Links and Downloads Manager

LDM extends VBulletin to manage a library of documents, files and links to other web sites. Documents can be stored on your own web site, stored on your server separate from the web site, uploaded by your user community, or held somewhere else altogether. So you can use LDM to provide your user community with access to your own files and allow them to share files with each other.

12/08/06 - Versions that work with vb36 are available and supported in the VB36 thread. Version 2.2.1, which works with VB 3.5 but not with VB 3.6, remains available here.

Thanks to everyone who has helped with all the design, testing, etc.
Translations are provided (thanks dLutt and LeeWicked) into German, (thanks to Allan) into French, and (thanks to Hugo) into Spanish. Harry1951 has handled the Dutch translation.

Screenshots, Instructions and How to Install

Full details and instructions are available as a Wiki at http://www.eirma.org/wikis/index.php...nloads_Manager

LDM installs as a VBulletin product. There are no modifications required to standard VB code.

Basically - upload php files and run the installer through VB's Product installer. No changes needed to VB code. Remember to BACKUP YOUR DATABASE. By default, LDM prefixes its database tables 'local_'. Edit the configuration file, local_links_init.php, if you need/wish to change this.

LDM can handle an essentially unlimited number of categories and nested subcategories, and an unlimited number of entries (hyperlinks or downloadable files). Each entry can be placed in one or several categories. Categories can have styles. Descriptions and titles can optionally include BBcodes, smilies, images and html, giving the possibility to add images, colouring, etc. File types can be flagged using icons and individual entries can also have associated thumbnail images.

Standards templates are provided for libraries of links, files, documents, and photographs.

Users can offer comments and rate the links/downloads. Each user is allowed one rating and many comments per entry, and can freely edit these if they change their mind.

Permission to use specific features is established via the product's admin page, where the administrator specifies which usergroups can add and edit entries, comment and rate these entries, moderate, etc.

By default, all entries are visible to all users. You can restrict visibility/access to links and categories by using the permissions masks from your board's forums.

Moderation of new entries is available but turned off by default.

Users can report bad links to the relevant moderators/administrators.

Each user can flag links as his/her "Favourites".

Modules are provided for VBAdvanced.

Hooks are provided in suitable places in LDM and sample plugins are included in the release (see extras directory), for example to integrate with ID3 tags in mp3 files, for slideshows, to autocreate new threads in your forums, etc.

Plus much more.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Slave

All reported bugs fixed - check!

So far the only thing I can see as a bug is when you go to change the display settings of a cat, the change works but when you go back to edit again it seems to pull the overall default settings and not the settings you have for that cat.

This is almost certainly the same problem again. I'll take a look this evening.

[sinoeu]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

Bits of it are already there, but we need to sort out just how many hooks are needed and where to put them. Any thoughts on the sorts of features you will wish to code via hooks?

Just want to know whether the hook for the point systems is already in it

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Viks

I am using 2.1.0

What I'm trying to say is that -

IF I do not upload a file and do not add a URL - can I still see the description and name in LDM?

Currently I have to either upload OR add a link in order for LDM to work.

I will appreciate if you could suggest me a fix or tell me how can I remedy the issue.

Thank you for helping me out..appreciated!

Vik

Vik, thanks for this report. You're correct - handling of null links is broken in 2.1.0, and broken in a different way in the current 2.1.3 beta. I'll fix it by the time of next beta.

[EasyTarget]

I've updated to the newest beta with vbulletin 3.5.4 and its working great.
Also, for me the stats were not working before, but after the upgrade they all seem to be working fine. (before I couldn't find the links/files that other users had submitted, but now it lists them for each user)

thanks again for all the hard work andrew.

Are you still planning on doing more with the image hosting portion of this?

[EasyTarget]

Originally Posted by elsupremo

Andrew,
Is there any way of implementing a system where the first time a user visit local_links.php, the form pops up before they can gain access to the downloads area. It then does not ask them again unless they leave the downloads area. Maybe even some kind of cookie that makes it so they only have to accept the first time they enter the downloads area.

Remember I don't know what I am doing, but it's just a suggestion. I like it because I think having a form before every single download is repetitive and disruptive of a client's browsing. I am usually in favor of policies that do not hamper the flow of clients' browsing experience.

Just an idea.

I don't use this feature/don't have a need for it, but maybe it'd be helpful if something like what supremo said was implemented, but on a per category basis for those sites which may need the flexibility.

[EasyTarget]

sorry for yet another post.. but I just noticed the new settings layout/organization and just wanted to say nice job.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by EasyTarget

Are you still planning on doing more with the image hosting portion of this?

I'm losing touch with all the suggestions What would you like to see? (if you forgive the pun)

[AndrewD]

OK, this is what I propose to do. User agreements will be available in two ways:

a) Default - there is no need to 'accept' any terms and conditions before starting a download
b) 'Accept me' - it will be necessary to agree to the terms set in a site-editable form

and 'Accept me' will be available in two ways:
1) 'on category entry' (default). Users will need to 'agree' to the terms before entering categories.
2) 'on link access'. Users will need to agree before accessing a download

This second setting will be available as a global value and as an inheritable per-category value, so it can be tailored to only apply in certain categories if you wish.

NB: The combination (b) + (2) will not work for users who access LDM using third-party download managers like Download Accelerator Plus. It is simply too much work for me to sort this out. However, the combination (b) + (1) (and the other combinations) will work fine.

OK? (Ophelia?)

[Slave]

Sounds the best of both worlds AndrewD ..

I don't think you can expect to fix all the worlds problems

[SteveC]

How do I change the menu titles? All I want to do is change the option for "Add Link" to "Add File" which I think my users will understand more easily since I'm using this as a file library. I can't find it in any of the templates.

Thanks for all your work on this. It's a great enhancement to my site.