Links and Files Database

The VB3.0 version is no longer supported although there have been no reported problems for some time

See here for the VB 3.6 version of this hack, which is now the supported version. This version currently also works with VB 3.5
See here for the VB 3.5 thread for this hack.

What's new in v1.60?

Option to display associated thumbnail images
Option to accept/not accept new entries if these already exists in database
Code for mass edits (accessed via admincp) tidied up
VB phrasing completed
Includes a full French and a partial German translation (thanks to cclaerhout, Allan and LeeWicKeD), handled properly by installation script.
Various bugs fixed and tested against php4 and php5:
Better database validation (on startup/in admincp: links with invalid associated forumids, categories with invalid parentids)
Alternative linkbit templates provided (default uses a fieldset, the other is the old-style table row)
Alternative category selection templates (pull down menu/list of checkboxes),
Star rating displayed using standard VB stars rather than in text form
Series of minor bug fixes
See file change.txt in zip file

What it is/does

- Provides a searchable database of weblinks and/or downloadable files, for example manuals, music files, pictures, etc.
- Integrates within VBulletin, without requiring any code changes.
- Transparently handles links and file downloads. (If you want to provide downloads from your own site, you need a separate tool to upload these files. This hack does not and will not include a file uploader.)
- Provides unlimited nested categories.
- Each link/file can be a member of multiple categories.
- Link and category title and descriptions can use all BBCODEs, giving the possibility to add images, colouring, etc, as you wish
- Viewing/access permissions controlled using VBulletin forum system
- Users can rate links, in a similar manner to VB thread rating.
- File downloads are semi-leechproof, i.e. the user does not see where the file is stored and can only access the link if she has access to the associated forum.
- Audio files playable via Windows Media Player can be offered as a jukebox .
- Tracks who downloads what
- Validates links on entry/editing, and provides admin facility to validate the entire database.

Installation/upgrading instructions

Read instructions.txt in the zip file. Installation script works out whether to install or upgrade.

To upgrade from an earlier release of this hack, simply re-run the installation script. If you modified the templates in the top styles, you will lose these modifications unless you back up and re-edit.

PLEASE BACK UP YOUR DATABASE

See also

For screen shots, see attachments.

Tested with

VBulletin 3.0 and higher
PHP 4.1.1 and 4.3.4, should work with all 4.x versions, seems ok with 5.0.4
MySQL 4.0.
Reported ok with MySQL 4.1 but not exhaustively tested

Credits

Initially inspired by drkFusion's vb2 hack "vb Link Directory" v.2 and discussion about v.3 on Vbulletin.org. This is a complete rewrite with many more features. Every credit to the VBulletin folks for providing the infrastructure and to those on vbulletin.org who have helped with testing.

Integrations/Conversions

Natch has written extensions to integrate this hack with VBindex and VBAdvanced.

For convenience, this hack includes fully integrates with, but does not install, his VBIndex hack - i.e. the required template and code are provided, and the admin panel handles the configuration settings. Please refer to his thread for instructions.

Integration with VBadvanced is described in thread 1319 at vbadvanced.com.

The zip file includes a script and instructions for converting from vbLinks v2 (see thread 44551

[lovevn]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

It is an easy edit to the links_linkbit template - you just need to remove the hyperlinks to local_links.php?action=jump - let me know if you need help. I'm not going to make any further releases to the vb 3.0x version of this hack - efforts concentrate on the 3.5x version and I'll include this as an option.

Thanks for your help!

I changed ocal_links.php?action=jump to ocal_links.php?action=play and and I can hide the url wich let people to download the file now. Beside I also moved the link which let people to download the files in the links_play template to links_linkbit template.

And there one more thing. When people use the send to friend function the url to let people download appear. To solve this problem I chande "jump " to"play" in the $massage.

It works perfect now.

By the ways, is it easy to add the alphabetical search function?

[LeeWicKeD]

Aight, here's my complete-German translation.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by LeeWicKeD

Aight, here's my complete-German translation.

Thanks - am updating the 1.60c release file and will also include in v2.0, etc.

[bhxtyrant]

Hey guys,I was wondering if someone who has used this mod can answer a few questions of mine.I would like to try this mod out but i do not want to waste my time installing it if it doesnt offer what i need.I already went through this hell with the very buggy vBdownloads2.0 lol.

1.)Can i have Sub-sub-catagories?For example "Music>MP3's>artist name>audio track.mp3"?
2.)I notice it says "can only access the link if she has access to the associated forum".Does this mean all download catagories must be associated with a forum?Or can i use this file/link manager as a standalone download manager?

I.E. you click the downloads link in the forum,it takes you to a page listing all the download catagories.you click one to enter the sub catagories and to download files.

3.)last but not least i wanted to ask can permissions be set for catagories?for example say i want to allow anyone in forums guests and all access to download files from "Audio".But i only want members to be able to download from the "video" catagory.can this be done?

Thats about all i need to know thanks alot for your time.

[AndrewD]

Thanks for your interest.

Originally Posted by bhxtyrant

1.)Can i have Sub-sub-categories?For example "Music>MP3's>artist name>audio track.mp3"?

Yes, indefinitely deep.

Originally Posted by bhxtyrant

2.)I notice it says "can only access the link if she has access to the associated forum".Does this mean all download catagories must be associated with a forum?Or can i use this file/link manager as a standalone download manager?

3.)last but not least i wanted to ask can permissions be set for catagories?for example say i want to allow anyone in forums guests and all access to download files from "Audio".But i only want members to be able to download from the "video" catagory.can this be done?

These two questions are related. The 'associate with forums' process is used to control who can access which categories/downloads. By default, it is turned off, which means that everyone who accesses the hack can see and access everything that is available. The hack is fully stand alone and it is not necessary to associate categories/entries with forums unless you want to control access to individual categories/entries.

To control access, you need to (create/have created) forums with the required access permissions, e.g. member only. When you create a link or a category, you 'point' the link/category at that forum to tell the hack to pick up the appropriate permissions. The links/categories do not form part of the forum, they just pick up the forum's access permissions.

Clear?

[bhxtyrant]

Ah ok i think i understand,Thanks alot for answering my questions i will be installing this later today oh on4e more question if i understand the original post about the mod then it has a "batch" feature as well?

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by bhxtyrant

Ah ok i think i understand,Thanks alot for answering my questions i will be installing this later today oh on4e more question if i understand the original post about the mod then it has a "batch" feature as well?

Yes, on the admin page/import and export - you can scan a directory (tree) and bulk select files to make available.

[bhxtyrant]

Awsome man,Thanks alot you dont know what a help you have been to me for creating this mod just out of curiosity is there or will there be a version of it for 3.5 as well?

:EDIT:Hey man i successfully installed the mod but have one little problem i can't find how to fix.It's not a bug or anything just a template edit i wish to make.Was hoping you could tell me where to find it



Just want to know how i can make the table circled in red a bid wider so names dont get crunched up such as where you see "Resident Evil Code:Veronica" Thanks alot.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by bhxtyrant

Awsome man,Thanks alot you dont know what a help you have been to me for creating this mod just out of curiosity is there or will there be a version of it for 3.5 as well?

:EDIT:Hey man i successfully installed the mod but have one little problem i can't find how to fix.It's not a bug or anything just a template edit i wish to make.Was hoping you could tell me where to find it



Just want to know how i can make the table circled in red a bid wider so names dont get crunched up such as where you see "Resident Evil Code:Veronica" Thanks alot.

a) The alpha release for VB35 is already available here. It seems to work fine - I uploaded it a month ago, and there's only been one minor bug report. I changed the name to Links and Downloads Manager. When VB35goes gold, the official release will include some more functions which are not in the VB30 or alphas VB35 versions - the rating system has been extended to provide user comments (as per an earlier suggestion on this thread); categories can have different styles; etc.

b) To fix your column width, edit the links_catbit template. The second line of this template gives a column width of 20% - change that as you wish.

[bhxtyrant]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

a) The alpha release for VB35 is already available here. It seems to work fine - I uploaded it a month ago, and there's only been one minor bug report. I changed the name to Links and Downloads Manager. When VB35goes gold, the official release will include some more functions which are not in the VB30 or alphas VB35 versions - the rating system has been extended to provide user comments (as per an earlier suggestion on this thread); categories can have different styles; etc.

b) To fix your column width, edit the links_catbit template. The second line of this template gives a column width of 20% - change that as you wish.

Hello once again,thanks alot for all your help.I now have everything up and running but i have one final question.I notice that when i import files from one of my site directories Links Database automatically adds a decription of the file showing the file path where the file is located.This requires manual editing of hundreds of files for me as i do not want the file path to be shown.Is there a way i can disable the option so it doesnt automatically add descriptions?

I also cant seem to get the thumbnail images working.I uploaded the "local_resize" file to my forum directory and am using the "links_linkbit" template.But when i add the link to the image i wish to use all i can get is the red X.my settings in the admin pnale are as follows "allow_images" 1,"link_imagesize" -100.Am i doing something wrong?