LinkScan User Guide

Introduction and Contents

The LinkScan User Guide provides an overview of the LinkScan system for Content Managers and Developers:

1. LinkScan Overview
2. Generating LinkScan Reports
3. Administering and Customizing LinkScan

Section 1. LinkScan Overview

LinkScan is the industrial strength link checking and website management tool for the Unix and Microsoft Windows operating systems. It is the most accurate, fastest and most scalable product available and it is highly customizable. It also does HTML validation. LinkScan creates two types of publication quality SiteMaps and it is professionally supported. Reports may be viewed using all industry standard browsers.

The LinkScan Administrator will install the software and typically configures it to run on a regular periodic basis to ensure that the LinkScan Database is always current. The LinkScan Administrator may establish multiple configurations, typically for large installations supporting multiple virtual servers. Each configuration is known as a Project.

Within each Project, the LinkScan Administrator may also configure multiple Owners. Collections of HTML documents and other files are assigned between Owners in a variety of ways:

• By the Unix File System ownership attribute
• By subdirectories within the website
• By pattern matching on directory and file names
• By Meta Tags inserted in individual documents

When appropriate, LinkScan will prompt you to make your Project and Owner selections via a text box or drop-down list.

Section 2. Generating LinkScan Reports

Interactive queries may be submitted to the LinkScan Database via a simple browser-based interface. The LinkScan Administrator may also generate various standard reports which can be saved on the server as static HTML or TEXT documents. They may also be delivered to selected users via Electronic Mail. Many of the reports require the use of a browser that supports forms and tables. Java, JavaScript and frames are not required.

• Windows Systems

  From the main LinkScan Window, select an existing Project from the displayed list of Projects and click Exam. This will activate the LinkScan web browser and, in a default configuration, send the browser to:

  http://127.0.0.1:83/LinkScan/linkscan.cgi
  

• Unix Systems

  Users will need to point a web browser at the LinkScan Main Menu which typically resides at:

  http://your.server.name/linkscan/linkscan.cgi
  or
  http://your.server.name/cgi-bin/linkscan.cgi
  

The first time you access the results, you will be presented with the LinkScan Login and Preferences Menu. Simply click Login Now. No username is required unless you later decide to enable various LinkScan security features.

Once you have logged in, you will be presented with the LinkScan Main Menu.

Report Selection

You must select one of the individual Reports and submit the form by pressing Select Report.

A help page is available for each type of LinkScan Report. You may view the appropriate help page at any time by using the Help option on the context-sensitive LinkScan Toolbar. You may also use the [?] links on the LinkScan Main Menu, or the links provided in the summary table below.

The most frequently used reports have been organized in the left hand column; we suggest new users start there. Also, many of the reports incorporate hyperlinks to other reports. This means you can use a drill-down paradigm to view more detail associated with a specific problem or document. For example, some users may never explicitly select a LinkScan/QuickCheck Report. But they will likely view reports of that type by following the [Src] links from other reports.

Owner Selection

The LinkScan Main Menu may include an Owner Selection Box. If enabled, this option will allow you to select a sub-set of the website to which subsequent reports will apply.

In a default configuration, the Owner Selection Box will include entries for each top-level directory scanned, in addition to the special entry "All". This will be the default selection and subsequent reports will apply to the entire website scanned.

Note however, that the LinkScan Administrator may configure and customize the manner in which Owners are created. Hence your installation may appear and behave somewhat differently from that described herein.

SubMenu Selection

In many cases, when you submit the form by pressing Select Report you will be presented with a second menu of options. Initially, we suggest you accept the default options which have been carefully designed to produce excellent results in the vast majority of situations. However, to learn more, you may use the context-sensitive Help button on the LinkScan Toolbar at any time.

LinkScan Toolbar

Each of the LinkScan Menus and Reports includes a common LinkScan Toolbar. It contains a number of links:

The Main Menu link will always return you to the LinkScan Main Menu.

The Preferences link will always take you to the LinkScan Login and Preferences Menu.

The Advanced link appears when appropriate and it will cause the current menu to be redrawn with additional options.

The Help link will display an appropriate section of the LinkScan Documentation depending upon the current context.

The Reference link will display the table of contents for the LinkScan Reference Manual.

The HowTo link will display a brief How To Guide with instructions for completing certain Common Tasks.

The Card link will display the LinkScan Quick Reference Card.

Section 3. Administering and Customizing LinkScan

Those concerned with LinkScan Administration should also see:

• LinkScan Reference Manual

LinkScan User Guide
LinkScan Version 12.4
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LinkScan™ and Elsop™ are Trademarks of Electronic Software Publishing Corporation