Updated Community Bulletin Generator

SPECIAL NOTE for those upgrading to vBulletin v2.0.0: You will need to make changes to the default RC3 files, as you did with the previous version files. The files are member.php and admin/index.php. After you upgrade to RC3, the link in your Admin CP will no longer be there. In order to find instructions for upgrading, go to http://yoursite/forum/admin/commbull.php and click the link for Instructions. Make these changes to your files, and reupload the two modified files. The link will then be back in your Admin CP.
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With Kier's permission, I am rereleasing this hack. It has been updated, but most of the credit still goes to Kier. I just added a couple things. Namely, I took Kier's starting point for birthdays and reworked it a bit so they can now be included. I also added 3 new sets of Latest Threads input, and added a sorting option to get topics with no replies (aka "Virgin" topics).
I also added a box to change the section separation character (Kier had it as a "-", now you can change it) and the list item character (Kier had it as an "o"). There are also instructions on how to integrate it into your Admin CP.

To install, just upload it to your Admin directory and go to it in a browser.

If you had previously installed Kier's original version, simply overwrite the commbull.php file on your server, and make this change to your admin/index.php file:
Find

<a href="email.php?s=<?php echo $session[sessionhash]; ?>"> Email users </a><br>

and right below it, add

<a href="commbull.php?s=<?php echo $session[sessionhash]; ?>"> Send Community Bulletin </a><br>

Upload your admin/index.php file and go to your Admin CP. You should see the new option under "Users" on the left-hand side.

Hack version: 0.98

Changes since v0.97: Fixed a stupid bug that screwed up the script when you posted a copy to a forum and that forum didn't count posts toward post totals.

Changes since v0.96: Fixed a minor bug that was causing large problems when the number of emails to send was more than it was set to per page.

Changes since v0.95: Minor cosmetic changes; fixed "copy post to board" function so it actually works; added option to exclude threads from being used more than once (if doing multiple blocks); fixed sorting by most replies/most views so they don't return threads with 0 replies or 1 view, respectively;

Changes since v0.93: Option to post a copy of the email to your board, to a forum you specify using a username your specify (If you do this, there is a function to exclude certain parts (for example, the user info section that details username/password etc) and it parses URLs so the message on your board has hyperlinks to the threads/polls/etc); various cosmetic upgrades; minor little things here and there; fixed/changed "Only include threads that have been started or replied to since this date?" so it doesn't defeat the purpose of specifying a date.

For version: v2.0.0

Info for Clean Install -------
Files needed: commbull.php

Files to edit: admin/index.php, member.php

Templates to edit: none

Instructions are in the script itself. When you first run it, it will tell you what you need to do. If upgrading from Kier's original version, see instructions above.
End Info for Clean Install -------

Info for Upgrading from v0.90, v0.91, v0.93, v0.94, v0.95, v0.96, v0.97 ------
Files needed: commbull.php

Files to edit: none

Instructions: Upload the commbull.php file from the commbull98.zip file.
End Info for Upgrading -------

Please do not bug Kier about this hack!
Please also DO NOT contact me via AIM, ICQ, PM, or email about this hack. Post your question/problem here and I will try to help you.

[tubedogg]

Actually, read up a few posts. Your version of MySQL does not support SUBSTRING, or does not support using SUBSTRING in a where clause.

Setting it to 0 eliminates using birthdays and therefore solves the problem.

[SirSteve]

Thanks tubedogg! I must've overlooked that step.

Ah, i see! Is that something I should talk to my isp about? Does that mean they're using an older version of SQL?

[centris]

Did a test post to myself and worked fine, tried a post to all members and got this:

Database error in vBulletin Control Panel: Invalid SQL: UPDATE forum SET replycount=replycount+1,threadcount=threadcount+1, lastpost='997310960',lastposter='warrior' WHERE forumid IN ()
mysql error: You have an error in your SQL syntax near ')' at line 1
mysql error number: 1064
Date: Wednesday 08th of August 2001 11:49:20 PM
Script: /forum/admin/commbull.php
Referer: http://www.******.co.uk/forum/admin/commbull.php

I have the entry in my CP and I turned birthdays etc. to 0

Also getting this error when I try to enter my CP:
Parse error: parse error in /usr/home/c/a/******/public_html/forum/member.php on line 1291

any ideas.


Please disregard this post, was a syntax error in member.php (My Fault) all working as it should - great Hack TNX

[The Realist]

Can someone please explane how to Install this because I cannot find the members, admin or index.php files in my forum.

Do I have to Install them via templates?

[centris]

Originally posted by The Realist
Can someone please explane how to Install this because I cannot find the members, admin or index.php files in my forum.

Do I have to Install them via templates?

Your members.php is in the main forum folder, index.php is in the admin folder.

Download members.php, index.php(index.php from the admin folder) upload commbull.php to your admin folder and run from your browser. All the instructions will appear on screen. Give yourself some time to complete.

[KeithMcL]

Any chance you could add an extra feature to the community bulletin mail hack tubedogg?

The feature is the PM or email the admin/mods etc when it's time to send out the next mail with an option to set how often you wish to send out the mail?

This would be really appreciated!

[VirtueTech]

WHy not just run it via cron?

[KeithMcL]

Originally posted by VirtueTech
WHy not just run it via cron?

Would that work? What if you wanted to change some of the settings for the mail like which threads and posts to include? I don't think it'd work.

[Delhaze]

Just installed it, brilliant !!!

Minor "cosmetic" problem.

" are displayed as & quot in the email. (without the space).

Obviously ok when posted to forum.

Can you tell me what needs to be changed to get around this please.