Add-On Releases - Official AddonChat Product

vBulletin 3.7.x Official Integration & Authentication Extension

Product Info
Name: AddonChat Official Integration Product
Product ID: ac80_37
Version: 3.7.0
Author: AddonInteractive (http://www.addoninteractive.com/)
Last Modified: 15 May. 2008
Compatibility: vBulletin 3.7.x

Overview
This extension allows you to fully integrate a AddonChat Free, Professional, Professional PLUS or Enterprise Java? Chat Room with your vBulletin 3.7 forum system. This script provides basic integration for AddonChat Free and Professional customers. Remote authentication (the ability to secure access to your chat room using your vBulletin username/passwords) is available for Pro+/Enterprise customers, as well as a Who's Chatting feature.

Requirements

• vBulletin 3.7 or higher
• AddonChat Free, Professional PLUS, or Enterprise, or AddonChat Professional with the Remote (HTTP) Authentication System. You may register for a AddonChat account at www.addonchat.com. A Professional PLUS or Enterprise account is recommended to take advantage of advanced features.
• (optional, but recommended) PHP with allow_url_fopen directive enabled in your php.ini file or the PHP CURL extension. This is required to download the Who's Chatting list from AddonChat servers.

What's new?
This script is a completely revamped edition of our previous integration script. Installation no longer requires any template or code modifications. Additionally, there are no PHP files to edit when setting up your chat room. We have added an "AddonChat" menu item in the vBulletin AdminCP that allows you to setup and configure your chat room with ease. Most users will simply need to enter their account number and password (as used at addonchat.com) and your chat room settings will be retrieved automatically, with your remote authentication system updated automatically as well. We have also improved character code support through better UTF-8 conversion allowing non-English speakers to use a vBulletin+AddonChat without issue. Issues relating to the Who's Chatting system causing problems have also been addresses; a scheduled task has been added to automatically optimize and repair AddonChat related tables daily in addition to improvements to the re-written Who's Chatting system.

Features

• Seamless integration between your vBulletin forum and AddonChat
• After installation, setup and configure your chat room from the AddonChat menu in your vBulletin Admin Control Panel
• Popup and Embedded Chat room link options
• Automatic (ten minute interval) User's Chatting count updates
• Real-Time Who's Chatting list
• Display the amount of users within your chat room on your main navbar shown throughout your entire forum
• Remote authentication allows you to authenticate access into your chat room based on your vBulletin user database
• Automatic user login option
• Seamless integration with vBulletin Usergroup permissions (remote authentication)
• Remote functions system allows you to tie in vBulletin forum functions into the AddonChat user menu
• Uses the vBulletin XML product import architecture, making installation/uninstallation simple.
• No code or template modifications required
• Automated account lookup - just enter your account number and password, and your information will be automatically retrieved. (allow_url_fopen must be enabled in PHP)
• Multi-lingual (UTF-8) support

Installation
Installaion takes less than five minutes. Download the supplied ZIP file, and extract it on your personal computer. Open the readme.txt file for full installation instructions. No PHP code modifications or template modifications are required. This script makes use of the vBulletin XML Product system for a fast and painless installation.

Support
Support is provided by AddonInteractive for this script provided you have a Professional, Professional PLUS or Enterprise AddonChat account. Read the included instructions for details. Please let us know if you have any problems installing this extension.

[abrecher]

Wow, I'm really glad I moved over to Addonchat! I've been using FlashChat for almost 2 years and it's been causing me so many headaches I was just about to remove chat from my forum entirely.

I noticed users mentioned links to members profiles within the chat room. I don't see this as an option anywhere ?

[LanciaStratos]

Originally Posted by abrecher

Wow, I'm really glad I moved over to Addonchat! I've been using FlashChat for almost 2 years and it's been causing me so many headaches I was just about to remove chat from my forum entirely.

I noticed users mentioned links to members profiles within the chat room. I don't see this as an option anywhere ?

To view a user's profile, right click on their user name in the chat and select the appropriate option.

[abrecher]

Originally Posted by LanciaStratos

To view a user's profile, right click on their user name in the chat and select the appropriate option.

All I get are two options:

Instant Message
Ignore

Nothing else ?

[TMH63]

With the Pro edition, will my member database info integrate with this chat?

As in, will my members use the same username and password to log into the chat?

Will my members even have to log into the chat at all once they are logged into my forums?

Thanks.

[LanciaStratos]

Originally Posted by abrecher

All I get are two options:

Instant Message
Ignore

Nothing else ?

abrecher, I'm not sure what would be the reason for that. You should probably email AddOnChat directly as they don't provide support in these forums.

Originally Posted by TMH63

With the Pro edition, will my member database info integrate with this chat?

As in, will my members use the same username and password to log into the chat?

Will my members even have to log into the chat at all once they are logged into my forums?


Thanks.

They don't even have to log in to the chat, it just opens up and they are logged in with their forum user name. I requested a two week trial of the Professional Plus service to see how the integration actually worked.

[abrecher]

Originally Posted by TMH63

With the Pro edition, will my member database info integrate with this chat?

As in, will my members use the same username and password to log into the chat?

Will my members even have to log into the chat at all once they are logged into my forums?


Thanks.

Absolutely! It does auto log in if they're already logged into your forum. I'm loving the product so far and so are my forum members.

[abrecher]

Originally Posted by abrecher

All I get are two options:

Instant Message
Ignore

Nothing else ?

Addonchat support assisted me with resolving my issue.

[TMH63]

Originally Posted by LanciaStratos

abrecher, I'm not sure what would be the reason for that. You should probably email AddOnChat directly as they don't provide support in these forums.



They don't even have to log in to the chat, it just opens up and they are logged in with their forum user name. I requested a two week trial of the Professional Plus service to see how the integration actually worked.

Originally Posted by abrecher

Absolutely! It does auto log in if they're already logged into your forum. I'm loving the product so far and so are my forum members.

What versions of addonchats are you both running? Like them? Any downfalls?

I'm still trying to figure out if there is a true and needed difference in paying the extra cost to go into the Pro Plus package.

Thanks!

[abrecher]

Originally Posted by TMH63

What versions of addonchats are you both running? Like them? Any downfalls?

I'm still trying to figure out if there is a true and needed difference in paying the extra cost to go into the Pro Plus package.

Thanks!

I'm using Pro Plus. I was coming from FlashChat. We ran into so man issues with FlashChat it wasn't funny. You can pay monthly for Addonchat so you can see if you like it or not, that's what I did to start off.

[TMH63]

Server load and amount of users able to use the chat at once are my main two concerns. I have a relatively small forums right now, but growing at a descent rate so I want to accommodate future growth----today.

I'm currently running cyb chat and my bandwidth is being chewed up like MAD!! I have the refresh and timeout settings set so slow that I just can't stand it. I can't imagine what my members think. I need to do something else very soon.