ProjectvB4
 

"Too good to die"

This is what I believe for vBulletin 4 and I'll try my best to keep it alive. But I'm in need of people who also love vBulletin 4 and they're ready to help to this project. I'm not looking for financial sponsors but for voluntaries who can help by spending some of their free time to find and suggest content (plugins) that are useful to be part of this special release.

First and most important step is to bypass a real (the only for me) disadvantage that vB4 has. A responsive design. I'm rebuilding all templates using Twitter Bootstrap 3 framework. This way any designer who is familiar with Bootstrap can easily design a new theme.

Second important is that, without to change any core file, I've changed the way that works in many places. eg

• Clicking a username you're not redirecting to profile page, but it shows a modal window with the basics user info and a link to the full profile page.
• The sidebar opens in a slide window
• The user menu options also open in a slede widonw, available in all pages.
• Same for Search
• and many more...

Last but not least:

• I'll replace the Memberlist with my own Memberlist mod
• I'll replace Private Messages with multi user convertation system
• etc etc....

Any idea is welcome. I'm attaching some screenshots

Thank you
Chris
aka ChrisTERiS or even MicroHellas

...and two more :)

PS: The Project is not finished. Needs more time.

Here is how the main thread post will appears, without to modify even a single line of core code. Just template modifications and use of hook system for extra code....

Not too much today. Just the Previous-Next Thread below the main post, and the replies list. Still working to modify the Options in footer, in a better way.

Some of my work this morning:

1. PageNav: Not the best, actually still don't like those small buttons, but here is a better than the default. I fixed the alignment of First/Previous/Next/Last buttons, I removed the words First and Last, and finally I replaced the images with FA icons.
2. The post selection works with the normal highlighted color
3. Attachments block is now responsive
4. The new Lightbox to show the photos

This page took me double the time that I was expected, for a good reason. There is no changes to default vBulletin stylevars. So this page commonly used by many 3nd party addons, will works with your current colors. Just moved some things from here to there.

As you maybe noticed, I removed the userinfo left block. I found it useless. I moved the most important data at the top. If someone wants to see all those data (and more), it's just a click away to see them in user's profile modal.

I'm liking the direction its going.it's going to be the future web interface.

Christos, are you adding any structured data into your rebuilt postbit?

I'm not sure if I got your meaning. By saying "structured data" do you mean any extra data that 3nd party mods add using hook system? In postbit not, as I even removed standard data eg Number of posts. But all these data, will appear in the modal member profile.

All "clicks" to username (or avatar) will open now a modal window with the most important user information. Sure should be a button link to the normal profile page.

Is this what you asked for?

Using https://www.w3.org/TR/microdata/ to tag the user, date, article etc

Check the xenforo code they do it very well.

....ahaaa.... Now I got you. Keep in mind something important. Project vB4 should be a long story. That's why I named it Project and not just (eg) "Responsive Theme".

First step should be the Responsive theme with some tweaks (eg modal profile, side panels etc). From that point and then, I'll start adding new features to make it modern.

It's true that the restriction that I've to avoid modifying core code is a big problem, but I'll try my best to add some of them using the hook system.

First "Extra" feature should be a reactions system, GDPR Compliance, Newsletter, and whatever else (like your suggestion) needs to include.

Later on I'll start re-coding my most popular mods etc etc etc........

Glad to see this is happening. Any plans to make it work with PHP versions beyond 7.1?

PHP 7.1 should be active in web hosting for many years ahead. For the same reason that still exist many hosts giving you the ability to use PHP 5.6

To come in your actual question now. Is not something that I don't want, or I can't do (even if it really needs time). The problem is that the vBulletin license does not allows modification and distribution of core files.

- Chris

Good Start Chris, I will keep an eye on this project.

Thank you. And happy that I'm seeing you active here :)

I come here quite often to see what's happening in the forum world :)

Finally I decided to add a simple registration form in modal window which follows all vB restrictions and rules. Clicking "Read..." opens the tab with Terms. You can Show/Hide this form from product options.

The modal window for Login / Register / Password reminder finished, and I believe that it's good. In the screenshot below:

1. If Registrations are disabled, or the setting to hide registration in modal, the Registration tab is hidden, and instead a "Create account" link appears.
2. The Human verification appears in Login as in my settings I've set to show it. Default is disabled, so no Human Verification during login
3. If you're using kh99 New reCaptcha plugin, the submit button is disabled for as long as the member hasn't pass the check.
4. Finally in the 2nd screenshot you can see the current settings. Now there are only 4, but I expect them to be some dozens. It's not just a Responsive style, is a full product, so many options must exist.

I like the idea but in a way I'm still using vB4 because of its old-school nature. But it is cool for people who want to make it seem modern.

I've active licenses for IPS, xenForo, even WoltlabBB (this expired). Can definitely say that none of them has even 50% of the features that vB4 has. From the other side, the features that have in common, the other brands have them in a more advanced mode, I admit it.

So, the difference is just to keep vB4 alive and add all those modern (sometimes fancy) missing features. I've the knowledge and the passion to add them, but there are restrictions in license, so I can add only features that don't need to edit core files.

Seeing as VB 4 is dead and will never be updated, I see no issues with editing core files any more. Way back in the UBB days before plugins existed, adding features required editing core files. They were released in look for this, and above, below, or replace with were the common notes as publishing the core file code was against the EULA.

Another teenager like me :) .... Yes, I do remember UBB, but mostly the PHP version, not the Perl one.

The problem here is different. Is not actually a License terms issue. As long as the product is EOL and I'm not releasing the full package but just some files, most of them with just a single word change, normally must be not an issue. For example the change to functions_editor.php to hide emoticons, was a change from "true" to "false".

The actual problem is that people who have invest to other forum software, or to vB5, in no way they like to see something like this coming to the market. Because is normal that they'll loose sales. Lot of sales, believe me.

I understood it even since the first day of the release (in another site). Posts like "Why you waste your time....", or "nobody will use it..." etc etc, in private and public posts, was a clear sign on what I've to meet ahead. But they found the wrong man to do it. If I like something (and I really love what I'm doing), nothing can stop me.

Great thing. Do I understand right that this in the end will be some "new vB4" which is compatible to PHP7.4 and later, while remaining all the old hooks ect?

The first (Free) version should be the current vB4.2.5 with responsive design and some extra design modifications. Some examples:

• User link will open a modal window with basic user information and a link to normal profile page.
• Sidebar moved to a slide panel.
• Profile page has been redesigned
• Forum display page has been redesigned
• Show thread page has been redesigned
• NavBar menu options moved to slide panel
• Login/Register/Password reminder moved to modal window
• Search moved to slide panel, even if there is a link to current Advanced search page. But this slide panel search should be fine for 80% of the users as it has the most common search criteria
• .......and many more

As I seen you're a coder, so you must know that (unfortunately) there are restrictions to share vB core files. That makes impossible to release php files to keep compatibility with PHP 7.3 and later with PHP 7.4. Sure I'll ask permission from IB to do this, but I'm keeping my expectations to get this authorization, in low level.


ProjectvB4 uses Bootstrap 3 framework. That said, almost all 3nd party addons need some kind of template modifications. Testing my own mods, I found that these changes are very few, but don't know for others. And Yes, hook system will works as now, but keep in mind that if these hooks have templates, these templates must be modify.

Now, I really need your help for testing purposes. It was so frustrated, when I realized yesterday that, after spending a full day working on Calendar, Albums, and Groups, I've forgot to change the links to member profile, to open the modal window, instead to redirect to full profile page.


That's why I'm kindling asking you to register in my site and try as most as you can the sections. What I want you to test are:

1. If the design is responsive
2. If the member link open the modal window instead to redirect to the profile page.
3. If a page has a sidebar, if the sidebar opens in the side panel.
4. Any other design mess.

I've started a forum "Testing ProjectvB4" which has prefixes for the above 4 options. This way you'll help me to speed up the release.


Please note that currently I've install the Forum only version, so you'll not see any CMS or Blog page.


https://www.projectvb4.com/


Thank you
Chris

7.1 support can only be added by modifying core files. Source: have done it, 7.4+ support

Here is the final footer section. At least for me, it has almost anything that a webmaster wants to have visible on all pages. I have a doubt for moving the content of the left column as a separate row below, and use that space for Forum statistics. Still haven't got my final decision. I don't like to have a big footer.

Here is a list of latest changes:

1. Social Links. Not Social share. If the site, or the webmaster, has a account on any of those networks, should be a link to his relevant profile page.
2. Donations. Works fine for average use and it supports IPN. Is not so complicated as my normal addon, as it does not supports Donation Goals. If the donor is a logon user, then his account updates with donation data.
3. If you don't want to use Donations, there is a setting to add any HTML code there, to appear on that block.
4. Newsletter. What I added today is an option, in case that you don't want to use it, to add any HTML code to appear on that block.

Looks very well done, I like it a lot!

interesting project.

for me just keeping vb4 compatible with php/mysql and patching the vulnerabilities would be enough and I would definitely pay a new license for that. sadly the owners have no intent of bringing back vb4 which is beyond me :(

Unfortunately, even if I wish it too, is illegal to release core files. Otherwise it was easy to include such updates with my project.

--------------- Added [DATE]1596208019[/DATE] at [TIME]1596208019[/TIME] ---------------

Just finished "everything" https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/data:imag...ABAAEAAAIBRAA7 ... Well, to be more specific, that "everything" at this time has a general meaning.

This project started with focus to be a responsive vB4 style. This done. Also my intention was to give a fresh style (simple style), with focus to "Mobile first". I believe that this also done. Third plan was to release some extra features like:

• Cookies Policy
• GDPR compliance features
• Modal Profile with basic member info
• Modal Login/Register
• A simple Mailinglist
• A simple Donation form with IPN support
• HTML system emails
• A powerful Footer section
• Memberlist replacement

All of them added and at least in my test, seem to work fine. The problem is that some of these features were plan for the PRO version. I'll think how to resolve this.

What is still missing:

• RTL currently is partial supported
• Forum only version works. So the Suite version is still unsupported
• Even if all pages are responsive, some of them are still with the old interface. Responsive but not updated. Maybe I missed a couple of pages, but is so hard to check all of them. This can be done only in real use. What I care most, is to have all member links in all pages, opening the modal window. For sure in the most important pages this works, but needs very deep check to find what left out.

First of all Great Work.


As you mentioned ideas are welcome .. here are couple of thigs you may want to have a look at.

1 - Horizontal scroll bar is visible when the width of the forum is less then 1220px approx
2 - Blue category bar images does not cover then whole width when the width is less then 970px approx

First of all, I'm happy to see you again. I remember you from the glory days of this site. Hope that everything is going fine in your life.


I'll check it. Didn't noticed something like this before. But again scrolling does nothing. I mean there is nothing to show more.

This is just in my installation. My background image is small, that's why it happen. You can replace the default background with greater in size images.

Again happy to see you.

PS: Also I'm waiting for your and all other designers to support my Project. I'm not designer, I just used a custom template that I've for my CMS Viral PHP script. With minimal knowledge of Bootstrap 3, you can do nice looking styles.

I still run vb4, as it is a very stable and mature product, it was abandoned to early in my opinion. I have always missed a support/helpdesk/ticket system i vb. I use free version of HESK and it works reasonably well, but i would like to see it included in vb itself. If it´s possible or not, i don´t know, but i would be very interrested in such a product.

I'll recode my microSUPPORT, not only to make it with responsive design, but mostly to add some features that I want. Don't expect a Kayako or Deskpro clone, but a fair module with most important features included.

The original MicroSupport was here:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...=213180&page=6

I purchased the Pro. Would love to see this updated to support VB4 and use it again and drop Project Tools. Hopefully the new release would include the Pro features?

Im looking forward to explore such a product in a not to distant future.

Honestly you surprised me. The only of my 50+ mods that I remember having them is sales were vbPhotovote (vb3), vbClubs(vb3), and eCommerce (vb4).

In no way, I mean that you're saying lies, just don't remember. I'll give a look to that post to see what features I had as Pro, and be sure that I'll include them. If I had them, means that they're important features.

EDITED: Just now I seen that the link is for vB3.x version. I thought that you're talking for vB4 version. And yes, as Project vB3 is already in development, I'll update it.

If you want copies I can provide them...

I have 2 versions of MicroSupport. The VB 3 version and then one that was packaged as a self extracting executable. I am not sure if that was a VB4 variant? Here is snippit of the XML from the self extracting executable...

Edit: Found a copy of the VB 4 version: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...230112&page=22
Just not sure if it will work under 4.2.5

I remember using this back in vb3.7 days https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=176367 dont remember microsupport

Reading the features, I can definitely say that it does not have even 20% of the microSUPPORT.

--------------- Added [DATE]1597778104[/DATE] at [TIME]1597778104[/TIME] ---------------

I use to trust people, so no need to provide me anything. Have it will be ready (as it will be done for sure), you'll get a license for both vB3 and vB4.

yes true, at the time I just needed something simple.:)