Saturday, October 29, 2005

DirectoryTool for Radio UserLand


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 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!




9:24:07 PM    

Announcement for the Knowledgeorama weblog



About This Site

Knowledgeorama is a weblog about knowledge and the tools that can help you find and collect information, organize information, and create new sources of knowledge for yourself and others.

Some of the topic areas for this weblog include:

  1. Knowledge weblogs (k-logs)

  2. Knowledge management

  3. Using weblogs as a knowledge collection tool

  4. Using RSS readers and search tools

  5. Synthesizing information into knowledge

I am using Radio UserLand to create this weblog, and my uses of that tool will also be a focus for this weblog. However, there will be articles on the more general topic areas as well, so the appeal of Knowledgeorama should extend beyond Radio UserLand users.

About the name "Knowledgeorama"

I chose this name to evoke the image of the panorama of the World Wide Web, an information universe waiting to be tapped and used.

Let's get started!


8:44:21 PM