threadBOT: The Thread Provider

[sabret00the]

WHAT:
This hack will create threads at regualar intervals in the forum you specify and with the body text you specify on a thread by thread basis

WHY:
Because your forums are probably dead or you just wanna make sure you continue in the persut of quality topic-specific threads

WHEN:
Whenever you set it to because we're cron like that

WHERE:
In your forums

HOW:
Easily, theirs like one file edit and that's one of the files this comes with, we call it super plug-in power-o

ANYTHING ELSE:
Yes if jilly didn't make the request i would've never got round to spending the few hours it took to create this, though i got distracted alot and so it took me like 5 hours over 3 weeks.

Installation
Unpack to the directories stated and then run the installer @ www.yourdomain.com/forums/install/hack_install.php and follow all the instructions.

Upgrading
Replace the cron file.

[TTG]

Couple of screen shots would be useful :)

hate to list the 1st problem :-

Warning: asort() expects parameter 1 to be array, null given in /usr/home/thetechg/public_html/retreat/install/hack_install.php on line 52

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /usr/home/thetechg/public_html/retreat/install/hack_install.php on line 53

Warning: main(./his_files/): failed to open stream: Permission denied in /usr/home/thetechg/public_html/retreat/install/hack_install.php on line 59

Fatal error: main(): Failed opening required './his_files/' (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /usr/home/thetechg/public_html/retreat/install/hack_install.php on line 59

[sabret00the]

Couple of screen shots would be useful :)

hate to list the 1st problem :-

Warning: asort() expects parameter 1 to be array, null given in /usr/home/thetechg/public_html/retreat/install/hack_install.php on line 52

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /usr/home/thetechg/public_html/retreat/install/hack_install.php on line 53

Warning: main(./his_files/): failed to open stream: Permission denied in /usr/home/thetechg/public_html/retreat/install/hack_install.php on line 59

Fatal error: main(): Failed opening required './his_files/' (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /usr/home/thetechg/public_html/retreat/install/hack_install.php on line 59

where are you getting htat? what step of the installer?

[TTG]

where are you getting htat? what step of the installer?

Step one .. click 'continue' and up pops the error message !?

[Lionel]

What is your mysql version?

[sabret00the]

sorry about that TTG, should work now :)

note to self: don't release hacks when you can barely see the screen, alcohol is bad mmm'kay.

[moley]

lol thanks for sharing this.

[xtreme-mobile]

after it updates my templates i get thgis error

Parse error: parse error, unexpected T_LNUMBER in /home/admin/public_html/forums/install/hacks/threadBOT/1/queries.php on line 16

any ideas?

[sabret00the]

after it updates my templates i get thgis error

Parse error: parse error, unexpected T_LNUMBER in /home/admin/public_html/forums/install/hacks/threadBOT/1/queries.php on line 16


any ideas?
reuploaded zip

[sabret00the]

i know it's definately working now :)

[xtreme-mobile]

yes mate just installed it now :)

so what will happen now? ive set it as Chatta_bot and to run hourly in my general forum

what can i expect to happen lol

[sabret00the]

if you set it to run on the XX minute of the hour it should run by itself if it's got the threads to make but i have to remove the hack for a few days, somethings not working so i'm gonna try and get someone to look at it and tell me where i've gone wrong.

[sabret00the]

all bugs fixed, critical they were the hack was removed (they were not security issues though mind you) theirs one or two more improvements which could be called bugs still in, but alas this is now fully working, so please enjoy it once more.

[jilly]

Wooohooo!!! Thanks sabre!!! i am running to test this out now!!!

*flexes fingers and clicks install*

[jilly]

Okay, it installed fine - so far, so good!

Q1 - How do I specify the text that will be posted?
Q2 - How do I specify which board they are posted in?
Q2 - How do I specify when they are posted?

[sabret00the]

ok set the cron job so that it runs once a day and threads will be made once a day.

the rest will be done via your board www.yoursite.com/forums/feed_threadBOT.php :)

sorry only just seen this.

[TTG]

Anyone actually got this working .. ?

When I run :
http://www.mydomain/retreat/install/hack_install.php

I always get "Warning: asort() expects parameter 1 to be array, null given in /usr/home/thetechg/public_html/retreat/install/hack_install.php on line 52"

[topten]

Anyone actually got this working .. ?

When I run :
http://www.mydomain/retreat/install/hack_install.php

I always get "Warning: asort() expects parameter 1 to be array, null given in /usr/home/thetechg/public_html/retreat/install/hack_install.php on line 52"


I just downloaded it but there is no instructions or notes

[sabret00the]

Anyone actually got this working .. ?

When I run :
http://www.mydomain/retreat/install/hack_install.php

I always get "Warning: asort() expects parameter 1 to be array, null given in /usr/home/thetechg/public_html/retreat/install/hack_install.php on line 52"
i've not had that error at all on any hacks i've used or made thanks to the HIS, are you ticking anything? and have you used the HIS before?

[jilly]

Okay I can't find the cron - do I have to add it? I installed it and I think it all went fine - but when I run feed_threadBOT.php i get this:

No Forum specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the webmaster

[sabret00the]

yup you gotta add the cron through your admincp. also you need to make the specifications via your vbulletin options, their will be a group called threadBOT.

[jilly]

Is there instructions for this in the zip? I can't seem to find them :(

[TTG]

have you used the HIS before?

Nope .. 1st time with this hack

[sabret00the]

Is there instructions for this in the zip? I can't seem to find them :(
ok for the vboptions bit, a direct url would be http://www.yoursite.com/forums/admincp/options.php?do=options&dogroup=threadbot

as for making adding a cron in your admincp;
scheduled tasks -> add new scheduled task -> <look below>
Title: threadBOT
Day of the Week: * (unless you have a specific day you want it to run on)
Day of the month: * (unless you're setting it to run once a month)
Hour: 17 (which will run it as five o'clock pm everyday)
Minute: *
Log Entries: Yes
Filename: ./includes/cron/threadBOT.php

click save and you're done.

[sabret00the]

Nope .. 1st time with this hack
ok, did you tick any of the tick boxes when you went to hack_install.php

[jilly]

Okay, when I go to this part in options:

threadBOT Name
Please enter the username that the threadBOT will post under.

This should be someone's existing username? Like if it will post as me, enter my username, or if I am going to give it it's own entity, create a username for it?


threadBOT Feeding Permissions
Please enter the forumid of a forum where only people you want to be able to feed the threadBOT have permission to view and post.
I am not sure exactly what this means - does this mean the way I will 'feed' it is by having a forum, say a private forum, where I will post up the info that is going to be reposted later by threadbot?

[sabret00the]

threadBOT Name
Please enter the username that the threadBOT will post under.

This should be someone's existing username? Like if it will post as me, enter my username, or if I am going to give it it's own entity, create a username for it?yup it needs to be an existng username in the database (like yours), so you can't just make one up on the spot unless it actually has an account.


threadBOT Feeding Permissions
Please enter the forumid of a forum where only people you want to be able to feed the threadBOT have permission to view and post.
I am not sure exactly what this means - does this mean the way I will 'feed' it is by having a forum, say a private forum, where I will post up the info that is going to be reposted later by threadbot?
what it means is, if you have a private forum that only you can post in, you'd put it's number in there, the reason being is that the threadbot will use the permissions of that forum to see who can and can't feed it. i.e. if you set it to a forum that all your members can post in, then all your members can feed the threadBOT, however if it's a forum that only staff can post in, then only staff can feed the threadBOT.

arghhh i'm crap at explaining things so forgive me :o

[jilly]

That's okay, if you want, once we figure it out I can write up some instructions - THAT I am good at :)

[jilly]

Okay, how do I get the actual questions that threadbot will post loaded?

And how do I specify what forum he puts them into when the cron runs?

[sabret00the]

That's okay, if you want, once we figure it out I can write up some instructions - THAT I am good at
i'd more than appreciate that :)

Okay, how do I get the actual questions that threadbot will post loaded?

And how do I specify what forum he puts them into when the cron runs?if you check the feed_threadBOT.php it should have the forum in the top right of the form in the drop down menu and you put the questions in as if you were making a normal thread.

[jilly]

cool - got it! Going to put one in now, and then go make the cron run now, and see what happens

[jilly]

Okay, i tried this, and got this error message:

Database error in vBulletin 3.0.7:

Invalid SQL:
INSERT INTO thread_bank(title, lastpost, forumid, open, replycount, postusername, postuserid, lastposter, dateline, visible, sticky)
VALUES ('Who is your favorite Family Guy Character?', NULL, 34, 1, 0, 'ThreadBot', 224, 'ThreadBot', NULL, 1, 0)

mysql error: Table 'bmww.thread_bank' doesn't exist

mysql error number: 1146

Date: Saturday 14th of May 2005 05:32:39 PM
Script: http://www.bmww.org/forums/feed_threadBOT.php
Referer: http://www.bmww.org/forums/feed_threadBOT.php
Username: jilly

[TTG]

ok, did you tick any of the tick boxes when you went to hack_install.php

threadBOT 1.00 & Generate Files

[sabret00the]

threadBOT 1.00 & Generate Files
you don't need to tick anything, i.e. leave everything unticked bar "threadBOT 1.00"

[sabret00the]

Okay, i tried this, and got this error message:

Database error in vBulletin 3.0.7:

Invalid SQL:
INSERT INTO thread_bank(title, lastpost, forumid, open, replycount, postusername, postuserid, lastposter, dateline, visible, sticky)
VALUES ('Who is your favorite Family Guy Character?', NULL, 34, 1, 0, 'ThreadBot', 224, 'ThreadBot', NULL, 1, 0)

mysql error: Table 'bmww.thread_bank' doesn't exist

mysql error number: 1146

Date: Saturday 14th of May 2005 05:32:39 PM
Script: http://www.bmww.org/forums/feed_threadBOT.php
Referer: http://www.bmww.org/forums/feed_threadBOT.php
Username: jilly
ok that's a problem with the queries, run these two in phpmyadmin

CREATE TABLE `thread_bank` (
`threadid` int(10) unsigned NOT NULL auto_increment,
`title` varchar(250) NOT NULL default '',
`lastpost` int(10) unsigned NULL default '0',
`forumid` smallint(5) unsigned NOT NULL default '0',
`pollid` int(10) unsigned NOT NULL default '0',
`open` tinyint(4) NOT NULL default '0',
`replycount` int(10) unsigned NOT NULL default '0',
`postusername` varchar(50) NOT NULL default '',
`postuserid` int(10) unsigned NOT NULL default '0',
`lastposter` varchar(50) NOT NULL default '',
`dateline` int(10) unsigned NULL default '0',
`views` int(10) unsigned NOT NULL default '0',
`iconid` smallint(5) unsigned NOT NULL default '0',
`notes` varchar(250) NOT NULL default '',
`visible` smallint(6) NOT NULL default '0',
`sticky` smallint(6) NOT NULL default '0',
`votenum` smallint(5) unsigned NOT NULL default '0',
`votetotal` smallint(5) unsigned NOT NULL default '0',
`attach` smallint(5) unsigned NOT NULL default '0',
`firstpostid` int(10) unsigned NOT NULL default '0',
`similar` varchar(55) NOT NULL default '',
PRIMARY KEY (`threadid`),
KEY `iconid` (`iconid`),
KEY `forumid` (`forumid`,`visible`,`sticky`,`lastpost`),
KEY `postuserid` (`postuserid`),
KEY `pollid` (`pollid`),
FULLTEXT KEY `title` (`title`)
);

and


CREATE TABLE `post_bank` (
`postid` int(10) unsigned NOT NULL auto_increment,
`threadid` int(10) unsigned NOT NULL default '0',
`username` varchar(50) NOT NULL default '',
`userid` int(10) unsigned NOT NULL default '0',
`title` varchar(250) NOT NULL default '',
`dateline` int(10) unsigned NULL default '0',
`pagetext` mediumtext NOT NULL,
`allowsmilie` smallint(6) NOT NULL default '0',
`showsignature` smallint(6) NOT NULL default '0',
`ipaddress` varchar(16) NOT NULL default '',
`iconid` smallint(5) unsigned NOT NULL default '0',
`visible` smallint(6) NOT NULL default '0',
`parentid` int(10) unsigned NOT NULL default '0',
`attach` smallint(5) unsigned NOT NULL default '0',
PRIMARY KEY (`postid`),
KEY `iconid` (`iconid`),
KEY `userid` (`userid`),
KEY `threadid` (`threadid`,`userid`),
FULLTEXT KEY `title` (`title`,`pagetext`)
);

[jilly]

while running the first query, i got this error message:

vBulletin Message
An error occurred while attempting to execute your query. The following information was returned.
error number: 1064
error desc: You have an error in your SQL syntax. Check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'collate latin1_general_ci NOT NULL default '',
`lastpost` in

[jilly]

okay, in the admin cp > vbulletin options > threadBOT, there is this option:

threadBOT Hour Limit
This is the setting to see how often you're going to run the threadBOT (0 to run hourly)

what exactly does this do? Don't we set this already in the cron job?
What is the difference between this setting and the cron job setting?
:)

[sabret00the]

okay, in the admin cp > vbulletin options > threadBOT, there is this option:

threadBOT Hour Limit
This is the setting to see how often you're going to run the threadBOT (0 to run hourly)

what exactly does this do? Don't we set this already in the cron job?
What is the difference between this setting and the cron job setting?
:)
just set that to zero, it was something i tried to be clever with which failed.

[sabret00the]

while running the first query, i got this error message:

vBulletin Message
An error occurred while attempting to execute your query. The following information was returned.
error number: 1064
error desc: You have an error in your SQL syntax. Check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'collate latin1_general_ci NOT NULL default '',
`lastpost` in
post edited, re-run the queries
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=653913&postcount=35

[jilly]

Okay, got the queries to run fine.

Now I went to feedthreadBOT_php, and put in two threads - they both showed up right away! D'oh! I was hoping they would go into the database, and then at cron run time (5pm i think) , a thread would get randomly selected from the database and be posted

what next?

[sabret00the]

ok my bad, set the threadBOT hour limit to 24.

and make sure that the cron job is set to run in hours rather than minutes.

[TTG]

Clicked install :)
One small confusing element .. in admincp "threadBOT Feeding Permissions" . "Please enter the forumid of a forum where only people you want to be able to feed the threadBOT have permission to view and post."

When using feed_threadBOT.php, the drop down list provides a list of category's into which post will be added by the cron. Do we need to add all the category ID's for all the forums we want posts to be allowed in the admincp?

[sabret00the]

nope you just gotta put in a forum with the permissions of the posters you want to be able to feed the threadBOT.

i think i explained it a bit better here https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=653711&postcount=27

[jilly]

Okay, I put about 7 sample questions in through feed_threadBOT.php for the same forum, and when the cron time came, it posted all of the questions I had entered, instead of selecting just one randomly.

[sabret00the]

ok finally had time to play with this, it was me being a dummy.

regarding the cron set the hour you want it to run and set the minute to 0 or it will run continuously, sorry i should've checked that before hand.

[jilly]

Okay I did that, then I tried clicking the 'run now' button in scheduled tasks, and got this error:

Database error in vBulletin 3.0.7:

Invalid SQL:
SELECT *
FROM post_bank
WHERE threadid =
LIMIT 1

mysql error: You have an error in your SQL syntax. Check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'LIMIT 1' at line 4

mysql error number: 1064

Date: Tuesday 17th of May 2005 02:48:55 PM
Script: http://www.bmww.org/forums/admincp/cronadmin.php?do=runcron&cronid=15
Referer: http://www.bmww.org/forums/admincp/index.php?

[kevinrstruck]

feed_threadBOT.php??? I installed, but I can not find this file anywhere. Where is it?

[TTG]

Okay I did that, then I tried clicking the 'run now' button in scheduled tasks, and got this error:



I'm getting the same error !?

[jilly]

kevin, feedthreadBOT.php should be in www.yoururl.com/forum/feedthreadBOT.php

[sabret00the]

Okay I did that, then I tried clicking the 'run now' button in scheduled tasks, and got this error:

Database error in vBulletin 3.0.7:

Invalid SQL:
SELECT *
FROM post_bank
WHERE threadid =
LIMIT 1

mysql error: You have an error in your SQL syntax. Check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'LIMIT 1' at line 4

mysql error number: 1064

Date: Tuesday 17th of May 2005 02:48:55 PM
Script: http://www.bmww.org/forums/admincp/cronadmin.php?do=runcron&cronid=15
Referer: http://www.bmww.org/forums/admincp/index.php?
are you sure you have any threads left in your thread_bank?

[kevinrstruck]

kevin, feedthreadBOT.php should be in www.yoururl.com/forum/feedthreadBOT.php


Not there. I assume this did not install correctly then?

[jilly]

sabre, I dont have any threads in, because it posted them all - but what I was hoping it could do is have a 'database' of threads, and could just randomly pick one for the day, but not necessarily delete it out of the queue - say I put like 150 questions in through feedthreadBOT - then I want to be able to let it run, so basically for the next year it will pick a random question each day, and post it, and hopefully not post the same question too often...

[sabret00the]

ok that being the case, open up forums/includes/cron/threadBOT.php and find

$DB_site->query("
DELETE
FROM thread_bank
WHERE threadid = $spewthread[threadid]
");

$DB_site->query("
DELETE
FROM post_bank
WHERE threadid = $spewthread[threadid]
");


and replace with
/*
$DB_site->query("
DELETE
FROM thread_bank
WHERE threadid = $spewthread[threadid]
");

$DB_site->query("
DELETE
FROM post_bank
WHERE threadid = $spewthread[threadid]
");
*/

[sabret00the]

Not there. I assume this did not install correctly then?
did you upload the files?

[TTG]

Had my first post made by the cron .. only the post header appeared in the category selected, no post content !?

[jilly]

I think that did it! Are you going to fix that in the zip? I think that should be default that threads dont get deleted from the thread bank :)

Now how about if you need to edit or delete a thread in the thread bank?

[jilly]

Okay, this seems to be working good for me now! I will post up my 'instructions' later tonight or tomorrow, for you to add to the first post :)

Woohoo!!!

[TTG]

Had my first post made by the cron .. only the post header appeared in the category selected, no post content !?

Support finished already for this hack !?

[sabret00the]

Had my first post made by the cron .. only the post header appeared in the category selected, no post content !?
please elaborate upon your problem as i don't quite understand your dilemma

[TTG]

please elaborate upon your problem as i don't quite understand your dilemma

Thanks for the quick response .. :)

Post made via threadBOT with normal posting header and a couple of dozen lines of text in the message box. Submitted post, await cron to add the post at specified time and post is made with the header only, post content not shown !?

Tried 3 different posts in different category's and same result. Checked template has been added to style and it's there ok ..

[jilly]

Okay, I have another issue - seems like threadBOT is postiong the same post three times in a row from the group of threads in threadbank - it's just taking the first thread (or maybe the last one, and only posting that - not picking a random one, and therefore not changing either..

[sabret00the]

Thanks for the quick response .. :)

Post made via threadBOT with normal posting header and a couple of dozen lines of text in the message box. Submitted post, await cron to add the post at specified time and post is made with the header only, post content not shown !?

Tried 3 different posts in different category's and same result. Checked template has been added to style and it's there ok ..
so confused but then it's friday night. screenshot?

[sabret00the]

Okay, I have another issue - seems like threadBOT is postiong the same post three times in a row from the group of threads in threadbank - it's just taking the first thread (or maybe the last one, and only posting that - not picking a random one, and therefore not changing either..
strange one, how many threads in the thread bank and what are the settings of the cron?

month *
week *
day *
hour XX
minute 0

???

[TTG]

so confused but then it's friday night. screenshot?


:ermm: .. screenshot of what .. an empty post with just a header !?

[sabret00the]

:ermm: .. screenshot of what .. an empty post with just a header !?
yup as right now i've no idea what you mean so i'm hoping a picture speaks 1000 words :)

[TTG]

Picture of empty post attached :ermm:

[sabret00the]

damn, how did that happen, download the latest zip and replace the file in the cron folder, i'm hoping that you have have an old one.

[TTG]

That solved the problem .. thanks sabretOOthe :)

[jilly]

Re - the same thread posted each day -

I have about 5 questions in the thread bank

cron settings are:

Day of the week *
Day of the month *
Hour 15
Minute 0
log entries = yes
./includes/cron/threadBOT.php

[sabret00the]

Re - the same thread posted each day -

I have about 5 questions in the thread bank

cron settings are:

Day of the week *
Day of the month *
Hour 15
Minute 0
log entries = yes
./includes/cron/threadBOT.php
is it posting all of the question or just the same one over and over?

[PKassab]

How come everytime the postbot makes a post his count goes down one?

[PKassab]

also is there any kind of auto feed for it? or do i have to plug in a bunch of things for it and how com eits running every minute?

[sabret00the]

i have no idea how either of them have happened and what kind of auto feed are you referring to?

[PKassab]

Like where it can be smart and just make its own threads or pull feed from somewhere else already posted?

[sabret00the]

unfortunately not.

[PKassab]

Damm that sucks it would be good if we had one like that. Does anyone know where i can download a postbot for VBulletin, I used to have one and lost it

[sabret00the]

i believe velocd made a article bot.

[dsboyce8624]

Damm that sucks it would be good if we had one like that. Does anyone know where i can download a postbot for VBulletin, I used to have one and lost it

Kindly leave my web site out of this!

:cool:

[yahoooh]

does this work perfectly on any life forum?

[jilly]

sabretooth, Here are some updated instructions I prepared a while ago, to try and make install and set up easy. Please check them and make sure they dont conflict with anything you've changed since then, and if they are okay you can add them to the zip if you like..

I was working on this for a while but then let it go because of other issues - but now am trying to get back on it again..


Instructions:
1. Download the threadBOT.zip file, and unzip it.

2. In your admin cp, add a new scheduled task Admincp > Scheduled tasks > new scheduled task
Title: threadBOT
Day of the Week: * (unless you have a specific day you want it to run on)
Day of the month: * (unless you're setting it to run once a month)
Hour: 17 (which will run it as five o'clock pm everyday)
Minute: *
Log Entries: Yes
Filename: ./includes/cron/threadBOT.php

3. Upload files to their proper directories, then run the HIS (Hack Installer System) by going to this url: run the installer @ http://www.yoururl.com/forums/install/hack_install.php - make sure to replace the www.yoururl.com with your doman address.

4. Make sure the checkbox that says 'threadBOT' has a check in it, then click 'continue' and follow the step by step instructions.

5. Modify the options. Go to adminc cp > vBulletin options > threadBOT
* threadBOT Active - turns your threadBOT on or off
* threadBOT name - the already existing username of who the threadBOT will be posting as - can be your name, or you may want to create a custom user and call it "Thread Bot" or whatever. The username must be already created.
* threadBOT Feeding Permissions - enter a forum ID number that has permissions of who you want to allow to feed it, or add info. For example if your moderators will be allowed to enter data into threadBOT's database, use the ID of your moderator forum. If you want only yourself to add data, then put in the forum ID that only you have permission to see/access. To find out what your forum ID number is, go to admin cp > Forums & Moderators > Forum Manager, then find your forum in the list. Hold your mouse over the link to the forum, and the forum ID is the number at the end of the url.
*

6. Create the threads to be auto-posted. Go to http://www.yoururl.com/forums/feed_threadBOT.php (again, replace www.yoururl.com with your domain name)
This will load up a box letting you create the title and subject of the message to be autoposted. You will see a drop down box to the right, that allows you to specify which forum it will be posted in. Choose your forum, and create your message.