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 LeeWicKeD

hiho

just updated to 1.60c and now i can't add any new links. it always shows up a message "no category specified"

and in the box "parent categories" there are no categories listed? what did i wrong?

I'll bet that you didn't upload the new templates, or put them in the wrong place. I can reproduce your error exactly by installing the 1.60 code and the 1.55 templates

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by CHIngs

I updaraded to the latest and I have to say its the BEST yet. But I have one question, I set the timeout_hit_allow to 300 seconds (5 minutes), though I would like it in minutes (suggestion for next version), its no big deal. But I want to show them how much time they have left. The script must be storing that time limit somewhere in the database and I want to show it on the page where it says "Please wait before trying another access - timeout period (seconds): 300."

I want to show it as "Please wait before trying another access - timeout period (seconds): 300, you have *** seconds left for you next download" or something like that. Can anyone please help me out here .

Thanks.

This is an easy change to make. Two edits:

edit local_links.php. Find these lines

// Prevent multiple hits within specified timeout
	if ($links_defaults["timeout_hit_allow"]>0) {
		$timeout = $time - $links_defaults["timeout_hit_allow"];
		$jumplink = $DB_site->query("
			SELECT userid, usertime FROM ".THIS_TABLE."linksdownloads
	        WHERE userid='".$bbuserinfo[userid]."'
	        ORDER BY usertime DESC
	        LIMIT 1
        ");
	    while ($jump=$DB_site->fetch_array($jumplink)) {
	        if ($jump['usertime'] > $timeout) {
	            eval(print_standard_error($vbphrase['ll_wait'].' '.$links_defaults["timeout_hit_allow"],0));
	            exit;
	        }
	    } 
	}

and replace with

// Prevent multiple hits within specified timeout
	if ($links_defaults["timeout_hit_allow"]>0) {
		$timeout = $time - $links_defaults["timeout_hit_allow"];
		$jumplink = $DB_site->query("
			SELECT userid, usertime FROM ".THIS_TABLE."linksdownloads
	        WHERE userid='".$bbuserinfo[userid]."'
	        ORDER BY usertime DESC
	        LIMIT 1
        ");
	    while ($jump=$DB_site->fetch_array($jumplink)) {
	        $timeleft = $jump['usertime'] - $timeout;
	        if ($timeleft>0) {
				$wait = construct_phrase($vbphrase['ll_wait'], $timeleft, $links_defaults["timeout_hit_allow"]);
				eval(print_standard_error($wait,0));
	            exit;
	        }
	    } 
	}

Then edit local_links_phrases.xml and find the line

		<phrase name="ll_wait"><![CDATA[Please wait before trying another access - timeout period (seconds):]]></phrase>

and replace by

		<phrase name="ll_wait"><![CDATA[Please wait {1} seconds. Timeout period between accesses: {2} seconds]]></phrase>

I'll make this a permanent fix for version 2.00 but I don't plan any more changes to 1.60 unless there are serious bugs.

[CHIngs]

Possible BUG...NOTHING SERIOUS... Just a suggestion for a FIX in 2.0...

When I rate a file, the rating is correctly logged and all. But unlike the forum's rating system, your rating system allows members to CHANGE the rating once they have given a rating. Its no big deal but I think in your version 2.0 should have an option in the ADMIN PANEL where the admin can set to allow the members to rate once OR more than once, this way its more flexible depending on the admin's needs.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by CHIngs

Possible BUG...NOTHING SERIOUS... Just a suggestion for a FIX in 2.0...

When I rate a file, the rating is correctly logged and all. But unlike the forum's rating system, your rating system allows members to CHANGE the rating once they have given a rating. Its no big deal but I think in your version 2.0 should have an option in the ADMIN PANEL where the admin can set to allow the members to rate once OR more than once, this way its more flexible depending on the admin's needs.

Yes, this was by design - actually they can't give more than one rating - only the latest one that is counted. I'll note your suggestion - thanks.

[LeeWicKeD]

ok i have now fully translated 1.60c to german

@andrew: do you want it via email or as an attachment in the forum here?

[NxTek]

Database error in vBulletin 3.0.7:

Invalid SQL: SELECT * FROM local_linksadmin mysql error: Table 'forums.local_linksadmin' doesn't exist

mysql error number: 1146

Date: Thursday 07th of July 2005 05:21:47 PM
Script: http://www.xxxxxxxxxx.com/forums/local_links.php

Super. heh

[lovevn]

Hi,

This is every good hack. I installed version 1.3 and did not use it because I bought the Vbadvanced links directory. But now I tested the newest version and realized that it is excellent now and I want to use it for my music page.
Things work well. Howerver,I want to give a user group pessmission for ONLY listen(play )the music file but not to DOWNLOAD(it mean that the hyper link to the music file will be hidden). If anyone know how to do this please help me!

Thanks a lot!

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by LeeWicKeD

ok i have now fully translated 1.60c to german

@andrew: do you want it via email or as an attachment in the forum here?

Sorry for the delay - I've been on holiday. Could you post the translation here? I'll pick it up and include it in the official release.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by lovevn

Hi,

This is every good hack. I installed version 1.3 and did not use it because I bought the Vbadvanced links directory. But now I tested the newest version and realized that it is excellent now and I want to use it for my music page.
Things work well. Howerver,I want to give a user group pessmission for ONLY listen(play )the music file but not to DOWNLOAD(it mean that the hyper link to the music file will be hidden). If anyone know how to do this please help me!

Thanks a lot!

It is an easy edit to the links_linkbit template - you just need to remove the hyperlinks to local_links.php?action=jump - let me know if you need help. I'm not going to make any further releases to the vb 3.0x version of this hack - efforts concentrate on the 3.5x version and I'll include this as an option.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by NxTek

Super. heh

Can't help you with this