some quick questions (i sorta confuse...)

// --------------------
// Snippet: ListRelated
// --------------------
// Version: 1.0 beta 1
// Date: September 6, 2005
// [email protected]
//
// This snippet was designed to show a list of pages that are
// related based on specified keywords, or those used in the
// current page
//
// Based on ListRelated by Jaredc and updated for MODx.
// [email protected]
//
// Needs to be updated to support Webuser Logins Menu Items
// and also possibly "in menu" items.
//

// Configuration Settings

   // LR_keywords [ string ]
   // This is a comma separated list of keywords that can be set
   // from the snippet parameter ONLY. Ex:
   // [[ListRelated?LR_keywords=fun,functional,good stuff]]
   // If no snippet variable is set, related pages will be found
   // based on the host page's keywords.

   // $maxRelated [ int ]
   // The maximum number of related pages you want to have. Can also
   // be set/overridden as the snippet variable "LR_max" as in:
   // [[ListRelated?LR_max=5]]
   $maxRelated = 10;

   // $relatedListTitle [ string ]
   // Give your related list of links a title if you desire- otherwise
   // set as an empty string ''. Can also be declared in snippet call
   // with "LR_title" like:
   // [[ListRelated?LR_title=Other links you might like]]
   $relatedListTitle = 'Related links:';

   // $linkToSearch [ true | false ]
   // If you would like to have a link at the end of your list for more
   // links based on search results of the current keywords.
   // FUTURE FEATURE - NOT CURRENTLY USED
   $linkToSearch = false;

   // $removeNewlines [ true | false ]
   // As always, with lists, it's best NOT to have new lines and whitespace
   // with IE. For debugging and reading source code, set to false, for live
   // implementation and styling, try setting to true.
   $removeNewlines = true;
   
   // $sortBy [ 'date' | 'pagetitle' ]
   // Field you would like to sort by. Options include:
   // date       - dates will be sorted by pub_date if it exists, else createdon
   // pagetitle  - page title
   // Can also be set in snippet call with $LR_sortBy (see example under $sortDir)
   $sortBy = 'date';
   
   // $sortDir [ 'ASC' | 'DESC' ]
   // Choose to sort in ascending (ASC) or descending (DESC) order. Can be set
   // in snippet call with $LR_sortDir:
   // [[ListRelated?LR_sortBy=date&LR_sortDir=DESC]]
   $sortDir = 'DESC';

   // $nonefound [ 'string' ]
   // What to return when no related  records are found.
   $nonefound = '<p>No related pages or links.</p>';

// Styles

   // .LR_listTitle     class for list title
   // .LR_linksList     class for ul element

// ***********************************
// END CONFIG SETTINGS
// THE REST SHOULD TAKE CARE OF ITSELF
// ***********************************

// assign IE variable
$newline = ($removeNewlines)? '':"\n";

// assign appropriate default or passed variables
$maxRelated = (isset($LR_max))? $LR_max : $maxRelated;
$relatedListTitle = (isset($LR_title))? $LR_title : $relatedListTitle ;
$sortBy = (isset($LR_sortBy))? $LR_sortBy: $sortBy ;
$sortDir = (isset($LR_sortDir))? $LR_sortDir :$sortDir ;

// Make array of keywords from snippet or from current page. Snippet
// variables have priority.

if (isset($LR_keywords)){
  $kArray= explode(",",$LR_keywords);
} else {
  $kArray = $modx->getKeywords();
}

// if there are keywords, make the list
$relatedOutput = '';
if ($kArray) {
  $keyString = '';
  foreach ($kArray as $key){
    $keyString .= "'".$key."',";
  } 
  $keyString = substr($keyString,0,strlen($keyString)-1);

  // make sql statement for retreiving similar pages
  $pre= $modx->dbConfig['dbase'].".".$modx->dbConfig['table_prefix'];



  $relatedSql = "

    SELECT DISTINCT content.id, content.pagetitle, 

      IF(content.pub_date > 0, content.pub_date, content.createdon) AS date

    FROM 

    ".$pre."site_content AS content,

    ".$pre."keyword_xref AS xref,

    ".$pre."site_keywords AS keywords

    WHERE keywords.keyword IN (".$keyString.")

    AND xref.keyword_id = keywords.id

    AND content.id = xref.content_id

    AND content.id != ".$modx->documentObject['id']."

    ORDER BY ". $sortBy . ' ' . $sortDir ."

    LIMIT ".$maxRelated.";";



  $relatives = $modx->dbQuery($relatedSql);

  $relativeCount = $modx->recordCount($relatives);

  $relArray = array();

  for($i=0;$i<$relativeCount;$i++)  {

    array_push($relArray,$modx->fetchRow($relatives));

  }



  // start output if we have results

  if ($relativeCount) {

    $relatedOutput .= ($relatedListTitle )?'<span class="LR_listTitle">' . $relatedListTitle . '</span>' : '' ;

    $relatedOutput .= '<ul class="LR_linksList">'.$newline;

    for ($li=0;$li<$relativeCount;$li++){

      $relatedOutput .= '<li><a href="[~' . $relArray[$li]['id'] . '~]">' . $relArray[$li]['pagetitle'] . '</a></li>'.$newline;

    }

    $relatedOutput .= '</ul>'.$newline;

  } 

}

if (empty($relatedOutput)) {

  // there are no related records for this page

  $relatedOutput .= $nonefound.$newline;

}



return $relatedOutput;

// --------------------

// Snippet: ListIndexer

// --------------------

// Version: 1.0

// Date: 10 Oct 2005

//

// Derived from ListIndex 0.6j by [email protected]

// Now supports Show In Menu

//

// This snippet was designed to be a VERY flexible way

// of showing what has been recently added. You can use

// this snippet to show news from one folder, or what has

// been recently added site wide. You can even show what's

// new in a 'section' (everything under a defined folder)!

//



// Configuration Settings



   // Set the following snippet defaults the way you would normally

   // use this snippet, then use snippet variables in other situations

   // to override the default behaviors.



   // GENERAL OPTIONS



   // $rootFolder [ NULL | string (comma separated page id's) ]

   // Decide which folder to pull recent documents from.

   // If you want to specify a few folders, comma separate them.

   // The default NULL will set current page as root. Using 0

   // would search site wide. Can be set with snippet parameter

   // $LIn_root like:

   // [[ListIndexer?LIn_root=3,6,88]] 

   $rootFolder = NULL;



   // $descendentDepth [ int ]

   // How many levels below the root folder(s) do you want to

   // include? Can be overridden in snippet call with LIn_depth:

   // [[ListIndexer?LIn_depth=2]]

   // Uncomment one of these common two or create your own:

   // $descendentDepth = 1; // just children of root folder(s)

   $descendentDepth = 0; // all decendents of root folder(s)



   // $seeThruUnpub [ true | false ]

   // When using descendents, do you want to consider files below

   // an unpublished (hidden) folder? Usually no. But you decide.

   // Snippet parameter: LIn_seeThru

   // [[ListIndexer?LIn_seeThru=1]]

   $seeThruUnpub = false;



   // $seeShowInMenu [ true | false ]

   // When using descendents, do you want to consider files flagged

   // to be hidden from the menus? Usually no. But you decide.

   // Snippet parameter: LIn_seeShowInMenu

   // [[ListIndexer?LIn_seeShowInMenu=1]]

   $seeShowInMenu = false;



   // $mode [ 'short' | 'full' ]

   // Defines whether this list should be a full, paged

   // list of all documents, or a short list of the most

   // recent few (how many will be defined next). Can be

   // overridden in snippet call with $LIn_mode:

   // [[ListIndexer?LIn_mode=full]]

   $mode = 'short';

   

   // $sortBy [ 'alpha' | 'date' | 'menuindex' ]

   // The default date will sort by most recent items first, but

   // by using the 'alpha' option, and using full mode, you could

   // use this to create an index, or directory.

   // Settable with snippet call $LIn_sort:

   // [[ListIndexer?LIn_sort=alpha]]

   $sortBy = 'date';

   

   // $sortDir [ 'ASC' | 'DESC' ]

   // Sort direction ascending or descending. Is applied to whatever $sortBy

   // field you have chosen above. If left blank, menuindex and alpha will sort

   // ASC and date DESC.

   // $LIn_dir in snippet call:

   // [[ListIndexer?LIn_dir=ASC&LIn_sortBy=menuindex]]

   $sortDir = '';



   // WHAT TO DISPLAY



   // $defaultTitle [ string ]

   // If you want a default title for your list

   // you can declare it here. Or use an empty

   // string to leave this off. This can be overridden

   // in the snippet call with the variable $LIn_title:

   // [[ListIndexer?LIn_title=Some new title]]

   $defaultTitle = '';



   // $shortDesc [ true | false ]

   // Show the description on the short list, or not. Snippet

   // parameter $LIn_sDesc:

   // [[ListIndexer?LIn_sDesc=0]]

   $shortDesc = true;



   // $fullDesc [ true | false ]

   // Show the description on the full list, or not. Snippet

   // parameter $LIn_fDesc:

   // [[ListIndexer?LIn_fDesc=0]]

   $fullDesc = true;



   // $linkToIndex [ int ]

   // If you have a page set up as an 'index' for all the 

   // documents in this list, you can link to it by specifying 

   // its id- can also be set in snippet call with LIn_link:

   // [[ListIndexer?LIn_link=8]]

   // The default 0 will eliminate this link

   $linkToIndex = 0;



   // $indexText [ string ]

   // If you want a link to an index (probably a page running this

   // snippet in "full" mode), you can declare what you want that

   // link to say here. Or in the snippet call with LIn_indexText:

   // [[ListIndexer?LIn_indexText=Financial News Index]]

   $indexText = 'Index';



   // $showCreationDate [ true | false ]

   // Decide to include date of creation in output or not. From

   // snippet call $LIn_showDate use 1 (true) or 0 (false)

   // [[ListIndexer?LIn_showDate=1]]

   $showCreationDate = true;



   // $dateFormat [ string ]

   // Used to define how date will be displayed (if using date)

   // Y = 4 digit year     y = 2 digit year

   // M = Jan - Dec        m = 01 - 12

   // D = Sun - Sat        d = 01 -31

   // Other standard PHP characters may be used

   $dateFormat = 'Y.m.d';



   // $shortQty [ int ]

   // Number of entries to list in the short list. Can be

   // overridden in snippet call with $LIn_sQty:

   //[[ListIndexer?LIn_sQty=3]]

   $shortQty = 3;



   // PAGING



   // $fullQty [ int ]

   // Number of entries PER PAGE to list in the full list

   // Can be overridden in snippet call with $LIn_fQty:

   // [[ListIndexer?LIn_fQty=20]]

   // To show all set to 0 here or in snippet call

   $fullQty = 10;

   

   // $pageSeparator [ string ]

   // What you want your page number links to be separated by.

   // You NEED to include spaces if you want them. They are NOT

   // created automatically to facilitate styling ability.

   // For instance, " | " will render links like:

   // 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

   $pageSeparator = " | ";

   

   // $pgPosition [ 'top' | 'bottom' | 'both']

   // Pick where you want your pagination links to appear.

   $pgPosition = 'both';



   // PERFORMANCE



   // $useFastUrls [ true | false ]

   // IMPORTANT- using fast urls will reduce database queries

   // and improve performance WHEN IN FULL MODE ONLY and 

   // should NOT be used when multiple instances of this snippet

   // appear on the same page. With snippet call LIn_fast use 1

   // (true) or 0 (false)

   // [[ListIndexer?LIn_fast=0]]

   $useFastUrls = false;



   // $newLinesForLists [ true | false ]

   // Depending on how you want to style your list, you may

   // or may not want your <li>s on new lines. Generally, if you

   // are displaying then inline (horizontal, you do not want new

   // lines, but standard vertical block styling you do. This is

   // for IE, real browsers don't care.

   $newLinesForLists = true;



// Styles

//

// The following are the styles included in this snippet. It is up

// to you to include these styles in your stylesheet to get them to

// look the way you want.



   // div.LIn_title {}          List title div

   // ul.LIn_fullMode {}        UL class

   // ul.LIn_shortMode {}       UL class

   // span.LIn_date {}          Span surrounding pub/created date

   // span.LIn_desc {}          Span surrounding description

   // div.LIn_pagination        Div surrounding pagination links

   // span.LIn_currentPage {}   Span surrounding current page of

   //                           pagination (which wouldn't be css-able

   //                           by virtue of its <a> tag)





// **********************************************************************

// END CONFIG SETTINGS

// THE REST SHOULD TAKE CARE OF ITSELF

// **********************************************************************



// Take care of IE list issue

$ie = ($newLinesForLists)? "\n" : '' ;



// Use snippet call defined variables if set

$activeTitle = (isset($LIn_title))? $LIn_title : $defaultTitle ;

$mode = (isset($LIn_mode))? $LIn_mode : $mode ;

$descendentDepth = (isset($LIn_depth))? $LIn_depth : $descendentDepth ;

$seeThruUnpub = (isset($LIn_seeThru))? $LIn_seeThru : $seeThruUnpub ;

$seeShowInMenu = (isset($LIn_seeShowInMenu))? $LIn_seeShowInMenu : $seeShowInMenu ;

$linkToIndex = (isset($LIn_link))? $LIn_link : $linkToIndex ;

$rootFolder = (isset($LIn_root))? $LIn_root : $rootFolder ;

$shortQty = (isset($LIn_sQty))? $LIn_sQty : $shortQty ;

$fullQty = (isset($LIn_fQty))? $LIn_fQty : $fullQty ;

$showCreationDate = (isset($LIn_showDate))? $LIn_showDate : $showCreationDate ;

$indexText = (isset($LIn_indexText))? $LIn_indexText : $indexText ;

$useFastUrls = (isset($LIn_fast))? $LIn_fast : $useFastUrls ;

$sortBy = (isset($LIn_sort))? $LIn_sort : $sortBy;

$shortDesc = (isset($LIn_sDesc))? $LIn_sDesc : $shortDesc ;

$fullDesc = (isset($LIn_fDesc))? $LIn_fDesc : $fullDesc ;

$sortDir = (isset($LIn_dir))? $LIn_dir : $sortDir ;

if ($sortDir == '') $sortDir = ($sortBy == 'date')? 'DESC' : 'ASC' ;





// Make useful variable shortcut for the content table

$tbl = $modx->dbConfig['dbase'] . "." . $modx->dbConfig['table_prefix'] . "site_content";



// Initialize output

$output = '';



// ---------------------------------------------------

// ---------------------------------------------------

// Query db for parent folders, or not. First check to

// see if a querystring cheat has been provided- this

// should speed things up considerably when using this

// in full mode. (a.k.a. fastUrls)

// ---------------------------------------------------

// ---------------------------------------------------

$inFolder= isset($_GET['LIn_f'])? $_GET['LIn_f']: 0;

if ((!$inFolder && $useFastUrls) || !$useFastUrls ){

  // Only run all the database queries if we don't already

  // know the folders AND fastUrls are desired.



  // ---------------------------------------------------

  // Seed list of viable parents

  // ---------------------------------------------------



  if ($rootFolder == NULL){

    $rootFolder = $modx->documentIdentifier;

  }

  // Set root level parent array

  $seedArray = explode(',',$rootFolder);

  $parentsArray = array();

  foreach($seedArray AS $seed){

    $parentsArray['level_0'][] = $seed;

  }



  // ---------------------------------------------------

  // Make array of all allowed parents

  // ---------------------------------------------------



  // Process valid parents

  $levelCounter = 1;



  while (((count($parentsArray) < $descendentDepth) || ($descendentDepth == 0)) && ($levelCounter <= count($parentsArray)) && ($levelCounter < 10)){



    // Find all decendant parents for this level

    $pLevel = 'level_'.($levelCounter - 1);

    $tempLevelArray = $parentsArray[$pLevel];



    foreach($tempLevelArray AS $p){



      // Get children who are parents (isfolder = 1)

      $validParentSql = "";

      $validParentSql .= "SELECT id FROM $tbl WHERE ";

      $validParentSql .= "isfolder = 1 AND parent = $p ";

      $validParentSql .= "AND $tbl.deleted=0 ";

      $validParentSql .= ($seeThruUnpub)? ";" : "AND $tbl.published = 1;";



      // Run statement

      $rsTempParents = $modx->dbQuery($validParentSql);

      // Get number of results

      $countTempParents = $modx->recordCount($rsTempParents);



      // If there are results, put them in an array

      $tempValidArray = false;

      if ($countTempParents){

        for ($i=0;$i<$countTempParents;$i++){

          $tempId = $modx->fetchRow($rsTempParents);

          $tempValidArray[] = $tempId['id'];

        } // end while

      } // end if



	  // populate next level of array 

	  if ($tempValidArray){

	    foreach($tempValidArray AS $kid){

	      $kidLevel = 'level_'.$levelCounter;

	      $parentsArray[$kidLevel][] = $kid;

	    } // end foreach



	  } // end if

    } // end foreach



    // Do next level

    $levelCounter++;



  } // end while



  // Finalize list of parents

  $validParents = '';

  foreach ($parentsArray AS $level){

    foreach ($level AS $validP){

      $validParents .= $validP . ',';

    }

  }



  // Remove trailing comma

  $validParents = substr($validParents,0,strlen($validParents)-1);



} else {

  $validParents = $_GET['LIn_f'];

}



// ---------------------------------------------------

// Make appropriate SQL statement to pull recent items

// ---------------------------------------------------



// Initialize

$recentSql = "";

$recentSql .= "SELECT id, pagetitle, description";

// Include pub_date or createdon date if date is desired

$recentSql .= ($showCreationDate)? ", IF(pub_date > 0, pub_date, createdon) AS pubDate ": " " ;

$recentSql .= "FROM $tbl ";

$recentSql .= "WHERE ";

// Look everywhere, or just under valid parents

$recentSql .= (($rootFolder == 0) && $seeThruUnpub && ($descendentDepth == 0))? "" : "parent IN ($validParents) AND " ;

// Published

$recentSql .= "$tbl.published = 1 ";

// Show In Menu

$recentSql .= ($seeShowInMenu)? " " : " AND $tbl.hidemenu=0 " ;

// Not deleted

$recentSql .= "AND $tbl.deleted=0 ";

// Choose sort method

switch ($sortBy){

  case 'alpha':

    $recentSql .= "ORDER BY pagetitle ";

    break;

  case 'menuindex':

    $recentSql .= "ORDER BY menuindex ";

    break;

  default:

    $recentSql .= "ORDER BY IF(pub_date>0, pub_date, createdon) ";

    break;

}

// Provide a sort direction

$recentSql .= $sortDir;



// If this is a short list, just pull a limited number

$recentSql .= ($mode == 'short')? " LIMIT $shortQty;" : ";" ;



// Run statement

$rsRecent = $modx->dbQuery($recentSql);

// Count records

$recentLimit = $modx->recordCount($rsRecent);



// ---------------------------------------------------

// Generate pagination string if needed

// ---------------------------------------------------

$offsetParam = isset($_GET['LIn_o'])? $_GET['LIn_o']: 0;

$offset = ($offsetParam && ($mode == 'full'))? $offsetParam : 0 ;

$pagination = '';



// Don't bother unless there are enough records to justify it

if ( ($mode == 'full') && ($recentLimit > $fullQty) && ($fullQty) ){

  $fullUrl = $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'];

  $urlPieces = parse_url($fullUrl);

  $urlPath = $urlPieces['path'];

  $otherQs = '';



  if ($urlPieces['query']){

    foreach($_GET AS $qsKey=>$qsValue){

	  if (($qsKey != 'LIn_o') && ($qsKey != 'LIn_f')){

	    $otherQs .= '&'.$qsKey.'='.$qsValue;

	  }

	}

  } 

  

  $fastUrl = $urlPath.'?LIn_f='.$validParents.$otherQs;



  // Determine number of pages needed to show results

  $totalPages = ceil($recentLimit/$fullQty);

  

  // Make links

  for ($j = 0 ; $j < $totalPages; $j++){

    // only include links to OTHER pages, not current page

    if($offset == $j*$fullQty){

	  $pagination .= '<span class="LIn_currentPage">'.($j+1) .'</span>';

	} else {

      $pagination .= '<a href="'.$fastUrl.'&LIn_o='.($j*$fullQty).'" title="'.($j+1).'">'.($j+1) .'</a>';

	}

	if ($j < $totalPages-1){

	  $pagination .= $pageSeparator;

	}

  }

  

  // Make final pagination link set in it's own div

  $pagination = '<div class="LIn_pagination">'."\n".$pagination."\n</div>\n";

  

}





// ---------------------------------------------------

// Create title if wanted

// ---------------------------------------------------



if ($activeTitle){

  $output .= '<div class="LIn_title">'.$activeTitle.'</div>'."\n";

}



// ---------------------------------------------------

// Create list of recent items

// ---------------------------------------------------



// Include pagination

$output .= ($pgPosition == 'top' || $pgPosition == 'both')? $pagination : '' ;



$output .= '<ul class="LIn_'.$mode.'Mode">' . $ie;



$recentCounter = $offset;

if ($mode == 'short') {

  $recentCounterLimit = min($shortQty,$recentLimit);

} else {

  $recentCounterLimit = ($fullQty)? min(($fullQty+$offset),$recentLimit) : $recentLimit ;

}



while (($recentCounter < $recentCounterLimit) && $rsRecent && ($recentLimit > 0)){

  mysql_data_seek($rsRecent,$recentCounter);

  $recentRecord = $modx->fetchRow($rsRecent);

  $output .= '<li>';

  // Link to page

  $output .= '<a href="[~'.$recentRecord['id'].'~]" title="'.strip_tags($recentRecord['pagetitle']).'">'.$recentRecord['pagetitle'].'</a> ';

  // Date if desired

  if ($showCreationDate){

    $output .= '<span class="LIn_date">'.date($dateFormat,$recentRecord['pubDate']).'</span> ';

  }

  // Description if desired

  if ((($mode == 'short') && ($shortDesc)) || (($mode == 'full') && ($fullDesc))){

   $output .= '<span class="LIn_desc">'.$recentRecord['description'].'</span>';

  }

  // wrap it up

  $output .= '</li>' . $ie;

  $recentCounter ++;

}



$output .= '</ul>' . $ie;



$output .= ($pgPosition == 'bottom' || $pgPosition == 'both')? $pagination : '' ;



// ---------------------------------------------------

// Link to index

// ---------------------------------------------------



if ($linkToIndex) {



  $output .= '<div class="LIn_index">';

  $output .= '<a href="[~'.$linkToIndex.'~]" title="'.$indexText.'">'.$indexText.'</a>';

  $output .= '</div>';



}



// ---------------------------------------------------

// Send to browser

// ---------------------------------------------------



return $output;