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.
-----------------------
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

[Polo]

Originally Posted by Silverdawn222

If only I had a way to import all our articles from v3articles... unfortunately, I don't feel like copy/pasting all seventy. :ermm:

that would be awesome... unfortunately, I also have tocopy/paste the articles... and I have more than 200 articles :ermm:

[The Geek]

Hey guys,

Sorry for updating so soon. I fixed a couple of minor problems:

• readme not specifying first instance of step 5.19
• Fixed comments x of y showing on comments only page
• I also fixed a minor html screwup in GAS_article_pb

To update, re-run step 5.22 and reinstall templates

That should be that!

nJoy

[xmitchx]

It's great to see this hack out the door Bravo.

EDIT: Just updated (applied beta 08 upgrades and reinstalled templates) and it seems to be working just great! I'd post a URL but the site is not open yet, so sorry, not yet.

[spence2]

No problems with installation (3.03). It looks great. Thank you, again, for sharing your hard work with all of us.

bobby says, "howda"

[The Geek]

Bobby says HowdA!

Thanks for your help guys. Wouldnt of seen the light without everyones help

[nso]

Thanks for the quick update, the nail geek.

* edit: Don't you think that it's over the top to have the article tittle twice?
Once in the header of the article and then again in top of the body.

* edit2: I would also like to mention that using css float for the boxes with thumbnails and such would make for a more streamlined appereance.

For example: (collected from another of my sites)

CSS:
	div.box
	{
		float: right;
		width: 175px;
		background-color: #F5F4F4;
		padding: 15px;
		margin: 20px 0px 20px 15px;
		font-size: 10px;
	}

HTML: 
	<div class="box">
	<span class="boxhead">Related articles</span>
	<br /><br />
	* Case 1<br />
	* Case 2<br />
	* Case 3<br />
	</div>

[Snow]

Thanks NG Fab hack and it's working great

[The Geek]

Hey nso.

Yea... I think you are right about the title thing. Ill most likely remove it for the next package update.
I will also look into the css you mentioned.

Snow-> Glad to hear

[edit]What about removing the article tools menu if it is turned on in the sidebar?[/edit]

[nso]

the nail geek: I was thinking more in general. The whole article tools menu inside a floating element, thus the text would wrap itself round the article tool menu and it would not take up so much of the space. I myself have disabled the whole menu because it takes up too much room in my fixed-size forum.

Great hack, thou

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by nso

the nail geek: I was thinking more in general. The whole article tools menu inside a floating element, thus the text would wrap itself round the article tool menu and it would not take up so much of the space. I myself have disabled the whole menu because it takes up too much room in my fixed-size forum.

Great hack, thou

Oh, I think I know what you mean. One main reason for the sidebar there was the beta testers felt that making the article 'skinnier' so it read easier (more like a real article).
I was suggesting that if the article tools in sidebar option was turned on, then the article tools drop down menu became redundant, so why not have ALL of the article tools options in there?

What I think you're saying is make the entire sidebar float so that text wraps around it. That may prove useful to some users so I will look at adding that as an option.

Thanks for your support!