Add-On Releases - vBExperience 3.8

vBExperience 3.8 (aka xPerience)

Created by Marius Czyz aka Phalynx.

Triple Winner of the "Mod of the Month"-Award (March 2008, September 2009, July 2010) on vBulletin.org.

A version for vBulletin 4.0 has been released! Thread: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=245023


vBExperience 3.8.6 is currently (August 2010) in development.


Description
vBExperience is your feature packaged solution for motivation and satisfying your users. vBExperience is an advanced Level/Promotion and Activity System with Shop, Awards and Activities. It will calculate an activity and experience score for every user based on their activites on the forum. Now your users will see how their level is increasing by participating on your forum.

This mod was developed by me because I was never satisfied with the post count. Communities are not only defined by post count, they need much more parameters: Are the postings the user creates helpful? Are his threads frequently read? Does the user participate on the community by posting pictures, attachments, leaving visitor messages, tagging threads? All this can be answered with this mod.

Comments, suggestions, translations, bugs, etc... are very welcome! Support is only given to people who have clicked Mark as Installed.


Compatibility
This mod will work with vBulletin 3.7.x and 3.8.x. For vBulletin 3.6 you will need vBExperience 3.7



Demo:
http://www.insideearth.net/xperience.php?langid=5

Demo 3.8.6:
http://www.insidetwoworlds.com/xperience.php

Other Demo Site:
http://www.insidesupcom.de/xperience.php?langid=1


There are mainly four things visible for the users: The users score, his level, his next level up in %/points and his activity in %.


Calculation of the score
Taken into calculation are these things:
Threads
- Created threads
- Thread views of own threads
- Thread replies of own threads
- Thread votes of own threads
- Thread tags
- Replies to own threads
- Sticky threads
- Socialgroup Discussions (Discussions, Posts)

Posts
- Created posts
- Views on attachments

User
- Days since registration
- Average posts per Day (for users who are on forum for at least seven days)
- Referrals
- Received infractions
- Reputation / Use of reputation system
- Visitor messages on profiles
- Members of own social groups
- Albumpictures
- Friends
- Completing Profile

Misc
- Calendar entries


Additionally there is support for 3rd party addons (some are already installed):
- vB Tournaments and Ladders (via CDP Addon)
- Post Ranking System (via CDP Addon)
- Helpful Answers (via CDP Addon)
- AWCoding-Donation System LITE and PRO (via CDP Addon)
- Cyb Paypal Donate (included)
- DownloadsII (included)
- ibProArcade Highscorer Points (via CDP Addon)
- LDM Links and Downloads Manager (included)
- PhotoPlog 2.1 (via CDP Addon)
- PhotoPost vBGallery (via CDP Addon)
- PhotoPost Pro (via CDP Addon)
- Post Thank You / Use of Post Thank You (via CDP Addon)
- QuoteIt! 3.16 (via CDP Addon)
- SAPR: Advanced Post Rating system (via CDP Addon)
- thanks via vS-Hide Hack Resurrection (Expanded Edition) (included)
- v3arcade Highscorer Points (via CDP Addon)
- v3arcade Submissions Points (via CDP Addon)
- vBulletin Blog (included)
- Who Downloaded This Attachment? (included)
- Other Addons can be easily added via CDP - Custom Data Provider plugins.

Additionally you can install these modifications:
- Thread Necromancer: Gives (minus-) points when a user is posting in old threads.
- Scrupulous Poster: Gives points for editing posts. Award users that are editing own posts instead of doing double post.
- Deletion Addicted: Gives points when an user/nod soft-deletes post, thread, visitormessage, groupmessage or picturecomment.
- Arm of Law: Give points for moderators who are using the infraction system
- Discussion Ender: Give points for people who are the last on a discussion
- RadioActivity: Reduce points for every day the user is not online

Also, there are already addons available that are working as Custom Data Provider (CDP). A CDP can extend vBExperience by collecting data and adding it to the vBExperience datastore. All point providers can be used for Awards and Shop.

You have to install these hacks for your own, vBExperience doesn't install nor touches these.


vBAdvanced
There are three vBAdvanced 3.0 XML modules: Most Active Users, Most Experienced Users and Last 20 Activities. Import them via vBAdvanced AdminCP.


Awards
There are six default awards: Most Popular, Activity Award, Posting Award, Community Award, Frequent Poster, Blog Award, Calendar Award. The awards are shown in Rankings and Profile. You can set them also to display in postbit near the username. There is a scheduled job running once a day (02:30h) to calculate them.
Via AdminCP they are completely customizeable and can also be assigned manually.
Awards can be created for every data provider.


Rankings
Showing User, Level, Awards, Activity Points (experience, thread, post, user, misc) - sortable.
Since 3.8.3, there is a also a ranking for Social Groups

Shop
A virtual Shop will motivate your users to earn more points. You can define categories and put virtual items with pictures in it. A currency can be defined seperatly for every item, e.g. 20 points from threads or 100 points from gallery. Users can purchase the items, they appear in their profile. The costs of the item are substracted from their xperience points. Additionally you can set quantity of the items.
The Shop will motivate your users to collect specific points to buy an item. Optionally you can show the last purchased items on postbit.
You can put virtual items in it, like WoW addons: Sell WoW Items in exchange of f.e. thread points. Great for RPG forums.
Non-Virtual Items like bold Usernames or Downloads for Points are already on my todo list.

Earn Points
There is an overview for the user on how points can be collected, with a list of users own points. All data is beeing pulled from the database (settings, phrases)

Statistics
The statistics is showing a Top-X list of the leading users. Usefull for optimizing points of the point provider. Only enabled point providers with results will be displayed.


Promotion system
To motivate users to do more on your forum I created the promotion system. By reaching defined xperience points the user will be moved to another usergroup - where you can set graphics, shadows, highlighting, etc... What is interesting in combination with this: you can give the user more possibilities f.e. larger avatars or bigger PM box. A log of the promotions is available.


Calculation of the activity
The system calculates the activity by taking the average post count/visitormessages/group discussion/Blog entries of the ten most active user and comparing it to own post count. This can be set to count only the last X days, f.e. 21 days.


Settings
You can control how many points are given to every calculation. For example you can give many points for creating new threads but only a few for views of that thread. Setting a value to 0 will disable a setting.
Additionally, you can set ignore users (f.e. for bot users), forums (f.e. offtopic forums) and usergroup id's.


Performance, Big Boards
vBExperience has been tested on smaller and also on some bigger sites. I know from boards with around 120k users running this mod smoothly. More about this topic can be read in the file readme_optimization.txt


Frequently asked questions
Q: How do I change the name Experience to something new?
A: You can change the name via phrases. Just search and replace all phrases that contains vBExperience.

Q: When installing vBExperience, does everyone start from scratch, or will it automatically configure everyone's points based on actions before the install?
A: If you recount, vBExperience will calculate ALL existing data since the beginning of the board.

Known Issues:
- Awards: On "Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread" awards are only shown for the user who is viewing this.
- Awards: If activated in with rich username, they are attached to the username. If the username is linked, the awards are also linked. If a link is underlined, the awards are also underlined. This behaviour is hardcoded in vBulletin and cannot be fixed.
- Settings are showing only a blank page, read here: http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/proje...6979#note74140
- If you completely remove vBExperience, you need also to uninstall the product XML manually from the pluginssystem

Credits for icons
- FAMFAMFAM, http://www.famfamfam.com/lab/icons/silk/
- IconExperience


History
3.8.4.3 / 3.8.5 Beta 5, 10th July 2011
- Prio 1 security patch, please update just xperience.php!


3.8.5 Beta 4, 25th September 2009
- Promotions: Listing now also the last Usergroup. Please notice the new settings for nethermost/uppermost usergroups.
- Several minor cosmetic changes
- Clear Activities (except Shop)
- Fixed error with GetActivityAll() on profile
- Several Beta 3 fixes

3.8.5 Beta 3, 18th September 2009
- Fixed Promotions
- Fixed Notifications
- Added Activities to Promotions
- All Activities are not obeying limit
- AdminCP/Experience has a recount for Promotions and Achievements
- Fixed listing of Achievements with Firefox
- Several Beta 2 fixes

3.8.5 Beta 2, 02nd September 2009
- Just a short note: Condition in Achievements and Promotions are calculated in POINTS, not in counts of items.
If you choose 10 Day, you must enter the points needed for this.
For example: You have an achievement for 10 days. You have set 2 points for every day since registering. Calculation: 10*2 = 20
You will have to set 20 as the condition.
- New tabbed interface. If you want to change the style, edit the template xperience_navbar_css
- Promotions now showing usergroups and conditions for a promotion to the next group
- You can import old vBExperience Legacy promotions (that were created within level.xml)
- Achievements in Profile
- Achievements below Avatar
- Several Beta 1 fixes

3.8.5 Beta 1, 28th August 2009
- Achievements!
- Promotions!
- Notification on Awards, Promotions and Achievements
- GAP: Empty pointfields will not be displayed anymore
- Activity: Showing percent values with a decimal
- Activities now also for users
- Awards below Avatar
- Default Awards are now also creating new category
- Shop: Fixed issue in not returning cash on sells
- Reworked Edit Shop Items



For more see history.txt

[NLP-er]

Where were old awards images? I don't remember anc cannot find it... I have to find it to point it again... :/

[NLP-er]

Originally Posted by NLP-er

Where were old awards images? I don't remember anc cannot find it... I have to find it to point it again... :/

Got it images/misc/level

[Joshkrz]

Hello,

I upload all the files to my server, but when I go to install the XML it says:

You need to upload files first!

Could anyone help me out please.

Thank you.

EDIT: Sorry, FireFTP was playing up and wasn't actually uploading the files in the correct places. Sorry to bother you all and thanks for this great add-on.

[Gun Geek]

Great plug in here. I am still learning how to use it.

One of my users activity is at 99.9% mine is at 100% and everyone else is at 0 - what is the activity based on exactly because the user with 99.9% activity is only a level one with two posts and 71 points.

Also what are the awards based off of? What determines what award to give to who? I have been playing with this for the past few days and dont see where this is or if you can set it.

Also one suggestion - upload image button for the shop would be great. Having to go FTP and then put in the URL is kind of a long process to add a product to the shop.

[stardotstar]

Hi, I'm uncertain if this is fixed earlier in the pages, but please point me there if so,,,

I have only a few of the options showing as configuration panels when clicked on in the side bar of the acp.
ie the settings labeled:
Settings:
do not display - I get a blank right side main panel
but the others work fine....
I recall something like this with another mod but I cannot remember if it got fixed or what caused it...
Ring any bells?

BTW thank you for such a huge update - massive and most awesome mod!

[SEW810]

Pretty nice, now everybody on my forum is 100% activity.
Oh my $&%$/$&%&)(/ God!!!

Experience Activity setts are:
Include User's posts YES
Include User's Blog entries and Blog comments NO
Include User's Visitor messages YES
Include User's Social Group messages YES
Include User's last activity date YES
Stupid PPD value is by default: 21
Other stupid PPD value is calculated daily by blah blah blah. ( I HAVE NOT CHANGED IT)

What the hell is wrong? :'(
I am tired, angry, sad... almost losing my mind

Jesus, I have uninstalled and re installed Exp 3.8.4 a lot of times and no good news
Experience 3.8.3 used to work fine... well, even 3.8.3 gives me terrible headaches now ... i don?t know what to do man, I REALLY don't want to uninstall it but oh God!, this mod is begging me to do it!!!

Recounts??, Man!!, If someone would give me a dollar for every recount I've done... I'd be millionaire

my forum www.seusers.com

Regards and sorry about my behavior.....I'm desperate
HELLp !!!!!!!!

[SEW810]

I almost forget.
Maybe this is an issue.

If I sett only take user's post to activity like this:

Include User's posts YES
Include User's Blog entries and Blog comments NO
Include User's Visitor messages NO
Include User's Social Group messages NO
Include User's last activity date NO
Stupid PPD value is by default: 21
Other stupid PPD value is calculated daily by blah blah blah. ( I HAVE NOT CHANGED IT)

After that I do an activity recount. It showes:

Update Activity PPD (Post per Day)
Processing Average PPD: 0 zero?? WTF ??
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
blah blah blah

My board:
VBulletin 3.8.2 ( yeah I know, must to update)
Level 7 installed.
Post thanx add on installed.
v3 arcade champions add on installed.
radioactivity add on installed.
More than 75,000 users.
Active users ~ 13,588

************* EDITED ****************
Me again, for one moment my activity was correct (20% I've been inactive these days)
Any way, If me or some other user post 1 message,the activity goes to 100%.

I think I'll be 20% again,maybe within a couple of hours, I guess.

Still got same setts:
Include User's posts YES
Include User's Blog entries and Blog comments NO
Include User's Visitor messages YES
Include User's Social Group messages YES
Include User's last activity date YES
Stupid PPD value is by default: 21
Other stupid PPD value is calculated daily by blah blah blah. ( I HAVE NOT CHANGED IT)

Regards !!!!.
I wont give up buddy, I love this MOD and I know you or God will give me the answer.... one day.

Das ist 2 Uhr 12 in diesem Augenblick. Ich bin schl?frig, gute Nacht

[Phalynx]

Originally Posted by Eryeal

Is the experience point level stored in the user table? If so - what is the name it is stored as? I want to see if this is compatible with the new Gameroom mod. Thanks!

Originally Posted by Eryeal

Right there's no add-on, but the new Game Room includes the feature to specify where to draw currency from in the User Table. I actually just now found it for here - the user table name is xPerience. It is actually working at the moment - pulling the correct number of points as "cash" and saving any winnings or losses. I just don't know if after a cron run or recalculation I'm assuming the points won in the Game Room would be erased. I already made a suggestion for Game Room to have an add-on that fully supports VBExperience - that would be really nice.

Gameroom must store the points in the xperience_custompoints table, otherwise it get's overwritten by the cron.

Originally Posted by Eryeal

Suggestion -

Have a PM option for when a user wins an award. Maybe even have a PM option for when a user loses an award as well.

Added to Todo-list. Maybe just a notification.

Originally Posted by bada_bing

Removed due to lack of support.

Removed support for you due to lack of "Installed" Flag.

Originally Posted by Eryeal

What do you want - a 24 hour 1-800 number or something? Phalynx provides great support. Sorry that it's not working for you like the rest of us - Phalanx is helping to solve your problems as well as others as you can see - he responds every single day. Your last message was one hour ago, and then you come on and say removed due to lack of support? You think people that program these mods don't have day jobs and just sit and wait for a message to come through?

Sorry for going off... I just feel that was an unnecessary post.

Thanks. That's right, I'm not a computer and have also a real life. Because of this, I'm not able to give 24h Support. If someone is uninstalling after he gets few hours no response, good luck for him.

[Phalynx]

Originally Posted by Dutch_Boy

I found one same problem.

When i hit on test in Manage Awards on an new made award that i dont us and not filld in i get this database error:

Invalid SQL:
SELECT
u.userid, u.username,

AS get_count
FROM vb_xperience_stats as s
INNER JOIN vb_user as u ON u.userid = s.userid
ORDER BY get_count DESC, points_xperience DESC
LIMIT 10;

MySQL Error : You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'AS get_count
FROM vb_xperience_stats as s
INNER JOIN vb_user as u ON u' at line 4
Error Number : 1064

Just a small bug

That is not a bug. You have not selected any field that the award should calcule with. Even if you assign an award manually, you need to select at least one field.

Originally Posted by Gun Geek

Great plug in here. I am still learning how to use it.

One of my users activity is at 99.9% mine is at 100% and everyone else is at 0 - what is the activity based on exactly because the user with 99.9% activity is only a level one with two posts and 71 points.

Run the activity cron and after that the recalculate activity.

Originally Posted by Gun Geek

Also what are the awards based off of? What determines what award to give to who? I have been playing with this for the past few days and dont see where this is or if you can set it.

It's based on the fields you select for every awards. All fields are summed together. User with highest value is getting the award. If you have enabled the new awardlisting, you can see the fields that were used for the calculation. Also, if you have the option enabled to limit the awards to max 1 for a user, the user is not getting it. The second, third, etc... user is getting it then.

Originally Posted by Gun Geek

Also one suggestion - upload image button for the shop would be great. Having to go FTP and then put in the URL is kind of a long process to add a product to the shop.

Added to my Todo-List.

Originally Posted by stardotstar

Hi, I'm uncertain if this is fixed earlier in the pages, but please point me there if so,,,

I have only a few of the options showing as configuration panels when clicked on in the side bar of the acp.
ie the settings labeled:
Settings:
do not display - I get a blank right side main panel
but the others work fine....
I recall something like this with another mod but I cannot remember if it got fixed or what caused it...
Ring any bells?

BTW thank you for such a huge update - massive and most awesome mod!

That is a known issue, but not with vBExperience, it's PHP:
- Settings are showing only a blank page, read here: http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/proje...6979#note74140

Originally Posted by SEW810

Pretty nice, now everybody on my forum is 100% activity.

Please PM me a temporary admin account so I can track that down.

[TimzZ]

I have a weird problem since I few days.

I have a selfmade usergroup since the beginning who have access to all the private forums.

A few days ago I did the gold update of vBExperience, and I also turned on the standard VB User Reputation system. Now my users from that private group always get demoted to registered users when they change there signature or add something in their profile fields.

On the promotions page of vBExperience, on the activities it says:
... demoted to Registered Users

I change them back to the private group but when they change something they get auto demoted again..

What is happening?
Thanks..