Integration with vBulletin - Flashchat Integration for vB 3.6

This modification is no longer available or supported.

Flashchat integration with vBulletin 3.6

Note:
Standard Flashchat includes a version of my vBulletin integration as part of the Tufat supplied files - including a working vBulletin 3.6 CMS file. However, the standard files do not include Direct Usergroup Integration or other extra's like the WOL Display & Flashchat on a vBulletin page. This Integration Mod adds those features


Standard vB 3.6 integration features

* Authorised members are automatically logged in.
* Automatic login works even if a member has not ticked "remember me".
* All non authorised members are locked out (this and the above are based on usergroup membership).
* If enabled, Flashchat updates the users session location (displayed in various vBulletin online location displays such as WOL).
* Real ip detection when a proxy server is used (only if the proxy server passes on the details).
* Permanant, Private Rooms are loaded by Admins and Moderators (allows for Staff Rooms).

Extra's added by this modification

* Direct login to a room.
* The WOL will correctly display Flashchat as the location (not 'Unknown Location')
* Flashchat can be displayed embedded inside a 'standard' vBulletin Page (i.e. not full screen).
* Direct Usergroup Integration - a section is added to each usergroup in the ACP Usergroup Manager to set the Flashchat permissions for that group.
* The plugin will try to automatically add a link to Flashchat in your Quick Links or Navbar - this feature can be disabled if you wish.
* The automatic link can have a prefix path defined - useful if you use something like CMPS.


More notes:

* This integration is for Flashchat versions 4.7.x and above.
* The automatic link feature may fail if you have customised templates.
* For Flashchat inside a vBulletin page you need to link to .../misc.php?do=flashchat
* This modification does not add any links to Flashchat Administration in the ACP.
* You can set all members to login direct to particular room via the ACP.
* You can also add a room parameter to the url - i.e. .../misc.php?do=flashchat&room=3
* 3.56 onwards has extra code to cope with VBs CSRF protection, which interferes with profile linking (vb 3.6.10+).

The CMS file assumes that you are installing Flashchat in your forum root folder - this is the same folder as your usercp.php file and includes folder. Installation will fail if you do not do this.

Support: Please check the instructions, and make sure you have uploaded any files to the correct location - the vast majority of problems reported are due to an error made in editing or uploading files. If you are still stuck and want me to take a look then feel free to PM me your site address, an admin user, and ftp access details, without these I cannot help you. I will look when I have time.

Finally, I am not Tufat.com or Flashchat Support - if you have questions about Flashchat, their forums are here.


To use the this upgraded integration simply download and unzip the file, then follow the instructions in the text file. Once installed, the Flashchat userlevel options for each usergroup will appear in the ACP usergroup edit screens - editing of the CMS file will no longer be required.



History:

v3.01 : First version for vb 3.6 (not released).
v3.02 : Various code changes, first public release.
v3.02A : Minor bug fixes to WOL Display.
v3.02B : Dependancies updated for 3.6.0 Gold.
v3.03 : Minor fix to Get User for membergroupids, some SQL changes.
v3.03A : Updated for Version Checking.
v3.04 : Security (anti-hacking) code added (as supplied by Darren).
v3.05 : Usergroup settings moved to top of CMS file.
v3.06 : Fixed error message when accessing chat admin area.
v3.07 : Default role changed.
v3.08 : Minor bug fix to Avatar detection, login code changes, tidy up.

v3.50 : Beta release with direct usergroup integration.
v3.51 : First full release with direct usergroup integration.
v3.52 : No Access and Banned split into separate permissions.
v3.53 : Minor changes - includes disabling the utf8 functions if the F/C config option is false.
v3.53A : Internal updates, not released.
v3.53B : Internal updates, not released.
v3.53C : Add ability for member to do direct to a room (other than the Flashchat default).
v3.53D : Defaults on first install updated.
v3.54 : Option for link path prefix added.
v3.55 : Minor changes to install code only.
v3.56 : Code added to allow profile views when CSRF protection is active.
v3.57 : CSRF Code changed.

[Parture]

Tufat's instructions read, "Once logged in to the admin interface, it's fairly self-explanatory. Please note that PHP session support must be enabled to use the admin interface. If you're having difficulty logging in, but you're able to use FlashChat just fine, then you probably have some bug in your PHP session support. A quick hack to get around the login is to add 3 lines of code to the top of the file, after the include_once line, like this:

$_SESSION['userid'] = 1;
include( 'index.php' );
exit;

1) What is session support and how do I ensure PHP session support is enabled to use the admin interface?
2) I am able to use FlashChat just fine, but can't login to admin. I tried to use these instructions, but it just caused an error.
3) Why is there not a FlashChat admin in the User CP?

Tufat says, "As stated before, if you are using a CMS or Bulletin Board, you should use your CMS login. For example, on tufat I am using FlashChat integrated with phpBB. I would login using my phpBB administrator login. To manage users, I would actually use the phpBB administration interface, however, NOT FlashChat's admin interface.

I did the basic install twice the exact same way. What gives?

[Paul M]

Originally Posted by Parture

Also, you know when you install flashchat and it says to make certain directories and files writeable, and then after installing to turn them back to non-writeable, but leave two of them as they were after install. Well I did that.

Which two ? 'templates_c' must be writable for the admin area to work.

[Parture]

Step 1 of flaschat install says keep /appdata/appTime.text and /uploaddir writeable after install, but change back all the other files that were changed to their original settings to non-writable for users and groups (that included templates_c).

By the way, the bot doesn't work. I entered /addbot Alice which added Alice, but then I typed /startbot Alice and it said there is no Alice.

[Parture]

Paul, do I make template_c writeable for both group and other or just other?

The admin panel shows up now by making it writable? I love my intuition. I knew it had something to do with writeable stuff. But, when I login now I get a white screen! But when I make chmod "other" writeable then I can see then some of the admin panel functions work. But it says to use the integration admin instead for some of its features such as "Chats", but there is no vBulleting admin in User CP is there?

Paul, you can see all the various things you have to chmod to writeable on the first screen you see of Install before actually starting the install.

Are there any of those other files I reverted back to their original chmod settings that need to be writable also? for bots or whatever.

I still have the same bot problem not recognizing the user when I type /startbot Alice

[Parture]

In Admin, for Chats and Users it says,

This option is not available when FlashChat is integrated with a custom CMS (content management system).
Please use the user administration tools which come with your system to add, edit, or remove users.

[Paul M]

Sorry, but these are all questions relating to Flashchat functionality, not vbulletin integration. You need to be asking them at Tufat. I only happen to know about templates_c because it's not writable on my test forum atm. I don't even install the bots so I have no idea what folders they need/use.

[Parture]

Thanks Paul. You at least got it so I was able to login to /chat/admin when all I got was a blank screen before due to templates_c needing to be chmod, writeable for "groups" and "other". My mission now is to find out how to get "Chats" and "Users" options in Admin to work for Flashchat and vBulletin. Maybe I have to make one of the files writeable. I don't know.

[Parture]

Will there be an integration with vBulletin so admin obtions are in the User CP? I think people really would like that, but that sounds like a lot of work.

[Paul M]

Originally Posted by Parture

Will there be an integration with vBulletin so admin obtions are in the User CP?

Not from me there won't. Once you are past the initial set-up I never find the need to use it, I haven't logged into our live Flashchat admin for months.

[Parture]

I see your point.

By the way are you able to use the functions of "Chats" and "Users" in Admin? What do they do? And would need to be done to activate them, because it says you can't access them due to the integration with CMS, in this case vBulletin.