Custom Avatars as Files (updated for vBulletin 2.2.2)

Updated for vBulletin 2.2.2, 5th February 2002

Since there has been so much demand for this, I wrote a hack that will allow you to store all your custom avatars as files, rather than in the mySQL database.



Doing this will have the following benefits:

• Avatars folder can be protected by .htaccess (Apache only) to prevent bandwidth stealing
• No SQL queries or PHP code required to display custom avatars - server load decreases
• No cacheing issues with Internet Explorer 5.5, so server bandwidth use should decrease

The install script will make the necessary modifications to your database, install a control panel option to switch the file-based avatars on, and convert your existing custom avatars from the database into files.

All avatar options that are present when using the standard mySQL avatar system are still present, and users will not notice a difference in the interface.

Full instructions for altering your PHP files are included in the zip file.

Once you have made the necessary modifications to the PHP scripts, you should run the enclosed install_favatar.php script from your admin/ folder.

[Jawelin]

*^ BUMP ^*
irate:

[newvbuser]

Has anyone used this hack with 2.2.3b vb?

[atrl]

I tried installing it but had some problems, But it may have just been me

[atrl]

Kier, Does this work with Vbulletin 2.2.4, cause I just installed 2.2.4 and I wanna know if it works on it?

[MaSTaKiLLaH]

I always get the errormessage from the error_avatarnotimage template.

Any idea ?

[Erwin]

Originally posted by atrl
Kier, Does this work with Vbulletin 2.2.4, cause I just installed 2.2.4 and I wanna know if it works on it?

Works fine with my forums using vB 2.2.4

[Wayne2k1.com]

BE AWARE

vBulletin 2.2.4 users

In both the first step of PHP editing (private.php and announcement.php and admin/functions.php) and the last one (/(admin/user.php) the last line is NOT:

} else

but

} else {

Just a warning

[newvbuser]

Hey is this hack causing any probs with generating email lists, or mass emailing group functions?

Mass emailing does notwork for me but the only major hack I have is this hack and nothing else so I am a bit worried as to why mass email is not working

[Jawelin]

Hi. I've been using this hack for months without any problem, even mixing with other avatar-related ones...

Suddendly, some days ago, I noticed some mis-function with the custom avatar upload by an user.
Infact, with vb2.2.5, I noticed which follows:[list=1][*]Avatarrevision field in user table isn't incremented (it lasts 0)[*]Row in customavatar table is correctly added[*]New image file (avatarXX_R.gif/jpg) isn't copied into custom avatar directory[*]The new avatar is correctly displayed near the username everywhere [ getavatarurl() function ], but the url of the image isn't a file but avatar.php?userid=xx&dateline=1019732362 ... This means the hack isn't effective this case.[*]Old uploaded avatars with files in custom directory (and the correct avatarrevision value in the user table) still work correctly. The url of file is actually linked.[/list=1] --- > I think the problem is in member.php but I double-checked your instructions and didn't found any mistake...

Could you help me ?

Thank you very much
Bye

P.S.: custom avatars are ALWAYS stored into directory as .gif files, both gif and jpg types. Reason is obvious, but could it be a (another than above described one) problem to browser to correctly decode the img format when displaying it ?
Thanks again.

Warning: open_basedir restriction in effect. File is in wrong directory in /usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/forums.gamer-pit.com/httpdocs/admin/user.php on line 706

I keep getting this whenever i try uploading an avatar or linking one. The image appears broken with the URL pointning to avatar.php rather than the file itself. All directories are CHMOD'd to 777