Latest Blog Feed in Postbit using Carp RSS

I just posted this over at vbWebmaster Forums. I'm all excited because this is my first plugin and I know pretty much nothing about vbulletin. I got the idea from Shawn's forum at Digital Point

I just put this together for 3.5 using carp.

Step 1) Add a custom profile field for the RSS link. In my setup it was field5.
Step 2) Edit your postbit template as follows:

PHP Code:

<if condition="$post['field5']">
<div class="smallfont">Recent Blog: $blogentry</div>
        </if> 


Step 3) Create a new plugin. I named mine: Carp Configuration. Attach it to the "global_start" hook location.
Here is the code:

PHP Code:

require_once '/path/to/carp/carp.php';
CarpConf('cacheinterval',120);
/** You may want to set a cachepath specifically for your forum **/
CarpConf('cachepath','/where/you/want/your/cache/files/');
CarpConf('cacherelative',0);
/** You can omit the above two lines without a problem **/
CarpConf('cborder','');
CarpConf('poweredby','');
CarpConf('maxitems',1);
CarpConf('iorder','link'); 


Step 4) One more plugin. This one I called: Get Users Blog Entry
Attach this to hook location: postbit_display_start

PHP Code:

ob_start();
CarpCacheShow($post[field5]);
$blogentry = ob_get_contents();
ob_end_clean(); 


That's it... away you go. If you don't have carp, you can check it out at: http://www.geckotribe.com/rss/carp/
I'm not sure if this will work with the free version, as I have the paid version.

I'm thinking about using grouper to set it up so I can parse atom files, but I don't know how important that will be.

Note: carp allows you to enter local paths and http paths for rss feeds. I've tried entering both in my user profile field successfully. You may want to disallow users from entering a local path just to be on the safe side. I don't have any code for that right now, but I'm sure there are some examples for field validation out there.

Carp has an option to store it's output in a variable ($carpoutput), but it didn't seem to work for me. That's why I used the ob_start and end_clean functions. If anybody has any feedback as to how this may be improved, I'm willing to listen.

[Snider]

Got it - the second plugin had the wrong filed in it !!!

Thanks

[wtricks]

Yet another hack that doesn't work and no one would know why. I would like to get some thorough installation guide (with all the steps DETAILED, such as creating that profile field for example) and other issues.

It's been weeks since I posted for support and still NO ANSWER.

That kinda does it. Will have to look for something else

[irishblacknight]

Originally Posted by wtricks

Yet another hack that doesn't work and no one would know why. I would like to get some thorough installation guide (with all the steps DETAILED, such as creating that profile field for example) and other issues.

It's been weeks since I posted for support and still NO ANSWER.

That kinda does it. Will have to look for something else

People post hacks in their spare time.

If you can't get the hack to work that's not their fault.

If you were paying for the hack it would be a different matter, but I honestly don't see how you have any right to complain when something given for free does not work for you.

[Snider]

Works fine for me

[wtricks]

Can you please tell me what changes you made with it so that it works?

I am indeed frustrated since I have tried ALL possible changes people posted in here and it won't work. I am a skin designer for forums and have installed hundreds of hacks that worked. And it's frustrating for me to not be able to install something because of lack of correct code and installation guide. A real installation guide with all steps.

Sorry if I offend, but I paid 160 USD for a script and 20% of the hacks I installed won't work, I won't get support from the developers, who still want to have the hacks nominated, but won't even write a readme file that would take you through all the steps

There is surely something people did to make this work, it would be nice if the people with experience in this would tell us, the ones who fail to understand, what to do. That's what I do in my communities and it would be beneficial for this one too.

[BigJimTheLug]

*Nice work, I'll try this. I have the most recent blog entry listed as well, but only using a user's website or blog link.

[vegabond]

Originally Posted by djbaxter

Did you create and run the cron job ("scheduled task") to update the feeds?

Could you please tell me how can i set a Cron job for blog entry hack?

No err, just showing:

Recent Blog:

[pmkb]

No chron job is required. It's working fine with 3.6.8.

Make sure you have Carp installed and working correctly before blaming this hack.

[vegabond]

Originally Posted by pmkb

No chron job is required. It's working fine with 3.6.8.

Make sure you have Carp installed and working correctly before blaming this hack.

Carp is installed. And I did not blame this hack

What can be the fault? Can u guess?

Thanks

[pmkb]

Not without seeing your site's ACP. I'd suggest double checking the instructions above and make sure that you modified the paths, profile field number, etc. to fit your set up.