Administrative and Maintenance Tools - Automatic Template Compiler

Development Tool: Automatic Template Compiler
Requirements: PHP 5, vBulletin 3.5+

Summary: Allows you to edit HTML files directly instead of using the AdminCP template editor. ATC will automatically update the database if any changes are detected. This is intended for a development environment only, and will only run while in debug mode.

Why: Template development is a huge PITA because of how templates are stored in the database - they are compiled. This means you cannot simply save a file, or update the database, because vBulletin needs to compile them first, and maybe even update the style cache. This saves TONS of time copy pasting and switching between your editor, your page, and the vBulletin template editor box.

How it works: ATC maintains a checksum (md5 hash) of each template body, and when it finds that one is out of sync with your working copy, it will save that template automatically in a very efficient manner. It updates both the template about to be displayed in memory and also the real copy in the database.

It also includes a very basic import utility so you can copy your existing templates into the filesystem for easy editing.

How to use it: Follow the install instructions, and then whenever you edit a file, the changes will transfer to vBulletin itself.

This was written in PHP 5 (OO) and I have no plans to make it work with PHP 4, but I may eventually build an interface to manage the settings, but for developers, configuring it should be no problem.

[Kiint]

Any chance of some screenshots?

I like to know what I'm installing before I install it...saves a lot of work later

My host has an upgrade to 5.0 button in my website panel but am reluctant to click on it until everything I have on my vbulletin site works with it....is it backwards compatible?

[sweede]

There is nothing to screenshot...

[cheesegrits]

Originally Posted by furst

Let me see if I understand this thing.

Does this mean that with this installed I can open my vBulletin in Dreamweaver, make whatever changes I want, and then it will be updated on my site just like that to reflect the changes I made? If so, that's awesome.

Yes. Your templates basically become html files you can edit with your choice of editor. Any changes you make will be automatically compiled back into vB the next time any page is loaded.

-- hugh

[Kiint]

Originally Posted by cheesegrits

Yes. Your templates basically become html files you can edit with your choice of editor. Any changes you make will be automatically compiled back into vB the next time any page is loaded.

-- hugh

Now that makes sense. Kind of like downloading a html page, editing it, uploading it again and vb converts it back into a template ready for use.

Good idea

[Lionel]

I've got this rather strange issue. Earlier I downloaded 41 templates, formatted them and reuploaded via SSH. ATC found them.

Now, I added phrases to all those templates from my desktop and again reuploaded. ATC can't find them. If I open from server and save (without doing anything) ATC finds them .... Are there any issues with ATC and variables?

[brendanc]

Originally Posted by Lionel

I've got this rather strange issue. Earlier I downloaded 41 templates, formatted them and reuploaded via SSH. ATC found them.

Now, I added phrases to all those templates from my desktop and again reuploaded. ATC can't find them. If I open from server and save (without doing anything) ATC finds them .... Are there any issues with ATC and variables?

Maybe it is checking the created or modified date on the file?

[brendanc]

I haven't been able to get this to work. I'm not sure what's going wrong. Would you mind updating the product here?

[sweede]

So i went and downloaded the code from the SVN, which wasnt entirely working (much like ATC was).

Attached is a few modifications (and screenshots).

Currently it only works for the master style (-1).

It does support wildcards for the product field (example: ./templates/Master/vBulletin, %, 0, -1 )

[cheesegrits]

Originally Posted by Lionel

I've got this rather strange issue. Earlier I downloaded 41 templates, formatted them and reuploaded via SSH. ATC found them.

Now, I added phrases to all those templates from my desktop and again reuploaded. ATC can't find them. If I open from server and save (without doing anything) ATC finds them .... Are there any issues with ATC and variables?

I've come across a similar issue ... I'll bug AJ about it when I can catch him online. He's getting harder and harder to to pin down as his Daddyhood Date approaches!

-- hugh

[jim6763nva]

Ok. I downloaded and installed this and now I'm completely clueless as to where to go from here. Is there any kind of "Getting Started" steps, tutorials, or something to kick us Noobs in the right direction? I'd like to use DW CS3. What information do I add to the Plugin... Do I create a "/template" folder on my hosting service or locally? I'm also currently using Wamp locally and would like to replicate my remote vb installation on my home PC.. or is that not the right way to do it?

Any help would be appreciated,
Jim