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

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Dep

version 4.1.9

I have not tested this hack with version 4.1 of MySQL. Someone else did get it going ok. Presumably something has changed with FULLTEXT indices. I'll investigate. Sorry.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

I have not tested this hack with version 4.1 of MySQL. Someone else did get it going ok. Presumably something has changed with FULLTEXT indices. I'll investigate. Sorry.

This was reported earlier, see

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...sql#post570044

dlouly47, 8th November 2004 said

I just downloaded this and installed it, however in step one It failed and gives me the error from mysql stating the table does not support full text indexes? How do I fix this...

I'm using Version 4.1...

Ah.. All resolved !! I did the fix last nite but did not reboot. I just had to change the filesystem type to myisam.. rebooted this morning and whala..

So there is a straightforward fix which seems to be about forcing the table type to MyISAM. If dlouly's reading this, perhaps he could comment.

[Arial]

Hi

Sorrry to be lazy but I have read the first 14 pages in full, but I've lost the will to live, any chance somebody could just give me a few quick answers before I pay to have this installed.

a) We would only really use it for downloads, does the download portion of the mod allow any extensions or even better do you just get like a box you can enter a url in where the file is?

b) Does it let people who download it write a short bit of text on what they thought of it

c) Can they rate it with like a star system or equivalent

d) Does it show how often the file was downloaded.

E) Is all the above as standard or require further hacks to make it work.

Cheers Andrew et al.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Arial

Hi

Sorrry to be lazy but I have read the first 14 pages in full, but I've lost the will to live, any chance somebody could just give me a few quick answers before I pay to have this installed.

a) We would only really use it for downloads, does the download portion of the mod allow any extensions or even better do you just get like a box you can enter a url in where the file is?

b) Does it let people who download it write a short bit of text on what they thought of it

c) Can they rate it with like a star system or equivalent

d) Does it show how often the file was downloaded.

E) Is all the above as standard or require further hacks to make it work.

Cheers Andrew et al.

a) You enter your download using a form in which you provide (at minimum) a title, the url to the download or the filename if it's on your own server, and a description
b) Not currently
c) Yes
d) Yes, to usergroups that you give this permission
e) all these features are there by default. All configuration is done using its own admin page.

OK?

[Arial]

Cheers for the prompt responce Andrew, all sounds good. Shame about the 'comments' feature is this planned or just not enough interest?

One last question must a user be registered on the forum to access the download or can this be turned on and off depending on catagory etc?

EDIT

Plus also can you we add an image next to the download link? For instance we want members to be able to download maps (for games) and would be nice to be able to upload a still shot of the map.

[Dep]

thanks alot all sorted was my fault to start with

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Arial

Cheers for the prompt responce Andrew, all sounds good. Shame about the 'comments' feature is this planned or just not enough interest?

One last question must a user be registered on the forum to access the download or can this be turned on and off depending on catagory etc?

EDIT

Plus also can you we add an image next to the download link? For instance we want members to be able to download maps (for games) and would be nice to be able to upload a still shot of the map.

There are two sorts of permissions protection used with this hack
- Who can see/access a download: This is controlled using the standard VBulletin forums permissions system. You choose a forum that is visible to the usergroups you want to be able to see each link/category of links. You then associate the link/category with that forum. By default, this system is turned off, so everyone can see every entry.

- Who can create/edit/etc links. This is also controlled by usergroups, but these are set directly within the hacks admin page.

- Yes you can put images (using standard bbcodes) in any of the fields.

- Being able to comment on entries has been suggested by others. It's just not something that I have got round to coding yet. I'll make no promises.

If you download the hack, in the zip file, there's a full set of instriuctions which should answer your questions.

[Arial]

Thanks Andrew, my guy will be installing it shortly.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by cclaerhout

Thanks for this hack. It's really good.

I've translated it into french (only the user visible part). I've also made a little style modification. Hope you'll like it :-)

Thanks/merci, c'est tres gentil - I'll include this with the standard hack, and at some stage will work out how to do an auto install of the right languages.

[eva01_]

hey look ignore me we got it to work.

and it works on MySQL 3.23 in case anyone wanted to know

thanks