Archive Hack for IIS
 

This hack allows IIS (Microsoft Internet Information Server) users the ability to change the archive feature used by spiders into an archive that users can use. This is not the way vBulletin intended the archive to work.

See what I mean:
http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showt...ht=Archive+IIS

vBulletin uses the archive to emulate real html pages to help spiders. On my website I just wanted an easy way for users to view the forum as an "archive". So this will not help search engines, but it will allow users to view your archive.

I converted the calling convention from /index.php/f-2.html into a query string such as /index.php?f=2.

With only 8 simple fixes, you can allow your users to view your archive. I didn't look at the PDA part or the Log In when you press the PDA button.

You can go to my site www.globware.com/forum/archive/ to see how it works. I just started a vBulletin site so I only have 14 threads with 26 posts (not a good example), but it will show you how it works.

Make backup copies of /archive/index.php and /archive/global.php before you make any changes...

So, install this fix if you want to enable your users to be able to view your archive to be used as a low-bandwidth option, or just people interested in browsing through it. This is NOT a fix for the true IIS archive problem.

This has been tested on vBulletin v3.0.3 only.

can you please explain what IIS is

IIS - Internet Infomation Service - 1 type of Web server besides Apache I guess;)

am i the only one not sure of the point of this hack?

Good work. :) Jelsoft would be interested in adapting this I'm sure for those using Windows servers.

After doing some research on vBulletin's site I found out exactly why the archive isn't supported by IIS. (see my original post which is now updated)

Since the archive is a feature created only for spiders, my fix is really a mod to use the archive for a different purpose.

Sorry for any confusion I caused by not fully understanding what the archive is really used for...

i get it now, pretty cool hack, nice work might come useful for me in the future.

what is the effective difference between this and another style for the forum?

this would be super-sexy if it were spiderable.

Installed, even if it doesn't make the Archive spiderable - it's still a nice additional feature.

Thanks for enjoying the feature...

I felt stupid for posting it after finding out what the archive was really used for... But being a new user to vBulletin, I liked the archive view cause it gives a complete layout of the entire forum area in a simplistic view. So even though it has nothing to due with the original problem, I would rather have a working archive for users, than not have one at all.

Try not to feel stupid, at least you have the knowledge to code something like this.

One of my first hacks for vB3 was something that was already a stock feature that I hadn't found, so really, you have nothing to feel stupid about.! :nervous:

I agree, it's nice to have the Archive as a working feature for users, even if it doesn't fix the spider issues.

The hack misses the primary point of the "archive". The goal isn't simplified content pages, but static looking URL's, which yours fails to do.

Actually, this hack was created so users can view the archive, so I didn't miss the point. I realize this isn't the cure for the true IIS archive problem. I was more interested in getting it working for people, which it does.

I hope I have made this point as clear as possible in my original post so people will not get confused.

In the long run, if just one person uses my hack and benefits from it, then that's what really matters...

You're right. I missed the fact that the URLs remained dynamic. :) So the archive is still not working for IIS servers essentially. Also, installing this hack and doubling up on pages actually may hurt your search engine page ranking.