Miscellaneous Hacks - CFM: Directory

Title: "CFM: Directory"
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Author: Sal Bezos (webmaster@carforummisfits.com)
Date of Creation: September 23, 2006
Version: 0.1 (9/23/2006)
Home: http://www.carforummisfits.com/
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Purpose:
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This product for vBulletin creates a directory page for any sort of directory-type content. It uses collapsable rows in a table to present large amounts of data in a compact space. Items are added to the list via the AdminCP. Entry options include a heading, a blurb (shown under the heading when you expand the row), and a custom webpage with additional contents that may be optionally enabled for each directory entry.

I designed this for my forum in order to provide a list of affiliated advertisers to my users. However, it can be used to compactly display many other types of information, such as contact information. Since support is limited, I encourage you to modify this for your own uses (and release any derivative works on vbulletin.org) provided you provide an attribution to me.


Tested:
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This product has been tested on a modified vBulletin 3.6.0 installation. There is no reason why it should not work in the same manner on any 3.5.x installation, but it has not and will not be tested by the author.


Included Files:
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- README.txt
- cfmdirectory.php
- admincfmdirectory.php
- product-cfmdirectory.xml
- sshot1.png
- sshot2.png
- sshot3.png
- sshot4.png
- sshot5.png
- sshot6.png


Installation:
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1. Upload the admincfmdirectory.php file to your admincp directory, and set proper file permissions.

2. Upload the cfmdirectory.php file to your forum root directory.

3. In your admin panel, go to Plugins & Products / Manage Products / Add/Import Product and import the "product-cfmdirectory.xml" product file. If this is your first installation of this product, select the "No" radio button in the "Allow Overwrite" option. If you are upgrading or reinstalling, select the "Yes" radio button. Click the "Import" button.

4. Visit http://<yourhostname>/forums/cfmdirectory.php to verify that the page appears. Now you're ready to add items to the directory.

5. In your admin panel, go to vBulletin Options and select the "CFM: Directory" options from the list.

6. You may choose to enter text in the Directory Introductory Text box. You can use HTML here. This text will appear above the text of your directory. Click the Save button if you want to save any changes.

7. Click the Directory Entries link.

8. Click on Create New Entry

9. Enter a heading for your directory item, and a blurb (HTML is allowed). The blurb will appear when you expand the directory item.

10. Optionally, enter something in the content block. This will appear on its own page, kind of like a personal web page for the item you are adding. If you want to use this, be sure to set the content page radio button to "Yes".

11. Click on Submit New Entry.

12. Revisit http://<yourhostname>/forums/cfmdirectory.php to ensure that the item appears as expected.

13. Lather, rinse, and repeat.

14. Add a link to http://<yourhostname>/forums/cfmdirectory.php somewhere on your forum so your users can access it ... maybe in a pretty drop-down menu of your choice. I won't impose the location on you -- I think you can handle this!


FAQ:
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Q: I hate the names of things!
A: That's not really a question.

Q: I hate the names of things?
A: Uh, better ... I tried to put things in phrases. Also, you can always go dumpster-diving in the templates and php files for anything I left out. Don't be afraid, there's not much you can hurt.

Q: Can you explain your screenshots?
A: I suppose ...
sshot1: AdminCP option menu w/ Intro text box and link to directory manager
sshot2: Entering data ... this entry has a content page
sshot3: After adding two entries. Entries are sorted alphabetically by heading
sshot4: The directory in its natural state -- all entries collapsed. Notice Zaphod has a personal page.
sshot5: The directory with both entries un-collapsed
sshot6: A content page


Support:
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Any questions and problems should be reported to the modification's thread on http://www.vbulletin.org and may or may not be answered. No warranty, express or implied, is granted with this software. Use is at your own risk.


License:
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GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
Version 2, June 1991


Live demo: http://www.carforummisfits.com/forums/cfmdirectory.php
(my personal install will be updated with ads when I get to it)

[rasun]

^^ So it was a good idea to post a car example for this

OK good to hear that you have motivation to do it, thanks in advance

[Zowners]

Will this work on 3.6.1?

[GlobalFusion]

I"ll give it a test run.

[Throtex]

Originally Posted by Zowners

Will this work on 3.6.1?

No reason it shouldn't, but I haven't run the upgrade myself so I'm still on 3.6.0. It doesn't rely on any existing tables (makes its own table) so presumably everything should be ok.

[Zowners]

Well I added it/it works. yeah!!!! I'm hoping to make a links directory out of it...somehow. Thanks. :=) The link is: http://thesupportgroupforum.com

Peace

[Throtex]

Originally Posted by Zowners

Well I added it/it works. yeah!!!! I'm hoping to make a links directory out of it...somehow. Thanks. :=) The link is: http://thesupportgroupforum.com

Peace

Glad to hear

[HDT]

Is possible to change cfmdirectory.php to cfmdirectory.htm or html?
So final link is domain.com/forum/cfmdirectory.htm/html.

I think if using cfmdirectory.php,reciprocal links system can not detect links on that page when run auto check.