vBulletin-WordPress Bridge

I have been looking around for a WordPress - vBulletin plug-in and can?t seem to find one. I had time today to look at the WordPress code and tried out some things, and came up with a small hack for a bridge.

This bridge will let you use vBulletin as the main comments area for the blog entry. A copy of the intro blog entry is automatically created in a specific forum you choose, as well as a link back to the original blog entry from the forum. The blog entry will also show the total comments made.

Let me first say that I don?t have any experience in creating plug-ins for WordPress so please don?t ask me to convert this to one. If you plan to make this as an official plug-in or improve on it, please make sure to let me know so I can place a link on this article to yours.

Thanks and I hope you all enjoy it.

Note:

• This hack will only work if your WordPress and vBulletin tables are in a single database.
• This hack has only been tested on adding entries directly from the admin panel. It has not been tested on xmlrpc clients.
• Use at your own risk. I will not be held liable for any loss of data nor problems that you might encounter on your site during the whole process of the mod.Backup your files and database(s) before proceeding.

Database Changes:

I have added a new column in WordPress? posts table to maintian the vBulletin thread id that will be automatically generated for the blog entry. Note that the table name prefix might be different from your WordPress table settings:

ALTER TABLE `wp_posts` ADD `vb_threadid` INT(10);

Files to Upload:

Save the following as vb3?settings.php and upload it to the Wordpress wp-includes folder:

<?php
// This just holds the vb variables
$vb_bridge = 1; // 1=on 0=off
$vb_forumid = '2'; // forum id to post copy of article
$vb_userid = '1'; // user id to use for posting the article
$vb_username = 'admin'; // name of the user id
$vb_path = 'http://www.yoursite.com/forum'; //complete url of forums
$vb_dbprefix = 'vb3_'; //vBulletin database prefix
$vb_readmessage = 'Read the full blog entry.'; //message to be used in the forum to link back to the blog entry
?>

• $vb_forumid - is the forum id of the blog discussion forum. Usually, this is the ?News? or ?Blog? forum. I advice to to set the permission of this forum to not allow ?New Posts? but allow ?New Replies.? To get the id of the forum, on your vBulletin forums page, click on the forum that you want to assign and check the URL at the address bar. It will appear like ?..forumdisplay.php?f=x? where x is the forum id.
• $vb_userid - is the user id you want to assign as the one who will automatically create a new thread in the forum you have chosen.To get the user id, go to your forum?s Member List and click on the member you would like to assign. The URL will appear like ?member.php?u=x? where x is the user id.
• $vb_username - is the corresponding username of the user id. Rather than generating a new SQL query to get the username, it is better to just assign the name to this variable.
• $vb_path - this is the actual URL of your site?s forum. Note that there is no trailing slash.
• $vb_dbprefix - if you specified a table prefix when you installed vBulletin, enter it here.
• $vb_dbprefix - This message will appear at the end of the vBulletin post that links back to the blog entry.

Added in v1.1: In the attached files at the right, download postfeed.php and upload it to the root folder of your vB forums (it should be in the same folder where external.php is).

Files to be Modified:

Here comes the slightly harder part. We need to modify some WordPress files. Part of the changes assume that you are using the Kubrick default theme. If you are using a different theme, change the corresponding files accordingly.

wp-includes/comment-functions.php

Replace:

function get_comments_number( $comment_id ) {
 global $wpdb, $comment_count_cache;
 $comment_id = (int) $comment_id;
 if (!isset($comment_count_cache[$comment_id]))
  $comment_count_cache[$comment_id] =  $wpdb->get_var("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM $wpdb->comments WHERE comment_post_ID = '$comment_id' AND comment_approved = '1'");
 
 return apply_filters('get_comments_number', $comment_count_cache[$comment_id]);
}

With:

function get_comments_number( $comment_id ) {
 global $wpdb, $comment_count_cache;
  include (ABSPATH . WPINC . '/vb3-settings.php');

 $comment_id = (int) $comment_id;
  if (!isset($comment_count_cache[$comment_id])) {
  if ($vb_bridge){
   $vb_threadid = $wpdb->get_var("SELECT vb_threadid FROM $wpdb->comments WHERE id = '$comment_id'");
   $comment_count_cache[$comment_id] = $wpdb->get_var("SELECT count(*)-1 FROM {$vb_dbprefix}post WHERE threadid = '$vb_threadid'");
  } else {
   $comment_count_cache[$comment_id] = $wpdb->get_var("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM $wpdb->comments WHERE comment_post_ID = '$comment_id' AND comment_approved = '1'");
  }
 }
 return apply_filters('get_comments_number', $comment_count_cache[$comment_id]);
}

Below:

function comments_popup_link($zero='No Comments', $one='1 Comment', $more='% Comments', $CSSclass='', $none='Comments Off') {
    global $id, $wpcommentspopupfile, $wpcommentsjavascript, $post, $wpdb;
    global $comment_count_cache;

Add:

    include (ABSPATH . WPINC . '/vb3-settings.php');

 if ($vb_bridge){
  $vb_threadid = $post->vb_threadid;
  if ($vb_threadid == "") {
         echo $none;
         return;
  } else {
   $comment_count_cache[$id] = $wpdb->get_var("SELECT count(*)-1 FROM {$vb_dbprefix}post WHERE threadid = '$vb_threadid'");
  } 
  $number = $comment_count_cache[$id];
  echo '<a  href="'.$vb_path.'/showthread.php?t=' . $vb_threadid .'&goto=newpost">';
   comments_number($zero, $one, $more, $number);
   echo '</a>'; 
   return;
 }

Save file.

Added in v1.1: wp-includes/feed-functions.php

Replace:

function comments_rss_link($link_text = 'Comments RSS', $commentsrssfilename = '') {
	$url = comments_rss($commentsrssfilename);
	echo "<a href='$url'>$link_text</a>";
}

With:

function comments_rss_link($link_text = 'Comments RSS', $commentsrssfilename = '') {
	global $post;
	include_once (ABSPATH . WPINC . '/vb3-settings.php');
	if ($vb_bridge){
		$url = $vb_path . '/postfeed.php?t=' . $post->vb_threadid . '&type=rss2';
	} else {		
		$url = comments_rss($commentsrssfilename);
	}
	echo "<a href='$url'>$link_text</a>";
}

Save file.

wp-admin/post.php

Below:

require_once('admin.php');

Add:

include_once (ABSPATH . WPINC . '/vb3-settings.php');

Below:

  $result = $wpdb->query($postquery);

Modified in v1.2: Add:

	// VB Bridge Start
		if ($vb_bridge) {
			if ($post_title == "") {
				return;
			}

			$saveid = $vb_userid;
			$savename = $vb_username;

			$author_name = $wpdb->get_var("SELECT `user_login` FROM $wpdb->users WHERE `id` = '$post_author'"); 
			
			if ($author_name != ""){
				$vb_authorid = $wpdb->get_var("SELECT `userid` FROM " . $vb_dbprefix . "user WHERE `username` = '$author_name'");
				if ($vb_authorid != ""){
					$saveid = $vb_authorid;
					$savename = $author_name;
				}
			}
			$curtime = time();
			$sql = "INSERT INTO `{$vb_dbprefix}thread` 
					SET `title`='{$post_title}',`lastpost`='{$curtime}', `forumid`='{$vb_forumid}', `open`='1', `postusername`='{$savename}', `postuserid`='{$saveid}', `lastposter`='{$savename}', `dateline`='{$curtime}', `visible`='1'";
			$vbresult = $wpdb->query($sql);
			$vb_threadid = $wpdb->insert_id;
			
			if ($excerpt == ""){
				$moreflag = strpos($content,'<!--more-->');
				if ($moreflag === false) {
					$introtext = $content;
				} else {
					$introtext = substr($content, 0, $moreflag);
				} 
				$bbcontent = '[quote'.']'.strip_tags($introtext).'['.'/quote]';
			} else {
				$bbcontent = '[quote'.']'.strip_tags($excerpt).'['.'/quote]';
			}
			$bbcontent .= '[URL='.get_permalink($post_ID).']['.'b]'.$vb_readmessage.'['.'/b]['.'/URL]';				
			$sql = "INSERT INTO `{$vb_dbprefix}post` 
					SET `threadid`='{$vb_threadid}', `username`='{$savename}', `userid`='{$saveid}', `title`='{$post_title}', `pagetext`='{$bbcontent}', `ipaddress`='{$REMOTE_ADDR}', `allowsmilie`='1', `iconid`='1',`visible`='1', `dateline`='{$curtime}'";
			$vbresult = $wpdb->query($sql);
		
			$sql = "UPDATE `{$vb_dbprefix}forum` SET `threadcount`=`threadcount`+1, `lastpost`='{$curtime}', `lastposter`='{$savename}', `lastthread`='{$post_title}', `lastthreadid`='{$vb_threadid}', `lasticonid`='1' WHERE `forumid`='{$vb_forumid}' LIMIT 1";
			$vbresult = $wpdb->query($sql);
		
		  $sql = "UPDATE $wpdb->posts SET `vb_threadid`={$vb_threadid} WHERE `ID`='{$post_ID}'";
			$vbresult = $wpdb->query($sql);
		}	
	// VB Bridge End

Save file.


If you are using the Kubrick default theme, open wp-content/themes/default/comments.php

Replace contents with:

<?php // Do not delete these lines
 if ('comments.php' == basename($_SERVER['SCRIPT_FILENAME']))
  die ('Please do not load this page directly. Thanks!'); 

        if (!empty($post->post_password)) { // if there's a password
            if ($_COOKIE['wp-postpass_' . COOKIEHASH] != $post->post_password) {  // and it doesn't match the cookie
    ?>
    
    <p class="nocomments">This post is password protected. Enter the password to view comments.<p>
    
    <?php
    return;
            }
        }

  /* This variable is for alternating comment background */
  $oddcomment = 'alt';
?>

<!-- You can start editing here. -->
<p class="postmetadata">Discuss: <?php comments_popup_link('No Comments ?', '1 Comment ?', '% Comments ?'); ?></p>

Save File.


If you are using the Kubrick default theme, open wp-content/themes/default/single.php

Replace:

       You can <a href="#respond">leave a response</a>, or <a href="<?php trackback_url(true); ?>" rel="trackback">trackback</a> from your own site.

With (note that you are adding the path of the forum):

       You can <a href="/forum/showthread.php?t=<?php echo( $post->vb_threadid ); ?>&goto=newpost">leave a response</a>, or <a href="<?php trackback_url(true); ?>" rel="trackback">trackback</a> from your own site.

Save file.


If you are using the Kubrick default theme, open wp-content/themes/default/footer.php

Replace:

  and <a href="feed:<?php bloginfo('comments_rss2_url'); ?>">Comments (RSS)</a>.

With:

  <!-- and <a href="feed:<?php bloginfo('comments_rss2_url'); ?>">Comments (RSS)</a>.-->

Save file.


Lastly, open wp-rss2.php

Replace:

  <wfw:commentRSS><?php echo comments_rss(); ?></wfw:commentRSS>

With (note that you are specifying the complete URL of the forum here):

<wfw:commentRSS>http://www.yoursite.com/forum/showthread.php?t=<?php echo $post->vb_threadid; ?></wfw:commentRSS>

Save file.

vBulletin Settings:

The RSS feed will not work if you haven't activated RSS External synidcation on your forum. To do this, on your forums admincp, go to vBulletin Options->External Data Provider and check 'Yes' on Enable RSS Syncidcation.


Final Words:

Well, that?s about it! I?m not sure how often I can visit this thread but I hope those who find success in implementing the bridge, can help those who are having problems. Again, if you have suggestions on improving the script, let me know.

Thanks and happy modding!

Live Demo: http://www.internettablettalk.com/blog/


Revision History:

v1.2 (12/7/2005):
Uses correct vB user id and user name of the blog author. This will work only if the username of the Wordpress user is exactly the same as the vB username. If not, it uses $vb_userid and $vb_username defined in the settings.

v1.1 (8/19/2005):
Revisions are based on reports by Darth Gill (see discussion). New version includes vB RSS thread parser and a bug fix on vB not displaying recently added blog entry on the forum level. Current revisions are marked in green.

Changes:

• Added file to upload: postfeed.php (see Files to Upload section)
• New file to modify: wp-includes/feed-functions.php
• Fixed reported latest thread bug in wp-admin/post.php. Apply changes in green.

Screenshots:

[Gellpak]

Originally Posted by rsuplido

I understand that some of you would like to see user integration but why? Users with Wordpress accounts (authors and contributors) are very minimal. Majority of the blog sites probably just has one author. Why integrate the user database to vB then?

With this hack, you should:

1. Create accounts for blog authors in WordPress so they can create blog entries
2. Members register in vBulletin so they can reply

What's so difficult about that?

Oh, it's not, and it's what I'm doing now, but it makes building an admin control panel with everything at your fingertips a bit tougher. It would just be a much more elegant solution... I'm honestly suprised that given the popularity of both these programs that noone has done it already.

[chanzero]

loving this hack!

anybody have any hints or ideas on how to modify comments in lightpress or K2? i'd really like to try it with them...

[99SIVTEC]

I love this hack. It's the single best addition to my sites. The ONLY thing I would like to improve is the ability to post html to the forums. I always format my wordpress posts in html, but it posts to the forums in plain text. I have to go in and insert the html by hand into the forum post which isn't a huge deal, but it would be nice if it did it for me.

[RyanC]

Stupid question, but can you chose which blog entries have threads automatically started in your VB forum? It would be great if only the entries I designate are given a comment area and a thread in by forum...

Thanks!

[chanzero]

Originally Posted by chanzero

loving this hack!

anybody have any hints or ideas on how to modify comments in lightpress or K2? i'd really like to try it with them...

i mean, modify it to show vb comments if that wasn't clear

and also, anyone have any idea how to possibly modify post pages (not necessarily in lightpress or K2) to show the comment form like a vb quick reply?

[muf]

In case anyone's interested, I've successfully gotten the bridge to associate WordPress nicknames with vB usernames. The condition for this to work is that your WP nicks *must* correspond with their vB nicks.
Just add this to the bridge block in admin/post.php:

PHP Code:

$vb_posterid = $wpdb->get_var("SELECT userid FROM " . $vb_dbprefix . "user WHERE username = '" . $user_nickname . "'"); 


Then proceed to replace all occurrances (in post.php) of $vb_username with $user_nickname and all occurrances of $vb_userid with $vb_posterid. If no userid can be found for the nickname (WP-vB mismatch), the entry in the database will be set at 0 and the postbit will display the user as "Guest" and with "Posts: n/a". Of course, you add this modification at your own risk, the only guarantee you have is that it *works for me*. It is a little hackish (since I use $vb_posterid while i should abolish the $vb_username and $vb_userid in vb3-settings.php and do it all correctly, blah blah), so if anyone feels it should be done prettier, by all means go ahead.

[rsuplido]

LOL muf,

I was just doing the same change just now. Really!

Will post ist soon.

[rsuplido]

Posted the new version:

v1.2 (12/7/2005):
Uses correct vB user id and user name of the blog author. This will work only if the username of the Wordpress user is exactly the same as the vB username. If not, it uses $vb_userid and $vb_username defined in the settings.


Here's the updated code in post.php:

	// VB Bridge Start
		if ($vb_bridge) {
			if ($post_title == "") {
				return;
			}

			$saveid = $vb_userid;
			$savename = $vb_username;

			$author_name = $wpdb->get_var("SELECT `user_login` FROM $wpdb->users WHERE `id` = '$post_author'"); 
			
			if ($author_name != ""){
				$vb_authorid = $wpdb->get_var("SELECT `userid` FROM " . $vb_dbprefix . "user WHERE `username` = '$author_name'");
				if ($vb_authorid != ""){
					$saveid = $vb_authorid;
					$savename = $author_name;
				}
			}
			$curtime = time();
			$sql = "INSERT INTO `{$vb_dbprefix}thread` 
					SET `title`='{$post_title}',`lastpost`='{$curtime}', `forumid`='{$vb_forumid}', `open`='1', `postusername`='{$savename}', `postuserid`='{$saveid}', `lastposter`='{$savename}', `dateline`='{$curtime}', `visible`='1'";
			$vbresult = $wpdb->query($sql);
			$vb_threadid = $wpdb->insert_id;
			
			if ($excerpt == ""){
				$moreflag = strpos($content,'<!--more-->');
				if ($moreflag === false) {
					$introtext = $content;
				} else {
					$introtext = substr($content, 0, $moreflag);
				} 
				$bbcontent = '[quote'.']'.strip_tags($introtext).'['.'/quote]';
			} else {
				$bbcontent = '[quote'.']'.strip_tags($excerpt).'['.'/quote]';
			}
			$bbcontent .= '[URL='.get_permalink($post_ID).']['.'b]'.$vb_readmessage.'['.'/b]['.'/URL]';				
			$sql = "INSERT INTO `{$vb_dbprefix}post` 
					SET `threadid`='{$vb_threadid}', `username`='{$savename}', `userid`='{$saveid}', `title`='{$post_title}', `pagetext`='{$bbcontent}', `ipaddress`='{$REMOTE_ADDR}', `allowsmilie`='1', `iconid`='1',`visible`='1', `dateline`='{$curtime}'";
			$vbresult = $wpdb->query($sql);
		
			$sql = "UPDATE `{$vb_dbprefix}forum` SET `threadcount`=`threadcount`+1, `lastpost`='{$curtime}', `lastposter`='{$savename}', `lastthread`='{$post_title}', `lastthreadid`='{$vb_threadid}', `lasticonid`='1' WHERE `forumid`='{$vb_forumid}' LIMIT 1";
			$vbresult = $wpdb->query($sql);
		
		  $sql = "UPDATE $wpdb->posts SET `vb_threadid`={$vb_threadid} WHERE `ID`='{$post_ID}'";
			$vbresult = $wpdb->query($sql);
		}	
	// VB Bridge End

[muf]

Originally Posted by rsuplido

Posted the new version:

v1.2 (12/7/2005):
Uses correct vB user id and user name of the blog author. This will work only if the username of the Wordpress user is exactly the same as the vB username. If not, it uses $vb_userid and $vb_username defined in the settings.


Here's the updated code in post.php:

Nice. But why do you get the username from the database when it is already fetched and ready for use as $user_nickname ? The code looks good but a little complicated :ninja:.

[rsuplido]

Originally Posted by muf

Nice. But why do you get the username from the database when it is already fetched and ready for use as $user_nickname ? The code looks good but a little complicated :ninja:.

Actually, while they look the same, I wasn't sure if the 'user_nickname' is the same as 'user_login'. Isn't the nickname an alias and can be user defined? I just wanted to make sure.

The code got a bit complicated since I had to check if the wp username corresponds to a vB username. If not, I still use the default username and id defined in the settings.

Thanks.