conversion for free and post a script to make the conversion. It will make it easier then trying to go back and forth.

I will of course not share your data with anyone else.

Cheers,

Alex

Ok,

How do I put the Pipes ( | ) back in the data base once I edit it in Excel?

I can move to a text Editor but How do I replace the tabs with pipes?

Todd

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