Miscellaneous Hacks - vbNetwork - share forums with other boards

vbNetwork

Summary
This add-on gives you the ability to share forums with other message boards without having to share any database information. The plugin uses webservices to share posts.

Release Notes
Currently the installation is easy but if you want to set up and run your own network it will help if you're familiar with XML. Joining an already existing network is fairly simple.

If you would like my help writing versions for phpBB, IPB or other message board software, please feel free to contact me.

If you are interested you can join my existing network, but please note that it is mostly a trolling-based community of boards. Feel free to start your own network with other boards.

Product Specifications

1. several plugins
2. one cron job
3. file uploads
4. new DB tables
5. several phrases

Installation
Approx 2-5 mins

See the included installation instructions.

Upgrading/Updating

1. upload all files in the upload directory, overwriting any existing files
2. re-import the XML file, setting "Overwrite" to "Yes"

Configuration

See the included documentation for details.

Support

If you encounter problems or discover any bugs, please create a new issue at: http://code.google.com/p/vbnetwork/issues/list

Sample

This is one shared forum on three different boards (WARNING: the content of these forums may be NSFW).
http://www.anothermessageboard.com/f...splay.php?f=29
http://www.juot.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=50
http://www.drunkensquirrel.net/com/f...splay.php?f=28

PLEASE CLICK INSTALL!

[BirdOPrey5]

You'd have to make a different (sub)forum for each network...

[I.M.O.G.]

This thread has been active more recently than the thread for vb3.8, so from that thread:

Originally Posted by I.M.O.G.

I'm receiving a lot of XML parser errors (error code 3 when running the scheduled task) when using this mod.

For example, a post with regular quotes is fine:

I'm Matt, AKA "I.M.O.G."

But a post with these quotes is not:

I’m Matt, AKA “I.M.O.G.”

I'm running a network with 8 nodes, so I'm working at improving the parsing code to be a bit more liberal. I've also noticed you have to be careful about the settings on each board - depending on the image settings and such, you may receive errors if one board in the network has more liberal settings configured than another.

Anyone have experience resolving issues like this?

[mavherzog]

Originally Posted by Octavius.

I'll join it. Do you have a network setup already?

Don't have one setup yet. But will do so once I get the time (perhaps this weekend).

[I.M.O.G.]

For anyone using this plugin, you may want to make the following changes to improve the way vbnetwork handles special characters:

Line 320 of "/forums/network/function_network.php" should read:
$xmlstr = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>'."\n";

The line just below that should change "=" to ".=".

With that small change, you will eliminate a lot of "error code 3" instances, where the XML feeds are corrupted due to the use of special characters in posts.

[mavherzog]

I have installed and created a new network. For those wanting to join and network with geekhack.org, please drop me an email at: me [at] imav [dot] org

[I.M.O.G.]

mavherzog, or anyone else sharing public sections, are you doing anything to address SEO concerns? Not sure if duplicate content is something you are concerned with.

Currently I have 9 of my own sites in a network, however we are syncing internal/private sections not accessed by search robots.

[mavherzog]

I plan to create new forums specifically to be networked. I have had no takers so far regarding other sites willing to network with me. (which I find quite odd considering geekhack is quite busy and can only help those that choose to network with us)

[OldSchoolDSL]

Originally Posted by mavherzog

I plan to create new forums specifically to be networked. I have had no takers so far regarding other sites willing to network with me. (which I find quite odd considering geekhack is quite busy and can only help those that choose to network with us)

I have this installed on a test site only. Not sure if it work or not, but willing to test it if you are.

[Pure Dope]

How does this work?

I need this installed on both vb forums?

[BirdOPrey5]

Yes both sites must be setup... One site because the "network admin" and sets up a network password- the other site needs to enter the password (and have the URL of the admin forum) among other settings.