jIRC Chat Integration

This hack is very similar to other hacks already released, I know there are a few others out there - I made this for myself so thought I would release it just incase anyone else found it useful. This hack takes into consideration Who's On-line, is controlled by one template, and has less files to upload than a few other chat hacks. All the files you need to run IRC chat from your vBulletin are included in this distribution. This hack is configured to work with HashNet IRC [www.hashnet.org]. HashNet let's you register your username's as well as your channels, protecting it from any misuse. All the information you need for such processes can be found on the HashNet site. If you wish to use a different IRC server, or a channel name other than that of your vBulletin title, edit the '<para name' tags in your chat template [which you'll add in Step 2] of installation...

This distribution includes jIRC version 2.6.0. The original jIRC readme file is included in this zip file for copyright reasons. jIRC is Shareware [and as a result, you receive messages encouraging the admin to register when it is used] - if you like the product, and basically if you want it to work correctly you must register it.

Pricing can be found on the jIRC website [www.jpilot.com].

*Thanks to Jakeman, FireFly, TWT Commish and everyone else at vBulletin.org for the help they've given me with vBulletin hacking to date.*

Please click install if you use this hack!

[FleaBag]

Quite busy lately, just started University. I'll sort this out as soon as I can.

[banjolawyer]

The Instructions state

==== Step 3 [upoading the files]. ====

Upload the following files to your vBulletin folder;

jirc_mss.cab
jirc_nss.zip
jirc_pure.zip
popup.js
chat.php
_________________________

Do you have to unzip the .zip files first?

[FleaBag]

Sorry, I should have made it clearer in the Readme, none of these files require unzipping, the software utilises them in their' current form.

[banjolawyer]

Is an archive of the chats created?

I have a high school alumni site, and everyone loves to read what the others have said and talked about. So the vbulletin board is great for that because everything is preserved.

However, sometimes 5 or 6 people will start trying to chat in a thread (or trying to anyway) [for example 50 messages posted in a thread in an hour] vBulletin really doesn't work well for chatting, but at least there's a record of the discussion so people can later browse through it.

Is it possible to archive chats with what you've done here?

[banjolawyer]

Hey I installed this thing and my users love it. It is great and well worth the $50 to jpilot.

Problem: Because people are often in the Chat Room for more than 15 minutes, they drop off the "Currently Active Users" list. I would like to be able to display on the forum home the # of people currently in the Chat Room.

I found that someone has written a .php bot which is supposed to do this here:
http://www.jpilot.com/java/irc/ubb/c...ML/001422.html

I installed this and the bot does run in my chat room. However, I don't know how to get a number to display. Can anyone help me?

This is Klamm's code. Hope its ok to quote it:

<?
set_time_limit(0);

// INIT
$server = "irc.euirc.net";
$port = "6667";
$php_nick = "Kbot2";
$php_realname = "The klamm-Bot";
$php_channel = "#klamm.de";
$refresh=30; // look max. every XX Seconds for #users
$joined=0; // only 1 join
$register=0; // first ping

// CONNECT
$verbindung = fsockopen($server, $port);
fputs($verbindung, "USER $php_nick 0 0 :$php_realname\n\r");
fputs($verbindung, "NICK $php_nick\n\r");
sleep(5); 
$timer=time();

// READ STREAM
for($i = 0; $i < 100; $i++)
{  
	$i = 0; // to make it endless
  	$new = fgets($verbindung, 1024);
  	// ask for user-count every [refresh] seconds
  	if($timer+$refresh<time()&&$joined==1){
  		fputs($verbindung,"LIST $php_channel\n\r");  
    	$timer=time();
   }
   
   // nick in use?
   if (ereg("Nickname is already in use.",$new)) { 
   	fputs($verbindung,"QUIT : Nick in use");
  		fclose($verbindung);
  		break;
  	}
  	
   // ping pong
   if(ereg("PING",$new)) {
     	$ping = explode(":", $new);
      $reply = $ping[1];
      fputs($verbindung, "PONG $reply\n\r");
      $register = 1;
   }
    
   // first join
   if($joined==0&&$register==1){
 		fputs($verbindung, "JOIN $php_channel\n\r");
 		$joined=1;
	}
   	
   
   // REACTIONS
	if($joined==1){
		
		// kicked
		if(ereg("KICK $php_channel $php_nick",$new)){
  			fputs($verbindung,"QUIT : Me got kicked\n\r");
  			fclose($verbindung);
  			break;
  		}
  
  		// number of users
  		if (ereg("322 $php_nick",$new)) { 
    		$users = explode(" ",$new);
    		$userson = $users[4]-1;
    		echo"\n\n$userson\n\n";
       	// here you can make your file-write or db-query
       	// to update the current user-count
    	}
	} // joined
} // for 
?>

Am I supposed to add something to the end of the file where Klamm has written

// here you can make your file-write or db-query
// to update the current user-count
}
} // joined
} // for 
?>

in order to get a display?

Also, Klamm makes an interesting comment that "If you want the Names of the Users in the Channel, just use /NAMES #channel instead of /LIST #channel. But it needs a bit of additional Code ..."

Would anyone know how to go about accomplishing this?

[FleaBag]

Working with 2.2.8. I'll work on the updates soon...

[FlyBoy73]

Looking forward to them, GF.

[mark99]

Small problem, I also want general site visitors to be able to access this chat system, however if they're not registered then they get that usual 'YOU NEED TO BE REGISTERED' vB page.

How can I turn this off?

[fraqheart]

Is it easily able to be designed like vBulletin.org's or does it have to stay in it's default form?

[FleaBag]

Originally posted by banjolawyer
Is an archive of the chats created?

I have a high school alumni site, and everyone loves to read what the others have said and talked about. So the vbulletin board is great for that because everything is preserved.

However, sometimes 5 or 6 people will start trying to chat in a thread (or trying to anyway) [for example 50 messages posted in a thread in an hour] vBulletin really doesn't work well for chatting, but at least there's a record of the discussion so people can later browse through it.

Is it possible to archive chats with what you've done here?

Not with this hack, sorry.