====== Hints ======

Practical tips and best practices (some are reminders of common knowledge, but worth repeating).

===== Includes in PHP files =====

I've encountered constructions like

include('http://otherdomain/1.html');

or

virtual('/scj/top/top.html');

Having even a few of these—especially 10 per template—significantly impacts performance.

**Why this matters:**

PHP processes includes before the page is sent to the browser. Remote includes cause page delivery delays. If the remote server slows down, your site slows down too.

Even on the same server, virtual('/scj/top/top.html') creates overhead. For 1 user request, you get multiple server requests: 1 to your domain + 1 per include. With 10 includes, that's 11 total requests for 1 visitor—dramatically increasing server load.


**The right approach:**

Always use local includes with absolute file paths:

include('/home/user/domain/scj/top/top.html');

If you need to include a file from another domain on the same server, use a different path. If it's on another server, ask your admin to set up a cron job to sync the file locally, then include it.

**Similar issue:**

readfile('http://domain/1.html') has the same performance problems as include().


**Passing parameters to includes:**

Most banner rotators use JavaScript includes, but some require PHP includes. Avoid remote includes with parameters:

<?php
include('http://domain.com/banner.php?x=3&y=2');
?>

Instead, set parameters locally and include the file:

<?php
$_GET['x'] = 3;
$_GET['y'] = 2;
include('banner.php');
?>

This approach passes parameters and keeps the include local rather than remote.


===== Deny access for certain countries =====

Use .htaccess:

<code>
RewriteEngine on
RewriteCond %{ENV:GEOIP_COUNTRY_CODE} ^(RU|CN)$ [NC]
RewriteRule ^$ http://google.com [R,L]
</code>

===== Rotate pages for returning visitors =====

When the same visitor returns to your niche site from different sources, you can show them different page designs. For example, show design 1 to first-time visitors and designs 2, 3, etc. to repeat visitors.

Configure this in Settings > CJ Pages by adding multiple design paths, one per line:

<code>
/home/user/domain/design1.html
/home/user/domain/design2.html
/home/user/domain/design3.html
</code>

On the visitor's first visit, they see design1; on their second visit, design2, and so on.

If you use internal rotation, you have two options:

**Option 1: Automatic rotation in Rotation > Tube > Tube Settings**

Enable the option to rotate pages for repeat visitors. The system works as follows:
- When a returning visitor has already seen the first index page, show the second page
- If they have already seen the second page, show the third, and so on
- For categories: if they arrive directly at a category page they have already seen, show the next page of that category

Note: This rule applies only when the referrer is not your own domain. A visitor who clicks a category thumb on your homepage must still see the first category page containing that thumb.

**Option 2: Create separate page files**

Create multiple PHP files like:

<code>
domain/1.php

<?php
$_GET['page'] = 1;
include('/scj/cgi/index.php');

domain/2.php
<?php
$_GET['page'] = 2;
include('/scj/cgi/index.php');
?>

and set CJPages to:

/home/user/domain/1.php
/home/user/domain/2.php
(and so on)

</code>


===== Direct links for topsites =====

If you link directly to traders instead of using out.php, you can still count clicks using AJAX.

Here's an example topsite template:

<code>
<a target=_blank href='_MEMBER_1_URL' class='domain_css' trader='_MEMBER_1_'>test</a>
</code>

This renders as:

<code>
<a target=_blank href='http://somedomain.com/' class='domain_css' trader='somedomain.com'>test</a>
</code>

The links are direct. To count these clicks, add AJAX code to track them:

<code>

<script src='/YOUR_FOLDER/includes/js/jquery.js'></script>

<script type="text/javascript">
$(document).ready(function(){
	$('.domain_css').each(function(){
		$(this).on('click', function(){
			$.get('/YOUR_FOLDER/cgi/out.php?member=' + $(this).attr('trader'),
				{
				},
		  		function(data) {
		  		}
			);


		});
	});

});

</script>

</code>



Key points:
- Replace YOUR_FOLDER with your actual folder path
- Each link has class='domain_css' and a trader='somedomain.com' attribute
- A click event is attached to this class: $('.domain_css').each(function(){

===== Page tracking =====

You can track which pages receive traffic and how visitors move through your site. In Trade > Statistics > Page Track, you'll see two columns:

- **Inbound Views:** Traffic from outside your site (external referrer)
- **Local Views:** Traffic from within your site (internal referrer)

You can track pages in two ways:

**Option 1: URL parameter**

Add &page_track=... to your links

**Option 2: Template tags**

Use a template tag in the form <!--PAGE_TRACK_....-->:

  <!--PAGE_TRACK_CURRENT_PAGE-->
  <!--PAGE_TRACK_CATEGORY-->
  <!--PAGE_TRACK_any_word-->