Links and Files Database

The VB3.0 version is no longer supported although there have been no reported problems for some time

See here for the VB 3.6 version of this hack, which is now the supported version. This version currently also works with VB 3.5
See here for the VB 3.5 thread for this hack.

What's new in v1.60?

Option to display associated thumbnail images
Option to accept/not accept new entries if these already exists in database
Code for mass edits (accessed via admincp) tidied up
VB phrasing completed
Includes a full French and a partial German translation (thanks to cclaerhout, Allan and LeeWicKeD), handled properly by installation script.
Various bugs fixed and tested against php4 and php5:
Better database validation (on startup/in admincp: links with invalid associated forumids, categories with invalid parentids)
Alternative linkbit templates provided (default uses a fieldset, the other is the old-style table row)
Alternative category selection templates (pull down menu/list of checkboxes),
Star rating displayed using standard VB stars rather than in text form
Series of minor bug fixes
See file change.txt in zip file

What it is/does

- Provides a searchable database of weblinks and/or downloadable files, for example manuals, music files, pictures, etc.
- Integrates within VBulletin, without requiring any code changes.
- Transparently handles links and file downloads. (If you want to provide downloads from your own site, you need a separate tool to upload these files. This hack does not and will not include a file uploader.)
- Provides unlimited nested categories.
- Each link/file can be a member of multiple categories.
- Link and category title and descriptions can use all BBCODEs, giving the possibility to add images, colouring, etc, as you wish
- Viewing/access permissions controlled using VBulletin forum system
- Users can rate links, in a similar manner to VB thread rating.
- File downloads are semi-leechproof, i.e. the user does not see where the file is stored and can only access the link if she has access to the associated forum.
- Audio files playable via Windows Media Player can be offered as a jukebox .
- Tracks who downloads what
- Validates links on entry/editing, and provides admin facility to validate the entire database.

Installation/upgrading instructions

Read instructions.txt in the zip file. Installation script works out whether to install or upgrade.

To upgrade from an earlier release of this hack, simply re-run the installation script. If you modified the templates in the top styles, you will lose these modifications unless you back up and re-edit.

PLEASE BACK UP YOUR DATABASE

See also

For screen shots, see attachments.

Tested with

VBulletin 3.0 and higher
PHP 4.1.1 and 4.3.4, should work with all 4.x versions, seems ok with 5.0.4
MySQL 4.0.
Reported ok with MySQL 4.1 but not exhaustively tested

Credits

Initially inspired by drkFusion's vb2 hack "vb Link Directory" v.2 and discussion about v.3 on Vbulletin.org. This is a complete rewrite with many more features. Every credit to the VBulletin folks for providing the infrastructure and to those on vbulletin.org who have helped with testing.

Integrations/Conversions

Natch has written extensions to integrate this hack with VBindex and VBAdvanced.

For convenience, this hack includes fully integrates with, but does not install, his VBIndex hack - i.e. the required template and code are provided, and the admin panel handles the configuration settings. Please refer to his thread for instructions.

Integration with VBadvanced is described in thread 1319 at vbadvanced.com.

The zip file includes a script and instructions for converting from vbLinks v2 (see thread 44551

[blue jammer]

Andrew, thanks for this Hack, it seems to have everything I need!

The only problem I have with it is that guests are able to download the files.

Any help in being able to stop guests from being able to click the links and download files.

I haven't associated the page with any forums, and haven't as yet linked it anywhere, as it's still in 'test mode' as don't want people to download anything as yet.

If you need any settings/info/screen caps, I will be able to provide those.

Thanks.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by blue jammer

Andrew, thanks for this Hack, it seems to have everything I need!

The only problem I have with it is that guests are able to download the files.

Any help in being able to stop guests from being able to click the links and download files.

I haven't associated the page with any forums, and haven't as yet linked it anywhere, as it's still in 'test mode' as don't want people to download anything as yet.

If you need any settings/info/screen caps, I will be able to provide those.

Thanks.

One approach is as follows:

1 Create a new forum, and restrict access to the usergroup restrictions you want (i.e. set it so that only admins can read posts)
2 On the links admin page, set this forum as the default_forumid
3 Also on the links admin page, give can_see_protected_links_on_portal permissions to all groups (or all groups except not logged-in), etc
4 Create your category and links

This will make everything visible to all groups set in stage 3, but only downloadable to groups set in stage 1

When you're ready to turn things on, either go back to your vb admin and change the permissions on the associated forum or change the associated forum.

OK?

[AuroraMike]

I'm chompin' at the bit for a new "final" version that incorporates your 1.52 and 1.55 changes...you can't speed up the process now can you? ;-) In all seriousness, this is an AWESOME hack. I really am looking forward to the next release.

[Imperial Fritz]

I completely second that.

[Zain Jaffer]

Thanks Andrew - I will try this out soon.

Sorry I wasn't able to reply promptly - Tis was my birthday yesterday!

[Slave]

Just installed 1.55 .. all went smoothly ..

Just noticed a couple of things ..

If a cat has a new entry it now has "(New Entry )" next to the description .. can you spot the mistake (the extra space) ..

Following on from that .. when you add a new link to a cat it shows as bold (OK) .. but when you go up a level nothing is showing as bold .. perhaps make the sub-cat show in bold in the sub-cat listing within the main cat's description? (If that makes sense) ..

I like the "send to a friend" idea .. but when you click on it the pre-filled text is relating to a music file? (I've gone into the phase manager and changed it to a more generic "I think you might be interested in this...") ..

That's it for the mo .. I'll come back if I find anything more

[Slave]

Possible bug!

You know how, at the moment, Links doesn't store the size of a file until you click on the link .. it seems that this causes the system to think that that file is new again .. which then means it shows up in the "New Links" list as well as going back to being bold. Bug?

BTW .. am I right in thinking that the "What's Hot" link shows links with the highest hit count? .. but doesn't take into account ratings? Maybe have a "What's Good" listing which relates to ratings (If a site has lots of 5 star ratings maybe look at how many people have rated the file 5 star to cut the list down?) ..

hmm .. anything else ..

Oh .. the "Sort by" links don't seem to work in the "What's new" page .. not sure about any of the other pages yet .. (doesn't work in "My Links" either) ..

Talking of "Sort by" .. as well as Title, Date and Hits .. perhaps also have "Rating" as an option ..

Got to say the "Create linked subforum" is inspired! .. I LOVE it .. although I'm not sure what the "Apply parent also to its current links" tick box is for? and why don't you get that option when you add a cat .. only when you edit a cat?

You can have a life!! .. just don't come back to these forums! ..

[Slave]

Originally Posted by blue jammer

The only problem I have with it is that guests are able to download the files.

Andrew .. Would you be able to add 2 new permissions?

can_see_links

and

can_use_links

What do you think?

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Zain Jaffer

Thanks Andrew - I will try this out soon.

Sorry I wasn't able to reply promptly - Tis was my birthday yesterday!

and I hope you will enjoy many more.....

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Slave

Possible bug!

You should be called eagle eyes...

Seriously, I'll try to deal with these bugs/suggestions at the weekend, and then make 1.55 the stable release. I've some other things I need to work on.

The faulty space after 'new entry' was actually a different bug - it should have said 'new entry dd/mm/yy" but the date got omitted.