Updated Community Bulletin Generator

[Prince]

Originally posted by Littlebit
Is there a packaged install (including all the little changes and updates I see spread out in the forums) to work with 2.20? This seems like a great hack!

This one is:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?threadid=32129

but it does not add the Admin CP part, there is a post in that thread with instructions to do it.

[Littlebit]

Thanks Prince :)

[mjames]

I had this running on 2.0.x, but haven't installed it on 2.2.0 yet. My only problem was when modifying the /admin/index.php file, the coding seems to have changed. Anyone know how to add the link to the hack in the new index.php file? It's not just HTML anymore (i.e., no <a href""> anymore).

[FWC]

Originally posted by mjames
I had this running on 2.0.x, but haven't installed it on 2.2.0 yet. My only problem was when modifying the /admin/index.php file, the coding seems to have changed. Anyone know how to add the link to the hack in the new index.php file? It's not just HTML anymore (i.e., no <a href""> anymore). This will do the trick:

makenavoption("Send Community Bulletin","commbull.php?action=info");

Just put that where you want it. I have it here:

makenavoption("Build Mailing List","email.php?action=genlist","<br>");
makenavoption("Send Community Bulletin","commbull.php?action=info");
makenavselect("Users");

I also installed the new version that sends HTML mail. I love it.

[PBC]

I installed the hack and used the "{ }" per the instructions to block out the username and password, but they are still showing up in the e-mail.

Also, just FYI, the passwords are showing up as encrypted.

[Guru]

The braces indicate the portion of the message that is not to be posted on the board... not a part to omit from the email.

[BaldNut]

ive done everything but i cant find

in admin/index.php

<a href="email.php?s=<?php echo $session[sessionhash]; ?>"> Email users </a><br>

will i definatelly have it ?

or should i create it ?

[amykhar]

It's not formatted that way in 2.2.0. You might want to try the newer version of this hack. It's the same as this but with a couple of new features and it's updated to work with the latest version.

Amy

[BaldNut]

:( will i have to uninstall the files ive done ?

and anyideas where i will find the new one ?

thanx amy

[amykhar]

No. You won't have to uninstall. The new one adds on to what you have done. :) BUT, you will have to be able to look at what you have done to recognize what you need to add from the new part.


Amy

[BaldNut]

is the new one released yet amy ?

[amykhar]

<a href="https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?s=&threadid=32517" target="_blank">https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showt...threadid=32517</a>

[BaldNut]

cheers Amy, it seemed to go ok, but when i got to preview it gave me this error

Database error in vBulletin Control Panel 2.2.0:

Invalid SQL: SELECT userid,username,birthday FROM user WHERE SUBSTRING(birthday,6)>='11-29' AND SUBSTRING(birthday,6)<='12-13' ORDER BY SUBSTRING(birthday,6) LIMIT 0,10
mysql error: You have an error in your SQL syntax near 'SUBSTRING(birthday,6) LIMIT 0,10' at line 1

mysql error number: 1064

Date: Thursday 29th of November 2001 03:16:25 PM
Script: http://www.golden-springs.com/forums/forums/admin/commbull.php
Referer: http://www.golden-springs.com/forums/admin/commbull.php

[tubedogg]

I'm just bumping this up to let you all know I am finally working on an update to this hack.

New features/bug fixes:
- Send HTML email
- HTML email uses templates and standard replacement variables for easy customization
- Rewrote birthdays subroutine to not use SUBSTRING as an ORDER BY since that seemed to cause so many problems
- Fixed problems with getting birthdays from both December and January or farther
- Redid forum display so that:
-- you cannot select categories
-- private forums are marked as No by default
-- display is laid out in an indented manner, as if you were looking at your actual forums
- Now saves settings, including which forums to include and which usergroups to use
- Various other little bug fixes/improvements here and there

I have most of this done - I am mainly working on the HTML / templates aspect now. I hope to have this done fairly soon, hopefully by Christmas.

Let me know if there are other things you'd like to see in this.

[PBC]

Originally posted by tubedogg
Let me know if there are other things you'd like to see in this.

The ability to preview/re-preview after editing before sending.

[tubedogg]

Funny you should mention that. :) I put in two things in regards to that that I left off my list accidentally, and they are:
-- Preview/re-preview after editing
-- HTML Preview so you can see exactly what the HTML message will look like

I'm taking advantage of the AdminUtil table to store the messages between pages - made it a dream to code. :)

[RobAC]

Kevin,

We are not worthy!!! :D :D

Along with the vbStats Hack, this one is my number one favorite! :D

....runs off drooling in anticipation of the next release. :D

[Steve Machol]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by tubedogg
Let me know if there are other things you'd like to see in this.

[tubedogg]

Hmm...that's an interesting request. Can you explain how you'd like it to work, e.g. do you want textareas on the selection screen, or...? Or do you mean additional templates to use it from time-to-time?

[tubedogg]

Originally posted by RobAC
Kevin,

We are not worthy!!! :D :D

Along with the vbStats Hack, this one is my number one favorite! :D

....runs off drooling in anticipation of the next release. :D hehehehe :D

[RobAC]

Actually, now that I'm thinking of it....Kevin, did you see the other thread that someone released which took this hack and added the HTML or plain text option for the users? That is an extremely handy option to add in if you're going to be updating this one. Some of my members really like the HTML format and some of the members that can't receive HTML email like AOL users like the plain text option and can specify it under Edit Options in their user control panels.

Also, I'm not sure how others would be feel about this, but I'd like to see the forums chosen to include defaulted to NO instead of YES. I tend to pull 10-15 threads out of about 8 forums each. I have 20+ forums. Give me more time....I'm sure I'll think of more options. (kidding) :D

[tubedogg]

Actually I saw it last night after I wrote my message. That's how it's already set up in mine - there are two previews, one for text, for HTML.

Also as part of the 'saving options' bit, after the first time you select forums, it will save the settings so you don't have to manually change them the next time(s), but you can still change them at any time if you wish.

[FWC]

Originally posted by tubedogg
Hmm...that's an interesting request. Can you explain how you'd like it to work, e.g. do you want textareas on the selection screen, or...? Or do you mean additional templates to use it from time-to-time? For us a text box would be perfect. We add a section above the bulletin before we send it out. Since it changes each time we send it out, a template isn't necessary.

[Steve Machol]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by tubedogg
Hmm...that's an interesting request. Can you explain how you'd like it to work, e.g. do you want textareas on the selection screen, or...? Or do you mean additional templates to use it from time-to-time?

[tubedogg]

I guess I'm still a little unclear...Do you want this to be saved into the database, or just added to the preview? I'm not sure I quite understand what the difference between pasting it into the textbox that appears after selecting options and putting it in a textbox on that first page is. Seems unless it was saved between times it would be the same amount of work?

[Steve Machol]

I'd just like extra text boxes that I could use to add custom sections to the newsletter. Of course these will show in the preview and become part of the newsletter, but it's not necessary that they be saved to the database. Does that make more sense?

[FWC]

Originally posted by smachol
I'd just like extra text boxes that I could use to add custom sections to the newsletter. Of course these will show in the preview and become part of the newsletter, but it's not necessary that they be saved to the database. Does that make more sense? That is what I was asking for, too. Now it's all clear. :)

[tubedogg]

That makes perfect sense. :) My point is just what is the difference between these two situations?

a) You select all of your options, you go to the preview and you paste in some additional content

b) You select all of your options including a box with some additional content and then go to the preview

Now, something I just thought of - do you want it to put it in a table for you? Like you provide the table heading and the actual text that goes in the table and then it builds it for you in a default style table? That makes a lot more sense. :)

[freakyshiat]

Ok, I uploaded the commbull.php and went through the database table altering step but then after that, decided not to go through with it. So I havent made any changes in admin/member.php How can i reverse the alter table that was done in step 1 of the install? Or should I not worry about it?

[Steve Machol]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by tubedogg
Now, something I just thought of - do you want it to put it in a table for you? Like you provide the table heading and the actual text that goes in the table and then it builds it for you in a default style table? That makes a lot more sense. :)

[tubedogg]

OK here's what I added lately:

-- Choose which style to use for colors/fonts
-- Additional content boxes:
-- -- Use up to 3 areas
-- -- Provide both an HTML formatted and a plain text version of each item for use in each format of newsletter
-- Different subject per email format
-- *All* HTML is in templates :D (I'm so proud of this one)

I'm beta testing it now and am looking at a release probably by next weekend. If you want other features, now's the time to speak up!

Oh BTW, to make it easy to come over from Christec's version, I am using the same field names in the user table. Does anyone want to see an announcement/news-type thread(s) inclusion like he has, where it puts in up to like 400 characters of the post?

[RobAC]

Originally posted by tubedogg
OK here's what I added lately:
Oh BTW, to make it easy to come over from Christec's version, I am using the same field names in the user table. Does anyone want to see an announcement/news-type thread(s) inclusion like he has, where it puts in up to like 400 characters of the post?

Yes yes! :D

[Steve Machol]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by RobAC
Yes yes! :D

[FWC]

Originally posted by tubedogg
Oh BTW, to make it easy to come over from Christec's version, I am using the same field names in the user table.Thank you, Tubedogg! :)

[DarkReaper]

Swank! :D

When can we expect to see the new version?

[trainer]

Originally posted by tubedogg

Oh BTW, to make it easy to come over from Christec's version, I am using the same field names in the user table. Does anyone want to see an announcement/news-type thread(s) inclusion like he has, where it puts in up to like 400 characters of the post?

yes i would like to see this as an option

thanks for everything! this is a great hack

[tubedogg]

Originally posted by DarkReaper
Swank! :D

When can we expect to see the new version? *Hopefully* by next weekend although it might be the weekend after next. By Christmas at the abosolute latest. :)

[trainer]

Originally posted by tubedogg
*Hopefully* by next weekend although it might be the weekend after next. By Christmas at the abosolute latest. :)

come on now tubedogg for the amount of $ we are paying for this hack you should deliver it faster than that... oh ya it is free :stupid:

can't wait for the release. i just stumbled across this thread and can't believe what i great idea it is.

thanks

[trainer]

didn't want this thread to disappear on us. any news of a release date? i was going to setup this now but if a new version will be released this weekend i will hold off

thanks

[trainer]

tubedogg any updates on when this hack might be ready? also the updates you talk about on page 17-18-19 of this thread have they been added to the download on page 1?

thanks really looking forward to the next release

[Guru]

If the number of days for birthdays goes past the end of the year the block is not included.

Here's some offending code:

$btoday = date("m-d");
if ($daysaffect == "1") {
$bdaysprune = date("m-d",(time()+$eventdays*86400));
} else {
$bdaysprune = date("m-d",(time()+200*86400));
}


The dates need to be changed to include the year.

[Lionel]

How can I automatically include headers and footers in the generated email?

[Guru]

Here's the repaired code. I tested it on my board, and found and fixed another flaw.


Changed birthday code to correctly handle end of year roll-over
Separated the date headline and age calculation code



// do birthdays
if ($numbirthdays) {
// Accomodate end of year roll-over
if ($btoday >= $bdaysprune) {
$users = $DB_site->query("SELECT * FROM user WHERE SUBSTRING(birthday,6)>'00-00' AND (SUBSTRING(birthday,6)>='$btoday' OR SUBSTRING(birthday,6)<='$bdaysprune') ORDER BY SUBSTRING(birthday,6) LIMIT 0,$numbirthdays");
} else {
$users = $DB_site->query("SELECT * FROM user WHERE SUBSTRING(birthday,6)>='$btoday' AND SUBSTRING(birthday,6)<='$bdaysprune' ORDER BY SUBSTRING(birthday,6) LIMIT 0,$numbirthdays");
}
if ($DB_site->num_rows($users)) {
$thisyear = date("Y");
$birthdayspreview = "$dashes\nFORTHCOMING BIRTHDAYS:\nto view the calendar, click the link below:\n$bburl/calendar.php\n$dashes\n";
// $birthdayspreview .= "DEBUG: btoday: $btoday bdaysprune: $bdaysprune\n";
while ($user = $DB_site->fetch_array($users)) {
$datebits = explode("-", $user[birthday]);
if (substr($user[birthday],6) != substr($lastbirthday,6)) {
$currentdate = date($calformat2, mktime(0,0,0,$datebits[1],$datebits[2],0));
$birthdayspreview .= "\n$currentdate:\n";
}
if ($datebits[0] != "0000") {
$age = " (".($thisyear - $datebits[0]).")";
} else {
$age = "";
}
$birthdayspreview .= " $lic $user[username]$age - $bburl/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=$user[userid]\n";
$lastbirthday = $user[birthday];
}
$birthdayspreview .= "\n\n";
}
}

[tubedogg]

Due to some personal/computer problems (namely my hard drive trying to eat itself) this is not going to be out for a while. I am setting a target of the end of January but no promises.

[Gutspiller]

I installed this hack and have two problems.

Problem 1: The icon for the post is a dead image link, you know the white with the red X. That's what I am getting on the post. I set it to also post the update to a post, and that's when it gives this error.

Problem 2: I have a user (a mod in fact) that has a }{ and in the update that was posted into a thread it did this:






-- Threads with the most replies --

Title: "Ye' ol' Word Association Thread (aka Noum's house)" (posted 09-05-2001 by BenTech)
o 2065 replies, 6548 views, last post: 06:23 PM, 01-03-2002 by Giraffe }---------------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from the community updates, click this link:
http://www.TheForumz.com/forumz/mem...ion=editoptions
and change "recive community updates" from yes, to no.

Currently, community updates are sent weekly.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Best regards, The TheForumz.com Administrators.





So it started that line of ---- without finishing his name. Can this be fixed? It looks like it cutout most of the actual message, because I set each block to ten posts and it didn't do it, so I think his name caused it to not show MOST of the community update.

Can somebody please help me on this?

Thanks in advance.

[xug]

Dear tubedogg or somebody else !!

Can you help me with the following:

I use this generator also to mail a weekly newsletter with several articles in it made by my members.
There is also a game review in this newsletter.

What I want and my members too, that I can submit graphics with the articles in this newsletter to all my members.

I think that the picture(s) doesn't need to be actual submitted in this newsletter, maybe with a link trick where the pictures are on my server so that they still show up in the newsletter.
I hope you understand what I try to ask here.

Please help me out on this, we want this option so badly.

[trainer]

any news on the next release? maybe someone else can take over where these guys left off if they don't have time to finish it up

[xug]

When I go to my edit panel to unselect the option of getting this bulletin I don't see any dot in the circle of the radio button, when I click on it the dot will be placed, after storing the settings and going back to the edit panel the dot is gone !

Anybody has an idea where this error could be ?

[aldamon]

2.2.3 approved!

[DarkReaper]

tubedogg...where's the new release? :(

[Rcooper]

2.2.5 approved Only change is to Admin.php

After

makenavoption("Email Users","email.php?action=start","<br>");


add

makenavoption("Send Community Bulletin ","commbull.php?s=<?php echo $session[sessionhash]; ?>","<br>");

[tanster]

Thank you, tubedogg, this is wonderful!

:) Jennie

[pran]

On vBulletin version 2.2.6, the password being sent is in encrypted form.

[Gholsie]

Hi all,

Please forgive me if this has been discussed already. I did a search and couldn't see many things about it. But, here it is:

How does this community bulletin generator compare to the generator by Christec? I've got that one installed and it seems to run pretty good. Does this have better features or does the email look better?

On that same note, is it a pretty easy upgrade from Christec's generator?

I guess I'm really trying to determine why there are two bulletin generators on this site unless someone wanted to make changes on their own.

Anyway, help on this is appreciated. A sample email is also cool. Any links?

[christec]

The version that I released of the community bulleitn generator is based on this version.

[Gholsie]

Originally posted by christec
The version that I released of the community bulleitn generator is based on this version.

Ah, ok. Thanks Christec. Straight from the developer himself. :bunny:

I found it confusing that we have all these comm bulletin generators on the site all 'sort of' related to each other in some way.

[dprice]

Is there a fix for this? On 2.26 it sends the password encrypted...

[DestyNova]

tubedogg

Are you still work on this or what? I d like to use this hack whenever it update with some modifications as you stated at your few latest posts.

Thanks

[DestyNova]

aw, never mind.. I didnt see christec's last post, thanks anyway =P

[Floris]

Uhm, what do I need to do in order to have the option included in the register page? So when someone registers on the forum, they can choose to receive the bulletin or not?

By the way, installed it without any problems, and it works great on vB2.2.6 with php 4.2.1

And to the user who asked about the encrypted passwords, on 2.2.x version of vB all passwords are stored in a md5 hash, and therefor are in the email as encrypted. They can't be decrypted and shouldn't be. The password is only for the user and should remember it in his head :)

Anyway,
I hope tubedogg could explain to me (or someone else) how to include this on the registration page. Would be great!

[Floris]

Well,

I have installed it and it works perfectly, I opened up the comm* php file and wanted to preset a few options, like the board number and user who is posting the thread .. but I have no idea how to do it, because the code is too confusing! Could someone help me with a few examples or explain how to handle the syntax?

[Floris]

Another question ..

I came pretty far with finding out how to tweak the config so I didn't had to select stuff in the future each time, which would be preset.

I removed the line from the .php file for the encrypted password, so the user doesn't get his hashed send to him.
But I wish to include 2 more lines.
Username: $username
E-mail: $email
Threads started: You started $threadsstarted threads.
just like with posts: You have $totalposts posts.
THis would be great, but putting in $email just doesn't do it, what do i need to update in order to have this going?

[Learner29]

wow !

that is a real real amasing hack !!!

I am going to install it now, but wanted to thank both Kier and Tubedogg for their amasing work!!!

[Rick]

I can't find the references to the code needed in admin/index.php in 2.2.8

When I upgraded to 2.2.8 my board stopped sending out email notifications and I was thinking this hack had something to do with it.

Help please.

Thanks,

Rick

[Rick]

One more thing... In the user control panel neither box is checked now for recieving community bulletin updates.

I did redo the /admin/user.php hacks but that's all.

[pgowder]

I have some users that are complaining because they turned off the option to get, but are still recieving it???

What could be causing that?

[Steeldolphin]

I am running 2.2.8 and I am attemptinmg to install this hack, however in admin/index.php I cant find:

<a href="email.php?s=<?php echo $session[sessionhash]; ?>"> Email users </a><br>

Am I blind or doing somthing wrong? I see this was created for v2..2.1 b8ut I was hoping it would work with the later versions.

Thanks!

[NTLDR]

That code is pre Version 2.2.x therefore you won't find it in there, search for "Email Users" instead ;)

[Steeldolphin]

ah okay...then i find this:

makenavoption("Email Users","email.php?action=start","<br>");

Can I just add the:
<a href="commbull.php?s=<?php echo $session[sessionhash]; ?>"> Send Community Bulletin </a><br>

After it? or is there a newer equivalent....sorry I am not a script guy. :(

[NTLDR]

Add the follwing line:

makenavoption("Send Community Bulletin","commbull.php?","<br>");

[Steeldolphin]

Wow thanks for the quick replies! I assume the member.php stuff is still okay for this version?

[pgowder]

Does anyone have any thoughts about my problem??

[NTLDR]

Originally posted by Steeldolphin
Wow thanks for the quick replies! I assume the member.php stuff is still okay for this version?

If you can find the code then the code to add should be OK. I've not actually looked at it or installed the hack, I use what I think is the same one but an updated version of it.

[Steeldolphin]

Originally posted by NTLDR


If you can find the code then the code to add should be OK. I've not actually looked at it or installed the hack, I use what I think is the same one but an updated version of it.

Okay great! I guess I should have looked for a more recent version or something, but I get overwhelmed by the amount of info on these forums. :)

Cheers.

[NTLDR]

There are two different versions (links bellow), which I've used for quite a while now without any problems.

Newer Version: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?s=&threadid=32517&highlight=commbull

Older Version: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?s=&threadid=32129&highlight=commbull

[Steeldolphin]

Okay cool, I believe I have successfully installed the one from this thread thanks to your help, NTLDR, we will see if I run into any problems or if its what the client wanted exactly...they are German so I still need to change and translate a few items.

I did a quick test sending to the admins only and it seemed to work fine for me.

If it doesnt work well I will upgrade or change over to the other version you supplied, hopefully there isnt too much to change...

Cheers...and thanks for all the help. :)

[NTLDR]

No problem :D I'm glad I could help you out.

[gmarik]

The stupid question - working on 2.3?

[aldamon]

06-18-01 at 01:06 AM tubedogg said this in Post #112 (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?postid=128079#post128079)
Not unless this hack becomes part of vB itself, in which case Kier or I (or somebody) will try to make sure that some sort of contingency exists for those that already installed it.

DROP receivebulletin FROM user;
Run that query from telnet or phpMyAdmin.

quote:
Hope that hack will appear in the next vb release.

Maybe. ;)


Damn, damn, damn, I was REALLY hoping this feature would be incorporated into vB3. Now I'm regretting upgrading from 2.3 :( :( The community bulletin was the only reason my busier members came back to my board.