Deluxe vB User login and access control on non vB pages

Hack Description

This is the deluxe version of the user authentication and access control system I use on the non vB pages on my website.
For the simple no frills version look here.

This uses the vB 3.5 login system to log you in and out. It allows you to move between your forums and other pages on your site while remaining logged in.

It allows you to do things such as restrict pages by usergroup, display different content depending on a user being logged in or not.
For example, you can have banner Adds displying to non members only, and/or let members access to specific content.

It also displays the logged in users Avatar, number of unread PM's, New posts since last visit, total posts and total threads.
It also allows you to specify a maximum Avatar size, and resize any avatars larger than that, while keeping their height/width ratios in proportion!
Its very handy if you allow large avatars, but want a small format display on your non forum pages.

If the user is not logged in, a login box is displayed, along with total posts and total threads in the forums.

I will try and offer support, but work and family commitments mean I dont have much free time.

This code is a mix of my own, and pieces I have used from other hacks that are floating around.

This is a work in progress and currently a beta version. It was a little rushed as a few people were pushing for it Its missing a couple of planned things like newest member etc, but they will be added in a later version.

This script has been confirmed as working on

• vB 3.5.x - All Versions
• vB 3.6.x - All Versions

Known Bugs
Will not display Avatars correctly if they are kept in the file system (database avatars are fine)

Changelog

Version 2.20 (24th April 2007)

• Fixed - // in paths bug
• Fixed - Javascript warning in some browsers
• Fixed - Tidied up some code
• Fixed - Avatar display code bug

Version 2.10 (4th June 2006)

• Fixed - "MySQL Error : Invalid SQL " when using Database thread/forum marking.
• Fixed - Javascrip error in some versions of IE.

Version 2.00 (16th April 2006)

• Fixed - "MySQL Error : Unknown column 'newposts' in 'field list' "
• Fixed - Number of PM's not displaying in all installs.
• Added - Displays date and time of last login.
• Added - Total number of saved PM's.

To upgrade just overwrite the existing login_inc.php file with the new one.
You will need to re-edit the path on line 3 and also redo any formatting changes you may have done for the last version.

Version 1.0 (15th Feb 2006)

• Initial Release

Click on Install
If you have this script installed then please click on the install link because;

• You will get notified if any security issues are reported.
• You will get notified when there are any upgrades to this script
• It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling and motivates me to develop more

Donations
First of all, to be clear. This script is 100% free.

However if you feel an urge to donate I'm not going to say no.
Donations can be made at http://www.billspaintball.com/vb3/bd_donate.php

[pokerie]

Hi again,

Thanks for the latest update - nice to see that it loads without errors in ie now!

I still have the minor issue that where I've used the login_inc on actual forum pages everything works great except for pm's aren't displayed. Any idea what could be causing this? This doesn't happen on non forum pages, login_inc works perfectly.

The other issue I'm having is that when you click logout it shows that you're still logged in until you do a second refresh of the page. Anything that can be done to sort this?

Thanks.

[erinys]

Thanks a lot bill for the update!
Its working perfectly as far as i can see

[Billspaintball]

Originally Posted by pokerie

I still have the minor issue that where I've used the login_inc on actual forum pages everything works great except for pm's aren't displayed. Any idea what could be causing this? This doesn't happen on non forum pages, login_inc works perfectly.

Ive only used this on non forum pages.
I cant really see the point of having it in the actual forums, it seems redundant having it there.

The other issue I'm having is that when you click logout it shows that you're still logged in until you do a second refresh of the page. Anything that can be done to sort this?

I think thats more browser dependant than anything.
Ive noticed that sort of behaviour in (either Opera or Firefox) but IE was fine.
You are still logged out either way, if you try and go somewhere that requires you to be logged in you will see this.

[pokerie]

I know what you mean that it seems redundant, but I'm using the login in the header of the site that is also there when I go to the forum.
My client has requested that I continue the login in the header throughout the site, including forum pages.

I also use vBa CMPS and have the same problem on the pages making use of it.

Now do you see why I want to use it on the forum pages?

As for the other issue, I agree that it's browser dependant and doesn't really matter. My client pulled me up on it that's all, but it doesn't really matter.

[Billspaintball]

Originally Posted by pokerie

I know what you mean that it seems redundant, but I'm using the login in the header of the site that is also there when I go to the forum.

OK, makes more sense now

Off hand I dont know why it just does not show PM's on those pages.
I have a couple of suspicions and will have a look.

[Billspaintball]

Confirmed working on vB 3.6 Beta 1

[jangus74]

Originally Posted by pokerie

I'm getting this error too:

Fatal error: Call to a member function on a non-object in /path/to/my/forums/login_inc.php on line 150

(I've changed the path to the forum in this message)

I get this message above when I dont put in the chdir code.

I tried putting in the chdir lines but then I get a "headers already sent" fatal error. I checked for white space above the line as suggested and there is none. The paths I am using are correct. (When they were not, I was getting a file not found error)

Here is the message about headers:

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/whatta/public_html/index.php:15) in /includes/functions.php on line 2394

Any ideas? I'm using vb 3.5.4

UPDATE: NEVER MIND! FOUND PROBLEM:
I was using include
instead of require_once when calling the login script....
Apparently thats a no-no.....

[Billspaintball]

Originally Posted by jangus74

UPDATE: NEVER MIND! FOUND PROBLEM:
I was using include
instead of require_once when calling the login script....
Apparently thats a no-no.....

Yes if you include a file twice it can cause all sorts of problems.
Using require_once like I have in the instructions prevents this problem from happening.

[Rambo]

Hey,

I managed to install this mod successfully, but i have a problem with the avatars.

I get the following error

getimagesize(http://forum.ctrlalt-designs.net/image.php?u=1): could not make seekable - http://forum.ctrlalt-designs.net/image.php?u=1 in /home/ramboulw/public_html/login_inc.php on line 34

The avatars are in a folder called "customavatars".

Thanks!

p.s. is it possible to add the amount of members on the forum also in the stats part?

[Billspaintball]

Originally Posted by Rambo

The avatars are in a folder called "customavatars".

Did you change any setting in the vB admin CP so that it will get the avatars from that folder?

p.s. is it possible to add the amount of members on the forum also in the stats part?

Maybe.
I will have a look and see how currently active users are done.