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Questions and answers regarding the use of account Cosmetic Controls.
- 1. What is a cosmetic integration?
- 2. How do I use Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) for my links page cosmetics?
- 3. I can't see the text on my links pages. What could be the problem?
- 4. How do I make my links pages visually match the rest of my website?
- 5. What is the difference between Expert Mode and Novice Mode?
- 6. How do I include graphic images or banners on my links menu or links pages?
- 7. Can I use JavaScripts in my links page design?
- 8. Why are some images on my links pages are not visible?
- 9. My website has changed visually. Will my links pages change too?
- 10. Can I show webmasters submitting links to my links pages options for posting a banner as a reciprocal link?
- 11. I see the TITLE tag shows 'Links Menu'. Can the TITLE tag be changed?
- 1. What is a cosmetic integration?
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A cosmetic integration is the process of altering the appearance your LinksManager generated links pages to almost identically match the design of your website. A cosmetic integration makes your new links pages blend seamlessly with the rest of your website. In most cases, the LinksManager support team will handle your cosmetic integration shortly after account signup. Please feel free to request support if you are in need of a cosmetic integration or re-integration of your links pages.
Top - Updated: September 29, 2005
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- 2. How do I use Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) for my links page cosmetics?
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Cascading Stylesheet(CSS)(BETA) controls provide you with greater and more efficient control over the cosmetic and formatting appearance of all elements that display on your links pages. The CSS controls allow you to define style class definitions within the Header Cosmetic Control of your account and then apply those classes to individual or multiple cosmetics elements of your links pages. If you are not familiar with CSS, please visit Stylesheets explained before continuing with this knowledgebase article. You can also search the web using keywords such as "Beginner CSS" or "CSS explained". There is a wealth of information available.
If you are already familiar with the basic cosmetic controls that are included in your account, you know that you can manipulate the appearance of virtually any item that appears on your links pages by visiting the cosmetic controls for that element and, for example, change the font type, size, color, boldness and alignment. The changes that you make will then update and display on your links pages. This process can become somewhat tedious and time consuming though if you wish to change the font used for ALL elements on your links pages.
With CSS, you can now define and/or change the desired font used by a single or ALL elements of your links pages by simply editing one stylesheet class definition. So changing the font used for a one element, a group of elements or all elements displaying on your links pages is now as simple as editing the font definition in your CSS. If this concept seems foreign to you, we again would recommend visiting Stylesheets explained before attempting to use the CSS controls.
WHERE DO I CREATE MY STYLE CLASS DEFINITIONS?
There are two recommended ways that you can reference CSS in your LinksManager account.
1. Create an internal stylesheet by placing your stylesheet definitions inside the <head> tag and the </head> in the header cosmetic controls of your account.
2. Reference an external stylesheet by placing code HTML such as
<link rel="Stylesheet" rev="Stylesheet" title="your stylesheet title" type="text/css" href="/url/to/your/stylesheet/yourstylesheetname.css" />
inside the <head> tag and the </head> in the header cosmetic controls of your account.
HOW DO I APPLY A CLASS DEFINITION TO AN ELEMENT OF MY LINKS PAGES?
Each cosmetic control in your account now includes a CSS control. Additionally, a CSS Quickview Cosmetics Control Page is available to allow you to quickly scan and change CSS settings for your account in one location. Simply visit the cosmetic controls for a specific element, enable the CSS control and then type the name of the style class definition that you would like to apply to that element.
Example:
I wish to use a 10pt Palatino Linotype font for my links page titles, link titles and link descriptions.
1. I first create a style definition in my LinksManager header cosmetic controls defining the font. The style definition might look like this:
.palatino_10pt {
font-family: Palatino Linotype;
font-size: 10pt;
color: #000000;
}
2. I save my stylesheet class definition in the header cosmetic control and then visit my links page cosmetic controls. There, I locate the LINKS PAGE TITLES, LINK SITE NAME HYPERLINK and LINK DESCRIPTION cosmetic controls.
3. For each cosmetic control, I enable the stylesheet control and assign the style class name "palatino_10pt" to the control. Then save my changes.
4. To verify that my CSS definition has been properly applied to my links pages, I click on VIEW MY LINKS PAGES in the left menu of my control panel. Once the page displays, I refresh my browser and should see that my link page titles, link titles and descriptions displaying in 10pt Palatino Linotype font.
This is a very basic example of CSS application in LinksManager but illustrates the global effectiveness of one stylesheet definition. Once a style class definition is created, it can be applied to any or all element(s) visible on your links pages.
As always, feel free to Request Support should you have any questions about the CSS controls included with your account.
Top - Updated: May 5, 2005
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- 3. I can't see the text on my links pages. What could be the problem?
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Most likely the problem is that your text color is set to the same color as your background color. The color controls can be set from the Cosmetic Control panel.
Top - Updated: November 26, 2002
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- 4. How do I make my links pages visually match the rest of my website?
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The Expert Cosmetics Mode seen in your Control Panel allows you to upload an HTML header and footer so you can precisely control the layout of your links pages. Expert Mode allows for the easiest integration with any existing website.
If you are proficient with basic HTML, you can copy the source HTML code from a page on your website, paste that code in an HTML editor, and split the code into three pieces: HEAD tag, header, and footer. The space in between the header and footer is where your links pages will be placed.
Top - Updated: December 30, 2002
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- 5. What is the difference between Expert Mode and Novice Mode?
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Expert Cosmetics Mode allows you to upload an HTML header and footer so you can precisely control the layout of your links pages. When you use Expert Mode, your BODY tag controls most of the links pages' layout colors. Expert Mode allows for the easiest integration with any existing website.
Novice Cosmetics Mode is available if you do not have an exiting website, or do not know HTML and want to control some minor visual aspects of your links pages. Novice Mode allows for quick changes with an easy point-and-click interface.
Novice Mode comes with a generic template so you can see Linksmanager in action right after you register for your account. However, we do not recommend you keep your account in Novice Mode.
If you are an HTML novice and you want your links pages to visually match the page design of your current website, contact the Helpdesk and ask for a free Cosmetics Integration.
Top - Updated: December 30, 2002
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- 6. How do I include graphic images or banners on my links menu or links pages?
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Graphics can be included on your links pages. The most typical locations are your account's header and footer or the top and bottom text areas of your links menu. To display a graphic, include a full path including the domain name that points to the directory where the graphic resides on your web server.
If the banner or graphic includes a hyperlink, make sure the hyperlink points to the full path of the location.
Top - Updated: December 30, 2002
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- 7. Can I use JavaScripts in my links page design?
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Yes - You can include Javascript in your link pages when your cosmetics mode is set to Expert Mode. Insert Javascript just as you would in your HTML editor. Remember to reference all graphics and hyperlinks with the full path including domain name.
Top - Updated: May 5, 2005
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- 8. Why are some images on my links pages are not visible?
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If an image that appears on your website is not visible on your links pages, you are probably not calling the graphic with a full URL path.
For example, if the image is located at http://mywebsite/image.gif, you are probably calling the image from your header or footer as /image.gif. Always use the full path including the http:// to properly reference and display the graphic.
Top - Updated: December 30, 2002
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- 9. My website has changed visually. Will my links pages change too?
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No - Your links pages' layout is separate from your website's layout. If your website undergoes any type of change, you will need to update your LinksManager account Cosmetic Controls to reflect those changes.
Top - Updated: December 30, 2002
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- 10. Can I show webmasters submitting links to my links pages options for posting a banner as a reciprocal link?
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Yes - It is possible to instruct webmasters who submit links to your links pages how to reciprocate your link with a banner graphic.
From your Miscellaneous
Cosmetic Controls screen, the section titled "Link Submitted Successfully Page Top Text" allows you to enter text or HTML that can detail instructions on how to reciprocate your link with a graphic image.
Top - Updated: December 30, 2002
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- 11. I see the TITLE tag shows 'Links Menu'. Can the TITLE tag be changed?
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Yes. There is now an 'Expert Title Definition' section in your 'Cosmetic Controls' -- 'Header and Footer Control'.
Here you will be able to specify unique titles to be used for each of these pages. These are the titles that will show at the top of your web browser's window.
Top - Updated: August 2, 2007
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