vB Journal 1.5 Beta 3

vB Journal 1.5.0 Beta 3
by Anthony Scudese

• Description:
  Allow your community members to express themselves like never before with their own journal! vB Journal 1.5.0 extends the popular vB Journal 1.0.x system with tons of new features and more stability than ever before.
• Features:
  • Full vBulletin 3.0.x intergration
  • 1.0.1 Features:
    • Comment System
    • "GoToMyJournal"
    • link from postbit to journal
    • link from profile to journal
    • link from memberlist to journal
    • usergroup permissions
    • journal buddy system(by Wonko)
    • Journal Search Engine
    • journal highlight
    • bbcode parsing
    • smilie parsing
    • Admin Cp Support Section
    • Journal Status Icons
    • Who is viewing
    • most recent journal entries and journals
    • Who Can View for journals and entries
    • Complete journal and entry privacy
    • Comment on entries or journals
    • Journal Moderation(Like Post and Thread Moderation)
    • Entry Moderation(Like Post and Thread Moderation)
    • Pagination
    • Rating System
    • Lock System
    • Moods
    • "Can Have Journal" on a per user basis
    • Ip Logging
    • Journalists can name their journals
    • Export entries in TXT or XML format
    • Flood System
    • Administrators have absolute permissions
    • Search in Journal
    • Last Entry on Journal Index
    • Numerous AdminCp Settings
    • Unique Standard vB Images for vB Journal
    • View Single Entry
  • 1.5.0 Beta 1 Features:
    • Multiple Syndication Settings Including RSS 0.91, RSS 2.0, Atom 1.0, XML, CSV, and TXT.
    • vBulletin Standard Editors Added
    • Preview Entry
    • Reverse Entry Order
    • Improved Search Engine
    • Recent Comments for an Entry on Single Entry Page
    • Admin Settable Sort Orders
    • Printable Entry Format
    • Dynamic Last Entry
    • Database Indexes For More Speed
    • Optimized Code
    • Comes with Template, Phrase, and Database Installer and Upgrader.
    • Increased Security
  • 1.5.0 Beta 2 Features:
    • Reworked Editor Templates
    • Support For WYSIWYG
    • Back-End Post Checker
    • New Journal Buddy Interface
    • Navigation Bars Added Back
    • New Settings for Minimum/Maximum Postings
    • Known Bug Issues Solved
  • 1.5.0 Beta 3 Features:
    • Known Bugs Resolved
    • New Feature Settings
    • Majority of Settings Converted to Bitfields
    • Some Maintenance Tools Added
• Disclaimer:
  • Support may be denied if provided files are edited/modified and support may be stopped at any time due to any circumstances.
  • The copyright notice may not be modified or removed.
• Support:
  • Where to Get Support?
    • AIM: Antonbomb22
    • antonbomb22(at)gmail.com
    • this thread!
  • How to Report An Error:
    1. State The Error Message
    2. The Version of both vBulletin and vB Journal you are using.
    3. What page the error occured on(i.e. journal.php?do=showjournal)
    4. Screenshot if necessary
  • Read All The Entire First Post and Any Official Posts Following Before Posting An Error/Problem
• Side Credits:
  • Zero Tolerance
  • KirbyDE
  • Danny.vbt
  • WonkotheSane
• Contents of vBJournal_1-5-0_Beta3.zip:
  • install.txt
  • Upload
    • journal.php
    • admincp
      • journaladmin.php
      • journalinstaller.php
      • journalmaintenace.php
      • journalupgrade.php
      • journalupgrade2.php
      • journalupgrade3.php
      • journalupgrade4.php
      • vbj_install_class.php
      • vbj_phrases_install.xml
      • vbj_templates_install.xml
      • vbj_phrases_upgrade2.xml
      • vbj_templates_upgrade2.xml
      • vbj_templates_upgrade3.xml
    • includes
      • vbjournal_class.php
    • images
      • buttons
        • delete.gif
        • discuss.gif
        • newcomment.gif
        • newentry.gif
        • newentry_small.gif
        • newjournal.gif
      • statusicon
        • journal_lock.gif
        • journal_new.gif
        • journal_old.gif
  • Upgrade
    • 1-0-1_to_1-5-0_Beta1
      • Instructions.txt
    • 1-5-0_Beta1_to_1-5-0_Beta2
      • Instructions.txt
    • 1-5-0_Beta2_to_1-5-0_Beta3
      • Instructions.txt
• Demo:
  • http://www.animationtalk.com/forum/journal.php
• Updates/Fixes:
  • See Post Below or Click Here.

Please Click Install

[T3MEDIA]

Originally Posted by AN-net

i have not added the option for that but it is only within posts if i did

1.HTML would be a good thing. Just have it restricted like the webpage/guestbook hack does. only specific html code is valid. Almost all blogs are html to be honest only "we" use vb code the rest of the world doesnt. You want to cater to the client.

2.As well you should break the boxes... most blogs is one big box and at the end of each entry there is a way to coment or view the comments. Yeah that would mean your templates would change and comments would only show on the entry page not the main users journal template.

the boxes dont look good it gives a forum look and these are blogs.

3.It would be nice if they could tag blogs and have that sit on their page (say the top not the side) you know like some blogs they like in perticular. Many call this tagging or whatever.

4.The comments should have the useres avatar. that would be hot. Have it in legacy though the other way on top will look silly or give admin the option.

5. You should put some default css that the user can use for thier blog and is contained within your code.

6.You should give the option to speperate the vb buddy list from the forums... default should be the fourms friends IF YOU WANT IT PRIVATE. they get confused on that big time at first. If they want "high" level privacy they should beable to then pick.

7.Ignored members should default to blocked on the journal.

8.I am sure you saw my journal layout you should have the XML tag box like I do I think people like that.

9. The option to have a banner location on the side. I placed mine there... if you want i can give that as an addition Im not a php pro so I wish I could have it work by x distance place x banners... because 1 small post the banner looks good but 2 large posts and the banner disapears because its miles behind uptop the page. (that slidding javascript/dhtml sucks dont do it)

10. Have an auto PM to the users friends that they have added a new blog entry. Have the option to turn that feature off in options for everyone. That way if I could care less that you have a blog I will remove it. (sadly this would work best if it was part of the vbfriends hack. reason if I have you as a buddy and you have me as a buddy then send the pm. One way could start spam)

11. last have it inform users that they got a new comment.

12 The most important have it make a RSS feed of the top x feeds. by admin choice so we can put them into feedster or Technorati. (Newest journals, latest entries, most comments and most viewed RSS feeds of x limit 15,20,30 whatever)

As it is now your stuff is pritty strong... I am telling you if you have it installed this way you can sell the product because blogs right now DO NOT have fourm features... you have alot ahead of them with this product your creating.

[AN-net]

some of your suggestions will be reserved more for version two then this version necessarily. i am currently not looking at giving individual users access to creating their templates. my current solution to opening up more control in version 2 will be to create a layout system from which the individual user can customize by setting provided color fields etc.

My reponse to some of your suggestions, others feedback is encouraged.

Originally Posted by T3MEDIA

2.As well you should break the boxes... most blogs is one big box and at the end of each entry there is a way to coment or view the comments. Yeah that would mean your templates would change and comments would only show on the entry page not the main users journal template.

the boxes dont look good it gives a forum look and these are blogs.

can you elaborate more and provide some examples.

Originally Posted by T3MEDIA

3.It would be nice if they could tag blogs and have that sit on their page (say the top not the side) you know like some blogs they like in perticular. Many call this tagging or whatever.

Explain this ting about sitting on the side. version 2+ i am considering a categorical system for which entries can be placed.

Originally Posted by T3MEDIA

4.The comments should have the useres avatar. that would be hot. Have it in legacy though the other way on top will look silly or give admin the option.

I am not sure about this, will think on it. Some feedback from others about this would be great.

Originally Posted by T3MEDIA

7.Ignored members should default to blocked on the journal.

I like this suggestion, I will incorporate this as an option in Beta 4's JCP.

Originally Posted by T3MEDIA

8.I am sure you saw my journal layout you should have the XML tag box like I do I think people like that.

Sorry I don't understand. Elaborate and provide examples.

Originally Posted by T3MEDIA

9. The option to have a banner location on the side. I placed mine there... if you want i can give that as an addition Im not a php pro so I wish I could have it work by x distance place x banners... because 1 small post the banner looks good but 2 large posts and the banner disapears because its miles behind uptop the page. (that slidding javascript/dhtml sucks dont do it)

Reserved for Version 2+

Originally Posted by T3MEDIA

10. Have an auto PM to the users friends that they have added a new blog entry. Have the option to turn that feature off in options for everyone. That way if I could care less that you have a blog I will remove it. (sadly this would work best if it was part of the vbfriends hack. reason if I have you as a buddy and you have me as a buddy then send the pm. One way could start spam)

11. last have it inform users that they got a new comment.

To solve this I plan a subscription system for version 2+

Originally Posted by T3MEDIA

12 The most important have it make a RSS feed of the top x feeds. by admin choice so we can put them into feedster or Technorati. (Newest journals, latest entries, most comments and most viewed RSS feeds of x limit 15,20,30 whatever)

I will try to implement this in Beta 4.

[T3MEDIA]

Originally Posted by AN-net

some of your suggestions will be reserved more for version two then this version necessarily. i am currently not looking at giving individual users access to creating their templates. my current solution to opening up more control in version 2 will be to create a layout system from which the individual user can customize by setting provided color fields etc.

My reponse to some of your suggestions, others feedback is encouraged.

can you elaborate more and provide some examples.

Avatars with comments here. (on the right "tags" but that will conflit with banners if not set up correctly)

One straight blog (the same blog) but the comments are just links... no broken boxes.. (per entry) on the bottom you will see what I mean by XML button (tag box)... a way I can subscribe... no one uses the drop down. let that be there for more choices.
example here

The first example on the second full page of the blog here.

As well you can by pass that whole RSS thing or keep it.. but you could make the journal.php have a ping section where it pings specific spiders for updates in that ping it tells them what RSS has been updated.

[AN-net]

Originally Posted by T3MEDIA

One straight blog (the same blog) but the comments are just links... no broken boxes.. (per entry) on the bottom you will see what I mean by XML button (tag box)... a way I can subscribe... no one uses the drop down. let that be there for more choices.
example here

The first example on the second full page of the blog here.

this seems it can be addressed in version two with the ability of the admin to add different layouts for the users. the rss button should be easy to implment. that and autodiscovery <link> will be included in Beta 4.

Originally Posted by T3MEDIA

As well you can by pass that whole RSS thing or keep it.. but you could make the journal.php have a ping section where it pings specific spiders for updates in that ping it tells them what RSS has been updated.

Pinging/trackbacks are something I see as much later in development as it is an advanced feature plus I have to do some research into it

[CP,]

Originally Posted by T3MEDIA

2.As well you should break the boxes... most blogs is one big box and at the end of each entry there is a way to coment or view the comments. Yeah that would mean your templates would change and comments would only show on the entry page not the main users journal template.

the boxes dont look good it gives a forum look and these are blogs.

Yep i think this is the main factor which T3MEDIA mentioned look at this:

http://www.khmerlife.com/forum/membe...astposter&f=64 this is a blog page without breaks, i really do think u need to take out the borders otherwise it does give a forum look and people will get bored as there so use to the forum having boxes and borders. Also check this blogs layout out it has no dividers: http://atdotde.blogspot.com/2005/04/...hwerpunkt.html its proper blog, i can show you image examples if u want to see what i mean.

& Lastly i think you should enable HTML just ont he blog pages for the users, so then users can add their own html, i.e. video clips, sounds etc.

I think those two are vital!

Thanks, let us know what happens!

[AN-net]

i am still thinking for the majority of communities html page control should not be allowed. admins being able to add multiple layouts is the best example I think because it gives the admin control over the what html is used and gives the user the look they want. i will make the layout process very simple with an importer so admins can exchange layouts and users can submit their own in the proper format.

[T3MEDIA]

Originally Posted by AN-net

i am still thinking for the majority of communities html page control should not be allowed. admins being able to add multiple layouts is the best example I think because it gives the admin control over the what html is used and gives the user the look they want. i will make the layout process very simple with an importer so admins can exchange layouts and users can submit their own in the proper format.

Your not understanding what we mean by HTML.
Your thinking HTML the whole entire blog...

Your are correct but not fully.

When I say change the color of the blog I am talking CSS. That would be the file that changes on the head of your blog pages making the color scheem change even backgrounds... its like saying let them have thier own style chooser like vb.org has here on the bottom. There isnt any big danger in that. But you should make it more simple than vb's you only need to let them change the border, blog background, page background and title bars... really. buttons and all that dont need to change. and maybe the option to have a bg picture to scale,repeat or center.

the other HTML is IN the actual post. you know as if I made this layout in HTML. when you use blogger they have the wysiwyg display if I paste html into it will display it the same in my blog. but thier are limits. there isnt javascript or zindex or anything like that.

I have the webpage hack and there is zero danger to the website. its only Html. Your blogs would have even less control. I think people want maybe 5-10 commands...

[AN-net]

Originally Posted by T3MEDIA

Your not understanding what we mean by HTML.
Your thinking HTML the whole entire blog...

Your are correct but not fully.

When I say change the color of the blog I am talking CSS. That would be the file that changes on the head of your blog pages making the color scheem change even backgrounds... its like saying let them have thier own style chooser like vb.org has here on the bottom. There isnt any big danger in that. But you should make it more simple than vb's you only need to let them change the border, blog background, page background and title bars... really. buttons and all that dont need to change. and maybe the option to have a bg picture to scale,repeat or center.

the other HTML is IN the actual post. you know as if I made this layout in HTML. when you use blogger they have the wysiwyg display if I paste html into it will display it the same in my blog. but thier are limits. there isnt javascript or zindex or anything like that.

I have the webpage hack and there is zero danger to the website. its only Html. Your blogs would have even less control. I think people want maybe 5-10 commands...

this is what i am offering, besides the html in entries currently. admins will be able to create layouts(the way the actual journal is setup) and users will be able to color that layout if allowed.

[T3MEDIA]

Originally Posted by AN-net

this is what i am offering, besides the html in entries currently. admins will be able to create layouts(the way the actual journal is setup) and users will be able to color that layout if allowed.

Hey! sounds cool. BUT isnt the journals part of vb or not fully? If I turn on HTML will it work? I wont try. lol.

[AN-net]

Originally Posted by T3MEDIA

Hey! sounds cool. BUT isnt the journals part of vb or not fully? If I turn on HTML will it work? I wont try. lol.

html in posts setting is different form html in entries. currently html in entries is not possible as i have it off globally with no setting. if this is really desired i can incorporate it into Beta 4.