Integrated Journal System

[Gamingforce]

I have been working over the past few days to bring an journal system integrated with vBulletin. Although I didn't really document the changes as I went along, I could put it together as a hack package possibly if people are interested.

On our particular message board we call this journal system ChocoJournal. This is a pretty major hack. It involves modifications, changes to the user table, two new database tables, modification of vBulletin files and the use of the journal.php script which handles almost everything. Before going into this project I didn't know too much about MySQL and I wasn't too experienced with PHP but I have learned so much from coding this thing.

ChocoJournal Key Features:
User may enable / disable journal
Very easy to use since most of the information is obtained automatically
Journal entries support vBcode
A user selectable amount of newest entries are displayed first
Option to view all entries
User is able to comment on entries
Journal entries can be made private (only viewable to people on your buddy list)
Moderators and Admins do not have control over your journal entries.
You or the commentor may delete comments.
Current song / mood options in entries
Stats box on main journal page featuring total entries, number of private entries with a percentage of the total, number of journal page views, the number of buddies the user has and if you are on the buddy list of the user (to find out if you can read private entries)
Clicking on the avatar of the user in the stats box brings you to their profile
Sessions supported globally throughout the journal system
Journal status is integrated with profile featuring last entry time, and last public entry title.
Chocobos are fast


(How a user activates their journal [taken from my board])
To activate your journal, go into User CP > Modify Profile and select the checkbox next to Enable ChocoJournal. You can change the entry display number from the default (10) to one of the choices in the pulldown menu. To edit / view your journal, click the ChocoJournal link on the extreme right of the User CP Nav Bar.

Here is a sample journal page:
http://www.gamingforce.com/forums/journal.php?action=view&userid=1

Here is a sample of how the profile page looks like with the journal information:
http://www.gamingforce.com/forums/member.php?action=getinfo&userid=1

Planned features
> Give an option to allow / not allow commenting on an entry by entry basis.
> Design a universal journal home page featuring journal system stats and other cool stuff.
> Put an integrated page into a user's journal that shows the latest entries from each of buddy of the user.
> Possible integration of LiveJournal entries.

Let me know what you think. Thanks!

[JulianD]

Seems great for me! Do you plan to release it? It would be great to have a record of our projects displayed to the public! :)

[indiamike]

I think it's friggin awesome, I am looking for something like this to.

I run a travel site and many of my members want to submit travelogues but the key thing holding me back has been the integration with vbulletin and giving each member there own page. This is something that I could use for that.

Please continue on this it's GREAT!!!!

Mike

[DjSap]

i already made a travellog thingie for my board, its totally intergrated but it doesn't have as much extra thingies as your. you should add a rating thing for journals so users can see whos journal is best rated on a toplist.

[Aaow AnD wHiTe]

Wow, amazing! Keep up the good work, Gamingforce!

[Gamingforce]

Rating system? =)
Sounds awesome. I'll add that in tonight.

[Arkham]

This "hack" has made me re-think certain aspects of my site's design, it's so good.

Way to go... The possibilities are endless.

Absolutely brilliant.

[NYI Fan]

WOW!

OK, i have a few questions, because this looks like the answer to what I have been looking for...

My members have been asking for a recipe box, a place to store favorite recipes they find on the site

Is there a limit to how many entries they can have (can I as admin configure it?)
Is there any way to make folders inside the journal, so the entries can be sorted by type?

This really looks awesome, and I want to thank you (even if I don't end up installing it) for taking the time to create it!

[Marshalus]

Holy cow, that is exactly what I need.

If you've seen the www.opendiary.com program, you know why this would be a good thing. When do you plan on releasing this? Hell, I would even consider paying for it.

[Admin]

Arkham, please go to this (http://www.vbulletin.com/members/vbulletin.org.php) page and enter your username, to show you are licensed. (you will need to use your customer number and password to access that page)
Thank you.

[Marshalus]

Busted

[Stylez]

lol, yeah, well maybe =p

Anyways, this looks interesting. My forum currently has journals, but not like this. This is kewl.

[Admin]

Note: Arkham is not a pirate, but a pre-owner. He can't post here anymore so I am posting for him.

[WallStreat]

This is a great community feature!

[nafae]

This looks fantastic, but imho admins should be able to delete entires, because what if someone starts abusing it and posting 'erotic' pictures etc etc.

But it looks great anyhoo!

[Kaelon]

This is really great! Precisely what I'm looking for =).

Very nicely done!

Kaelon

[pgowder]

When will this be released?

[Marshalus]

Bump!

[Neo]

Maybe he isnt going to release it.. or having some fun coding it.

[Slynderdale]

Originally posted by neo
Maybe he isnt going to release it.. or having some fun coding it.

he probily isnt, it wouldnt be that hard to make, actualy it would be pretty easy, just have a couple templates to show the entries then create a journal table and have it so they can post journal entries like posts and have a journal.php to run a query and get the journal entries of a specific person and have it descend or ascend depending on the date posted, hmm if he isnt gonna relase it i might just make my own for my forums, would be a nice add on

[zachb]

Bump. I would even be willing to pay for something like this! It sounds great, and the working journals at his boards are awesome.

[Dade]

What happened to the "Chocobo Journal System"? Is it the same one? A different one? I still hope your going to release it.

[zachb]

This one is the same one. Maybe someone can close one of the threads or merge then to avoid confusion on to what's happening with this hack.

[Barbara]

I love this idea. Has the webmaster for a weight loss surgery site, our people often ask for journals...just wasn't sure how to provide it. please oh please

[Peace]

Nice Hack! Gamingforce, have to had a change of heart about releasing the hack or are you still working on your hack? I, along with many, hope you release your hack for us and our members to enjoy. Good Work.

[VeRT3X]

yep if this is released maybe a for sure hack of the month = ]

[tractor-beam]

Question, please don't take this the wrong way, but, what is the benefit of an on-line journal as opposed to using vB's own system?

Just curious! I am always looking for something my users might like.

- Gerry

[bandersen]

Will you release this Gamingforce? I am looking for a journal system..

[Vivi Ornitier]

well, if you aren't releasing this, may i code it myself? (not for public release?)

[zachb]

I tried emailing him using the vB Email system, but to no avail. It's been 2 weeks with no response. Hopefully he remembers how much we all want this soon. :)