Add Link Exchange is PHP/MySQL based

This page informs you of the software requirements for Add Link Exchange (ALE) and of the advantages of using a database-driven link management system.

Software Requirements

The software requirements of Add Link Exchange (ALE) are very modest. All you need is PHP and mySQL, both of which are free software packages that are available on just about every server and web hosting provider. You will need PHP 4.1.2 or better and MySQL3.22 or better to operate the Add Link Exchange software on your server.

Why is it so advantageous to have a database-driven Link Exchange facility on your site?

ALE stores each link submission together with the contact details of the submitter in a MySQL database. The actual links section on your site is being invoked with one line of php code that queries the database and displays the links on whichever page you want.

Easy web point-and-click web interface to manage your links

The interface is web-based, which means that finally the constant changing of your links pages and uploading via FTP is a chore of the past. Click a single button on your personal admin web page to approve a link and make it display on your site! Just calculate how much time and tedious work ALE will save you. It doesn't get easier than that!

ALE stores the link and submitter information

Ever noticed that a site suddenly seems to have taken off their link to your site? Or maybe you are moving your links, and you would like to let your link partners know? Wouldn't it be nice to still have each webmaster's name and email address, and perhaps even the submission details so you can contact this person about your links? With ELA, you can! Simply go to your admin page, select the link in question, and ELA displays all the submission details, with an option to send an email to the original link submitter.

Configure Email Templates

Tired of typing the same email over and over again, every time you accept a link or reject a link? Because ALE is database driven, you can use email templates to quickly shoot off an email to the person that has submitted the link, advising them about the status of their link submission. You can store as many templates as you want. If desired, ALE will automatically send you a carbon copy of the email, so you can keep track of your email correspondence also from within your regular email program. [Read more about the email template system]