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.

[elsupremo]

I just want to restate my wishful request that someday we be allowed to have an "alternate" link or two within each entry box. Perhaps underneath the name of the download and indented to the right. Or, underneath the magnifying glass for the thumbnail.

This could be useful for: people hosting images or videos where different quality (resolution) versions of the content are being offered.
Also, it could be useful as a file mirror.

Anyway, just another bit of input. One particular reason why I personally would love this, is I have the most recent downloads being displayed through vba CMPS on my index. However, because the content I offer has different quality versions, each new entry is duplicated (or triplicated, depending on how many versions I have). I thought perhaps to request having the links on the portal system selectable by category. But instead, I think what I have proposed above is a better solution, because it would not only fix the portal problem, but it would clean up the categories for those who have multiple categories for different quality versions.

Amazing hack as always, just my wishful thinking.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by elsupremo

I just want to restate my wishful request that someday we be allowed to have an "alternate" link or two within each entry box. Perhaps underneath the name of the download and indented to the right. Or, underneath the magnifying glass for the thumbnail.

This could be useful for: people hosting images or videos where different quality (resolution) versions of the content are being offered.
Also, it could be useful as a file mirror.

Anyway, just another bit of input. One particular reason why I personally would love this, is I have the most recent downloads being displayed through vba CMPS on my index. However, because the content I offer has different quality versions, each new entry is duplicated (or triplicated, depending on how many versions I have). I thought perhaps to request having the links on the portal system selectable by category. But instead, I think what I have proposed above is a better solution, because it would not only fix the portal problem, but it would clean up the categories for those who have multiple categories for different quality versions.

Amazing hack as always, just my wishful thinking.

Thanks - I will keep this on the list, but it won't make 2.1.5 (which may end up being called 2.1.6 or even 2.2.0 ) - it needs a rethink of the logic to be able to handle this clearly. What will happen in the official 2.1.5 (6,2.0,,) is that I have dealt with Shiva's request to autoparse urls, so if you drop a url into the description of the entry, this will be selectable. Unfortunately, this doesnt hide/manage the link, but it's a first step.

[elsupremo]

Awesome, thanks Andrew.

Quick question: do you know any easy solution off-hand that would solve my problem with the portal? "One particular reason why I personally would love this, is I have the most recent downloads being displayed through vba CMPS on my index. However, because the content I offer has different quality versions, each new entry is duplicated (or triplicated, depending on how many versions I have)."

It's not urgent at all, but it would be nice to figure out a way around this issue.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by elsupremo

Awesome, thanks Andrew.

Quick question: do you know any easy solution off-hand that would solve my problem with the portal? "One particular reason why I personally would love this, is I have the most recent downloads being displayed through vba CMPS on my index. However, because the content I offer has different quality versions, each new entry is duplicated (or triplicated, depending on how many versions I have)."

It's not urgent at all, but it would be nice to figure out a way around this issue.

Off hand, I'd say that this can be handled by changing the SQL query that's used to drive the portal. That would depend on you being sufficiently consistent in at least some aspect of your naming conventions, so that the query can differentiate between the different copies of the entry and select the one you want. For example, always put a text which says "Choose me" in the required entries. (being flippant, but you get the point)

[shiva]

Actually Andrew, I was thinking about small images with the descriptions with main categories (I think I saw a request here somewhere, but this thread is getting h-u-g-e) and that's easy enough to do with bbcode so you have a nice look to the listings. But then, after doing it, it's a not so nice look.

Are there any plans for new templates in the future? I looked at the code for it, but it's a bit more advanced coding than I am capable of, but might be nice later on, it's not too bad now, but maybe some rearrangement of things would make it better. Still, a lot of fun playing with this.

Have a example here at my little temp site if anyone is interested in how thumbnail images look in the cat boxes.
http://shivasite.roxr.com/forums/local_links.php

You can't right align though, but left align looks great.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by shiva

Actually Andrew, I was thinking about small images with the descriptions with main categories (I think I saw a request here somewhere, but this thread is getting h-u-g-e) and that's easy enough to do with bbcode so you have a nice look to the listings. But then, after doing it, it's a not so nice look.

Are there any plans for new templates in the future? I looked at the code for it, but it's a bit more advanced coding than I am capable of, but might be nice later on, it's not too bad now, but maybe some rearrangement of things would make it better. Still, a lot of fun playing with this.

Have a example here at my little temp site if anyone is interested in how thumbnail images look in the cat boxes.
http://shivasite.roxr.com/forums/local_links.php

You can't right align though, but left align looks great.

Sure, will think about this

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by shiva

Actually Andrew, I was thinking about small images with the descriptions with main categories (I think I saw a request here somewhere, but this thread is getting h-u-g-e) and that's easy enough to do with bbcode so you have a nice look to the listings. But then, after doing it, it's a not so nice look.

Are there any plans for new templates in the future? I looked at the code for it, but it's a bit more advanced coding than I am capable of, but might be nice later on, it's not too bad now, but maybe some rearrangement of things would make it better. Still, a lot of fun playing with this.

Have a example here at my little temp site if anyone is interested in how thumbnail images look in the cat boxes.
http://shivasite.roxr.com/forums/local_links.php

You can't right align though, but left align looks great.

Shiva, is this anything like what you want? If so, this is an easy edit to the links_catbit template, attached. Rather than putting the icon into a bbcode, you use it at the cat_icon and cat_icon_new settings for the category.

[Tyegurl]

got this working perfectly on my 3.5.4 not a problem after i read the directions again...

did have to change my php.ini file to allow bigger uploads and post sizes. but works like a charm.!!

[MikeGK]

Hi Andrew, can this script limit download speed and limit connection per ip? thnx..

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by MikeGK

Hi Andrew, can this script limit download speed and limit connection per ip? thnx..

No, these are currently not options.