vBaCMPS Featured/Random Geek Articles

[The Geek]

Hack: vBadvanced CMPS Featured/Random Geek Articles
Version: 1.2
Author: Me

Instructions:
upload modules/featuredgeekarticles.php into modules folder
upload admincp/featuredgeekarticles_install.php into admincp folder
run above fileFollow the file modification in the README

File modifications: 1
Template modifications: 0
Installer: Yup. A very cool one.
Phrased: Yup

In a nutshell, this module is based upon the vBa news module, but is instead set up to pull a pre specified 'Featured Article' or even a 'Random Article'. This is really designed for those using The Geek Article System (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=72825). If you don't have The Geek Article System, you are most likely very lonely anyway.

version 1.2 uploaded 02/02/05
Updated Readme to work with latest vBaCMPS

version 1.2 uploaded 07/01/05
Fixed 'Excluded Forums' bug that appeared to have been bitten by Zombie.
It came back to haunt one user so I had to take drastic action and update it.
It now WORKS with your 'excluded forums' setting. That is to say, you can exclude your acticle forums from 'Latest topics' but they will still happily appear as a featured article.
Please note that this means there is now a file edit. Please read the README.

Check out the Readme that comes in the package.

note:if you dig this module, you may be interested in the Latest articles (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=73828) one too.

PS: Your template will be a tad different from my screen shot as this is for my style.

nJoy

[fly]

Thanks man! Just what I needed.

[fly]

Hmmm
Do I have to have the geek article system installed for this to work?

edit: apparently so, cause nothing is showing up!

[The Geek]

Hmmm
Do I have to have the geek article system installed for this to work?

edit: apparently so, cause nothing is showing up!
Actually, no.

You will need to have vBadvanced installed as a minimum though (as it uses its settings system).

Just out of curiosity... what are you after if you don't have my article thingee installed?

[fly]

I have contests on my board and i want to have those as the 'featured thread' on my site. And I do have vBadvanced installed...

And you're right, I dont have Geek Articles installed and Im very lonely. Will you be my friend?

edit: Oh yeah, and Im really dumb. I got it working. thx

[The Geek]

have those as the 'featured thread' on my site. And I do have vBadvanced installed...

And you're right, I dont have Geek Articles inDamn straight. You sure you did the settings correctly? You dont need Geek Articles to pull off the featured thread.
1- Make sure that you have added the featuredgeekarticles module through vBaCMPS.
2- Make sure your 'Featured/Random thread' is set to yes and the next box has the threadid of the featured thread.

like this:

[TCB]

I've never seen an easier to install mod for vbadvanced than yours (never had one with an installscript before). And the text that you mention to come up with with every installer is hilarious every time https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/external/2005/01/7.gif.

I'll install this mod first thing tomorrowmorning. Thanks!

[bold]

nothing shows up for me too

[rlamego]

Random doesn't work on my site. I've tried every combination of yes/no - forumids/threadids but it doesn't display anything.

Ooops! Almost forgot! Thanks for another great hack! =)

[The Geek]

Hey guys... those of you having problems... can you post the first 2 settings of your...um, settings (i.e. Featured or Random Article? and Featured thread id) and I will get it sorted for you ;)

[tormodg]

Hey guys... those of you having problems... can you post the first 2 settings of your...um, settings (i.e. Featured or Random Article? and Featured thread id) and I will get it sorted for you ;)
I use the geek article system. Ie, lots of gas, lots of friends!

Love it, geek.

[hockyfan]

For some reason, it seems to only be pulling certain articles over and over, while I listed about 4 forums with many articles each, I keep seeing the same ones being "randomly" featured. Is it possible I did something wrong? I have it set to random, and I have a list of the forums like this "1,2,3" - should there be spaces in the commas? Is there a setting I've overlooked?

Is there some kind of restriction on which articles it pulls? I know for certain I have many more articles than it has shown, even though I've refreshed my page many times and checked on multiple days, yet have only seen at most 5 different articles.


h

[The Geek]

For some reason, it seems to only be pulling certain articles over and over, while I listed about 4 forums with many articles each, I keep seeing the same ones being "randomly" featured. Is it possible I did something wrong? I have it set to random, and I have a list of the forums like this "1,2,3" - should there be spaces in the commas? Is there a setting I've overlooked?

Is there some kind of restriction on which articles it pulls? I know for certain I have many more articles than it has shown, even though I've refreshed my page many times and checked on multiple days, yet have only seen at most 5 different articles.


h
Have you made any adjustments? The reason I ask is because the title box says 'Featured Article' instead of 'Random Article'. That tells me that Featured or Random Article is set to yes.
Let me know if that is the case. otherwise Ill need the SQL statement.

[hockyfan]

Not sure what you mean by the "SQL Statement," but the only adjustment I made was I changed the phrase "Random Article" to say "Featured Lesson," just based on my personal preferance on wording, no other changes were made and I am, indeed, using the "Random Article" option.

h

[The Geek]

Yea, after I posted my response I started refreshing. out of about 12 refreshes, I came up with 2 or 3 duplicates... but I guess that depends on the amount of articles you have.
'standard notation according to tab' or whatever was the one that seemed to want to appear more than others, however I was still getting pretty random results (just went back on and the one I just mentioned popped up a couple times... but still not overly disportionate). Do you still feel like its not 'random' enough?

[hockyfan]

I feel like some of the forums' articles aren't being pulled, while other forums are constantly being pulled; not sure why.

h

[memobug]

It might be perception, might be based on the proportion of articles in each forum. Try omitting the "constant" forums and seeing if you actually get output from the "never" forums.

Regards,

Matt

[hockyfan]

Is there any way to make it so it doesn't rely on how many articles there are per forum?

h

[The Geek]

Is there any way to make it so it doesn't rely on how many articles there are per forum?


h
Hey H.

I am not sure what you are asking here. What mySQL does is select a random listing from one of the forums in your coma seperated field. It doesnt weigh the pull or anything. The randomness is occuring at mySQL level, not in the code.

Sorry if that doesnt help.

[hockyfan]

No, that's what I had thought, memobug's post led me to believe otherwise, but no worries. :)

So is there any reason though I keep getting one thread many times, while other ones I have yet to see at all?


h

[The Geek]

No, that's what I had thought, memobug's post led me to believe otherwise, but no worries. :)

So is there any reason though I keep getting one thread many times, while other ones I have yet to see at all?


h
I think that it is one of those random things. Unless there is some nuance with mySQL's rand() function that I am not aware of, then its simply down to the luck of the draw and maybe one of your articles are simply getting a bit more lucky than others. I have refreshed your home page several times and occasionally I will get one I have already seen, but that is typical of something being random.
The other choice is to keep a cache of the 'last shown feature' and then incriment to the next. In other words, instead of random you would get a cycled. The random factor then would be the person loading the page. They could still see the same ad - it just depends on how many people viewed since they were last on.
It would also require an extra select and an extra update (essentially 2 more queries to do) - hmmmm - I wonder though... I wonder if I could do something with a cookie that may mix it up a little.

Ill have to give it some thought. If anyone has any ideas - feel free :)

[hpwilhelm]

Do this work with CMPS v1.0.1?

I cant find where to add the second code in the include_bottom.php. And it doesn't seem to work without it. :)

[The Geek]

Do this work with CMPS v1.0.1?

I cant find where to add the second code in the include_bottom.php. And it doesn't seem to work without it. :)
Huh... just noticed the new release. Ill look into it.

[The Geek]

Huh... just noticed the new release. Ill look into it.
Right - here is the minor fix:

Dont follow Step 2

Ill update the package - Thanks

[hpwilhelm]

Right - here is the minor fix:

Dont follow Step 2

Ill update the package - Thanks
Thanks for the update! :)

One more question: How do I get it to enable HTML?

[The Geek]

Thanks for the update! :)

One more question: How do I get it to enable HTML?
hmmm. That should be dependant on the post it pulls. Is there HMTL enabled in the post itself?

Aside from the dangers of posting HTML, it could also mess up your page as the HTML could get snipped before close tags.

Let me know.

[hpwilhelm]

Yes, the post is in a HTML enabled forum :)

I'm aware of the dangers of HTML, so the articles in this forum may only be posted by admins, and all comments will be moderated ;)

[The Geek]

Yes, the post is in a HTML enabled forum :)

I'm aware of the dangers of HTML, so the articles in this forum may only be posted by admins, and all comments will be moderated ;)
hmmm.

If only admins can post. try this:

replace (in your modules/featuredgeekarticles.php)

$geek_feature['message'] = parse_bbcode2($geek_feature['pagetext'], 0, 1, $allowsmilie, 1);

with

$geek_feature['message'] = parse_bbcode2($geek_feature['pagetext'], 1, 1, $allowsmilie, 1);


I havent tested... but it should work.

[hpwilhelm]

Thanks! It worked perfectly! :D

[The Geek]

Thanks! It worked perfectly! :D
Cool. Glad to have helped. Hit install when you get a minute please ;)

[hpwilhelm]

Cool. Glad to have helped. Hit install when you get a minute please ;)
Done! :D

[KTBleeding]

Is there any way to show the first attachment in the thread on the "featured" module? That would be killer. I'm having a look at the code trying to see if I can figure it out, but I don't know how to pull the attachment from the database. :x

[venomx]

What are the templates we use for this? THey are not listed in the install files. :(

Also should this be a center, right, or left col?

[The Geek]

What are the templates we use for this? THey are not listed in the install files. :(

Also should this be a center, right, or left col?
The template is installed with the install file. Its really designed for middle but you should be able to use with any :)


hth's

[venomx]

Yes they are installed but when we make the module we need the names of the templates.. otherwise they are uncached and add load to the pages...

[The Geek]

Yes they are installed but when we make the module we need the names of the templates.. otherwise they are uncached and add load to the pages...
duh! Thanks for that! Its: adv_portal_geekfeaturedarticle

HTH's

[T3MEDIA]

Well let me be the first to ask the question....
Is there any way to do this with vbindex?

Yeah.... I know. But its too late.
So since this has a installer I cant even fiddle with it.

Help?

[The Geek]

Well let me be the first to ask the question....
Is there any way to do this with vbindex?

Yeah.... I know. But its too late.
So since this has a installer I cant even fiddle with it.

Help?
I used to use vbindex before vbadvanced - but I couldnt really help you there (though it really wouldnt be too hard as the mod file has most everything you need in it).

Ill try to keep this in mind for the next version :)

[ikastara]

yo.. thanks for your works
but i dunno why i can not get eandom articles to work. it showed fine for featured articles, but nothing shows when i choose random

for setting, i choose no for the first option (obviously.. )
then enter : 5,6,7 (forum id for the articles)

nothing show up :'(

[The Geek]

yo.. thanks for your works
but i dunno why i can not get eandom articles to work. it showed fine for featured articles, but nothing shows when i choose random

for setting, i choose no for the first option (obviously.. )
then enter : 5,6,7 (forum id for the articles)

nothing show up :'(
huh. I only use the random option. Does a blank module box appear or nothing at all?
Can you send me screenies and ill scan it for you.

Thanks (BTW: none of those forumids are in the vba Excluded Forums section?)

Cheers

[ikastara]

its nothing at all, and like you can see in the screenie, i dont have any forum excluded.
(i dont think i need to give you screene showing the module not showing rite ?? :P kinda ridiculus :P)

[The Geek]

its nothing at all, and like you can see in the screenie, i dont have any forum excluded.
(i dont think i need to give you screene showing the module not showing rite ?? :P kinda ridiculus :P)
you do have the module active in vba right? (I only ask as this has happened before)

[T3MEDIA]

I used to use vbindex before vbadvanced - but I couldnt really help you there (though it really wouldnt be too hard as the mod file has most everything you need in it).

Ill try to keep this in mind for the next version :)Yeah its a shame they should take that hack down since its not supported at all.

[ikastara]

you do have the module active in vba right? (I only ask as this has happened before)

yup! i mentioned before that if i choose yes (featured articles) everything show up just fine (wont happen if its not active). just when i choose no (random one) the block dissapeared... :(
thanks for your time btw :) really aprreciate it.

[The Geek]

can you PM me test login details. Make sure they have general admin access (I only need to access vba CMPS settings) and Ill look into it for you.

[ikastara]

nvm... planning to do a clean re-install later anyway :) just see if this problem come back. if yes then i will ask for your help :D
thanks a lot

[duncan99]

You are not alone ikastara, I got the exact same problem like you. The feature article is ok, the random article no showing up at all, no matter how I adjusted... :(

[The Geek]

thats a trip. Like I said - its what I use on my forum.
If you can PM me login details with admin access (only need access to cmps - nothing else) then I will look into it for you and sort it.

BTW: which version of GAS are you using?

[Lionel]

Can it pull article thumb instead of icon? Both for this hack and for vBaCMS Latest Geek Article

[The Geek]

not yet - the article header image is brand new. These add ons were really designed for GAS2.0 though they still work for 3.5

I am starting work on 3.5x versions - but cant pull them out of thin air yet ;)

[Lizard King]

Is this and the other one working with cmps 1.0.1 and geek articles 3.51 ? because this one didn't work for me and the other one's instructions cannot be completed because the file change we need to make cannot be made.

[misuse]

Two things:

1) Even though I have it set to "Show the thread/article icon", nothing shows. The poster avatar will show when enabled however.

2)In the URL to default image section it keeps adding the slash before the UNC, as follows:
/http://www.bloodydecks.com/forums/gas/images/default.jpg

[KTBleeding]

Two things:

1) Even though I have it set to "Show the thread/article icon", nothing shows. The poster avatar will show when enabled however.

2)In the URL to default image section it keeps adding the slash before the UNC, as follows:
/http://www.bloodydecks.com/forums/gas/images/default.jpg
Same here, I even hardcoded the icon in (removed the conditional statements) and it still won't show up. :(

[The Geek]

Thats becasue this is designed for GAS2.0

I havent had time to develop one for 3.0 yet. This will work - but it will not use GAS3x header image or byline. It will only show first x amount of chars from the article.

I have a rough version on my site for 3.0 but havent had time to rework it properly though. If anyone wants to finish it up - I am more than happy to help by providing the code.

[misuse]

Anyword on what's happening with getting this set up to work with 3.5 yet?

[The Geek]

I sent tpr some prototype stuff I use on my site and he tweaked it some so its now working for him. He said he would post it when he gets a minute.

HTH's

[Lionel]

I made a module to display categories, should I post?

[The Geek]

I made a module to display categories, should I post?
hell ya. Is it like the one for last x articles? If its different - post a new add on. I am sure many would benefit.

[Lionel]

here you go. I grouped all articles as subforums under one category in forums named articles.
then I made a module named geekcategories.php (replace parentid=xx with the main category number)


<?
$result_articlescategories = $DB_site->query("
SELECT * FROM forum WHERE parentid=XX ORDER BY displayorder

");



while ($artcatego = $DB_site->fetch_Array($result_articlescategories)) {

$artid = $artcatego[forumid];

$arttitle = $artcatego[title];

$artdescription = $artcatego[description];

$artthreadcount = $artcatego[threadcount];

eval('$categobits .= "' . fetch_template('adv_portal_artcategobits') . '";');

}

$DB_site->free_result($result_articlescategories);



eval('$home[$mods[\'modid\']][\'content\'] .= "' . fetch_template('adv_portal_artcatego') . '";');



unset($artcatego,$artid,$arttitle,$artdescription, $artthtreadcount);

?>



then I created the templates.
adv_portal_artcatego
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="$stylevar[cellspacing]" class="tborder" width="100%">
<tr>
<td class="tcat"><span class="smallfont"><strong>$vba_options[portal_blockbullet] Categories</strong></span></td>
</tr>
$categobits
</table>
<br />

adv_portal_artcategobits (replace forums with yours)
<tr class="alt1"><td><table width="100%" cellpacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr class="alt1"><td><span class="smallfont"><strong><a href="/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=$artid (http://www.khwarriors.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=$artid)" title="$artdescription">$arttitle</a></strong></span></td><td align="right"><span class="smallfont"><font size="1" color="#666666"> ($artthreadcount)</font></span></td></tr></table></td></tr>

[Troy McClure]

Like a couple of others I am having trouble with the module displaying. If I make it a "featured" article and specify the article number, the module shows up fine but if I go with the random method nothing shows at all on my front page.

Anyone figure out a fix?

Thanks,

Troy

[Kaelon]

Like a couple of others I am having trouble with the module displaying. If I make it a "featured" article and specify the article number, the module shows up fine but if I go with the random method nothing shows at all on my front page.

Anyone figure out a fix?

Thanks,

Troy

Same here. Anyone got a fix for displaying the module under random setting? I've tried just about everything I can think of -- listing the forums using commas, comma and a space, etc., just one forum, etc.

[speedway]

Is this functionality available for those that aren't using vBaCMPS?

[altsounds]

Yep same for me. Random is not working, featured is :(.

Any news on when the new version will be available?

[dsboyce8624]

Yep same for me. Random is not working, featured is :(.

Any news on when the new version will be available?

If I read the thread right, this isn't designed for 3.51, only 2.

I made that same mistake, so I will specify a featured article until it gets fixed/ported.

Come on Geek, we need ya man.

EDIT: Okay, got a featured working. Now just waiting for the Geek to grace us with an update.

[The Geek]

If I read the thread right, this isn't designed for 3.51, only 2.

I made that same mistake, so I will specify a featured article until it gets fixed/ported.

Come on Geek, we need ya man.

EDIT: Okay, even a featured does not show for me.

More than willing to let ya have a peek if you want Geek.
This isnt designed for GAS3.5x though in theory it should work - currently I dont have any time to give toward developing one for 3.5x though I am more than willing to help anyone out who is game to give it a go. Heck - I even have a prototype I am willing to give some adventurous coder.

Sorry guys

[dsboyce8624]

This isnt designed for GAS3.5x though in theory it should work - currently I dont have any time to give toward developing one for 3.5x though I am more than willing to help anyone out who is game to give it a go. Heck - I even have a prototype I am willing to give some adventurous coder.

Sorry guys

I'm willing to play. What'cha need me to do?

[dsboyce8624]

Okay, I modified the last Read More to be See All Articles.

Hopefully this will draw people into that section and some overly journalistic goober will write some interesting stuff.

I'm certainly not the writer in the family!

[Omega Prime]

Just wondering, but will there be a conversion of this hack for vBaCMPS 2+ ?

[Clayton]

hi there

can anyone advise on how to uninstall and then reinstall, please

I thought one could run the install file in the same manner as removing a game from the arcade, but wasn't able to.

Any ideas, please?

Thank you

G

Edit: incredibly I have got this to work, don't ask me how, however it works .. just one thing the image of the index.php is not showing up with one of the articles, leaving a red x in IE ... will sort it out eventually .. and I`m a noobie with this stuff with a doofus stamp on the forehead

[etinteractive]

Article system is great....would be GREAT if this mod was updated for GAS3.52 and vBaCMPS 2.0

Thanks for the great mods.

[brianstevz]

Article system is great....would be GREAT if this mod was updated for GAS3.52 and vBaCMPS 2.0

Thanks for the great mods.

bump

[The Geek]

Hi Brian - as I stated earlier - I simply have no time to do this. I would support someone creting it as an add on as I have a working prototype - just not the time to do a new one. Most of my free coding time is now being spent figuring out how the hell to port hacks into vb3.5

[dsboyce8624]

Hi Brian - as I stated earlier - I simply have no time to do this. I would support someone creting it as an add on as I have a working prototype - just not the time to do a new one. Most of my free coding time is now being spent figuring out how the hell to port hacks into vb3.5

I'm happy to take a look at what you have and see if I can make it work.

Right now I have to edit the settings everyday to get a new article on the front page.

[Wired1]

Right now I have to edit the settings everyday to get a new article on the front page.

Simpler answer. Go into the vBa CMPS -> Edit Modules -> News -> News Options -> News Forum(s)

CTRL + click the forum your articles are in. I also disabled showing attachments so article pictures don't show up on the front page under the news post. It's not perfect, but it works.

I'd rather have the Synopsis show up in the news instead of just the first couple of paragraphs, but oh well.

[dsboyce8624]

I would much rather have it work the way it was designed.

[arob42]

Instead of showing the first x bytes of the article, could I instead show the synopsis text?

[jarvis]

Has anyone gotten this to work with vbA CMPS 2.0? I would really like to get this working...

Thanks! :)

[COBRAws]

Has anyone gotten this to work with vbA CMPS 2.0? I would really like to get this working...

Thanks! :)


me too! =D

[jarvis]

Has anyone gotten this to work with vbA CMPS 2.0? I would really like to get this working...

Thanks! :)

Waves Wallet around to catch someone's attention!! :) Please, I will pay for this time spent. :D

[Omega Prime]

I'm also awaiting a version for vBA 2.0, but I'm sure Geek will release it in due time :)

[jarvis]

I'm also awaiting a version for vBA 2.0, but I'm sure Geek will release it in due time :)

Yeah... I know he's busy coding 3.5, so that's why I was hoping someone else may be able to help. Shouldn't be too terribly difficult, eh? This coming from a PHP nub.

Anyways, offer still stands if someone wants to update this for vBA CMPS 2.0 - I will glady subsidize the effort. :)

[Tee]

Does anyone know of any reason why I wouldn't see my featured articles options in cmps? I've logged out back in. No luck.

Tee

[InsaneContender]

Is there anyway to get this to work without vBCMPS? I do have it installed, but only use it on the main page. The rest of the site has a totally seperate navigation menu.

[VirtualBurn]

Damn straight. You sure you did the settings correctly? You dont need Geek Articles to pull off the featured thread.
1- Make sure that you have added the featuredgeekarticles module through vBaCMPS.
2- Make sure your 'Featured/Random thread' is set to yes and the next box has the threadid of the featured thread.

like this:

Where are these menu items.. they don't appear anywhere, not in CMPS default Setting, not in the Module settings.. I have no way of specifiying the forums to use.

I get the random article box up on the portal but no info inside.

wouldn't it have been easier to just use the Forum ID's that are specified as Article forums from the GAS??

I tried the 'Latest Geek articles and had the same problem.

Anyway, I hope this can be sorted, as always a fine hack from the Geek, and the funniest installs I have ever used. ;} nice one.

[The Geek]

To be honest, I dont really support this anymore as it was really designed for GAS2.0. I have begged and pleaded someone to take over as I have a prototype that I use - but simply have no more time to devote to development.

If I recall correctly the settings you need to check out are either in the vbacmps settings with the news and such or in vboptions... I think its the former.

Hopefully GARS will provide a better solution.

Toodles.

[VirtualBurn]

hmmm... yeah i presumed that's where the setting should be, but there is nothing anywhere. Just doesn't seem to have been dropped in the adminCP, I'll have a play and see what I can come up with. The installation went through with no problems at all, that's why it's a bit bizarre.

Cheers. ~vb