Geek Article System 3.52

IMPORTANT:
Please note that I can no longer support this project. Primarily as it is designed for vb3.0.x and I no longer use that version (im obviously on vb3.5x ). There is a version for vb3.5 however its a commercial script. This project is left here for the community.
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HowdA All.

The GAS3 system is a comprehensive article system that completely integrates into vB3.

News:

• Updated 3/08/05 to version 3.53 for compatability with vb3.08
• Updated 13/05/05 to version 3.52!!! Posts for 3.52 to integrate with GAL4.0 start here

History

Originally, I looked into other article systems to integrate with my forums but just got irritated over and over again as I found the other offering out there very limiting for my needs. I wanted to use my members usergroup permissions, the search facility (so when someone did a search for 'bob' both articles AND threads appeared on one page), I also wanted wysiwyg editing and vBs attachment system. Well, I accomplished 99% of my needs with the Geek Article System 2.0
Why 3.0? While the 2.0 was fine for my needs, many users began asking for a far more complex system that took the beauty of 2.0 and added popular features in the other article systems.

Here are the features in a nutshell:

• Integrates 100% into vB. No importing forums or creating special groups. Simply mark forum as an 'Article' forum and instantly all threads become articles. Dont like it anymore? Simply remove the ID and the therads and forums go back to normal.
• Whatever you can do in a thread or post, you can do with the GAS3 system (uploading attachments, smiles, BBcode, various editors, yadayadayada)
• Adding on the above point: all the differing vB editors (wysiwyg, etc..), usergroup permissions (heck - anything you can set for a forum you can set in this - AND MORE!) why> because it is totally integrated!
• Create multiple pages in your post by simply putting [BREAK] anywhere in your post.
• The first thumbnail in an article substitutes the posters avatar (switchable via admincp)
• Upload header images and have them auto resize
• Choose header images from a global (or forum specific) gallery
• Integrated article byline.
• Synopsis - allows users to give a summary that appears on the new forumdisplay
• New forumdisplay shows article header image and synopsis (if no synopsis then the first X amount of characters from the article is used)
• Synopisis allows BBCode
• Integrates with the Geek AutoLink system (optional)
• Allows you to post as other users
• Article sidebar that shows the article rating, your rating, the rating form, article tools, and article attachments (all toggable via admincp)
• An auto installer/upgrader/uninstaller that makes all file edits for you!
• A whole host of other tiddlybits that I wont bore you with

Special thanks goes to rlamego, peterska2, Snow, Gldtn, and Magic Spark for private Beta testing this for me. Couldnt of happened without them!

Change log
13.05.05 - updated to 3.52
All this does is update GAS for the GAL4.0 integration.
To update, simply replace your existing functions_geekarticles.php with the one in the latest package.

18.3.05 - updated to 3.51
This really just fixes a couple of mega minor bugs.
Added new default icon per forum functionality (see readme)
Wrote a real README.
Wrote a seperate 3.5x upgrade script. Users of 3.5x should run admincp/gas3_upgrade.php

16.3.05 - updated to 3.50
Loads of new features and a new installer that makes the file changes for you.
New forumdisplay
Uploading of images for your header
Synopsis box
yadayadayda

10.2.05 - updated to 3.02
Fixed typo in readme (step 2.6 referenced $articlebyline instead of $GAS_byline). This bug fixes the disappearing byline when editing an article.
To upgrade - edit your editpost template and search for $articlebyline then replace it with $GAS_byline

Importers
I have made an importer for v3articles. Technically speaking, you dont have to strictly have GAS3 installed to use the importer (though it is ideal). What it does is essentailly import v3articles, comments, ratings, and attachments into existing forums as new threads, replies, threadratings, and post attachments. The idea is that you install GAS3, create the forums to house your articles, and then import your existing v3articles into them (but as I said, you can simply import v3articles into normal forums without having GAS3 installed).
There is also a rollback feature in case you change your mind or experience a problem with the import. Your v3articles installation isnt touched. In fact, no v3articles are harmed in the process

Known issues:

• none that I am aware of.

Demos: (note that I have a custom skin, so your results will be ever so slightly different)
http://www.thenailgeek.com/showthread.php?t=11287
http://www.thenailgeek.com/showthread.php?t=8801 - pages with comments (click View Comments to see comments only)


Difficulty - EASY
Time - about 5 minutes
File modifications? a few but now all done automatically for you

Change log:

Updated to 3.01 Feb 7th
Fixed a couple template errors and minor readme instructions


Instructions

Click install. I have busted my butt over the past few weeks to do this and all I ask is that you click install if you use it

• Download the package and unzip.
• Follow the README!
• Ther installer does all the work for you
• When done, go into your admncp, and adjust your settings

Troubleshooting:

• No phrases after install? This happens a lot with many installers for some bizzare reason. All you have to do is do a phrase search for GAS_ , edit the phrase (dont change it), then save it. Bingo - all your phrases appear.

Also:

I would therefore backup your DB, your styles, and any of the files the README asks you to change.

nJoy

[venomx]

I still cant figure out why I cant see the comments but unregistered and normal members can
The Geek can you please help me find out why?

Also What template do we edit to add adsense to the articles so they appear right after the article abouve the comments?

[trulylowcarb]

One of my paying subscribers ONLY sees the comments, no matter where I direct him to click. He is an aol user but says he tried in Firefox also, and the same thing happens. This is NOT what I see, so it is really stumping me, but it all goes back to the fact that my users have already mentioned that combining the comments and content would be better anyway...

[TCB]

Originally Posted by trulylowcarb

One of my paying subscribers ONLY sees the comments, no matter where I direct him to click. He is an aol user but says he tried in Firefox also, and the same thing happens. This is NOT what I see, so it is really stumping me, but it all goes back to the fact that my users have already mentioned that combining the comments and content would be better anyway...

Mine also: it's quite disturbing when you click on the latest articlelink on the forumdisplay, that you get directed to the comments only, without seeing the articles where the comments are about.

[The Geek]

eh? Wat exactly is the problem?

Have you logged on as the user and tried? I cant for the lofe of me see how the user isnt able to view the first post in the thread (the article).

The latest article link is the latest comment link and as such takes you to the latest post. Thats by design.

Venom- Put the adsense in the GAS_article_pb template. Do you get a JS error or anything when viewing the article? Is it on multiple browsers?

ccplim - no, only 1 author per article. I would use the byline for additional author credits. Setting image limits - you would need to use a different hack for that type of functionality - essentially one that would limit images per post.

I have now had a quick go over the initial beta for vb3.5 in order to start to get an idea how to start porting this over.
Many of the aspects are now a snap to do (like setting the templates) however some are now impossible to do with the hook system as it currenlty is (ie multiple pages). Though it is still very much early days for vb3.5, I doubt it will be a major deal to upgrade when vb3.5 goes gold.

I will also be including a few extra new features like settings per forum.

[Clayton]

The Geek

truly appreciate the work you are doing.

Thank you and have a grand weekend

G

[venomx]

The Geek,

I have tried in both IE and Fire Fox. As an Admin I cant see the comments below the Article.

If I log out or login as a regular member the comment is listed right under the Article.
I asked my other Admin and she gets the same thing.

[TCB]

Originally Posted by The Geek

The latest article link is the latest comment link and as such takes you to the latest post. Thats by design.

No, I mean that when someone clicks on a latest topic link in the forum-index,they will be forwarded to the latest comment of an article, but the complete article is missing.

In other words: when people visit an article through the 'last post' link on the forum index, they will only see the comments on the article, not the complete article itself. When they visit the article through the forumdisplay.php, they'll see the article+comments.

[ccplim]

I can't remember if this has been asked before (might have but I couldn't find it). I noticed that I am not able to edit/delete the author's name.

Is this intentional or is it a bug?

[sim]

Think I've found a bug in file: gas3_install.php

Line 2952:

PHP Code:

if (!is_dir("/$folderchanges[root]")){ 


doesn't work ... the variable $folderchanges[root] is undefined and the slash in front tries to check from the file system root rather than from the current directory.

I changed it to:

PHP Code:

if (!is_dir("$folderstructure[root]")){ 


... and it then worked.

[oceanart]

Hi,

I installed with Geek Articles the "Geek Gallery Popup for vBadvanced Gallery or PhotoPost 4 or higher" (I am using Photopost) and inserting images in any posts have been a breethe! Works beautifully with Geek Articles. This is exactly what I was looking for.

Quick Question (always one question): When I add a comment to an article, upon entering it it displays only the comment. User has to click back on the article to see the artcile and the comment. Is this by design or can I customize it so after the comment is entered it displays immediatly both. NOTE: If I click back on the article - it will than display the article and the comment - so it's no problem, I am just trying to optimize it.

Many thanks to The Geek.

Paul