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

[Bernd]

Originally Posted by The Geek

Im not sure what you mean by databasename->icon
Why not look at the properties for the red x and see where it is trying to fetch the pic from

databasename would be the name of my database for vbulletin's forum
"icon" in this case is the table where all vbulletin icon pathnames etc are stored.

the icon is being fetched from my old server ip instead of the new.

My guess is the icon's pathname is stored in the database as said earlier, but I cannot find it under geek's advertisement tables in the database nor under the general icon table created by Vbulletin itself..

[paulyy]

doing folder structure

Note the following errors occured. DO NOT NAVIGATE FROM THIS PAGE WITHOUT MAKING NOTE OF THEM!!!

cant find root directory gas
Make sure you have created this in your forum directory.


You climb down some stairs and notice you are in a dark and twisted maze.
A 10th level Red Dragon appears from practically nowhere spitting flames and fire.
You drop your pineapple in shock
What do you want to do?
Pick up the beautiful fruit! - Copy and backup files needing changes

I have the gas folder and changes folder in place, and permissions set to 0777. The script refuses to detect them (I'm using a subdomain). How would I fix this?

[The Geek]

Paulyy - check the readme for instructions on this error - you need to create the folder structure yourself and run from there.

Bernd - This has nothing to do with GAS -nor am I sure what you mean by advertisement table.

[paulyy]

Yep just read that part. Thanks

[Bernd]

Thanks for your time Geek.

Managed to get it working after searching the database for my old IP and deleting it. Used a relative path for the icons instead.

[dsboyce8624]

Found and fixed.

Thanks,

Dennis

[T3MEDIA]

Originally Posted by The Geek

t3media - Do you mean the attachment images? Does it happen in any other forum? There should be no reason for it - GAS really just re-positions the attachment images. Are unregistered users set to view attachments?

View attachments ore download them?
I assume you mean Download? No Guests are not.

[TCB]

I've recently switched webhosts and now the option to upload an article-icon doesn't work anymore. I can upload images/files without problems (both normal topicpages as with GEEK articles), but uploading an images that's being used for the article icon does nothing.

As soon as I click on the 'image' button under the 'Article Image' I receive the popup window where I can select an image or browse for an image on my PC. When I select an image on my PC and select 'upload' the popup is closed and a redcross is visible where the thumbnail/icon should be visible.

When I look on the server I see that the image has been uploaded, but as chmod 600 (and still in original size).

I've searched a bit around and tried to change the move_uploaded_file command to copy (in the fucntions_geekarticles_images.php file). Now the images gets uploaded in chmod 777. But the image is still not resized to the proper dimensions (70x70).

It worked on my previous server, but not anymore. And yes, I have chmod the gas/images folders.

[Wired1]

Haven't gotten a chance to read the WHOLE thread, but I'm just curious: If a mod only forum is made into an article forum, the permissions are still intact, correct? Essentially it would be an editor forum, a launching pad for live articles.

[FleaBag]

I've looked through the many pages and done a couple of searches to no avail. I'm having a little trouble when trying to view an articles forum. Have re-installed - no difference. Only hacks other hacks I have installed are CMPS & vBAGallery. Running 3.07 - all file edits were done manually, for some reason the script wasn't picking up the fact the folder existed. Here's the error...

Database error in vBulletin 3.0.7:

Invalid SQL:
SELECT
IF(votenum >= 1, votenum, 0) AS votenum,
IF(votenum >= 1 AND votenum > 0, votetotal / votenum, 0) AS voteavg,
post.pagetext AS preview,
thread.threadid, thread.title AS threadtitle, lastpost, thread.forumid, pollid, open, replycount, postusername, postuserid, thread.iconid AS threadiconid,
lastposter, thread.dateline, IF(views<=replycount, replycount+1, views) AS views, notes, thread.visible, sticky, votetotal, thread.attach , ga.iconpath,ga.synopsis, ga.byline
, NOT ISNULL(subscribethread.subscribethreadid) AS issubscribed
, NOT ISNULL(deletionlog.primaryid) AS isdeleted, deletionlog.userid AS del_userid,
deletionlog.username AS del_username, deletionlog.reason AS del_reason
FROM thread AS thread
LEFT JOIN deletionlog AS deletionlog ON(thread.threadid = deletionlog.primaryid AND type = 'thread')
LEFT JOIN subscribethread AS subscribethread ON(subscribethread.threadid = thread.threadid AND subscribethread.userid = 1) LEFT JOIN geek_articles as ga ON(ga.threadid = thread.threadid)
LEFT JOIN geek_articles as ga ON(ga.threadid = thread.threadid)
LEFT JOIN post AS post ON(post.postid = thread.firstpostid)
WHERE thread.threadid IN (0)
ORDER BY sticky DESC, lastpost DESC

mysql error: Not unique table/alias: 'ga'

mysql error number: 1066

Incase it makes a difference my showthread.php is named thread.php and forumdisplay.php is named forum.php - the references in the files are all amended as appropriate as far as I can tell.

Thanks Geek.