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

[OFFSHORE DAN]

I did. Nothing happens.

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by OFFSHORE DAN

I did. Nothing happens.

The forums value needs to be a comma seperated list of the forumids... not 'articles'

[OFFSHORE DAN]

ok I'll thanks for helping. I know it is a cool program that is why I wanted it. Let me try.

[Paul M]

Is it possible to install this without it doing the file edits automatically ?

[The Geek]

sure, though I dont know why you would bother.

Right before the file edits, it asks if you want to do them manually or automatically. If you do them automatically, it backs your files up first and then tries to make each change. If it cant make the change - it skips it and tells you that you need to do it manually (and provides you a link to do it with)

[ccplim]

Originally Posted by jaks

Is there anyway to create a directory of categorys articles? I'm talking about a list of categories and under each cat a list of the articles within the cats. How would i make each article show the number of votes on each article and make it so someone could search or arrange the articles in that order? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jaks

Exactly what I have wanted. I am still trying to figure out what hack(s) was being used on the site that I have attached.

[Bernd]

Found one last issue.

Flash banners always redirects towards "www.domain.com" instead of "http://www.domain.com", no matter what url forwarding has been entered.

This causes dead links for flash banners. Not sure how to fix this.

[The Geek]

Hi Berd - wrong mack

You need the GAB thread - this is GAS - one letter off but a whole world of difference

But anyway - GAB cant control Flash urls as those are done within flash. The url for onrelease (or whatever the action is) should be set to: http://www.mydomain.com/advertising.php?id={id of banner}&t=1

HTH's

[Bernd]

arrr...damn...sorry
Been a long day.

[jaredvolkl]

After wading through pages upon pages I still can't quite figure this out. I'd like to make the comments on my article pages (already got the comments only page done) appear like regular forum posts. I've tried cutting and paste, but I can't seem to do much more than screw things up.

Check my reviews forum for an example http://www.decoymusic.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=8

I've got it so posts are spaced out on the article page, but I'd rather have them show as real posts.

Another suggestion for improvement:
Make it so entering 0 into show # comments in article shows all comments (I just changed it to a really big number so it always shows that many).