NNTP Gateway for Usenet ( Newsgroups ), Mailing Lists

The latest version: V3.5.0Alpha 1 (21 Jul 2005)

What is it?

This hack provides a gateway from vBulletin forums to the USENET. It allows forum members to read newsgroup messages as well as to send posts to the newsgroups. In a nutshell, it turns vBulletin forums into a basic function news reader.

For an added bonus, this package also supports mailing list archive and forum to mailing list gateway. The software retrieves messages from a pop3 account and import them into the forums threaded. It also allows a forums user to send messages to the mailing list by the forum posting interface.

Why?

The gateway will be appreciated by forum members who do not know how to set up a news reader, or people who do not have port 119 open in their network. A forum interface to read and post news are often considered to be better than a news reader.

The gateway adds more contents to your forums and allows the members to interact with wider audience. It is common to see new users signing up to use this feature.

History

This hack was originally coded by Gilby for vB2. I modified the hack to work with vB3 and have been maintaining and improving the hack. I have now done the modification for this to work with vB3.5.

The very original hack by Gilby can be found here:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...7&page=1&pp=15

The vB3 version can be found here:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=65152

Features

Some of the features and improvement include:

• Handles both newsgroup posts and mailing lists.
• Handles MIME encoded messages and attachment.
• Handles UUEncoded messages.
• Two Admin Control Panels for all settings.
• Automated installation.
• Correct thread implementation. All imported messages and posts sent to newsgroups will be threaded correctly according to References and Message-ID headers.
• Optional setting to thread by subject for mailing lists that strip references header.
• Imported messages will be searchable just like normal forum posts.
• Similar threads are built when the messages are imported if the system setting is on.
• Multiple attachments importing.
• Save attachment to database or file according to vB setting.
• Thumbnail created while importing image files.
• Multiple attachment post to newsgroup is also supported.
• Selectable X-No-Archive header honouring system.
• Light on system resources.
• Global Killfile to filter out unwanted messages. Killfiles can have OR and AND effectiveness.
• Strip footer by setting for incoming messages. Strips out repeated message footers.
• Built options to disable signatures and footers for out going messages.

Future development

• Traditional "> " lead posting interface.

What do you need and do not need?

You do not need to edit vB php files.
No need to manually run SQL.

Installation

Basically the AdminCP interfaces take care of installation as well as upgrade in the background. Back up your database first. The scripts can modify your database without alerting you!

Please follow the instructions in the readme.txt file for more details.

It is not a must to click "INSTALL" for this hack if you use it, I do try better answering the questions from people who do.

Support

Please post your support questions to this thread. Please check the FAQ in the second post within this thread first. It may be surprising, but it is possible your question is answered in the adminCP NNTP settings.

Please always provide more details about your problem. Examples and debug messages will certainly help. Well, if you don't even try to have some effort to compose your question, the answer you get may also not include much effort.

================== UPDATES ======================
Jul 21 2005 (release version 3.5.0 Alpha 1)

AdminCP xml file is written by Kadence.

• Ported to work with vB3.5.
• Existing bug fixes.
• Debug message can be sent by email or logged in vB Tast Scheduler.
• Known problem: image attachment thumb nail creation still needs work.
• Needs to be done: Documentation.

Quick installation instruction:
1) Upload files to their correct directory
2) Enter AdminCP, click on NNTP Settings once to install/upgrade. Change settings to your like.
3) Click on NNTP Groups once to install/upgrade.
3a) For new install. Run once
http://www.yourdomain.com/setlastmsg.php

Delete this file afterwards.
If you are upgrading from an older version. There is no need to upload this file. Actually this file should not be there except brand new install.

4)
Manually run in debug mode: http://forums.yourdomain.com/gateway.php?debug=1

[rmd708]

I don't use subforums, so I never tried to fix that one.

Try one of these two:

1) Try the same variable in the template in case it uses the same function file.

If that doesn't work...

2) Find out which function includes file deals with the subforum display, then add the same code as above to it and then reference the variable.

[WritersBeat]

Does this work for 3.5.4?

[newmomsforum]

Originally Posted by WritersBeat

Does this work for 3.5.4?

Yes, I'm running this on 3.5.4

[newmomsforum]

Hi Guys

When I attach the URL of my site in my Default Footer using html, the display gets all screwed up, BB code has the same impact. Am I missing something?

Cheers

[intinig]

I am using this hach as a gateway to a yahoogroups mailing list. We're Italian, so we use accented letters like ??????. After mails with accented characters are imported in the system I get lots of rubbish instead of those characters (http://italianmagic.net/forum for examples). Any clue?

[deejayh]

First post after buying VBulletin - purchased it for this addon!

I have installed this, but cannot get a newsfeed - tried various microsoft and my own ISP though I believe I cannot connect to them directly from my server? (not allowed?):

Gateway version 2.3.2 1 group(s) gatewayed.
Could not connect to NNTP-server. (Connection timed out (110))

Not connected
Not connected

Anyone know of a free newsfeed source to test to see if my installation works.

Is this add on / mod still supported??

Really need this for my forum.
regards,
Dave

[deejayh]

I guess from the non response that this mod is dead & nearly buried?

Anyone got this working?

[britannia]

We really need this too.

If this is not supported - Is there anotyher one similar to this?

thanx

[deejayh]

Hi britannia,

I think this is dead! Cannot find when Lierduh was last online!
Really annoying as I have just had my license for 2 weeks, which I purchased specifically for just for adding this!

Looks like I may have to sell it and go for another forum script - fortunately I have not gone live - just used impex to transfer everything to test and to add this add on.

We live and learn!

best regards,
Dave

[ubuntu-geek]

Originally Posted by deejayh

Hi britannia,

I think this is dead! Cannot find when Lierduh was last online!
Really annoying as I have just had my license for 2 weeks, which I purchased specifically for just for adding this!

Looks like I may have to sell it and go for another forum script - fortunately I have not gone live - just used impex to transfer everything to test and to add this add on.

We live and learn!

best regards,
Dave

You might make sure your server has the nntp port open. It appears that could be the issue.