Announcing DirectoryTool for Radio UserLand

Mon, 07 Nov 2005 08:42:56 GMT

My background in directories

I first started creating directories with a UserLand Manila website (Wayback Archive link) hosted by Weblogger. Manila supports rendering of OPML files to create the type of directory structure you would see at Yahoo or the Open Directory Project. Some time later, I started using Radio UserLand to publish a companion weblog. However, I still used my Manila site to maintain my directory. After a while of using two weblog applications, I decided I wanted to use Radio UserLand to publish my directory so that I could cut back to one weblog tool. I looked at the DirectoryFrame macro available in Radio UserLand, but I wanted to be able to render all of the HTML pages locally instead of depending on a web service to perform the rendering.

DirectoryTool is now available

Using DirectoryTool for Radio UserLand, you can:

Create directory files using the Radio UserLand outliner
Generate HTML files corresponding to your directory structure
Automatically upload your directory to your Radio UserLand weblog

DirectoryTool comes with a built-in tool website that describes how to use the tool and how to use the Radio UserLand outliner to create directories.

Getting started with DirectoryTool

Here are some important links:

DirectoryTool project page (contains download and installation information)
Knowledgeorama weblog category for DirectoryTool
DirectoryTool documentation (local link in Radio UserLand after tool has been installed)

Let me know what you like (or don't like) about the tool by clicking on the envelope icon on the Knowledgeorama home page or by commenting on this post. Also, I will keep a directory of people who are using DirectoryTool, so send me your directory URLs.

Support for DirectoryTool

For now, I will monitor the Radio Userland discussion group hosted by UserLand for support questions. If the traffic gets too high, I will look into other options.

Over the next week, I will be highlighting topics from my Knowledgeorama directory. As others start using DirectoryTool, I will list thost sites.

Let's hear from you!