| Hi,
As you may have noticed in the [rmg] forum, a few Ringlink Developers have decided to setup a 'Ringlink Web Ring Directory' for all 'Ringlink Web Rings' irregardless of what 'Ringlink Web Ring System' that they belonged to, and then organizing them into various categories and sub categories. There is currently a 'Ringlink Systems Directory' where 4 out of every 5 requests to get listed are from 'Ringlink Ringmasters', and not 'Ringlink Web Ring Systems Managers'. :( To do so it was suggested using a Directory/Links/Search program, and we have decided to go with 'Links 2.0' to start off. It was first suggested to host the program on the Ringlink SF server, but that was decided not to be an inspired idea, and Chuck has now offered to host it on his server. Gunnar though not overly enthused and recovering from a computer crash has suggested: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It *might* be realistic to create a central Ringlink web ring directory that is *automatically* updated with new rings. It would require additional email notifications from the Ringlink systems which would be sent to the directory. The directory program would automatically parse the messages and add the new rings. If this could be fixed, it *might* be possible to build a directory similar to the RingSurf ditto. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So what we need is some input from all the 'Ringlink Web Ring System Managers' and 'Ringlink Web Ring Ringmasters' as to what they'd like to see included in the directory listing or not included? The first question is which info should be transferred to the 'Ringlink Web Ring Directory' when a new 'Web Ring' is created on a "Ringlink Web Ring System". Currently this is what is requested: http://www.ringlink.org/cgi-bin/demo/newring.pl For example some might say including the 'Ring ID' is helpful because when you go to the 'Add new site' page on any 'Ringlink Web Ring System' you have to select that Ring's ID from a list: http://www.ringlink.org/cgi-bin/demo/newsite.pl Other questions: Should the default Description (max 150 characters) be increased to 250? Should the choice of category in which the ring is to be placed in be selected at the Ringlink System 'Add new ring' page by the Ringmaster, or be decided at the 'Ringlink Web Ring Directory' by the 'Directory Manager' (Debby T)? Should the listing include whether a web ring is open or closed, and.......? For example a suggested directory listing on the results page might look like this: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Top:: Art and Humanities : Humanities 3 Results ... Displaying 1 - 3 Chinese Culture Web Ring An authentic Chinese culture ring featuring art, gourmet cooking, music, idioms, poetry, and daily life. Ringmaster: PekingDuck Ring ID = culture Hosted on the 'Shanghai Ringlink System' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Title would be a link to that web ring's home/join page. The Ringmaster's name would be an e-mail link. The Title of the System would be a link to that System's home page. Other questions: 1) If a Ringmaster was to edit his or her web ring info, would that updated info when saved also be updated in the directory with a notification of the update going to the Directory manager? Or would they simply be reminded on that ring's edit page in that Ringlink System to also now update their info at the Ringlink Directory? 2) If a web ring was found not to be valid or was broken in the directory, would both the Ringlink Directory Manager and the Ringlink System's Manager whose system was hosting that web ring be notified? 3) If the Ringlink System's manager deletes a web ring, would it be automatically removed from the directory, or would the Directory Manager just get a notification of the change and be required to then delete it from the directory? 4) Ringlink has a site checker for the RingMasters, but not a ring checker for the System's Manager, maybe this sould be something that could be added to the Master Admin page? Or having the Directory Manager doing the checking negates the need for this? To start off with the following Categories have been selected, with further subcategories to be added as needed or requested: Arts and Humanities · Artists · Education · Literature · Museums and Galleries · Music · Organizations · Photography · Publications · Theatre Business and Economy · Companies · E-Commerce · Employment · International · Investments · Real Estate · Other Computers And Internet · Communications and Networking · Computer Graphics & Anime · Hardware · Homepages · Multimedia · Net and Web Rings · Organizations · Programming · Software · Web Design · Other Entertainment Books and Magazines · Cartoons , Comics and Animation · Movies · Music · People · TV · Other Family And Home Children · Genealogy · Issues · Parenting · Teens and Young Adults Games · Board Games · Card Games · Computer Games · Console Games · Dice Games · Role Playing Games · War Games · Other Health · Alternative · Disabilities · Disease · Drugs · Education · Medicine · Organizations · Publications Hobbies and Crafts · Antiques · Collecting · Gardening · Ham and CB Radio · Handcrafts · Sewing & Needle Arts · Other Miscellaneous · Animals and Pets · Dating, Romance, Singles and Relationships · Food and Beverages · Science, Astronomy, And Biology Society and Culture · Alternative · Charity · Civil Rights · Government · History · Holidays and Observances · Issues · Military · Nature and the Environment · Organizations · Regional · Religion · Other Sports and Recreation · Automobiles & Motorcycles · Aviation · Ball Games · Equestrian · Racing · Travel · Water Sports · Wrestling · Xtreme Sports · Other Rings in other Languages French ' Swedish ' Russian ' Spanish ' German ' Turkish (With rings listed in the above category also being listed in the category associated with the topic or theme of that ring?) As to the web site design it's been decided to go with the Ringlink website template. All suggestions and comments would be greatly appreciated! Pete H |