vBulletin [2.2.8] and Post Nuke [.7.2.1] Integration

This post will be updated from time to time with new info. So check this first post whenever you want to see if there are any changes to the code or docs.

11-9-02 12:15pm est
Made the hack files into zip format.
Added BANNING in PostNuke! (cookie based atm)
Added a lot of instructions.
Changed the link to PostWrap at the bottom of this post.
A couple bug fixes.

11-05-02 12:50pm est
Fixed a bug in the display avatar in PostNuke user profile screen.
I changed the rar download to reflect this.
You can find the fix in this post:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...984#post318984

The above fix is in the zip file attached.

11-04-02 11:00pm est
Updated both the docs and the rar file.
It includes instructions on disabling the PN Admin ability to add or modify users. Only the vBulletin admin screen should be use to update or delete users.

Added a to-do to the list for making the hack work when adding new custom fields. As it is now you should not add any custom fields untill this is worked out. Although you can add custom user fields with some tweaking of the hack. It just needs to be automated somehow...haven't figured out how yet.

Also added a to-do to be sure moderators can modify or delete users where allowed.

Be sure you re-read through the whole thing in case something was overlooked!

11-04-02 4:30pm est
Added a link to my test site at the bottom
Just noticed that I haven't done anything with the PostNuke admin. Don't use the PostNuke admin to change or delete users until I fix this.

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Before you install this hack I must say:

This hack was only tested and used on a new install of vBulletin!!!

Also...BACK UP YOUR DATABASE FIRST!!!!

Once vBulletin is installed you use a small set of scripts that pulls users from the PostNuke tables and inserts them into the vB tables. The only user in the vBulletin database MUST be the admin of vBulletin! If your database already has members then you will have to search out a script that will merge the PostNuke database into vBulletins database.

The insertion files are included in the rar file with the instructions.

Above all else you MUST verify that the user tables are identical in the userid and username columns between PostNuke and vBulletin! If not then the hack will NOT work and you'll get information for wrong users and the whole thing will get buggered up and may even destroy the viability of your current user database!!! So complete and error free mirroring between the two user databases is absolutely essential!

Kier's avatar to file hack MUST be used with this hack as I tried many hours to get the hack to work without it. If you know of a working way to get the avatar from vB to display in a non-vB script I would appreciate the heads up (yes I rummaged through the hacks here at vBulletin.org but none of them worked for me)

If you don't follow the above warnings then TUFF! You've been warned :smoke:

This hack was written using ver2.2.8 of vBulletin and ver .7.2.1 of PostNuke.

The hack is nearly 100% integration. That is to say that PostNuke will use the resources of vBulletin nearly 100% pertaining to the user system. If you find areas where there needs to be better integration or areas I have overlooked please let me know so I can correct it!

This hack shares the user names and ids, avatars, signatures and all other aspects of user information except permissions and groups(it does work with the PN groups though)....which I feel should be separate from each other anyway.

The only things I can think of that are not integrated is the private message system and the ability to add news to the front page from vBulletin and visa-versa. If you know of hacks that would do this would you please share it with me?

Some things this hack will do:

New users coming in from PostNuke who want to register will be redirected to vB to register.

Users who have used the vB registration form can log in to PN but not be allowed to do the same things as a fully registered user can do.

When users click their email link to finish registration they will then have registered status in PN.

The user profile screen in PN displays the same information used in vB.

When using Kier's avatar to file hack the user profile screen in PN will display the same avatar as the user has for vb. (again.....if you know how to get the avatar from vB I would appreciate the heads up!)

When a user needs to have a password emailed to them they will be redirected to the vB send password screen.


This is a very involved hack using 7 different files. I will try to give some support to this....But since I've had vBulletin for only a week (or so) I don't know how well I'll be able to. Yeah...sounds scary to hear but believe me the hack works

Thanks to all who would like to test this hack!

As you'll see I need a bit of work in the docs. If you could help with that I would appreciate it!


Some to-do things....

Make the hack more PostNuke API friendly.

Change areas to make it so it will automatically detect the table prefix for PostNuke.

Create a new field where one can poke info in for each domain in a multi-site setup then have the hack peek this field.

Integrate the news system of PostNuke into vBulletin so when news is posted it will be posted to a particular forum.

Make the docs easier to follow.

Clean it all up using appropriate syntax..ie...using arrays where needed in loops etc.

Add the ability for the hack to add custom fields from vB. As it is now you should NOT add any custom fields!

But, of course, only if there's enough interest in the hack for me to do this....

To see this hack in action visit the test site...this is ONLY a test site and is not open to the public. Only those interested in testing the hack may use it.

vBulletin and PostNuke integrated .... go ahead and create an account...mess with it...whatever...The test site will only be available until I am confident it is bug free then will be moved to another site and be live.

Also the test site is using a module called "PostWrap". It incorporates vBulletin logins into the main page and is not part of the hack above. You can find PostWrap at PostWrap 2.01 at PostNuke.com

[Nomb]

I have our site integrated. Brew did some great work here but I had to change A LOT of things to make this work correctly.

Things I'd still like to do when I have time:

1) Pull avatars over from vB. The php included in this hack was pretty sloppy. I didn't even look into it cause I mainly wanted to get the two integrated so I could open our pN site and allow new registrations.

2) Integrate PM system.

3) Integrate the vB calendar and the pN module ? PostCalendar.

4) Tighten up the banning integration, that code was somewhat sloppy as well. It was made for moderators, but wasn?t setup for admins to simply move a vB user into the banned group.

5) Tighten up User Group integration. If I get this straight banning will be all set as well.

6) Create frames so that vB forms appear in pN. I think there is a module out there called PostWrap ? dunno haven?t looked into this?

Just FYI, this hack creates a channel between vB and pN. Meaning, after it is implemented you will still have 2 mysql databases. Furthermore, user administration, registration, and all other features are done using the vB forms. After one of these vB forms are submitted there are small sql queries that update the pN database to reflect any changes. I don?t know about you but I like it this way. As I do more work and tighten up some of the features I mentioned above I?ll post a full release hack, unless someone else finishes one first.

You can check it out at http://www.otllive.com

( :

[bharvey42]

Well I have a bridge on my site so until I get another vB for my other site I won't have much time to work on a non-bridged integration.

However I am in the process of working on the pm system and the profile system.

I have both using the same database.

Yes you can use PostWrap to display vB within PostNuke there are other ways to accomplish this as well. My soultion is not using postwrap.

You will all be able to see it when the site is finished, unless somebody would like to donate an extra license for me to use

Until then stay tuned.

[C.Birch]

Originally posted by Nomb
I have our site integrated. Brew did some great work here but I had to change A LOT of things to make this work correctly.

Things I'd still like to do when I have time:

1) Pull avatars over from vB. The php included in this hack was pretty sloppy. I didn't even look into it cause I mainly wanted to get the two integrated so I could open our pN site and allow new registrations.

2) Integrate PM system.

3) Integrate the vB calendar and the pN module ? PostCalendar.

4) Tighten up the banning integration, that code was somewhat sloppy as well. It was made for moderators, but wasn?t setup for admins to simply move a vB user into the banned group.

5) Tighten up User Group integration. If I get this straight banning will be all set as well.

6) Create frames so that vB forms appear in pN. I think there is a module out there called PostWrap ? dunno haven?t looked into this?

Just FYI, this hack creates a channel between vB and pN. Meaning, after it is implemented you will still have 2 mysql databases. Furthermore, user administration, registration, and all other features are done using the vB forms. After one of these vB forms are submitted there are small sql queries that update the pN database to reflect any changes. I don?t know about you but I like it this way. As I do more work and tighten up some of the features I mentioned above I?ll post a full release hack, unless someone else finishes one first.

You can check it out at http://www.otllive.com

( :

sounds great.

yeah theres a mod called postwrap for pn but it opens things in a i fream so for forums you have two scroll bars you have to move the pn sites and then the i freams.

[dkny]

Originally posted by Nomb
I have our site integrated. Brew did some great work here but I had to change A LOT of things to make this work correctly.

Things I'd still like to do when I have time:

1) Pull avatars over from vB. The php included in this hack was pretty sloppy. I didn't even look into it cause I mainly wanted to get the two integrated so I could open our pN site and allow new registrations.

2) Integrate PM system.

3) Integrate the vB calendar and the pN module ? PostCalendar.

4) Tighten up the banning integration, that code was somewhat sloppy as well. It was made for moderators, but wasn?t setup for admins to simply move a vB user into the banned group.

5) Tighten up User Group integration. If I get this straight banning will be all set as well.

6) Create frames so that vB forms appear in pN. I think there is a module out there called PostWrap ? dunno haven?t looked into this?

Just FYI, this hack creates a channel between vB and pN. Meaning, after it is implemented you will still have 2 mysql databases. Furthermore, user administration, registration, and all other features are done using the vB forms. After one of these vB forms are submitted there are small sql queries that update the pN database to reflect any changes. I don?t know about you but I like it this way. As I do more work and tighten up some of the features I mentioned above I?ll post a full release hack, unless someone else finishes one first.

You can check it out at http://www.otllive.com

( :

Looks good on your site, great work. if you accept donations, I'll be willing to donate when you done. Alot of heads are waiting for this. Btw on your site the "Affiliates" block, was that something you made?

[C.Birch]

I think the Affiliates Block is just a html block but i might be wrong.

But im looking farward to this hack being fully done has i now use postnuke for my main site.

my forum has the following stats:

Most users ever online was 130 on 08-12-2002 at 00:29
Members: 1,986

so adding postnuke to my vb database will be a big hit.

[UnForums2k]

iv been waiting on this for along time... this is a must install... but i cant find my modules/NS-Your_Account/user/modules/user.php it doesnt exist.... thanx

[bharvey42]

anybody have an extra vB they want to donate to developing the hack further?

[Rezin]

I'm willing to make a donation to get this moving too.

I'd really like to get this hack going, I have a pretty decently trafficked site (and it's only 4 months old!) and we have some beautiful hacks done (compared to comepeting sites) and this would be the icing on the cake.......

I am also interested in skins and the like. If we have talented peeps here, who could design a smooth skin/theme that would match my site, I am willing to pay for that as well. (emial rezin@cycleforums.com if interested)

Thanks for taking it this far, MANY of us anxiously await the outcome!

Rezin
www.cycleforums.com

[bharvey42]

Once I get an extra vB I will start working on some better integration for it. Rezin if your looking for some help on some integration shoot me an e-mail.

[UnForums2k]

ok im tryin to install this hack but i am lost on the first step of modifing the vb.... iv hacked alot of vbs but i dont know wether to replace the whole thing or what? can anyone clear this up???

and hint for future updates... update your instructions to be more easily read... *just suggestion* thanx

And change everything after the above line up to $action="modify"; (but don't change this line)