Major Additions - GRPS: Groups Commune 2.0.x

Welcome ladies and gentleman, this is the release thread for GRPS, an interactive groups commune. I hope you enjoy this release and i sincerely hope it provides everything to your community in which you're looking for.

What is it?
It's a groups commune. The original idea is that forums with lots and lots of forums on the front-page suck, as a result i thought most of the conversation was rather obscure in regards to what the forums were trying to achieve, so it'd be nice to have that all going on elsewhere, not detracting away from the content and stopping your front-page from looking like a car crash.

Features?

• Groups Home
  
  • Groups Activity List
    
    • Newest Groups
      
    • Most Popular Groups
      
    • Largest Groups
      
  • Category List
    
  • Group Search by Title
    
  • Group Sort by Alphabetical Title, Categories, Member Count
    
    
  • Users can create groups
    
  • Admin switch to moderate groups or not
    
    • Admin CP access to moderation panel
      
• Groups Page
  
  • Posts since last visit notification
    
  • Group Info
    
    • Group Leader shown with avatar
      
    • Category
      
    • Type
      
      • Groups can be listed as public, private or hidden
        
    • Start Date
      
    • Member count
      
    • Post count
      
  • Group Desciption
    
    • Shows group title
      
    • Shows random image
      
    • Shows group information set by group leader
      
  • Groups Thread List (Forum)
    
    • Status Icon
      
    • Title
      
      • Threads use postbit as per the forums
        
    • Thread Author with avatar and time that the thread was started
      
    • Last reply with avatar, username and time that the last reply was posted
      
    • Post New Thread Button
      
      • Groups Members can create threads
        
  • Newest Members
    
    • Shows five newest members
      
    • Link to view all members
      
      • Shows all members of the group
        
  • Group Options
    
    • Users can join/leave groups
      
      • PM Notification for group leaders upon join requests (when moderation enabled).
        
      • PM Notification for of acceptance or refusal.
        
    • Users can send invites to other users via PM
      
• Groups Thread
  
  • Groups Info Box (see above for more info)
    
  • Group Description box (see above for more info)
    
  • Newest Members List (see above for more info)
    
  • List of groups posts using forums postbit
    
  • Pagination using native vBulletin pagination
    
  • Group Leader/Moderation Options
    
    • Open/Close Thread
      
    • Stick Thread
      
    • Delete Thread
      
  • Users have the ability to report posts
    
  • Moderators have the ability to view IP and host.
    
• Group Leader Options
  
  • Groups Management
    
    • WYSIWYG Editor
      
    • Reason for editing box
      
    • Group Options
      
      • Private Posts
        
      • Only group leader can make threads
        
      • Moderate Members
        
      • Show group text edit details
        
      • Hide group image on group pages
        
      • Hidden Group
        
        • This option is only available to admins
          
  • Group Members Moderation
    
    • Ability to accept or deny new members
      
• Postbit Integration
  
  • View Users Groups
    
• User Control Panel (Integration)
  
  • List of groups appears in usercp in order of the last post
    
• Administrator Options
  
  • vBulletin Options
    
    • Turn groups on or off
      
    • Groups Limit Per User
      
    • Posts Per Page (threads)
      
    • Check Forum Activity Posts
      
    • Check Forum Activity Time
      
    • Number of Random Images
      
    • Turn email notification of new groups on/off
      
  • Usergroup Options
    
    • Can view groups
      
    • Can create groups
      
    • Can join groups
      
    • Can post messages in groups
      
    • Can edit messages in groups
      
    • Can delete messages posted in groups
      
    • Numbers of groups usergroup can join limited
      
    • Can moderate groups
      
      • See above for more info
        
    • Can view IP Addresses
      
  • Category Editor
    
    • Edit
      
      • Edit cat id (please not this can ef up your show)
        
      • Edit cat title
        
      • Edit cat description
        
    • Add
      
      • New Cat Title And Description
        
  • Groups Editor
    
    • Search for group by id
      
      • Edit
        
        • Title
          
        • Desciption
          
        • Categoryid
          
        • Group leader id
          
        • Private Posts
          
        • Moderate Members
          
        • Hidden group
          

Special Thanks to harry1951, without his help testing and his recommendations, this would've never ended up the way it did.

Honestly, i can't think of anything else, if you appreciate the work gone into this mod, please donate (in GBP) (right click open in new window)

Hopefully you all appreciate that i just relaunched my site and rather than soak up the atmosphere there or go out drinking i came to release this tonight.

Screens below, rest to your right

Please note this mod does work with 3.5.x

PLEASE DO NOT JOIN MY SITE IN A BID TO PLAY WITH IT OR HAVE A LOOK AT IT FURTHER, MY SITE IS SOMETHING I VALUE FOR BEING SOMEWHERE I CAN CHILL AT, IT'S NOT A TEST SUITE OR DEMO!

Bug Fixes

• Groups v2.0.0 RC1b.zip: fix regarding incorrect table prefixes in index.php and editpost.php
• Groups v2.0.0 RC2.zip: fix regarding incorrect table prefixes in functions_grps.php and class_grps.php. also fix regarding installation instructions.
• Groups v2.0.0 RC3.zip: fix regarding inability to get to create groups page. updated simplified instructions, sadly still not cool html ones and also added ability to delete groups, delete categories and of course the menu options to get to these.
  • Groups v2.0.0 RC3b.zip: fix regarding joining and leaving group depreciated function error added uninstaller to the zip at http://www.yoursite.com/groups/tools...p?do=uninstall
  • Groups v2.0.0 RC3c.zip: fix regarding edit being stated as 70's on group stages, requires re-installtion of the plugin only.
• Groups v2.0.0 RC4.zip: various bug fixes and new general setting, please reupload all files and then reinstall the product.
• Groups v2.0.0 RC5.zip: bug fixes regarding fixing links to forums being broken and forcing redirects for create group outcomes.
• Groups v2.0.0 RC6.zip: various bug fixes including table prefixes in admincp, invitations system now features in-line erroneous username fall-back and clean up regarding broken images in viewthread.php
• Groups v2.0.0 RC7.zip: bug fixes including missing phrases and missing 'noavatar.gif for group leader on groups info.
• Groups v2.0.0 RC8.zip: various bug fixes including missing phrases, smilies not working. new function to turn of new group moderation. form now working on print_no_permission page (thanks Adrian) and something else i forgot.
• Groups v2.0.0 RC9.zip: fixes two spelling mistakes, moves viewthread.php string_replacements to admincp and simplifies the installer experience. (yeah i thought there'd be more to it too).
  • Groups v2.0.0 RC9b.zip: re-fixes two spelling mistakes, fixes a viewthread.php string_replacement via the admincp and turns the default random image count down to that of which is provided.
• Groups v2.0.0 RC10.zip: optimises some of the code, cuts down on queries in exchange for additional joins and now forces compatibility in groups/viewthread.php with vBulletin options. also adds new option in admincp in order to make usercp listing work better out of the box.
• Groups v2.0.0 RC11.zip: fixes a problem with avatars not displaying correctly in thread listing and also optimises the code in membership.php
• Groups v2.0.0.zip: adds and array_merge to the code and smilie popup fixed. now features hooks for plug-in 'easability'. uCS integration moved to external plugin too.
• Groups v2.0.1.zip: removes one hook, fixes problem with membership.php, fixes problem editgroup.php not remembering options and fixes avatar problem.
• Groups v2.0.2.zip: various bug fixes (like missing pagenavs, more elegant removal of reputation button and infraction button and php notices), one or two new features (like intuitive page titles) and now fully phrased.
• Groups v2.0.3.zip: bug fix regarding now being able to select categories. includes a new feature which is basically pagination for the thread listings.
• Groups v2.0.4.zip: bug fix regarding not being able to moderate group memberships.
• Groups v2.0.5.zip: bug fix regarding those introduced via 2.0.4, new features such as double post prevention disable, admins can override privacy settings, usergroup permission text more intuitive and end-user usability increased with modification to threadbit on groups.php. group leaders can now kick users from there groups.
• Groups v2.0.6.zip: bug fix including report, missing edit button and other misc small bugs, new features such as disable hidden groups, allow mods to see private groups, and resign from group handing off to another user.
• Groups v2.0.7.zip: bug fix including fixing post counts, thread goto's and fatal php errors.
• Groups v2.0.8.zip: bug fix regarding inability to delete posts, problem with editing posts and other misc errors.
• Groups v2.0.9.zip: various bug fixes including wywiwyg error, admin cp error and redirect/goto errors.
  • Groups v2.0.9b.zip: fixes problem with upgrade4.php
• Groups v2.0.10.zip: various bug fixes including acknowledging renamed modcp and admincp dir's also adds option regarding removing of posts at group exit/kick.
• Groups v2.0.11.zip: various bug fixes including security/privacy fixes.
• Groups v2.0.12.zip: permission bug fixed.
• Groups v2.0.13.zip: various bug fixes including ability to ignore members in groups and newreply bug.

[sabret00the]

Originally Posted by Merriweather

This is a long thread and it's late, so please forgive me if my questions are already asked/answered...

(1) Can I make groups not allowed to be hidden and/or private?

(2) There is a typo on the main group page. In the left column, under the Group Leader info, instead of "Category" it says "Gateogory" -- where do I go to fix that?

(3) When an invite is sent, the screen with the confirmation message actually says "grps_invitesent" instead of the message it should say. I'm new to vB and don't know where I can edit language files (if that's what they are in vB) to correct this.

(4) Where/how do I change the images shown by default?

(5) Is there a way to control how many characters can be used in the intro?

That's all I have for now, but so far, great, and my members are very excited about it!

(1) Can I make groups not allowed to be hidden and/or private? only admins can hide groups at present, as for not allowing groups to be hidden. you could actually just remove the option with a template edit. though as i'm adding new hooks in the next release i'll add one for a print_no_permission screen just above the saving of options.

(2) There is a typo on the main group page. In the left column, under the Group Leader info, instead of "Category" it says "Gateogory" -- where do I go to fix that? unsure of what template that's in, i'll fix that. though to be honest, a quick search was unable to turn that up just now.

(3) When an invite is sent, the screen with the confirmation message actually says "grps_invitesent" instead of the message it should say. I'm new to vB and don't know where I can edit language files (if that's what they are in vB) to correct this. does i'll fix this as a bug for the next release also

(4) Where/how do I change the images shown by default? they're in the folder "forums/images/grps" just change them there.

(5) Is there a way to control how many characters can be used in the intro? depends on what you mean by control.

[sabret00the]

Originally Posted by pcoskat

I'm really excited about GRPS!

Couple of questions:

- Can I restrict who can start or join a group by using 'post count'? In other words, I'd like to restrict STARTING a group to members with at least 50 posts. Joining a group would be restricted to members with at least 20 posts. Is that possible?

- Can the GROUP ACTIVITY information be 'syndicated' onto non-vb pages? I would like to have a 'box' on a non-vb page on my domain which displays dynamic information about active groups.

You can either do what Exitilus has done or you can add a plugin to handle it. it seems i removed the code to act on the vBulletin option (well according to both my admincp's) i'll remove the vBulletin option.

[sabret00the]

Originally Posted by kj_ugs

I was wondering if it was possible to list recent posts and topics in the groups commune on the forum home page somehow?

if i get time i'll knock something up. i was also supposed to knock something up to list groups on a profile. i haven't forgotten that either. but time hasn't been on my side.

[cfspinner]

I'm getting the following errors. Please help!

Warning: main(./global.php) [function.main]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/karaokes/public_html/groups/tools/grps_installer.php on line 36

Fatal error: main() [function.require]: Failed opening required './global.php' (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/karaokes/public_html/groups/tools/grps_installer.php on line 36

[sabret00the]

Originally Posted by robertdjung

I'm baffled that you never mention that one has to manually edit the user group permissions after you've installed this. I mean, why not add a line that says as much? I thought I'd lost my mind trying to figure out why the proggy wasn't working.

But thanks again, it's a nice add.

i just assumed that all administrators like secure installations and thus customise usergroup permissions with every hack anyway. i will add the line.

[sabret00the]

Originally Posted by Morrus

A great hack. Some notes on problems/bugs I've noticed or which have been reported to me by users:

1) The navigation breadcrumbs don't work (broken links leading to non-existent pages). Note that groups is not level with the forum directory, but within it. I've tried changing that setting in the AdminCP to no effect.

2) When I click the Quote button to respond to a post, it brings up a blank reply form with no quoting. There's no normal reply button in group forums. When I try to quote, I get a blank reply page (so you could also say there's no quote function and the reply function has a quote button).

3) Same thing happens when you do a preview.

4) I started a thread and when I tried to post a new response in that thread and it simply appended it to the original post. I tested another thread and found that if you reply to someone elses post, it'll put a new response under theres. But if you reply and then reply again, with no other posts in between, it simply appends your reply to your previous post.

5) If I click on "Go Advanced" under the quick reply feature, then I get the following error message:



6) Some spelling/phrasing errors. "Category" is spelt "Category".

7) The sidebar telle me that "Type: Group Posts Are Private. Members Are Moderated. Only The Group Leader Can Make Threads.", yet a non-group leader can create threads.

And my thoughts on necessary changes/additions to make this a professional mod:

1) The default image in the group header needs to be sorted out and user-definable. Lots of people have suggested that in this thread, and there's a reason for that.

2) The wacky moderation/group leader powers setup needs to be straightened up. It's not only unintuitive, but it's impractical. As many have pointed out in this thread, the group leader should effectively be moderator of his/her own blog.

3) The ability to remove users is pretty fundamental. A woman created a private girls only group, and while she was struggling to figure out how to make it private, a man joined. Now he can't be removed.

I know that sounds all very critical, but I do think this is a very good hack and well on its way to being as professional as, say, vBlogetin.

1) Which links are broken? You're right, the admincp option does not effect the bread crumbs. i'll look into the feasibility of 'fixing' that.

2) Confirmed bug and will be fixed for next release.

3) Same thing happens when you do a preview.

4) this is the double post prevention feature.

5) Confirmed bug and fixed for next release.

6) Typo on your part?

7) Confirmed bug and fixed for next release.

And my thoughts on necessary changes/additions to make this a professional mod:

1) indeed. however should the donations i hoped for to keep my hosting for another year have come forward as opposed to it coming out of my pocket then as stated on several occasions the usability would be there. please note as much as professionalism is important there's only so much time one man can give to something and sadly i'm in a situation where by my priorities like elsewhere and for good reason.

2) i'm not sure what you're referring to. any group leader has the ability to fully moderate groups. at present the only feature a leader doesn't have is the ability to boot/ban from a group.

3) This will be present at least on administration level for 2.0.5/2.1 whichever naming scheme i preference for the next build depending on how much i have to do.

I know that sounds all very critical, but I do think this is a very good hack and well on its way to being as professional as, say, vBlogetin.[/QUOTE]
You're right it did sound critical but mostly in a good way and it's helped the advancement of the modification. however please bare in mind that while you compare it to vBlogetin, vBlogetin it is not. vBlog... charged $50 a year while this is free. i assure you that if i was getting $50 per installation professionalism would be top of my priority list. however i don't, so sadly it's not.

[sabret00the]

Originally Posted by daystorm

Hi I am trying to make a search groups code to go on the groups home page.

I would like for it to be a drop down box where they can choose the catagory and then underneath a text box were they can refine their search with a search term.

So far this is the code I have, though, while the drop down is working the extra refining is not. Any help would be greatly appreciated....

<div id="main_form_container" style="width:275px;float:right;">

	<div id="main_form_header">Group Search</div>
	<div class="row_light">
		<form action="browse.php" method="get" name="group_search_form">
		<input type="hidden" name="do" value="list">
		<div style="padding:2px; padding-left:15px;">
			<br/>
			Search In: &nbsp;&nbsp;<select name='c'>
<option value='0'>Choose a category</option>
<option value='13'>Activities</option>
<option value='1'>Automotive</option>
<option value='14'>Business & Entrepreneurs</option>
<option value='5'>Cities</option>
<option value='16'>Companies / Co-workers</option>
<option value='2'>Computers & Internet</option>
<option value='7'>Cultures & Community</option>
<option value='4'>Entertainment</option>
<option value='8'>Fan Clubs</option>
<option value='9'>Fashion & Style</option>
<option value='33'>Fetish, BDSM, & S/M</option>
<option value='10'>Film & Television</option>
<option value='11'>Food, Drink & Wine</option>
<option value='5'>Games</option>
<option value='17'>Gay, Lesbian & Bi</option>
<option value='18'>Government & Politics</option>
<option value='6'>Health, Wellness & Fitness</option>
<option value='34'>Kink</option>
<option value='19'>Literature & Arts</option>
<option value='37'>Mandingo</option>
<option value='20'>Money & Investing</option>
<option value='21'>Music</option>
<option value='22'>Nightlife & Clubs</option>
<option value='23'>Non-profit & Philanthropic</option>
<option value='12'>Other</option>
<option value='24'>Pets & Animals</option>
<option value='25'>Places & Travel</option>
<option value='32'>Porn Industry</option>
<option value='26'>Professional Organizations</option>
<option value='27'>Recreation & Sports</option>
<option value='28'>Religion & Beliefs</option>
<option value='29'>Romance & Relationship</option>
<option value='30'>Science & History</option>
<option value='3'>Sexual Education</option>
<option value='31'>Sorority / Fraternities</option>
<option value='36'>Swinging / Swapping Couples</option>
<option value='35'>Swinging / Swapping Singles</option>

</select>

			<br/>
			<br/>
			Search For: <input type="text" name="searchterm" size="30">
			<br/><br/>
			<div style="padding-left:60px;">
		<input type="submit" value="Search" size="30"></div>
		</div>
		</form>
	</div>
	
</div>

Thank you,
Ella

what you'd like to do would require you to edit the search.php in order to allow for the catid variable. it's quite simple really.

find:

PHP Code:

$vbulletin->input->clean_array_gpc('r', array(
    'do'        => STR_NOHTML,
    'query'        => STR_NOHTML,
    'search'    => STR_NOHTML
)); 


and replace with:

PHP Code:

$vbulletin->input->clean_array_gpc('r', array(
    'do'        => STR_NOHTML,
    'query'        => STR_NOHTML,
    'search'    => STR_NOHTML,
    'c'    => TYPE_INT
)); 


now find:

PHP Code:

    $searchquery = "WHERE (grps.title LIKE '%" . $db->escape_string($search) . "%' OR grps.description LIKE '%" . $db->escape_string($search) . "%')"; 


and replace with

PHP Code:

    $searchquery = "WHERE (grps.title LIKE '%" . $db->escape_string($search) . "%' OR grps.description LIKE '%" . $db->escape_string($search) . "%') AND grps.catid = " . intval($vbulletin->GPC['c']); 


that's untested, though it should work, but it's mainly just to give you an idea.

[sabret00the]

Originally Posted by Morrus

In addition, is it deliberate that admins don't override the permission-to-view settings on private groups they're not a member of? My server host has a very, very strict no-porn rule which could have my entire server shut down if it's violated. That means I need to be able to deal with instances where people post porn, which can't happen if I can't see the group!

it is indeed deliberate. i'll see about adding an option to enable snooping.

[sabret00the]

Originally Posted by daystorm

Quote:
Originally Posted by daystorm
How do I add to "My groups" for each user like it is in the UserCP to the Grouphome index page?

Thank you,
Ella

I haven't tried it, but have you tried just pasting in the bit in the install instructions for the UserCP into the Groups template?


Code:
$grps_mygroupsbits


I tried that, but nothing showed up... Any other ideas? And thank you for this one...

please redirect that question to www.grps.org


i'm joking. you'd have to copy the contents of the plugin marked "GRPS: Group Activity In User CP (15 Newest)" to a new plugin at the grps_global_start and prefix it with

PHP Code:

if (THIS_SCRIPT == 'groupshome')
{ 


and suffix it with

PHP Code:

} 


and then do what Morrus said

[sabret00the]

Originally Posted by Morrus

Yes anpther bug - total posts does not calculate correctly when viewing a single thread within a group; it merely shows the total posts in that thread, not total posts in that group.

If that's the intention, fine; but since the rest of that info box clearly refers to the whole group and not that single thread, it's very counter-intuitive. Nobody will ever guess that's what it's supposed to mean withut something explicitly telling them so.

that is indeed by design. i will clarify that matter with a different phrase.