Hi,

Anyone know how to force banners to be displayed into all pages on my site? Like the free hosts do?

Thanks

If you're building the site just make a banner area on each page (top or bottom is most common). Use a banner rotation script if you have mulitple banners you want to be shown around your site.

If you use a banner rotator that gives each impression a unique number, you will ward off the caching that browsers do.

Keep in mind that if a person is using software that blocks ads, or has their cookies turned off to ward off ads (ie: IE5.5), there is very little you can do about that.

Also keep in mind that if the person has their cookies turned off, the banner may show (depends on where the banner comes from and the system they are using) but if a person clicks on the ad, you may not get credit for it because the cookies are turned off.

Go to http://www.hotscripts.com they have a good selection, even free ones.

HTH

You may also try cgi-resources.com

I think what he's getting at is how to automatically place the code for rotating banners in to every page server - Am I correct?

I assume the reason is that you want to offer free hosting paid for by banners and you also want to make sure that the people using your services have no choice but to have banners on the pages? I would assume that this has to be done with an Apache module (If you use Apache).

I think it would depend on what sort of setup you want regarding the pages in question. I know I saw a few systems over at hostscripts in the PHP and CGI sections regarding the 'free space' system. Take a look at them and see if one suits you. They describe themselves as offering free sites like geocities, and tripod so it sounds like just what you need.

At least if you are offering free space to people I guess. :)

Greg Moore

Ok so lemme clarify :)

KDAWebServices got it almost right :). I do want to automatically place the code for rotating banners on each html page I have. I use AdCycle for managing the banners etc.

The reason why I am asking is because I have lots of html files that need banners, and it's gona take forever to put the code in each one of them

I've seen a pc utility that will scan multiple HTML files (any text file for that matter) and do a search/replace. Can't recall the name of it at the momenth though. :( But it is out there. If you could easily identify where in your HTML files you want the banner code this utility might help.

Allaire HomeSite has extended search and replace, you tell it where the files are, tick whether you want to include sub directories, tell it what files it should search, tell it what to look for and tell it what to replace it with and away it goes. It is very fast and very handy for something like what you mention - much easier than an Apache module.

Thanks I'll go download it now and see what happens

You can edit the apache to provide a header footer on all pages, but it will do it for all pages on the server.

What type of web host is being used? And does it support ASP? If it does support ASP, the following solution will work (I use it myself)...

1. Create a separate Include file for your banner rotation script.

2. On each of your pages, write the line '<!--INCLUDE FILE="(your filename)"--> wherever you wish your advertising to be placed. As mentioned in an earlier post, HomeSite's Extended Fine and Replace feature should do the job of inserting the code into all of your pages quite nicely.

Whenever you want to make changes, you simply change the include file and upload the file. And Viola, said Frank. You've got a banner ad rotator.

(Note: for ASP there are a few good free ad rotator scripts out there if you don't want to write your own. I, however, choose to do things myself both as a learning exercise and because it allows for customization).