Major Additions - DownloadsII

There's a vB4 version of this mod available: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=231427

DownloadsII

DownloadsII is a download database that integrates into vBulletin. It allows you to upload files, add images to them, create categories, link to external files - and more. It is very flexible and has many options.

Because a lot of people keep on asking this:
This mod works with any version of vBulletin 3.7.x and 3.8.x!

It's also coded 100% XHTML 1.0 Transitional valid, just like vBulletin itself.



Instructions & Support

You can find an installation manual in the zip package (Readme-Install.txt).

We try to answer most questions asked in this thread. Please don't send any pm's if we don't ask for them, as we said we try to give a high level of support in this thread. Don't forget to click the install link, so you will receive important update notifications.

Screenshots & Live demo

At the bottom of this post, you can find 6 screenshots of the front-end and back-end (AdminCP part) of the DownloadsII software. You can see the newest version in action at the Minatica.be Downloads (Dutch).

Changelog (version 5.1.2)

Jelle

• Backported CSRF security fix from the vB 4 release
• Added permission check for Update Counters
• Fixed PHP warnings when running PHP 5.3
• Removed the imagecreatefrombmp() function. It doesn't exist.
• Added permission check for rating submissions

You can find all the changelogs of this and older versions here.

Help!!! I can't upload large files??

This is probably the second most asked question. Have a look at this post for the solution.

It doesn't work with GARS?!

If you also use the latest version of GARS, you will get the "Fields marked in RED must be filled in!" error when uploading a file. I provided a fix here on the GARS forums.

Addons

We are offering 3 addons for this mod at the moment (have a look at the bottom of this post for them). DownloadsII contains 5 hook locations for the vBulletin plugin systems, so you can add extra functionality without file edits.

Do you want to help expanding DownloadsII (if you are a coder)? Check out this post!

Notes

• ecDownloads Buddy is NOT compatible with this version. If you are using the Buddy, you should UNINSTALL it before installing DownloadsII ver 5.x.x. The Buddy's features are now integrated into DownloadsII.
• DownloadsII is a direct derivative work from Ron1n's ecDownloads.

Addons

• DownloadsII ver 5.0 vbAdvanced Add-On
• DownloadsII PM moderation notification
• DownloadsII Create New Thread Add-On
• DownloadsII Simple RSS Feed Add-On
• DownloadsII[Add-On] - Upload Rules

[FReeSTER]

Hopefully someone knows specially the creator of this Mod can help me.

This is how the problem looks like when I add a file

[maidos]

might be a template issue, tried vb default skin?

[FReeSTER]

Originally Posted by maidos

might be a template issue, tried vb default skin?

Yes, I did try the Default skin and have the same issue.

[RS_Jelle]

Please PM me your site URL and a login/pass with download permissions (to add/edit files)

[FReeSTER]

Originally Posted by RS_Jelle

Please PM me your site URL and a login/pass with download permissions (to add/edit files)

PM on the way thank you

[vbob]

Very nice mod..!!! Excellent.

I have some improvement suggestions and questions, though.

How can I change the picture thumb Quality and how can I change the dimensions of the picture thumbnail?

I have a forum about 3D modeling and Art, and I believe that sometimes pictures are important.
I created a sector about materials available for users to download and the picture thumbnail of the material.
Right now I see that the thumbnail of the uploaded picture does not have enough quality (for my needs) to clearly see what the material is about.
It would be nice to be able to play with those parameters. :-)

Another thing I am interested of having in the mod, is the below:
I believe that Downloads II Create New Thread Add-On is a very useful plugin.

The basic meaning of existing of a plugin like this (Downloads II), is that the users can avoid searching inside posts and threads for specific types of attachments. Instead, they can find everything for downloading" in one place".

Another good reason is that because of the already configured User permission system of vbulletin. Let's assume that administrator want guests/anonymous users to be able to view pictures and not download specific files (zip, tar, rar). The already default permission system of Vbulletin can't help him.
So, He have two options (on/off).

1. Let everyone Download to view/download attachments inside forums (the pictures and the zips - every file).
2. Don't let Specific usergroups (like anonymous/guests) to view/download attachments inside forums.

The extra plugin "Create New Thread Add-On" is a great extra feature. But it can't help.....
...I believe that what we really need is a better integration of this excellent plugin with the attachment system of vbulletin so users can (also) upload their files inside their posts (where they need it).
Examble:

1. The user Write an article about 3D Modeling.
2. The user upload some pictures through the default attachment system of Vbulletin.
3. The user Places the pictures using the attach icon ( [attach]XXXX[/attach]) inside his post.
4. The user Uploads the zip, avi, tar, rar, mov file (every file that is not a picture)
5. The user submit his thread/post and finish.

Result: The downloads II section is empty. The files are lost inside the threads. No-one can find and download them easily.

Now let's see it from the other side....

1. The user Write an article about 3D Modeling.
2. The user upload some pictures through the default attachment system of Vbulletin.
3. The user Places the pictures using the attach icon ( [attach]XXXX[/attach]) inside his post.
4. The user submit his thread/post.
5. The user go to the downloads II section.
6. The user Uploads the zip, avi, tar, rar, mov files to the Downloads II Section in the categories and put some pictures there too (for thumbnail purposes. i.e. If the user uploads a 3D Model, he would like to have more than one pictures attached showing various renderings of the model in different angles and "choose" one picture attachment to be the basic thumbnail of his 3D Model in the downloads II section. Not only the first one. He would like to Choose what he want,the default thumbnail could be the first one attached,though).
7. The user opens another page in his browser and open the download section there (he want the links of his attachments to place them inside the post/thread)
8. The user EDIT his posted post/thread and copy/paste the URL's of the Files he attached in the Downloads II Section.
9. The user submit his thread/post again and finish.

Result:
Downloads II Section have various files for users to download.
The file attachments are collected together, but they have no reference to the Post/Thread (so, the people who download the files (the downloaders), can't see in what thread/post the file exists) Only the thread/post reader can see the file in the downloads II when he clicks the File URL.
The thread/post have the file attachments (but no counter of how many downloads have been done there--> inside the post I mean). They can see the download counter only to the downloads II section).
Finaly, Administrator is unxious about the double posting of picture files (and the space MB of the resulting Thumbnails)....(What a waste of space....he thinks. This is not an optimized site)


Conclusion:

1. What if We could specify the Quality of the attached images?
2. What if We could specify the thumb dimensions of the attached images?
3. What if We could have a second "upload attachment" option in our threads/posts (the Downloads II attachment method)? (Administrator, can set the permissions so he allow only picture attachments to the default attachment system and the rest files to the Downloads II Attachment system). Both attachment systems must exist. The second one (Downloads II) is expanding the default one with it's intergration.
4. What if We could have the attach button/menu have the Downloads II attachments there and be able to post them easily to our posts like the default way? ([attach]XXX[/attach])
5. What if We could have the ability to attach the Picture attachments we uploaded in our thread/post inside the integrated Downloads II Section and share them between this two (thread/post - Downloads II)?
6. What if We could have a reference of our thread name with the prefix too (text with the link inside it, that when the user click on it, it opens in the same page the thread. Not in a blank page)
7. What if the Downloads II plugin could allow the integration with other plugins easily like video Embedding options for an avi attachment? (I don't know if it is already can be done).
   • i.e.The user uploads a Video-Tutorial for 3D Modeling (*.avi, *.mov, *.ogm, etc). He puts it to the downloads Section, so users can download it. He also want to embed it to the thread/post so users can view it directly into the post/thread. The tutorial thread/post is completed. Everyone can do Everything that is relative to the Tutorial Thread (view pictures, download files, View Embedded videos, etc.)
   The thread starter is happy because the interface he used is user friendly. Now he want to write more tutorials and in general post more threads. The Viewer of the Thread is Happy, because the integration Helped him to View the thread and/or the media/files of the thread and he also downloaded easily the attachments. The administrator is happy because he can set the permissions easilly (i.e. anonymous/guest users can see the images but they must be registered to download the zip files, etc) everyone else is happy and he can drink his coffe enjoying his well working and optimized site...!!!
   Everyone is Happy....!!!

What do you think about my suggestions?

[SeanMT]

Hi, great mod. Been using it for a while now. The only thing I'm having trouble doing though is sorting the files alphabetically.

For example on here the files are displaying in the order they were added.

How can I get them to sort alphabetically by default.

Admin CP > Downloads > Settings > Sort By Weight is set to NO.

How do I do this?

[columbusgeek]

I must be daft, but if I upload a zip file then there is no way to post a image unless I post a followup? I cant upload a zip file with 4 images for example?

[columbusgeek]

Also, I noticed if I do not want to expose my downloads directory and keep it outside of my public_html then images no longer work.

It appears that I HAVE to keep the downloads in public_html

Is this correct?

[Digital Jedi]

Originally Posted by columbusgeek

I must be daft, but if I upload a zip file then there is no way to post a image unless I post a followup? I cant upload a zip file with 4 images for example?

You can always use BBCode to display your images.

Originally Posted by columbusgeek

Also, I noticed if I do not want to expose my downloads directory and keep it outside of my public_html then images no longer work.

It appears that I HAVE to keep the downloads in public_html

Is this correct?

Generally, any vBulletin modification would need it's folders and files somewhere in the root directory of the forum.