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DMoz.org Open Directory Project:
Unofficial FAQ

(Frequently Asked Questions)

Please Note: The DMoz.org Unofficial FAQ has moved.

This is an archival copy of the "old" FAQ. The FAQ is now hosted on the DMoz.org server at: http://dmoz.org/Computers/Internet/WWW/Searching_The_Web/Directories/Open_Directory_Project/Tools_for_Editors/Frequently_Asked_Questions_lists/faq.html (short URL: http://faq.at/dmoz).

Contents:

Using the DMoz.org ODP (Public Features)

What's this Newhoo thing people keep talking about? DMoz? What's a Mozilla?

The official name of the Directory is "dmoz.org/The Open Directory Project". (See Is the name "Open Directory Project" Boring?) It was originally Gnuhoo, http://www.gnuhoo.com, after GNU and Yahoo, but the Free Software Foundation complained (RMS can be like that, just ask the XEmacs folks). Then it was Newhoo, http://www.newhoo.com, before Netscape bought it, and explained the Yahoo will generally sue anything with "hoo" in its name that it considers threatening. http://dmoz.org is short for the full URL, http://directory.mozilla.org. All these links still work. Mozilla was the "inside" name for the Netscape Navigator browser, and when Netscape decided to go Open Source, Mozilla.org became the organization that handles the Open Source. ".org", after some of these URLs, means non-profit. But the DMoz.org ODP is still Open Source, free, and all that, whatever the name and URL is. By the way, Netscape periodically downloads a copy of the Directory and adds it to its own directory, the "Netscape Open Directory", aka NOD.

How is "DMoz" pronounced? What about "Mozilla"?

Well, skrenta pronounces it "dee-mahz". One may infer that Mozilla is pronounced "mah-zilla". [See: Not too keen on continous url address changes (from www.newhoo.com to www.dmoz.org).]

What are the reference sites that have mirrors at DMoz.org?

As a service to its users, DMoz.org provides in depth indexes of some large news/reference sites. DMoz.org includes the following reference mirror categories:

Does Search work for the Adult category?

Sort of. It's hidden from Search just like from the main page, unless you use an "Adult"-only keyword with your search ("sex", "xxx", that sort of thing). You can go to the Adult/ category and search within it. Or, use the Advanced Search.

How can I add my site to the DMoz.org Open Directory Project listings?

Introduction (Basics of Editing)

This is meant as a supplement to the official Open Directory Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). You have looked there first, right? Also, check out the official notes About the Open Directory Project, which describe (to the public) the general philosophy of DMoz.org and its editors.

Where can I find...

I'm a new editor. Do you have any tips for me?

  1. Look at what other editors are doing. Browse around DMoz.org a bit and see how everyone else is organizing the directory. Pay special attention to your category and the categories above it in the hierarchy.
  2. Before creating a new category, do a search first to see whether a similar category already exists. If a similar category already exists, create an @link or symlink to it.
  3. Read the Forums. Many of your questions are probably answered there. For example, read the New Editor Intro/Style Guide thread.
  4. Take you time to think, talk, and research before you make any major changes to DMoz.org.
  5. Be careful. Some of the other editors take the DMoz.org Open Directory Project quite personally. Changing something that is "theirs" will provoke a hostile response. Try to let the necessary people know about any big or controversial changes before you make them.
  6. On the other hand, don't take the DMoz.org ODP personally yourself. We're all trying to do a public service by creating the best directory of the Internet. Sometimes, we will get in each other's way due to differences of opinion. Just remember, we're all friends here, and we're working toward a common goal.

What do I do with this non-English site?

All non-English sites belong in some subcategory of the World top level category. See the official DMoz.org notes About the World Categories.

I forgot my editor password!

Fill out the Editor Password Reminder Form, and your password will be E-mailed to you.

Editing Tutorials (Step by Step Instructions)

Not currently available.

The Culture of Editing (DMoz.org Philosophy)

How can I communicate with all the editors in my category?

  1. Use the Forum for your top-level category. See Co-Editor Communication through Top Level Forums for examples of how to do this.
  2. You can't assume everyone reads the forum all the time. If you need to make sure editors notice, go to your category, make a list of all of the editors there, and send them Multiple Editor Feedback.

Could someone Move/Rename/Delete/Combine or Sort these categories for me?

Remember to communicate with your coeditors first to make sure the change is a good idea!

If your request affects only one top-level category, then post to that category's top-level forum. Look for a thread named something like "Move/Rename/Delete Requests". (You might have to display topics for a higher number of days by accessing the pull-down menu at the top right of the forum.) If the request affects multiple top-level categories, post to a "Move/Rename/Delete Requests" thread in the Ontology forum.

Can I change a submitted description? An existing description? A link's title?

Absolutely. Please do, in fact. That's the whole point of this being a human-edited directory, rather than just being a program to accept all links. Get rid of advertising, repetition of the site title in the description, long titles, irrelevant titles made to spam search engines, and titles like "index.html", replace with a useful description, using keywords that could come up in searches. For example, change: to:

Do I have to accept a site submission that I don't agree with / that I think is inappropriate / that is badly formatted / that is basically useless?

You're an editor, you can use your reasonable judgement, and it probably won't be questioned. My order of preference is generally:
  1. Redirect it to a more appropriate category. Sometimes takes some looking. The ODP Adult/ category is not visible without specifically looking for it, but does exist. Non-English language sites should officially be put under World/, in the appropriate language category.
  2. Add it, with my own note. For example: In general, if one person thought enough of the page to make and submit it, someone else just might find some use in looking at it.
  3. If it really has NO useful content, ("Under construction" or "Coming soon" pages are good examples, or links-only pages, if you already list all the links in them) turn it down. They can resubmit when they get some content.
Leaving it for another editor to deal with is generally not a good idea - what if they accept it without the changes you would like? If the submitter left an email address, consider writing and saying why you did what you did in a few brief sentences. Submitters do appreciate it, generally. "People do it better" and all that.

Do I have to list this site? I strongly disagree with its expressed view!

We are governed by the laws of the United States of America. Therefore, according to DMoz.org staff, we cannot list sites which include "Copyright infringement, certain kinds of pornography [e.g., minor/child "kiddie" pornography], death threats", etc. (See Another 'censorship' question - offensive racist/nazi etc. sites.) However, if "the pages themselves are fully legal" (that is, if they are not breaking US law simply by presenting the information), and if the pages otherwise meet standards for listings, they should be listed (not deleted).

If you don't agree with a site's viewpoint, consider moving it to some different (perhaps new) category. If you don't trust your objectivity, leave the site in the Unreviewed category and allow some other editor to look at it.

What is spam?

If one Web site is submitting many URL's to DMoz.org, that's called spam. dole, from the ODP staff, says: See What qualifies as spamming the directory?

Hey, who deleted/edited/moved my link?

Look in the editing log for the category, one of the top links. Click around, you can't hurt anything in the log. Editors of higher level (parent) categories of your subcategory can edit the subcategory as well, and supereditors can edit anywhere. (If your site was deleted, follow the directions in [editors] editing logs - reason for deletion? to find out why it was deleted.) If you don't like what this editor has done, then:
  1. First, send email to the person who made the change and asking why. Give a few days to respond before assuming the editor is so ashamed of their mistake that they won't face you. You can always make the change back youself, using the log info, but don't get into a war.
  2. If you can't agree, communicate with the other editors of your category, and, if that doesn't get results, do the same thing with the editors of a higher level category.
  3. If you still can't agree, email staff@dmoz.org.

Who are the staff members of DMoz.org?

(See: Who's on the ODP staff?. See also Netscape People and the DMoz.org Open Directory Project: Sticker Letter.)

Who has editall access?

The editors with editall access, aka "the editalls" are able to edit any category, and can usually Move/Rename/Delete categories. See Editall Editors for the current list of editalls.

I found this really neat thing that will really help other editors!

Submit it to the Computers/Internet/WWW/Directories/Open_Directory_Project/Tools_for_Editors/ (whew!) category, Editor Tools.

I posted a request/emailed the staff and got no response! Don't they read the forum? Don't they read their email?

There are only five paid ODP employees, and lots and lots of editors asking for attention. Sometimes mail is dropped and forums are ignored. Open Source projects can be like that. Try again, or try to do it yourself if you can - for example, to rename a subcategory, create the new one, move each site, convince all editors to leave the old category, delete the old category. It takes longer, but it will work, unlike calling the DMoz.org ODP names, much as you would like to. If you make a tool that someone else can use, add it to the Editor Tools (see below).

I requested to edit Internet, Arts, and Business five minutes ago, and haven't heard anything yet. Is the site broken?

You did make the request from your Editor Dashboard, not the New Editor page, right? Requests to edit categories are handled by people, not programs, so they take time (see above). A business day is standard. If your request vanishes from your Editor Dashboard page after that time, you've been turned down. It's typically harder to get to edit higher level categories, since that gives you more power (see above), so edit subcategories for a while, and request again. The ODP staff will take a look at what you have already done.

I think the ODP should provide editors with free email, web space, chat rooms, personalization, Java drag-and-drop editing, 3D VRML hierarchical directory browsing, clickable graphical world maps for all links, and, and... a trip to Europe!

There are only five staff members. Hold on. The simple things will come first, unless you implement them yourself.

Editing URL's (Editing Site Listings)

Which sites should be marked cool?

Don't mark your own site cool. Marking the site cool may well be justified on the site's merits, but if you do it yourself it looks too much like abusing your ODP editorship for your personal interests. If you think your site merits cool status contact another editor of the category (or, if there isn't one, an editor of a higher category), and ask him/her to mark it cool. To quote from the Open Directory application approved E-mail, 'Editors should avoid nomininating their own sites for "Cool Site" awards.'

In general, if there is one site that stands head and shoulders above the rest in the category, or that a user of the category absolutely must visit, mark it cool. That's the little star by the link, but the main use is putting the link first, before the others. Do fill out the form to the page owner when you mark the site cool - you're presumably marking a good page, tell the owner so, and if they put up the award it will help to promote Open Directory.

Note, coolness is a relative thing. If there is only one site in a category, don't mark it cool, users will visit it anyway. Also, just because The Ultimate Widget Page isn't that snazzy when seen in the grand scheme of things, if it is the definitive page in the category of twelve others, do mark it cool, so users won't browse through eleven pages that are even worse before getting to it.

Can I have more than two cool sites? Category X does!

If you have that many sites in your category that you need to pick out more than two to separate the wheat from the chaff, you probably need to split it into subcategories. If you don't have any better ideas, consider making an "Editor's Picks" subcategory, and only putting the best there.

There is a trick to mark multiple sites cool, but it is officially frowned upon. skrenta says, "Categories with many cool sites look awful. If your category is so big that you have to call out a bunch of sites to appear before the rest, it should be split into more subcategories." (See How To Make Unlimited Sites Cool.)

How do I mark a site cool? Uncool?

There is a really small link to do this when you are editing the page, towards the bottom. Look hard!

Editing Categories (Ontology)

When should I organize my category into subcategories? How?

Generally at about 10 links you should consider it, and at about 30 you should definitely do it. More than 10 links is hard for a user to take in, but sometimes subcategories aren't obvious until you get a few more links in to see what clear groups form. Take a look at similar categories to see how they are split, and try to follow that model, to make browsing more consistent for the users.

What's the difference between a "related category" link and a symbolic "@link"?

@links and Related Categories are used to make it easy for DMoz.org users to navigate DMoz.org and find the listings they are looking for.

Symbolic @links, aka symlinks

An @link, or symlink, points to a category that could serve as a subcategory of the current category. It even looks like a subcategory. There can be many @link's inside a single subcategory.

If you are about to create a subcategory, and you realize that the contents of this would duplicate another category already in existance (or another category that should already be in existance), than create an @link pointing to the other category.

For example, if you edit a Widgets category, and find that World/Lower_Slobovia/Widgets already exists, you should make an @link to World/Lower_Slobovia/Widgets and name this @link "Lower Slobovia".

To add an @link in a category, go to that category's Edit page and click "[Add @link]".

Related Categories

Related categories point to...well, related categories. Most Related Categories serve as links to categories which are sibling/brother categories. Related Categories appear in their own section of your category's page. In most cases, there should be only a few Related Categories inside each subcategory.

If your notice another category similar to your category, then create a Related Category link to the other category.

For example, if you edit a Widgets category, and if Widget users are also often interested in Gadgets (but Gadgets aren't really a subtype of Widgets), you should make a Related Category link to Gadgets.

To add a Related Category link in a category, go to that category's Edit page and click "[Add/remove related Open Directory categories]".

My category will have a few big categories buried deep within it. What can I do?

According to DMoz.org staff:

"Part of the onotology challenge is to make sure that highly trafficked and populated categories uplevel in the directory...There is a continuum here from total order, which puts useful info too far from the top level, to complete chaos which has a flat directory resembling a list. It is important to note the entire issue, and not just one side or another." (See: Where do USA, Canada, UK, and NZ belong?

If your biggest, most important categories are buried deep in your category's tree, you might consider moving them higher and placing @links from their old locations to their new locations. This is a big step, so remember to communicate with your coeditors first to make sure the change is a good idea!

I have two different ways to subcategorize my category, can I split subcategories into two different groups?

This is useful if you have two general "types" of subcategories in your category, so you don't have to decide if you want to categorize Widget sites by location of manufacturer, or by type of Widget. This technique is often used in Regional categories in order to allow a list of subregion categories "above the bar" and a list of more general topic subcategories "below the bar".

To set sort priority, there are a few steps to follow: Note: If there are two different ways to categorize the listings, then that means @links will often be required in order to link between these different category types. (See Suggestion for unofficial FAQ - more on sort priority.)

I really have a huge category - how can I make an alphabet bar?

An alphabet bar is not a great way to subcategorize categories. However, in some cases, there is no better way. If you can't find a better way to subcategorize your category, you can divide your category alphabetically.

Just make all of the categories A through Z, when you make the last one they should split off into a bar by themselves. Again, when you do this, you will need to make lots of symlinks, since users will be searching for "Large Widgets" under "L", and might not realize you have a "Big Widgets" subcategory under "B". (Oh, and be sure to make the A through Z all capitals, or it won't work.)

Can I get the power to rename/move categories myself?

Yes, but you have to ask really nicely. In general you need a really good history with the ODP, at least two months continuous work has been cited, you have to promise to respond to other editors' requests, and even with all that there's no guarantee. It's a dangerous thing, to be able to screw up another editor's work all at once, instead of one link at a time!

Tips and Tricks (Misc. Tactics)

Not currently available.

The Discussion Forums (Bulletin Board)

Choosing the Correct Forum

Post to the correct forum. To find the correct forum for your post, follow each of these steps in order:
  1. If your post involves only one (English) top-level category, then post to the top-level forum devoted to it.
  2. If your post involves only one (Non-English) World category, and if there is a forum for your language, then post to the World forum devoted to it.
  3. If your post is about "bug reports" and/or "editing software feature requests", then post to Bugs & Features. (See How to Use the Bugs & Features Forum [info] . See also: New forum for bugs & feature requests.)
  4. If your post involves the directory structure of more than one top-level category, then post to Ontology. The Ontology forum is the "Forum for hierarchy issues (overlaps, redundancies, etc.)"
  5. If your post involves "Tips and Techniuqes for editors" and/or "Rules of engagement, style guidelines, and category building strategies", then post to Culture. The Culture forum is dedicated to teaching editors "how to be a good and successful editor". (See Welcome to ODP Culture.)
  6. Otherwise, if no other category fits your topic, then post to General. The General forum is the "General forum for discussion of Open Directory editing issues".

(English) Top-Level Forums:
Arts Business Computers Games Health Home News Recreation
Reference Regional Science Shopping Society Sports Adult World

(Non-English) World Forums:
World/Deutsch World/Indonesia World/Polska World/Espaņol

General Forums:
Bugs & Features ODP Culture Ontology General

Posting a New Topic

Posting a Reply

An example of what not to do.

ustoy* has given us the Too many categories exist - 7.3 sites in each at this time AVERAGE thread as an example of what not to do when posting to a thread.

Why is the forum forcing me to use my horizontal scroll bar to scroll the window left and right?

Someone posted a long URL to the thread you are viewing. URL's are not split into multiple lines, they remain on one line. (Although there is a long limit past which the URL is forced to break.) This is not good. Besides being annoying, WebTV users cannot scroll left or right, the WebTV browser doesn't have that ability. I would suggest that you post no URL's to the forums which are greater than 64 (or at most 70) characters. One way to avoid posting long URL's is to place the URL inside some kind of quotes and replace any underscores (_'s) inside it with spaces.

About the Unofficial FAQ (Small Print)

How can I add to/modify this FAQ?

E-mail me at Mr-Data@writeme.com.

Can I copy this Unofficial FAQ?

Sure! Copy it all you want! Just be sure to keep the links back to http://www.mrdata.net/dmoz/faq/ intact.

Can I give copies of the Unofficial FAQ to other people? Can I quote portions of the Unofficial FAQ?

Sure! However, you must include a link back to http://www.mrdata.net/dmoz/faq/.

Hey! Why do I have to include a link back to your Web site? You just want to claim the fame and glory, don't you!?

To quote gruban from Tool: import your bookmarks, multiple links, to ODP: "Ahh, the gorgeous women throwing themselves at my feet every time I write a tool...every tool I write, Skrenta lets me borrow the company limousine and cruise the streets for a day. Hey Rich - can I have the Rolls this time? The Cadillac doesn't waste enough gas."

Besides the fame and glory, I have another reason for requiring a link back to my Web site: The Unofficial FAQ (and DMoz.org itself) are continually changing. Old copies of the Unofficial FAQ may be outdated, or may even contain errors which have been corrected in later versions. If I am quoted, I want readers of the quote to be able to find the most recent version of the FAQ.

The above material may be freely used. If quoting this Unofficial FAQ, please place a link back to it in connection with the quote. Some portions of this Unofficial FAQ were written by the original anonymous author and placed into the Public Domain. Mr Israel Steinmetz is responsible for all material within the Unofficial FAQ.
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