Miscellaneous Hacks - vbNetwork - share forums with other boards

vbNetwork

Summary

This add-on gives you the ability to share forums with other message boards without having to share any database information. The plugin runs through webservices and uses XML.

Release Notes
Currently the installation is easy but if you want to set up and run your own network it will help if you're familiar with XML. Joining an already existing network is fairly simple.

This plugin is developed using vBulletin 3.8.X and being tested on 3.6.X and 3.8.X. If it works on both of those, I will assume it works on 3.7.X.

If you would like my help writing versions for phpBB, IPB or other message board software, please feel free to contact me.

If you are interested you can join my existing network, but please note that it is mostly a trolling-based community of boards. Feel free to start your own network with other boards.

Product Specifications

1. several plugins
2. one cron job
3. file uploads
4. new DB tables
5. several phrases

Installation
Approx 2-5 mins

See the included installation instructions.

Upgrading/Updating

1. upload all files in the upload directory, overwriting any existing files
2. re-import the XML file, setting "Overwrite" to "Yes"

Configuration

See the included documentation for details.

Support

If you encounter problems or discover any bugs, please create a new issue at: http://code.google.com/p/vbnetwork/issues/list

Change History

• 0.9.0 (2009-02-20) - initial Beta release
• 0.9.2 (2009-05-03) - added (some) logging, fixed bug for 3.8.2
• 0.9.3 (2009-05-03) - added 'Delete' to Network Management, other minor changes
• 0.9.4 (2009-05-08) - added new board and forum management functionality, and some new minor features
• 0.9.5 (2009-05-09) - adds new option to sync network users via email, and added ability to change the network name
• 1.0.0 (2010-06-02) - Version 1.0 for vBulletin 3.8.X

Sample

This is one shared forum on three different boards (the content of this forum may be NSFW).
http://www.anothermessageboard.com/f...splay.php?f=29
http://www.juot.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=50
http://www.drunkensquirrel.net/com/f...splay.php?f=28

PLEASE CLICK INSTALL!

[ComputerModding]

First network is working fine second network is not, we are getting this error when running the cron job;

<response>
<action>accept_package</action>
<result type="error">invalid $networkinfo for nework (bandsnet)</result>
</response>

I have checked all of the settings on both forums and can not see what it is doing this, any suggestions?

[leeman]

Zethon, this mod looks marvelous.

So I can network with you if I want to ...?
Is there perhaps anyone else interested in networking?
I have a kinda small site with no general "agenda", so lots of small talk and sports ....
http://www.insanetrain.com

Mostly American members.

[Delita]

Tagged.

[|Jordan|]

How does this modification fair with word censoring and images? Do posts that are displayed from another site on your network become censored? What happens if a user on another site abuses by posting disgusting images. Can you ban that 1 person's posts from being visible?

[djlotus]

After creating a new network via adminCP, the message "could not find phrase vbn_created_network_successfully" appears, but it seems to create the network. Any ideas?

[cobaku]

i have edited my external.php to show all of a new post
and a link to my forum at the end

basically this may be just like vbnetwork

example is here
http://www.forumuz.biz/external.php?type=rss2

i just had to edit one line to add my link to the description.

[Amenadiel]

I can't get it to work. My main board does generate the xml, but when I try to send it to the affiliate one I get:

<response>
<action>accept_package</action>
<result type="error">3</result>
</response>

[ComputerModding]

If you are getting error three then you need to look at the actual board settings for instance, if your make a post on your main forum and have 10 images in the post (including smilies) but the node board is only setup to have 3 images in a post (including smilies) then you will get this error.

That is only one example there can be many configuration factors that can cause error 3

[Amenadiel]

Considering that the post made by vbnetwork is a guest post, do you think it's necessary to give permisions to unregistered users to post?

Edit to the former: it changes nothing. By the way, I succeded in posting from a satellite board to the main one, but I still need for the main one to distribute its post to the satellite(s) which still displays error 3.

Edit Again:

Checking at the server's log, I see this message:

[08/Oct/2009:13:20:40 -0400] "POST /network/service.php HTTP/1.0" 200 89 "-" "-"

See? The post message is there, but it's empty.

[|Jordan|]

I have ZointsSEO installed on both my forums. Will this prevent this mod from working properly?

My main forum creates the xml properly, but my other forum doesnt receive it (even though i have it configured to), what am i doing wrong?