Major Additions - Links and Downloads Manager

Version 2.3.0 of LDM is now the official release. This works with both VB3.7 and VB3.8. You can obtain it here

Version 2.2.8 remains available here, with limited support.

04.02.08: patch-cat.xml 'extra' uploaded - see first post for information

27.10.07: Version 2.2.8-post1 uploaded
French translation of product installer uploaded (other language translations are in the main release zip)

Remember to back up your current database tables before upgrading.

What this is and does

LDM is a general-purpose link and file manager, which handles user uploads and downloads in a flexible way. A range of media players is integrated into LDM and others are included as plugin extras. LDM is described below in the first post of this thread, which also contains a brief list of the currently-known bugs.

This release of LDM works correctly with all VB versions 3.6.x and recent versions of vbadvanced.

Documentation, screen shots, etc, are provided as a Wiki at http://www.eirma.org/wikis/index.php...nloads_Manager

Thank you to everyone who has tested, given suggestions, helped with the translations, etc.

[nyunyu]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

I don't think it is a good idea to implement this within LDM, but I will put it on the 'to think about list'. Most of the responsibility for transferring a file is actually handled by the web server. LDM passes the content to the server. To change this, I would end up rewriting a substantial part of the server code or makeing some big assumptions about the server modules installed on the site.



Have you tried LDM/admin/allowances?
I tried to use this but it only allowed me to cap the size of download, not bandwidth. im looking for a function where I can limit like 100kbps for certain usergroup.



I don't understand your question - what downloads are not working? Have you got all the mimetypes set up correctly (see LDM wiki)
I mean, when a user download something off my site, they cannot use their download manager. I wonder if this hack prevent that.

So, below are my suggestion for you to add in your next release.
1- have the ability to set bandwidth for certain usergroup.
2- have the ability to set how many connection/slot for certain usergroup
3- have a ticket system where user need to have a ticket for download.

Why I need a download ticket system.
Because, my forum serves download. So, instead to have user posting to get 30 posts to download and stay idle thereafter, I need of a system that require people to post to download.
The ticket will based on how many post they have, let's say 1 ticket for 5 posts.
The ticket system should allow admin to set how many files is worth 1 ticket.
The ticket will reset its counter after awarding ticket. I mean, user who has been awarded a ticket will post 5 more to get another one.
The ticket system can exclude some of the forum id.

Is all this possible? I have seen a similar system being used but can't get the admin to response.

[AndrewD]

Thanks

Originally Posted by nyunyu

I tried to use this but it only allowed me to cap the size of download, not bandwidth. im looking for a function where I can limit like 100kbps for certain usergroup.

As I said, I think this requires tight coupling with the web server, and I don't imagine I will have the time to do this

Originally Posted by nyunyu

I mean, when a user download something off my site, they cannot use their download manager. I wonder if this hack prevent that.

I have tested LDM with two download managers and it works fine with them. Basically, you have to select a download manager that transfers cookies to vbulletin, otherwise LDM doesn't know who is trying to make the download.

Originally Posted by nyunyu

So, below are my suggestion for you to add in your next release.
1- have the ability to set bandwidth for certain usergroup.
2- have the ability to set how many connection/slot for certain usergroup

thanks for the suggestion, but not in the next release.

Originally Posted by nyunyu

3- have a ticket system where user need to have a ticket for download.

Why I need a download ticket system.
Because, my forum serves download. So, instead to have user posting to get 30 posts to download and stay idle thereafter, I need of a system that require people to post to download.
The ticket will based on how many post they have, let's say 1 ticket for 5 posts.
The ticket system should allow admin to set how many files is worth 1 ticket.
The ticket will reset its counter after awarding ticket. I mean, user who has been awarded a ticket will post 5 more to get another one.
The ticket system can exclude some of the forum id.

Is all this possible? I have seen a similar system being used but can't get the admin to response.

Something close to this is already available in the extras directory. It doesn't handle the counter reset though.

[dawn100]

Hi Andrew!

Hate to ask another question, but this one is driving me crazy. I want the unregistered users to see LDM on the navbar, but not be able to access the files. I have tried setting "can_access_link" as no, but visitors can still get in. Is my problem that I am trying to restirct access to a download? (I know I can take the link off the navbar, but I really want guests to be able to see it, since it is a major selling point for joining my site).

thanks!

[obmob]

Originally Posted by katie hunter

Hi AndrewD , nice hack but I am wondering is this hack like a link manger i mean some software can host upload on the server while other can be like a hack that holds a list of links of rapidshare , megaupload etc..

Ex:

Let say a member uploaded something on rapidshare.com, and he wants to submit that rapidshare link " url " to that hack. is this hack like that ?

It does, it does!!!

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by dawn100

Hi Andrew!

Hate to ask another question, but this one is driving me crazy. I want the unregistered users to see LDM on the navbar, but not be able to access the files. I have tried setting "can_access_link" as no, but visitors can still get in. Is my problem that I am trying to restirct access to a download? (I know I can take the link off the navbar, but I really want guests to be able to see it, since it is a major selling point for joining my site).

thanks!

Yes, this really should be available directly within LDM. It requires a small plugin.

Go to vbulletin/admincp/products and plugins/add plugin

Create a new plugin called (e.g.) Block Unregistered Users, select the Links and Downloads Manager product, and the ldm_start hook
Enter the following code:

if ($vbulletin->userinfo['usergroupid'] <= 1) {
    print_no_permission();
    exit;
}

Make sure you tick the 'is active' box.

See also http://www.eirma.org/wikis/index.php/LDM_Permissions

[dawn100]

Perfect! That's *exactly* what I wanted! Thanks so much (again)!

[nyunyu]

Originally Posted by AdrewD

Something close to this is already available in the extras directory. It doesn't handle the counter reset though.

Andrew, by this you mean block_by_post in extra folder?
i dont know how to make the ticket system works..xcan you explain?
Thanks.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by nyunyu

Andrew, by this you mean block_by_post in extra folder?
i dont know how to make the ticket system works..xcan you explain?
Thanks.

yes, the blockhit-bypost-plugin allows you to place download restrictions on certain usergroups according to the number of posts they have made, optionally within a given number of hours.

the only difference with your requirement is that it does not reset when somebody downloads an entry.

go to vbulletin/admincp/products and plugins/download and upload plugins

in the import plugin definitions box (bottom of page), browse to extras/block-user-access subdirectory, then select the blockhit-bypost-plugin.xml file

either
go to ldm/admin/settings (to apply the controls to your entire ldm database)

or
go to category/edit category/control settings (to apply the controls to only part of the the database, i.e. this category and any subcategories)

scroll down to the bottom of the page and choose the parameters of interest

[Shanj]

Thank you for the quick and careful answer. I understood!

I missed it in the flurry of 3.7beta notifications I was getting!
I am testing the beta on a new site so will tell you if the mod fits or not.

[AndrewD]

If you want to test LDM 2.2.8 with vb3.7, you will need the attached includes/local_links_init.php

Grateful for reports - first impression is that the main functions still work.

LDM's options for adding information to the member profile no longer works - the vb 3.7 code has been largely rewritten - so this will need to be redone.