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

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Since this one is for 3.0, i would not even try it.

[sketch42]

Originally Posted by The Geek

On another note (and the reason I popped in):

Right now, the article pages are hooked into the page navigation at the top and bottom of every page.
Does anyone object to the new version using a form of bbode that does something like this instead:
[break] transaltes into Next page (1 of 5 pages)
and
[break=On to the next page!] translates into On to the next page! (1 of 5 pages).

Just wondering. I know a few were partial to this kind of system. The amount of work required to do it the old way is a right pain.

i dont mind this system for the page breaks.. i dont really break pages too much anyway.. also its not like its any extra work for us cuz the way it is now is we type [Break] so now itll be [break= yada yada yada]
no big

Originally Posted by The Geek

Also, anyone object to not having control of how many comments per page? essentially, page 1 will be the article and first 14 (by default) comments, each subsequent page will have 15 comments and a preview of the article (which should avoid the comlpaints about people jumping to the last comment but not seeing the article itself).

Hope this make sense. Off to go code by the pool.

i would rather have control of how many comments are shown.. like if i only have a small artcle than id rather have all the comments on one page cuz some users dont realize there is a page 2 to see the others..
what is the reason you want to do the comments this way instead?

[The Geek]

One of the biggest challenges with this current version was the logic behind the current page number and how many comments to display at any given time. Each new page I had to figure out if it was an article page, which article page it was on, how many comments to show and then ´jig´vbs variables accordingly. Jigging with the variables is not really easily done in this way with 3.5
I suppose I can limit the preview comments on the first page which is really what you are mentioning.

I have yet to see RC1 to see if I can hook into the queries or at least between the query and the posbit processing. This is very important to avoid a file edit.

As far as the break code goes... it works exactly the same (ie [break] is still valid, but now you have a parameter you can use too if you want [break=text to use instead of the default ´next´])

Banuchi2- As Marco mentioned... I wouldnt even introduce this version to vb3.5 as they wont play well together at all. Fingers crossed an early beta may be out by next weekend.

[sketch42]

Originally Posted by The Geek

Fingers crossed an early beta may be out by next weekend.

i will be glad to beta test for you

[chosos]

The Geek,

I have left the usergroups for images option Blank. However, the gallery still does not display. If I turn off uploads, it entirely removes the button for the gallery altogether. If I allow uploads, it works perfectly.

[The Geek]

You have to put in the uergroups, blank=none.

(not overly intutitve... but how it is )

[cmiller1014]

Gogo Geek For 3.5!!

[tpr]

if you need a beta tester for the new version, could i perhaps recomend myself ?

[chosos]

okay, i figured it out. you have to allow the users to upload images, even if you only want to let them use the gallery. You however have to remove the usergroup from the header uploads in order to have them *only* be able to select from the gallery.

There is no simple option to disable uploads and merely use the gallery at a global level.

On another note, my popup for that gallery is incorrectly sized. What file, and location do I need to edit in order to resize this popup?

[jaredvolkl]

Was it just me or did anyone else have a problem with GAS after upgrading to 3.0.8. Right after I updated, the forums weren't showing up as articles anymore (I assume from file changes). In my efforts to correct the issue, I wiped out my GAS table and don't have a backup. I've just accepted the fact that I'll have to rebuild the table on my own, but I'm still having an issue just installing GAS again. I didn't install it to begin with so I'm a little fuzzy on how everything works. I believe it was hanging at step 708 if I remember right.