# Gossamer Links Help

Table of Contents

Database Help

The database screen has two components: the database editor, and database tools.

Database Editor
The database editor is a powerful tool that lets you manage the contents of the four main tables in Gossamer Links: Categories, Links, Users and Reviews.

To use the editor, you first select the table you want to work with:

- Category: The Category table records your category structure and controls how your categories are linked together
- Links: The Links table records your link information, and also which links are in which categories.
- Users: The User table is your user database.
- Reviews: The Reviews table contains reviews users have written and attached to links they wish to comment on.

The second Pull-down menu gives you a list of the various options and actions you can perform on each of the three tables in the first menu. Choosing "Add", "Modify", "Delete" or "Search" will provide a form allowing you to perform the desired action. Choosing "List All" displays a summarized list of all records in the specified table. Selecting "Properties" opens the Table Editor, which lets you alter the table and add new columns, delete columns or import/export data (see below).

The third box is optional, and allows you to quickly find a specific record when searching. For Links, Categories and Reviews enter the numeric ID of the desired record. For Users, enter the username of the desired record. If you choose Search, Delete or Modify and enter a value in the box, the specified record will be displayed automatically. The box is ignored when Add, List All or Properties is selected.

Table Editor
Selecting any of the four record types and "Properties" in the Database Editor displays the Table Editor, which allows you to edit the columns of the selected record type's table. Each of these columns represents one of the columns that define and describe records (ID, Description, Owner, etc.). The Categories, Links, Users and Reviews Table Editors have different columns, and will look slightly different from each other.

Clicking on a "Column Name" brings up a detailed form allowing you to edit that specific column (for a complete description of the fields in the Table Editor, see the "Adding Columns" section of the Gossamer Links manual). The "Indexing Scheme" drop-down menu allows you to choose from four indexing schemes: INTERNAL, MS SQL, MYSQL and NONINDEXED (see the "Indexing Scheme" section of the manual for details). Beneath the "Indexing Scheme" menu is a small menu that provides you with other tools for editing the table: "Add Column", "Delete Column", "Import Data", "Export Data", and "Resync Database". For more information on customizing your Gossamer Links directory using the columns menu, see "Columns" in the "Customizing Gossamer Links" section in this manual.

Database Tools
Included in this menu are several tools to help you manage your database.

- Validate Links: Clicking on "Validate Links" brings up a list of all links that have been added by users but not validated by administrators, and allows you to validate or delete them.
- Validate Changes: Clicking on "Validate Changes" brings up a list of all link modifications that have been made by users but not validated by administrators, and allows you to either approve or reject the changes made by the user.
- Validate Reviews: Clicking on "Validate Links" brings up a list of all links that have been added by users but not validated by administrators, and allows you to validate or delete them.
- Verify Links: Clicking on "Verify Links" allows you to verify any or all of the links in your database. A menu will display the statuses of all links in your database. Select the type of links you want to verify ("Haven't been checked for X days", "Unchecked Links", "Everything"), and click "Verify Links". Depending on the size of your directory and the verification option you have selected, the process can take some time. See "Link Status" for descriptions of the various status codes that will be displayed beside each link. Note: If you have an extremely large database, you will need to run nph-verify.cgi from telnet, not the web. It is also recommended that you set up your system to run nph-verify.cgi nightly to automatically check links that haven't been checked in seven days.
- Link Status: Clicking on "Link Status" will display the status of all links in your database and allow you to delete or modify links that are no longer valid. You have the option of modifying or rechecking specific links, or deleting or rechecking all links with a certain status.
- Check Duplicates: Clicking on "Check Duplicates" will check your directory for links that have the same URL. You can modify any of these links by clicking the appropriate link, or delete them by checking the boxes beside them and clicking the "Delete Selected" button.
- Purge Expired Links: Clicking on "Purge Expired Links" allows you to delete paid links that have expired. Enter the minimum number of days since expiry (entering 10 will delete all links that expired 10 or more days ago) and click the "Purge Links" button.
- Import/Export: Clicking on "Import/Export" allows you to import data from previous versions of Links, create backup files and restore Links from backup files. Note: on large databases, you should run this from shell/telnet as it can take a while to run.
- MySQLMan: MySQLMan is an SQL utility that comes bundled with Gossamer Links, which contains its own separate help documentation. Note: It is recommended that MySQLMan only be used by those familiar with editing SQL files. Additional information about MySQLMan can be found in the "MySQLMan Forum" and the Gossamer Threads site.
- SQL Monitor: The SQL Monitor allows you to input raw queries directly to your database. This is provided as a convenience feature for advanced users only. You must be familiar with SQL to use this. Note: Be careful while using the SQL Monitor. Gossamer Links cannot undo any changes you make through the SQL Monitor.
- Rebuild Search: Clicking "Rebuild Search" will re-index your Gossamer Links database. This is only necessary if you have changed search weights, or if the database has been manually changed from outside of Gossamer Links itself.
- Repair Tables: Clicking "Repair Tables" will check that your database's category counts are correct. Link statuses (such as New and Cool) will be updated, as well as ratings and hit counts.

Table of Contents