Ten Tools you Gotta Use!
by lissa

I tend to be a little leary about fancy tools and customizing software, but there are some basic editor developed tools that are easy to use and really useful for even the newest editor. I highly recommend adding these to your browser favorites. Give them a spin, and I'm sure you'll end up using them often!

Note: Some of these tools require a login, so you will need to sign up prior to being able to access them.

1. Server Status Spider by wkn:

Shows on one screen whether various ODP related servers are up or not. This is the tool to check when you have login problems or can't access another tool.

http://status.spidertools.net/

2. Public Forum:

OK, not really a tool, but the place to go for information if dmoz.org is down. Also, there are very interesting discussions with the public. Use your editor name as your user name.

http://www.resource-zone.com/ubbthreads.php

3. rpfuller's Spellchecker:

Runs a spellcheck on an entire category, highlighting possible errors, and allowing the option to edit the site.

http://rpfuller.org/odp/spell/

4. dlugan's Gauntlets:

Shows status of listed sites, unreviewed and roboreds for various high level categories. Provides a list of editors in those categories which can be used to send feedback to all of them.

http://odp.dlugan.com/gauntlets.cgi

5. Smiley Lookup Thing Bookmarklet by rpfuller:

Opens up a new window with smileys and their codes.

http://dmoz.org/Test/Tools_for_Editors/Bookmarklets/Smileys/

6. Multi-Url Add Helper by theseeker:

Takes a list of URLs and formats them for the "Add a page of links" function. Handy when that function is having problems parsing out URLs and you do it manually, or if you just have a list of URLs.

http://dmoz.gizmotech.net/multi/index.html

7. ODP CatSpider by wkn:

Crawls a category and subcategories and gathers a variety of information to the requested depth. Provides an option for cleaning ghosts and fixing category errors. Useful for examining tree structure and finding listed editors.

http://www.kor.dk/odp/catspider.php3

8. Who links to me? by theseeker:

Enter a category and the program will return all @links, related cats and alternate language links to it and its subcats. Essential for examining and correcting linking problems.

http://tools.gizmotech.net/wholinks/

9. dlugan's GooEdit:

Queries Google and presents results with edit button interfaces. Great for tracking down sites listed in ODP via key phrases and for adding unlisted sites to an appropriate category.

http://odp.dlugan.com/gooedit.cgi

10. ODP Navigator by pchere:

Tired of that boring old dashboard? Want a different look with access to various functions while editing a category? Try the navigator, which provides a variety of front end options.

http://www.dmozed.org/editor/pchere/odpnav.html

- lissa