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

[rlamego]

Originally Posted by The Geek

I am redoing my installers to make all file modifications automatically.

Great news! See if you can squeeze some coffee making abilities into that installer. That way we can lean back and watch it do all the hard work

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by Blam Forumz

all the file mods automatically? :| Could you give us options whether we want to do that or not, because we may have hacks which could interfere with that=\

Hey Blam.

It is optional. Here is what I am working on it doing:

It makes a copy of each needed file into a change directory. It also copies it into a change/backup directory
It then goes through and applies changes to the files in teh change directory
If it cant make a change because you have modified the text, it will skip the change and alert you to which step you will need to manually do in order to make the file complete.
When it is done, you can manually copy over the changed files. Once verified, you can delete the backups.

I know what you mean about concerns over existing hacks. My boards are heavily modified - but this is the #1 reason why I want something to automatically make the changes for me. It makes upgrading a snap

regardless, you will still have the option - worse case scenario - you may have to make a couple of hand modifications - at least the rest would be done for you

Ricardo - I am working on the coffee making facilities for the install file after I finish the Vodka tonic mixer mod for the installer

[tormodg]

Having a funny problem...the comments are displayed BEFORE the articles.

Here:
http://www.hypography.com/sciencefor...ead.php?t=1669

Help!

[tormodg]

In fact, my article is simply displayed in line with the comments...and a comment is shown as the article.

Wow...this freaks me out.

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by tormodg

In fact, my article is simply displayed in line with the comments...and a comment is shown as the article.

Wow...this freaks me out.

Looks fine from here?!?

[tormodg]

HUH??? It breaks for me in both Firefox and Explorer. The source shows the articles in the wrong place.

[tormodg]

Ah. The problem only shows up for logged in users.

Something must be very wrong somewhere else, then...I only found this AFTER I installed the "Latest Geek Article" module for the vBa CMPS. Removing it did not help so there is something fishy going on. Oh well, more style cleaning up to do, I guess.

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by tormodg

HUH??? It breaks for me in both Firefox and Explorer. The source shows the articles in the wrong place.

Just checked IE and FF. Both appear fine to me.
Just out of curiosity - you are not viewing the page in ascending order are you?

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by tormodg

Ah. The problem only shows up for logged in users.

Something must be very wrong somewhere else, then...I only found this AFTER I installed the "Latest Geek Article" module for the vBa CMPS. Removing it did not help so there is something fishy going on. Oh well, more style cleaning up to do, I guess.

Wanna PM me a login?

[tormodg]

Sure, can do that. But I suspect this is related to the thing in the last articles module! Where we hade to remove the unset(fperms) or whatever!