Geek Article System 3.52

IMPORTANT:
Please note that I can no longer support this project. Primarily as it is designed for vb3.0.x and I no longer use that version (im obviously on vb3.5x ). There is a version for vb3.5 however its a commercial script. This project is left here for the community.
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HowdA All.

The GAS3 system is a comprehensive article system that completely integrates into vB3.

News:

• Updated 3/08/05 to version 3.53 for compatability with vb3.08
• Updated 13/05/05 to version 3.52!!! Posts for 3.52 to integrate with GAL4.0 start here

History

Originally, I looked into other article systems to integrate with my forums but just got irritated over and over again as I found the other offering out there very limiting for my needs. I wanted to use my members usergroup permissions, the search facility (so when someone did a search for 'bob' both articles AND threads appeared on one page), I also wanted wysiwyg editing and vBs attachment system. Well, I accomplished 99% of my needs with the Geek Article System 2.0
Why 3.0? While the 2.0 was fine for my needs, many users began asking for a far more complex system that took the beauty of 2.0 and added popular features in the other article systems.

Here are the features in a nutshell:

• Integrates 100% into vB. No importing forums or creating special groups. Simply mark forum as an 'Article' forum and instantly all threads become articles. Dont like it anymore? Simply remove the ID and the therads and forums go back to normal.
• Whatever you can do in a thread or post, you can do with the GAS3 system (uploading attachments, smiles, BBcode, various editors, yadayadayada)
• Adding on the above point: all the differing vB editors (wysiwyg, etc..), usergroup permissions (heck - anything you can set for a forum you can set in this - AND MORE!) why> because it is totally integrated!
• Create multiple pages in your post by simply putting [BREAK] anywhere in your post.
• The first thumbnail in an article substitutes the posters avatar (switchable via admincp)
• Upload header images and have them auto resize
• Choose header images from a global (or forum specific) gallery
• Integrated article byline.
• Synopsis - allows users to give a summary that appears on the new forumdisplay
• New forumdisplay shows article header image and synopsis (if no synopsis then the first X amount of characters from the article is used)
• Synopisis allows BBCode
• Integrates with the Geek AutoLink system (optional)
• Allows you to post as other users
• Article sidebar that shows the article rating, your rating, the rating form, article tools, and article attachments (all toggable via admincp)
• An auto installer/upgrader/uninstaller that makes all file edits for you!
• A whole host of other tiddlybits that I wont bore you with

Special thanks goes to rlamego, peterska2, Snow, Gldtn, and Magic Spark for private Beta testing this for me. Couldnt of happened without them!

Change log
13.05.05 - updated to 3.52
All this does is update GAS for the GAL4.0 integration.
To update, simply replace your existing functions_geekarticles.php with the one in the latest package.

18.3.05 - updated to 3.51
This really just fixes a couple of mega minor bugs.
Added new default icon per forum functionality (see readme)
Wrote a real README.
Wrote a seperate 3.5x upgrade script. Users of 3.5x should run admincp/gas3_upgrade.php

16.3.05 - updated to 3.50
Loads of new features and a new installer that makes the file changes for you.
New forumdisplay
Uploading of images for your header
Synopsis box
yadayadayda

10.2.05 - updated to 3.02
Fixed typo in readme (step 2.6 referenced $articlebyline instead of $GAS_byline). This bug fixes the disappearing byline when editing an article.
To upgrade - edit your editpost template and search for $articlebyline then replace it with $GAS_byline

Importers
I have made an importer for v3articles. Technically speaking, you dont have to strictly have GAS3 installed to use the importer (though it is ideal). What it does is essentailly import v3articles, comments, ratings, and attachments into existing forums as new threads, replies, threadratings, and post attachments. The idea is that you install GAS3, create the forums to house your articles, and then import your existing v3articles into them (but as I said, you can simply import v3articles into normal forums without having GAS3 installed).
There is also a rollback feature in case you change your mind or experience a problem with the import. Your v3articles installation isnt touched. In fact, no v3articles are harmed in the process

Known issues:

• none that I am aware of.

Demos: (note that I have a custom skin, so your results will be ever so slightly different)
http://www.thenailgeek.com/showthread.php?t=11287
http://www.thenailgeek.com/showthread.php?t=8801 - pages with comments (click View Comments to see comments only)


Difficulty - EASY
Time - about 5 minutes
File modifications? a few but now all done automatically for you

Change log:

Updated to 3.01 Feb 7th
Fixed a couple template errors and minor readme instructions


Instructions

Click install. I have busted my butt over the past few weeks to do this and all I ask is that you click install if you use it

• Download the package and unzip.
• Follow the README!
• Ther installer does all the work for you
• When done, go into your admncp, and adjust your settings

Troubleshooting:

• No phrases after install? This happens a lot with many installers for some bizzare reason. All you have to do is do a phrase search for GAS_ , edit the phrase (dont change it), then save it. Bingo - all your phrases appear.

Also:

I would therefore backup your DB, your styles, and any of the files the README asks you to change.

nJoy

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by FD929

Geek - is this system going to be converted for vB 3.5 when it is released? This system is an absolute must have on one of the boards I work on. So much that I won't update to 3.5 until this hack works with it.

The system will be converted to vb3.5 with some other minor additions though I have to say I am not looking forward to it

Howere I must do it for all my hacks because I use them and I will be upgrading my site to vb3.5

[shiva]

Don't you just love Jelsoft, for making yet another radical change that causes a lot of extra work for everyone?
I hope a lot of authors convert as well, as most of us aren't good enough to do a simple mod, and now with this new setup, it's gonna be even fewer people.
Be looking forward to the next version Geek, very popular with my members, though they use the PageBreak a bit too much.

[sv1cec]

If only we could get some pre-release information, on how our hacks have to be re-written!

Instead, we have to await for the beta release.

LoL Jelsoft is surely making our life difficult.

[Lizard King]

Fixed It

[Clayton]

we have a number of various persons who will do articles and they have their own section eg. Computers

Is it possible to set-up that we are able to attach the articles to the various forums they would write for, please?

If this is mentioned somewhere, please steer me in that direction

Thanks

edit2. have installed everything without a hitch .. one thing though, I cant see the settings in my admincp .. would having CMPS installed effect this ? thank you

edit: is one to understand that you are able to create forums in sections which can be article forums only, if so this answers the question asked

[Snitz]

which one should I download: GAS3fromV3.zip or GAS352b.zip

[Clayton]

as far as I can see

GAS352b.zip

if you are a first time installer

I am hoping to get some questions answered too

[rockergrrl]

nevermind

[Rob Locke]

Hi Folks,

After all my investigations I have found out how to add spaces between comments and make them look the same as regular posts. If anyone else is interested in doing this, here's how:

Open your vBulletin admin and go to Styles and Templates > Style Manager. Click on the << >> button to the right of the page (or select 'Edit Templates' from the drop-down box).

1) Open the template called GAS_article_pb by double clicking on it. At the very top of the page you will see:

<!-- Article #$post[postid] -->

Immediately below it, add...

<if condition="$show['spacer']">
	<div style="padding:0px 0px $stylevar[cellpadding]px 0px">
	<if condition="!$post['islastshown']"><!-- this is not the last post shown on the page --></if>	
</if>

Now go to the very bottom of the page, where you will see:

<!-- / Article #$post[postid] -->

Immediately above it, add...

<if condition="$show['spacer']">
	</div>
</if>

Save the template.

2) Now open the template GAS_comment_pb. Make the same code additions to the top and bottom of the page respectively, in this instance immediately below <!-- comment #$post[postid] --> and immediately above <!-- / comment #$post[postid] -->

Save the template.

3) Now open the template GAS_showthread. Find this code...

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%" style="margin-top:3px">

and replace it with...

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%"<if condition="$vboptions['legacypostbit']"> style="margin-top:3px"</if>>

There are two instances of this code that need to be replaced, so repeat step 3 again to finish.

Save the template and that's it!

Best wishes,

Rob.

[Clayton]

Good day ...

latest update ... went to browse the Admin CP via IE and voila

The Geek Article System has appeared

feels like xmas