vBulletin 3.7 Article Mod

[Ian Cunningham]

I've created a new Windows 7 Discussion website (http://www.w7forums.com), and I've upgraded an article mod I had mothballed many months ago to work with vBulletin 3.7.

Although the forums are already running, the article mod has literally just come out of the coding stage 5 mins ago :D

I'd be interested to hear feedback on what I could do to improve the article module so that I can get something suitable for use with vBulletin:

Here is the very first (and only) article : http://www.w7forums.com/run-windows-7-virtual-pc-t56.html

[Lynne]

So Articles are kinda threads without allowed comments? I see your system automatically creates a discussion thread for the article in another forum. It would be cool if that discussion thread were linked at the bottom of the article - whoops, I just noticed the comments link at the top for that - cool. Is the article only editable by the author?

[Ian Cunningham]

Sorry to the first few viewers, I saw that attachments were disabled for guests - that's fixed.

Yep, the article can only be edited by the author. Also, it will be multipaged like this (http://www.reviewspring.com/reduce-your-pc-running-costs-a18873.php) once I've moved features over from the old article system.

[SEOvB]

Latest Articles
Top Viewed Articles
Articles By Author/Category
Articles Archive

But thats pretty nice in its current form

[Lynne]

Good ideas, FRDS, that right side could do with some more things to fill it up (it's basically empty space at the moment). I like it.

[Ian Cunningham]

Thanks guys :) I'll see which of these I can add to the script.

[Gio~Logist]

Hm, odd. I've been developing a script which does almost exactly this (in one of it's aspects/features at least).

Nice to see what you've done though.

[gfxhelp.com]

looks very nice, my only feedback would be on the page with all the threads, for example
http://www.w7forums.com/general-discussion-f2.html
I think the background colors either need to alternate (.alt1 / .alt2. ) or just add a boarder so the threads are separated.

[Ian Cunningham]

Thanks for the comments :) I'm going to work on some of these suggestions and ideas next week! If I can package everything into a product then I'll release it in the 3.7 mods section.

[meissenation]

Subscribing to the thread - this is EXACTLY what I've been looking for! Thank you thank you thank you for taking the time to create this!

[Ian Cunningham]

Would it matter if it wasn't in a product package and required some manual template adding? I don't know how to make it just one XML file, but it is mainly done via plugins and a couple of manual templates :)

[Lynne]

You should be able to export all the plugins in one product (xml) file (create a New Product, then just Edit the Plugin and change the Product at the top to your new product). Then have a text file with it and list the template edits that need to be done.

[meissenation]

I'd be willing to take whatever I can get - I'm comfortable with template edits or products. I grew up with phpBB so products are great but step-by-steps are fine too. :)

[Rene Kriest]

Promising, very promising, MotM-award winner for sure.

This is going to be the next big thing.

[Ian Cunningham]

I'm going to try and learn how to package it up as one XML file as I want to try and avoid the need for template edits. I might need beta testers, but I'll post back here once I'm at that stage :)

[SEOvB]

I'm going to try and learn how to package it up as one XML file as I want to try and avoid the need for template edits. I might need beta testers, but I'll post back here once I'm at that stage :)

Enable Debug mode for your AdminCP

Create a new product from product manager

If it uses any custom templates, go to Style Manager and you should see a style called "MASTER STYLE" make sure all the templates are in that, then go to edit the templates, assign them to your product.

Go to plugin manager -> Edit Plugins -> Product: and add them all to your product.

If there are any options such as enable/disable go to vBulletin options -> Add setting Group. Make all the settings you need there.

Disable plugin mode.

Export :D

Share

Prosper :D

[ragtek]

look into the faq.
There's everything you need http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/creating_a_product

[meissenation]

Please let me know when you're ready for beta testers, I'd definitely jump at the opportunity. This looks like a great mod and just what I was wanting on my site.

[meissenation]

Any update on this by chance? I'd be willing to throw a few bucks your way for putting this together.

[Ian Cunningham]

Thanks for the info ragtek and FRDS, that looks like what I need to read :)

Mmeissenation, I've not made any further progress yet as I've not had time - but I'm hoping to work on it this week. :up:

[meissenation]

Awesome - don't mean to sound impatient, my mind is just racing with the possibilities on how it could be used on my site. :) :)

[Wordplay]

an article system... hmm. but you don't have a front page where all the articles are displayed, and there is no commenting possibility?

well it looks great, but apparently it's like all the other article/blog mods, but with no features, yet.

good luck with this, i'll definitely keep an eye out and hope it'll turn out to be great!

[Ian Cunningham]

an article system... hmm. but you don't have a front page where all the articles are displayed

Yep, there is ;) I'm still adding to it though :)

http://www.w7forums.com/articles-f14.html

and there is no commenting possibility?

In the top info box there is a comments counter, just click on that to go to the comments box:

i.e. http://www.w7forums.com/windows-7-build-numbers-t58.html

[intence]

cant wait!

[meissenation]

cant wait!

Haha agreed - I find myself checking this thread a few times a week :)

[meissenation]

Any updates by chance? :cool:

[Ian Cunningham]

Sorry for the delay in this, I've made some changes to get this working with VBSEO and I'm going to try and get this turned into a package by the end of the month :D

Would people prefer a single XML file upload, as I think I might be able to do this in an easy product install rather than using other files (I'll include "new article" button files anyway).

I tested out the modified article script on an article yesterday and it works great:
http://www.w7forums.com/windows-7-keyboard-shortcuts-t269.html

[Ian Cunningham]

I should have this done by the end of the month as I'm starting to get the hang of packages. Can I post a beta here for people to test before I release it?

[ragtek]

sounds nice:)

you could release it and set by the options "is in betastage"

[meissenation]

I actually went out and bought an article system because I didn't think this was going to come to light. I'd still like to beta test.. if this turns out better then guess I wasted my money on the other one.

[ragtek]

I actually went out and bought an article system because I didn't think this was going to come to light. I'd still like to beta test.. if this turns out better then guess I wasted my money on the other one.

What system did you buy?

[meissenation]

I ended up going with http://www.provb.org/vb_products.php?&vb_products=moreinfo&productid=11

[M_Portiss]

I would love to Beta test this as well. Please keep us in the loop!

[GSeybold]

I think you forum looks excellent, clean and easy to read. Great job. :up:

Gabby

[Ian Cunningham]

I ended up going with http://www.provb.org/vb_products.php?&vb_products=moreinfo&productid=11

Thats a very nice product indeed, I'd not seen that until now.

[metalguy639]

Anything ever come of this?