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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 three main tables in Links SQL: Categories, Links and Users.
To use the editor, you first
select the table you want to work with:
- Category: This contains
your category structure and controls how your categories are linked
together
- Links: This contains your
link information, and also what links are in what categories.
- Users: This is your user
database.
The second
Pull-down menu gives you a list of the various functions you can do for each of
the three options in the first menu. Add, Modify, Delete, Search and List All
are pretty self explanative. Properties lets you alter the table and add new
columns, delete columns or import/export data.
The third box is used when
searching. It represent the primary key of the table you are searching on. For
links and categories that is the ID field, for users it is the Username field.
If you choose search, delete or modify and enter in a value in the box it will
display that record automatically. Otherwise, you will be presented with a
search form. The box is ignored when Add, List All or Properties is selected.
Database Tools
Included in this menu are several tools to help you manage your database.
- Validate Links: is
the process by which a submitted record is evaluated by you, the
administrator and the decision is made whether or not to add the record to
the main site.
- Validate Changes: lets
you approve or reject links users have suggested should be modified.
- Verify Links: lets you
check whether links are still responding, or are now dead.
- Link Status: lets you
view the status of links to see which links are dead.
- Check Duplicates: shows
you a list of links with the same URL, allowing you to easily remove
ones that are doubles.
- Import/Export: from here
you can create a backup of your database, or restore from a backup.
Also, you can import links from any previous version of Links SQL or
Links. Note: on large databases, you should run this from shell/telnet
as it can take a while to run.
- MySQLMan: a great tool
that gives you low level access to your database. This should be used
with caution though as it is possible to destroy your installation with
this tool.
- Rebuild Search: this lets
you re-create your search indexes. This is only necessary if you have
manually imported links, or changed data outside of Links SQL.
- Repair Tables: this lets
you resync your category counters, and should only be necessary if a manual
change has occurred.
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