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

[GoTTi]

getting error.

Parse error: parse error, unexpected T_STRING in /home/site/public_html/forums/showthread.php on line 284

that line is step 604

[GoTTi]

nevermind fix problem.

[GoTTi]

is there any addons for this thing?

[The Geek]

there are a couple from the lite version that havent been ported to this version and yoyoy just did a large titles over article modification.

[The Geek]

Progress report for vb3.5

Hi all - I know many of you are anxious to know how the new version is coming along for vb3.5 so I thought I would give you a quick update.

It has been a massive challenge redoing this in the sense that this mack requires massive amounts of file edits (though I think everyone is in agreement that they are a snap with theinstaller ). Learning to code for 3.5 changes and to do this without any file edits has made this a pretty massive redo however Im almost there.
The new system is actually called GARS (geek article and review system) and so far is requiring 0 file edits (and it looks to stay there). Here is a run down of the features:
1- Ability to create GAR types (i.e. Articles, reviews, tutorials, whatever).
2- Customize each of these types with their own attributes (choose which templates to use, which gallery, which rating system, etc. You can also set which verbiage to use like Search this Tutorial, etc...)
3- You can then assign each type to whatever forums you want (i.e. some forums are moview reviews, some are articles on movie production)
4- Ratings - you can create as many ratings as you want (i.e. for a game review type... you could create a standard rating for Graphics, Sound, Playability, etc)
5- named navigation - in essence you can use the old [break] bbcode or [break=onward ho] to produce a link to the next page that looks like: onward ho (page 1 of 4)
6- Mega customizable mod system. This has been a big challenge but its looking good now. Essentially, you can add as many mods (almost like hooks) in various places in the article/tutorial/whatever. The current locations are: Above the gar, inside the header (ideal for ratings), below the header, in a left sidebar, in a right sidebar. Each is customizable per type so your reviews and articles can use differing custom blocks. THis should make adding additional add ons or customizing the system a snap. I am also looking at adding addtional newthread/editpost hooks to make adding custom fields easy - however Im not sure if ill make this for the initial release.

So where am I with all of this? Im about 60% of the way done. Most of the hard stuff has been done and the largest problems overcome. Now Im working on finishing up the features and then cleaning up the code.
I was hoping to have an initial beta this weekend - however as these things go - I didnt anticipate spending 8 hours working on the mod system yesterday (thought it was already working and ended up rewriting it!). Anyway - ive been called down to London on business and now wont be able to work on it again until next weekend when I should be able to produce a beta - or something reasonably close.

nJoy

[yoyoyoyo]

Originally Posted by The Geek

Progress report for vb3.5

Hi all - I know many of you are anxious to know how the new version is coming along for vb3.5 so I thought I would give you a quick update.

wow- very cool! I appreciate all of the hard work and your willingness to share it.

[GoTTi]

just had a idea. would it be possible to have a attachment area for this addon?

meaning: when users post new articles and want to upload images, instead of using the regular attachments service, they would have a Geek Article Attachment Center (GAAC) within the Article System, and from there, they would have their article images available to them to use, making things a lil more organized.

[GoTTi]

stuff isnt showing up in when i goto edit a article.

[Lizard King]

Originally Posted by The Geek

Progress report for vb3.5

Hi all - I know many of you are anxious to know how the new version is coming along for vb3.5 so I thought I would give you a quick update.

It has been a massive challenge redoing this in the sense that this mack requires massive amounts of file edits (though I think everyone is in agreement that they are a snap with theinstaller ). Learning to code for 3.5 changes and to do this without any file edits has made this a pretty massive redo however Im almost there.
The new system is actually called GARS (geek article and review system) and so far is requiring 0 file edits (and it looks to stay there). Here is a run down of the features:
1- Ability to create GAR types (i.e. Articles, reviews, tutorials, whatever).
2- Customize each of these types with their own attributes (choose which templates to use, which gallery, which rating system, etc. You can also set which verbiage to use like Search this Tutorial, etc...)
3- You can then assign each type to whatever forums you want (i.e. some forums are moview reviews, some are articles on movie production)
4- Ratings - you can create as many ratings as you want (i.e. for a game review type... you could create a standard rating for Graphics, Sound, Playability, etc)
5- named navigation - in essence you can use the old [break] bbcode or [break=onward ho] to produce a link to the next page that looks like: onward ho (page 1 of 4)
6- Mega customizable mod system. This has been a big challenge but its looking good now. Essentially, you can add as many mods (almost like hooks) in various places in the article/tutorial/whatever. The current locations are: Above the gar, inside the header (ideal for ratings), below the header, in a left sidebar, in a right sidebar. Each is customizable per type so your reviews and articles can use differing custom blocks. THis should make adding additional add ons or customizing the system a snap. I am also looking at adding addtional newthread/editpost hooks to make adding custom fields easy - however Im not sure if ill make this for the initial release.

So where am I with all of this? Im about 60% of the way done. Most of the hard stuff has been done and the largest problems overcome. Now Im working on finishing up the features and then cleaning up the code.
I was hoping to have an initial beta this weekend - however as these things go - I didnt anticipate spending 8 hours working on the mod system yesterday (thought it was already working and ended up rewriting it!). Anyway - ive been called down to London on business and now wont be able to work on it again until next weekend when I should be able to produce a beta - or something reasonably close.

nJoy

Perfect news. This and Geek AutoLinks is the 2 hack keeping me from update.

Geek Is there any possibility you can add a sidebar in forumdisplay which includes list or articles , reviews and etc. and a quick search ? Maybe article , review statistics inside ?

[GrendelKhan{TSU]

Originally Posted by The Geek

Progress report for vb3.5

Hi all - I know many of you are anxious to know how the new version is coming along for vb3.5 so I thought I would give you a quick update.

It has been a massive challenge redoing this in the sense that this mack requires massive amounts of file edits (though I think everyone is in agreement that they are a snap with theinstaller ). Learning to code for 3.5 changes and to do this without any file edits has made this a pretty massive redo however Im almost there.
The new system is actually called GARS (geek article and review system) and so far is requiring 0 file edits (and it looks to stay there). Here is a run down of the features:
1- Ability to create GAR types (i.e. Articles, reviews, tutorials, whatever).
2- Customize each of these types with their own attributes (choose which templates to use, which gallery, which rating system, etc. You can also set which verbiage to use like Search this Tutorial, etc...)
3- You can then assign each type to whatever forums you want (i.e. some forums are moview reviews, some are articles on movie production)
4- Ratings - you can create as many ratings as you want (i.e. for a game review type... you could create a standard rating for Graphics, Sound, Playability, etc)
5- named navigation - in essence you can use the old [break] bbcode or [break=onward ho] to produce a link to the next page that looks like: onward ho (page 1 of 4)
6- Mega customizable mod system. This has been a big challenge but its looking good now. Essentially, you can add as many mods (almost like hooks) in various places in the article/tutorial/whatever. The current locations are: Above the gar, inside the header (ideal for ratings), below the header, in a left sidebar, in a right sidebar. Each is customizable per type so your reviews and articles can use differing custom blocks. THis should make adding additional add ons or customizing the system a snap. I am also looking at adding addtional newthread/editpost hooks to make adding custom fields easy - however Im not sure if ill make this for the initial release.

So where am I with all of this? Im about 60% of the way done. Most of the hard stuff has been done and the largest problems overcome. Now Im working on finishing up the features and then cleaning up the code.
I was hoping to have an initial beta this weekend - however as these things go - I didnt anticipate spending 8 hours working on the mod system yesterday (thought it was already working and ended up rewriting it!). Anyway - ive been called down to London on business and now wont be able to work on it again until next weekend when I should be able to produce a beta - or something reasonably close.

nJoy

<<< mouth is officially watering.
can't wait for this one!!

hang in there!