Show Thread Enhancements - Automatic Embedded Video (youtube, plus many more)

This hack has been withdrawn. Read on for an explanation. Shortly after the initial release I was contacted by another developer who had some ideas for the mod. This developer basically rewrote a new mod based on my original concept. Unfortunately we couldn't come to an agreement on a way to develop and support the future of this mod. Since he has released his mod separately, and it does pretty much everything my original mod did and is more efficient for those running large systems, I have decided to discontinue the further development of my mod. I took this decision because I don't believe that it makes sense to have two mods out there doing the same thing. I recommend to all users, both present and future, that you switch over to his mod instead (here). I've taken a look at it and I think it's a great mod and you'll all be very happy with it. I understand that he will also provide routines to import and convert tags used by my mod, this should also make your life easier.

Since I will not develop this mod further, I am also withdrawing support for it. Since I don't believe there is such a thing as an unsupported mod (since people will ALWAYS ask for and expect support regardless) I have therefore withdrawn the file from download. I hope some of you can understand my decision.

This mod has had a short but happy life, and I wish you all the best with the replacement mod. Thank you to everyone who has offered encouragement so far, and I hope to see you on my next mod.

I've left the original text below for historical reasons:


What does this mod do?

If a user copies and pastes a URL that links to a video streaming service (such as youtube) the mod will automatically take the URL and convert it into an embedded form directly in the post itself. Users can now play the videos directly from the thread! In other words:

• No template or file edits
• Nothing to configure
• Initial version supports sixteen different video sharing sites
• Pasted URLs are automatically converted to versions that display embedded video - in thread
• Option to include original URL in additional to providing embedded version.
• Forum, group and user permissions allow you to include or exclude who/what is affected by this mod.

How many services will it support?

The initial version contains support for sixteen different video services. If others contribute the required information for other services, this is likely to grow. The initial version (1.0) contains support for the following services:

Youtube, Metacafe, iFilm, Putfile, Bolt, Google Video, Guba, Grouper, Revver, Atom Films, Veoh, Myspace Video, Vimeo, Vmix, Eyespot, Liveleak, Sapo

Which services does it not support?

Many video sites don't provide enough information in the URLs to make automatic embedding possible. The following services were checked and found to be impossible to use with this mod:

Photobucket, Daily Motion, vidiLife, Yahoo Video, AOL Uncut, Yikers, vSocial, ManiaTV, Phanfare, CastPost, Jumpcut, Sharkle, Clipshack, Filecow, Break

Please don't request that these services be included in this mod - it's not possible. If you'd like to try and figure out how to do it yourself - please do!

Why is this different to other mods?

Other mods require you to enter BB Code yourself, but more importantly they require the user to have to add the tags themselves. Users are notoriously lazy and often won't even bother to use BB Code. This mod suits lazy users - it handles everything automatically without the user having to do anything - they just copy and paste the URL!

How do I install it?

Download the enclosed .xml file. In your AdminCP -> Plugins and Products -> Manage Products -> Add/Import Product use the browse button to upload the .xml file you just downloaded and make sure "Allow Overwrite" is set to yes if you are upgrading from a previous version. Click "Import". Installation time - 30 seconds.

How do I configure it?

Go to AdminCP -> vBulletin Options -> Automatic Embedded Video. All settings are pretty much self explanatory and there is nothing that needs to be changed for most forums.

Are there any limitations?

The hack will only work with properly formatted URLs. If the user mangles them, it may not work. Only new messages posted will be affected and this mod will not have any effect on any URLs you may paste in while editing. It will only take effect when you preview or submit new posts!

Is there a downside to this mod?

None that I can think of!

Will new services be added in future?

Possibly. Make sure you click "Installed" so that you'll be notified about new versions.

How can I expand it myself?

See the first post on this thread for details.

User Testimonials

What have people been saying about this mod?

"Anyway, this is be far the best mod of the year! something so simple, yet so effective! My members and myself love it. Thanks again." - hornstar1337

"No way! This Hack is simply a Must!!" - Silvio

"simply the best mod ever." - kushal

"You are my hero. My users are always F'n up the BBcode that should be so simple and now its idiot proof." - MortysTW

"Thanks very much for the mod - very simple to install yet useful as anything." - p0ng0

"Sorry I had to come and re-post how excited this mod has made me lol." - Fleabag

"Working great with vbSEO" - mtlcore

"I have only tested a few videos so far but works like a charm!!! What an awesome mod!!!" - RichieBoy67

Version History

1.0 - Initial release (23.06.2007) (updated a couple of hours after release with some minor fixes 01:31 24.06.2007 GMT)
1.1 - Feature upgrade (26.06.2007). Added ability to include/exclude users, groups or forums. Added feature to replace even when BB Code permissions don't allow it. Added feature to both embed the video AND display the original URL above the video. Loosened logic to include variations in URLs for certain services (different countries, domains, etc). Should cover a wider range of URLs now. More video services coming soon...

27.06.2007 - Mod withdrawn. Details above and here.

[InTeNsE-HuMoR]

Post edited because of new arrangement with the mod author. This code has been PM'd to the mod author to be included.

[mfyvie]

Good work, but you may not be out of the woods just yet... Did you notice the s172 and vid172? You should check a lot of different photobucket videos and see if this changes - it does! I have one that uses s178! This means two things need to be extracted...

It might be better to extract just enough info to use in the bbcode rather than the entire URL (this is what I usually do). This particular bbcode will need to use the option option in order to pass the second bit of information.

Note how I've changed things below:

<embed width="430" height="389" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://vid{option}.photobucket.com/remix/player.swf?videoURL=http://s{option}.photobucket.com/{param}" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>

[photobucketvid=172]albums/w11/77086dm/89fc6002.pbr[/photobucketvid]

Notice that I am using the convention with vid on the end of bbcode tags. This is to make sure there is no conflict with other tags with the same name!

I would then make a regular expression to pull out the data and feed it into the bbcode tag. This is why it is also important for each service to figure out if other domain names or host names are also possible from the same domain - for example youtube can be:

youtube.com, www.youtube.com, or in future it may even be youtube.de, youtube.co.uk, etc. This also happened with google. Youtube also uses two completely different formats, so I have to trap both of those as well.

That's why for some of these services you have a try a few different ones and see if the details change slightly!

For these codes it's probably best if you start to put them all into a text file, rather than posting them one by one. They won't be of any use to anyone in this mod until I write the regular expressions to match them. If you see post #1 I wrote some info on this - but to be honest they are a little tricky, so probably best if I do the regular expressions for the bbcode you make :-)

That way it would be better not to clutter up the thread - or maybe send me a PM with the details. When they are in a forum that others can use, the best thing is that I roll them up into a new version.

[InTeNsE-HuMoR]

Ok, just to be clear. I make the BB Code and you do the expression bit? Does the bb code have to work completely or just enough to embed? For example: the clipshack one wont work with the mod unless the Clip.aspx is changed to player.swf by your mod.

So if I am able to get it to embed, you will be able to convert it alright?

[mfyvie]

I just also wanted to mention that The Geek has been kind enough to help me out with some large chunks of code which I'll be incorporating into the new version. I just wanted to publicly acknowledge that, as a lot of the code in the new version will probably be his! Maybe you can go and visit his site and buy some of his cool mods: http://www.thevbgeek.com/

[mfyvie]

Originally Posted by InTeNsE-HuMoR

Ok, just to be clear. I make the BB Code and you do the expression bit? Does the bb code have to work completely or just enough to embed? For example: the clipshack one wont work with the mod unless the Clip.aspx is changed to player.swf by your mod.

So if I am able to get it to embed, you will be able to convert it alright?

yep - I'll do the regular expression. In some cases I may rework your bbcode to make it more efficient, or to work better with the regular expression. The main part where you can help me out is to figure out the smallest possible embed code for use in the bbcode. To check if it is working you should be able to play the video from the example listed in the bbcode manager. Then change the example to another one and that should work too. If you can get that far, you've probably cracked it - just check that there aren't different formats of the URL out there - that often happens with some of these guys.

Please don't release those BBCODES publicly - why? Because in the next version I won't be using the same bbcodes, and I don't want to have more bbcode floating about before v1.2 is released! I'll convert those bbcodes to the new arrangement.

[Saviour]

Excellent Hack! Installed! MOTM??? It's got my vote!

[InTeNsE-HuMoR]

Originally Posted by mfyvie

yep - I'll do the regular expression. In some cases I may rework your bbcode to make it more efficient, or to work better with the regular expression. The main part where you can help me out is to figure out the smallest possible embed code for use in the bbcode. To check if it is working you should be able to play the video from the example listed in the bbcode manager. Then change the example to another one and that should work too. If you can get that far, you've probably cracked it - just check that there aren't different formats of the URL out there - that often happens with some of these guys.

Please don't release those BBCODES publicly - why? Because in the next version I won't be using the same bbcodes, and I don't want to have more bbcode floating about before v1.2 is released! I'll convert those bbcodes to the new arrangement.

Ok. Sent you a PM with some more BB Codes. In total that is six BB Codes, including the 2 in my signature and the photobucket code.

IGN Code - in my signature.
Game Trailers Code - in my signature.
Photobucket code - posted a few posts back.
Clipshack - sent by PM.
Sharkle - sent by PM.
Current - sent by PM.

[mlucek]

Sweet !!! Installed on 2 sites now

Would be even sweeter to pick up old posts and convert those links to new BBCODE's automagically !!

[The Geek]

the version I submitted will.

[Lizard King]

Which version you submitted Sam ?