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.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by CP,

Looks like a very well thoughtout hack.

Now i have only one concern. I would like my users to be able to add images and upload their own files under whichever catergory they choose..

This is certainly possible.

Originally Posted by CP,

Now i am planning to obtain another host where i will only be hosting files and images, could i possibly link all the "uploads and hosting" -"managed by this hack" to be hosted on another server "whilst this hack remainds on my forums server"

Is and will this be possible?

Cheers

I'm not entirely sure I understand this question.

- If you mean, can this hack be used to store the uploads on a different server than the one on which it is running, the answer is no. This would not be possible without implementing some sort of ftp processor.

- But if you mean, can one server be used to provide managed access to files held on another server, the answer is yes. There is one warning about setting up that configuration - if the files are large/with lots of access (e.g. video, mass access to mp3s, etc) and you want to maintain security (i.e. not disclose where the files are coming from), then there is a heavy overhead in transferring everything securely between the two servers.

[CP,]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

This is certainly possible.

I'm not entirely sure I understand this question.

- If you mean, can this hack be used to store the uploads on a different server than the one on which it is running, the answer is no. This would not be possible without implementing some sort of ftp processor.

I see, my question answered. But do you think you could possibly consider this? There is a vbhack which does this exactly onto an external server, maybe you could grab his codes and with his permission just implement the two together which i think would be an added bonus.. here it is: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...hlight=hosting

Originally Posted by AndrewD

- But if you mean, can one server be used to provide managed access to files held on another server, the answer is yes. There is one warning about setting up that configuration - if the files are large/with lots of access (e.g. video, mass access to mp3s, etc) and you want to maintain security (i.e. not disclose where the files are coming from), then there is a heavy overhead in transferring everything securely between the two servers.

I see. Could i not just host a script or link the script back to my server so when the upload process takes place its going to the second server anyway? or maybe not as its still being hosted on my first server and in order for it to upload it has to go through the current server onto the second..?

[Nam]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

- But if you mean, can one server be used to provide managed access to files held on another server, the answer is yes. There is one warning about setting up that configuration - if the files are large/with lots of access (e.g. video, mass access to mp3s, etc) and you want to maintain security (i.e. not disclose where the files are coming from), then there is a heavy overhead in transferring everything securely between the two servers.

Andrew, if another server also has PHP installed and act as media point, is it possible to overcome the overhead problem? Sorry if I already asked this question .

[Nam]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

In the links_play_standalone template, you can do a category test with the $catid variable. So you could include something like the following:

PHP Code:

<if condition="$catid==XXX">
do add sense code
</if> 


or

PHP Code:

<if condition="in_array($catid, array(x1,x2,x3...))">
do add sense code
</if> 


Could I do the other way around? Something like using "if" but disable the adsense code on 1 category. Does it automatically apply to child categories?

Also, the wimpy player in extra folder, assuming the way to install it on LDM, the files are protected from hotlink, just like LDM itself right?

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Nam

Could I do the other way around? Something like using "if" but disable the adsense code on 1 category.

yes, you put the test in the form condition="$catid <=NN" or condition=("!in_array($catid,array(z1,z2,zx3...))"

Originally Posted by Nam

Does it automatically apply to child categories?

No, this approach works with precisely those categories you specify

Originally Posted by Nam

Also, the wimpy player in extra folder, assuming the way to install it on LDM, the files are protected from hotlink, just like LDM itself right?

the wimpy mp3 players have the same protection as the inbuilt players. The wimpy flash media player will reveal the location of the source.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Nam

Andrew, if another server also has PHP installed and act as media point, is it possible to overcome the overhead problem? Sorry if I already asked this question .

It's certainly possible to consider a hack that will do this, but it's not called LDM I really don't want to start writing scripts to coordinate vbulletin amd other hosts.

[Nam]

Could you give me the full php code, as it's a little confused to me. For example if I want adsense to show on all category, except 3 categories 13, 15, 17. What's the exact code I should put on top of <!-- adsense --> ?

PHP Code:

<if condition="in_array($catid, array(13,15,17))">

<!-- adsense starts -->

<!-- adsense ends -->

</if> 


[CamJM]

Hi Andrew,

Was wondering, what template I would put code in to have a message above every entry. Or just below the entries header.

Thanks. Looking forward to testing out the update!

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Nam

Could you give me the full php code, as it's a little confused to me. For example if I want adsense to show on all category, except 3 categories 13, 15, 17. What's the exact code I should put on top of <!-- adsense --> ?

this should do it...

PHP Code:

<if condition="!in_array($catid, array(13,15,17))">

<!-- adsense starts -->

<!-- adsense ends -->

</if> 


[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by CamJM

Hi Andrew,

Was wondering, what template I would put code in to have a message above every entry. Or just below the entries header.

Thanks. Looking forward to testing out the update!

If you want to put something in each entry, then you have to edit one/several of the links_linkbit templates. There are several of these, depending on which layout you are using. Each of them takes the form of a table row definition, looking like this:

PHP Code:

<tr id="linkid$linkid">
<td colspan="2">
...
</td>
</tr> 


For patching the main layout, above/below the list of entries, it's the links_main template. In fact that template already has some placeholder variables, via an array variable, $includeinmain. Set one of these array elements: precat, postcat, prefeat, postfeat, prelink, postlink, prestats, poststats, e.g. using the ldm_maindisplay_end hook.