A real vB-integrated link directory

[kira]

Hi everyone. I'm looking for a way to integrate a link directory with my soon-to-be-powered-by-vB site. :) This seems like such an important part of communities and portals that I'm surprised there aren't more people clamoring for this. Maybe they're all using In-Link or Index-U. But IMHO, the integrations of those scripts with vB aren't as robust as a true vB hack/major addon would be. And while I've seen vBLinks, I think it's good but again, not all that feature-rich.

"So," you're undoubtedly muttering, "stop telling us what you don't want and tell us just what the heck you do want, Miss Hard-to-Please!" Okay, first of all, don't be a hurter. :) Second, here's my list, assuming we're in the best of all possible worlds. My ideal vB-integrated link script would include:

- the usual link listing options, such as categories and subcategories, ratings, hits, and descriptions.

- option to allow registered or unregistered to submit links

- option to require moderator approval before accepting link submissions or simply having links appear instantly upon submission

- image upload for listings (for example, an award graphic)

- option to show "links submitted" in user profile (not that important but nice)

- options of showing any or all of the following on forumhome or nonVB pages:

--- random link
--- 10 newest links (last day, week, month, etc.)
--- 10 most popular links
--- 10 top rated links
--- and the ability for the admin to filter all of the above by specific categories

I know this is expecting an awful lot out of a hack, but some of you guys are so amazing and have done such wondrous things with vBulletin (arcades, quizzes, Lesane's famous store) that you've completely spoiled know-nothing people like me. ;)

I've looked around for a hack that could possibly be used as the basis for a future link addon. To me, the one that seems closest is actually not intended as a real link directory, per se: it's the terrific hack MyBookmarks (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?s=&threadid=41113), by bad_madman. It already contains some of the options listed above, but the links are displayed only in the users' profiles. But it's sooo close!

Whew! Sorry for the length of this. Am I crazy and asking too much, or is this something that some brilliant vB hacker might be interested in? And would others find such a thing useful? I'd love to hear feedback from anyone on this idea, e.g., whether it seems possible or not.

Note: though I'm poor and have no moolah to pay for this, I'm a pretty good web designer and an excellent writer/editor, so a barter option might work well if one of the great hackers here thinks s/he can create such a hack for me, and s/he has need of such services.

Many, many thanks in advance, folks!

[Logician]

Hi Kira,
Originally posted by kira
Am I crazy and asking too much, or is this something that some brilliant vB hacker might be interested in?
I hope somebody would be interested in your request but I believe that this is very unlikely.

Links scripts are complicated to code. They are developed by teams in months so as you may have noticed they are pricey. You can find many free scripts about every kind of subject you can imagine but free links scripts are very rare to found or they are very basic which is not worth using..

So even if somebody would decide to code such a script, this would be:
a) Very basic (at least in the begining while its free) which does not cover your feature requests
b) not be free (logical considering the time devoted)
c) Not integrated into vb (again logical since coder would want to address all internet users not only vb owners)

Therefore I really think this is very unlikely..

My 2 cents..:)

[Neo]

I am currently almost finished with a affiliates scripts which inculdes a top affiliates with it and many many other features :)

[Darren Lewis]

I use in-link on my site here (http://www.thebookforum.com/directory/) I've hacked the code so that it will use the vbulletin user database so members don't have to register twice. Hadn't thought about trying to show how many links a member had submitted in their vb profile - not a bad idea.

I spent ages trying to find a decent links script and tried about four or five. Even had a go at writing my own!

[kira]

Hi guys! Thanks for the responses so far. I know, I know, I'm asking a lot. A girl can dream, can't she? :D

So many people use portal/CMS programs such as vBportal and Nuke, which include the "Weblinks" directory feature. And already-existing hacks such as MyBookmarks, vBLinks and vBDirectoryDrk-Lite (not sure about the name of the last one, sorry!) indicate that others know the joy of organizing links. :) So I'm just hoping that somehow, somewhere, a lone hacker will arise from nowhere to create a truly robust version. And offer it to us for either free or a low amount (under $50). Yes, okay, I said I was spoiled. ;)

Man, I thought this would be a popular hack idea ... shows you what I know! So is no one else interested in such a product? Rats.

Anyway, thanks again for listening!

[Neo]

I use to know a Kira when I lived in Sedona, Arizona :)

I myself using In-Link and I paid the ohh so cheap cost of 195 T_T

this would be a nice project for the future though. :)

[DrkFusion]

I made one which was poorly integrated, I have done the next version to that, I will release it after my Image Gallery.
By the way, now everything is 100% my coding :)
I am better at php now.

Anyways good luck with your soon to be powered vb-site
Arunan

[Cyburbia]

Originally posted by Darren Lewis
I use in-link on my site here (http://www.thebookforum.com/directory/) I've hacked the code so that it will use the vbulletin user database so members don't have to register twice.

It would be great if you could share that hack with us! I run In-Link and vBulletin, too, without integration.

[Darren Lewis]

The hack to integrate vBulletin with In-Link is available at www.phpportals.com in the contributing members area. It works even if you don't use vbportal (I don't use vbportal).

I only tweaked the hack to get it working correctly, so I can't release it here. Full details are at www.phpportals.com.

Darren.