Major Additions - vBExperience 4

vBExperience 4.1 for vBulletin 4

Tested with all Version of vBulletin Forum and Suite 4.0.4 -> 4.1.11

Created by Marius Czyz aka Phalynx.

Triple Winner of the "Mod of the Month"-Award (March 2008, September 2009, July 2010) on vBulletin.org.

What is vBExperience?
vBExperience is your free feature packaged solution for motivating your users. vBExperience is an advanced and highly customizable level/promotion and activity measure system with awards, achievements, promotions and activities. It will calculate an activity and experience score for every user based on their activites on the forum. Now your users will see how their level is increasing by participating on your forum.

Communities are not only defined by post count, they need much more parameters: Are the postings the user creates helpful? Are his threads frequently read? Does the user participate on the community by posting pictures, attachments, leaving visitor messages, tagging threads? How can the user's activitiy be compared to others? All this can be answered with this mod. Additionally your users get awards and collect achievements for beeing active on your board.

vBExperience is fully translated to many languages. Beside english there are language files for german, french, italian, portuguese, spanish, swedish and chinese simplified. Polish, turkish, persian are not fully translated.

Comments, suggestions, translations, bugs, etc... are very welcome! Support is only given to people who have clicked "Mark as Installed":
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/vborg_mis...hreadid=245023


/***** Demo *****\
No Demosite currently available.


/***** INSTALLATION *****\
Please read the file readme_install_uninstall_upgrade.txt for detailed instructions!


/***** Primary Support *****\
As vBulletin.org does not offer any help managing modifications, espacially the complex one like vBExperience, I have to decided to open a site together with TheMayhem that is dedicated just for this.
It features a forum not just a single thread, a bug and feature tracker. And you also test our modifications over there.



/***** Featurelist *****\

*** Plugins ***
vBExperience can be easily extended by using it's custom data provider interface (CDP). With the CDP everyone is able to create plugins that integrates into vBExperience calculation process. There are already several plugins like Post Thanks Integration.
The plugins data can also be used to create achievements, awards and also promotions.


*** Insight Experience ***
The insight into your personal experience and what's going on on the community. Currently support basic services like activity and some featured achievements, there are plans to extend this with helpful hints on how progress, depending on users points. Also a statistics module is in work.


*** Awards ***
Motivate your users to be the best in a defined category! With the Awards you are able to reward users who collect the most points, f.e. by making new friends and leading a social group.
The awards are shown in Rankings and Profile. You can set them also to display in postbit near the username. There is a scheduled job running once a day (02:30h) to calculate them.
Via AdminCP they are completely customizeable and can also be assigned manually.

Currently there are six default awards: Most Popular, Activity Award, Posting Award, Community Award, Frequent Poster, Blog Award, Calendar Award, Discussion Ender, Master Tagger, User with most referrers, Downloads, Arm of Law, King of Publishing.
You can create as much awards as you like. Just select a title, choose from one of the 250 images and select the required points for it.


*** Achievements ***
Achievements are very similar to the awards a reward to the user. Unlike an award an achievement is not limited to a single user.
Similar to awards, you can create as much achievements as you like. Just select a title, choose from one of the over 500 images and create the required condition for it.


*** Promotion system ***
The promotion system enables you to move users to other usergroups, depending on their experience points. You can create conditions that have to be met to be promoted. Benefits and extended permissions will be shown automatically to the user. Promotions are showing also possible jumps from current to the next possible group with the required conditions.
Using this you can create multiple groups and assign additional features. Just an example: Usergroup 1 has no custom avatars and just a capacity of 20 private messages. With a condition of 1000 Experience points the user moves to Usergroup 2, where the user is able to upload his own avatar and store more private messages.


*** Rankings ***
Showing User, Level, Awards, Activity Points (experience, thread, post, user, misc) - sortable.


*** Social Groups Rankings ***
Starts the competition between social groups! This feature ranks the groups depending on their average user experience points.


*** Earn Points ***
This is an overview for the user on how points can be collected. It features also a possibility to compare own points to the community's average. All data is beeing pulled automatically from the database.


*** Give Away Points aka Point Donation ***
Users can donate their points to other community members. Choose the field which will be used for give away and select the amount that will be transferred. Admins can donate custom points to the user.


*** Statistics aka Leaderboards ***
The leaderboard is showing a Top-x list of the leading users. Usefull for optimizing points of the point provider. Only enabled point providers with results will be displayed.


*** Shop aka Market ***
vBExperience integrates easily with the Point Market System v3 by TheMayham (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=232676).
It features a virtual item store, username items, bank, gifts, gambling, lottery, and a lot more!
As of vBExperience 4.0, the vBExperience 3.8 Shop has been discontinued.



/***** Collecting Points *****\
vBExperience is collecting points for a user counting his actions in the community. The collected points can be used to reward users with awards, achievements and promotions - even if the collected data comes from a plugin.

Beside the automatic collection, the admin can manually donate custom points to the user, for example for a special reward. Of course you can use this also for awards, achievements and promotions.


Taken into calculation are these things:
Threads
- Creating threads and gaining additional points from views, replies, votes and ratings to this thread
- Creating thread tags
- Making a thread sticky
- Socialgroup Discussions (Discussions, Posts)

Posts
- Creating posts
- Views on attachments (needs "Who Downloaded This Attachment?" installed)

User
- Days since registration
- Average posts per Day (for users who are registered for at least seven days)
- Referrals
- Received infractions
- Given infractions ("Arm of Law")
- Reputation / Use of reputation system
- Visitor messages on profiles
- Creating social groups and getting members
- Uploading pictures
- Making friends
- Completing profile

Misc
- Doing calendar entries
- Writing vBulletin Blogs (vBulletin 4 Suite required)
- Publishing content with vBulletin CMS (vBulletin 4 Suite required)
- Manually assigned points

Additionally there is support for 3rd party modifications:
- Point Market System / Items Shop (included)
- Project Tools (plugin)
- Who Downloaded This Attachment? (plugin)
- DownloadsII v6 (included)
- LDM Links and Downloads Manager (included)
- Abe1 Post Thank You (plugin)
- DBTech Advanced Post Thanks/Like (Lite) (plugin)
- DBTech Advanced @UserTag (plugin)
- Helpful Answers (plugin)
- iTrader (plugin)
- ibProArcade (plugin)
- v3arcade Champions and Submissions (plugin)
- vB Tournaments and Ladders (plugin)
- Advanced Forum Points - set points independent for every forum (plugin)
- Consuming points by downloading attachments ("pay" for attachments) (plugin)
- IWT Time Spent Online (plugin)
- PhotoPost Pro 7 (plugin)
- PhotoPost vBGallery 3 (plugin)
- 8WR Media Library (plugin)
- vBSoccer (plugin)
- vBookie (plugin)
- vBookie Cash (plugin)
- Farcaster's Event Attendance (plugin)
- PhotoPlug (plugin)
- EasyForms (plugin)
- Triple Triad (plugin)
- AWCoding Donation System LITE (shipped within that product)
- AWCoding Donation System PRO (shipped within that product)
- AWCoding Subscription System PRO (shipped within that product)
- AWCoding Credit Purchase System LITE (shipped within that product)
- AWCoding Credit Purchase System PRO (shipped within that product)
- AWCoding Pirate Poker PRO (shipped within that product)
- AWCoding Pirate Poker Platinum (shipped within that product)
- AWCoding Product System PRO (shipped within that product)



You have to install these modifications for your own, vBExperience doesn't install nor touches these.
More addons will be published as soon as they are finished.



/***** Calculation of the activity *****\
The system calculates the activity (week, month and also a custom defined datespan, 60) by counting the actions a user has done. An action can be a post, a new thread, rating, download, etc... The activity bars will be filled during the first weeks. This has changed from earlier versions where just postings, visitor- and group messages have been counted.



/***** Settings *****\
You can control how many points are given to every calculation. For example you can give many points for creating new threads but only a few for views of that thread. Setting a value to 0 will disable a setting.
Many settings regarding the behaviour of vBExperience are making it easy to adjust it to your needs. You can select from 10 colors for the progress bars and also choose from around 250 icons.
Additionally, you can set ignore users (f.e. for bot users), forums (f.e. offtopic forums) and usergroup id's. Please keep in mind that out of the box the usergroupid 6 (Administrators) is beeing ignored.



/***** Performance, especially on Big Boards *****\
vBExperience has been tested on smaller and also on some bigger sites. I know from boards with around 120k users running this mod smoothly. More about this topic can be read in the file readme_optimization.txt



/***** Frequently asked questions *****\
Q: How do I change the name Experience to something new?
A: You can change the name via phrases. Just search and replace all phrases that contains the word "Experience".

Q: When installing vBExperience, does everyone start from scratch, or will it automatically configure everyone's points based on actions before the install?
A: If you recount, vBExperience will calculate ALL existing data since the beginning of the board. If you used vBCredits, vBActivity, uCash and similar systems - there is no need to convert the points.

Q: My conditions don't work correctly on achievements and promotions.
A: Conditions in achievements and promotions are calculated in POINTS, not in count of items.
If you create an achievement for reaching the first 10 Days, you must enter the points needed for this. If you reward 2 points for every day, you have to set 2 points for every day since registering. Calculation: 10 days * 2 points = 20 as condition. So you will have to set 20 as the condition.

Credits for images
- FAMFAMFAM, http://www.famfamfam.com/lab/icons/silk/
- IconExperience



/***** History *****\

vBExperience 4.1.1

Please reinstall ALL plugins you are using from the ZIP\Plugins! Espacially if you get SQL Errors after reinstalling vBExperience.

- Fixed Plugin for 8WR_Media_Library
- Fixed Plugin for Advanced_Forum_Points
- Fixed Plugin for Attachment_Consumes_Points
- Fixed Plugin for EasyForms
- Fixed Plugin for Post_Thanks_Abe1
- Fixed border around boxes
- Fixed not correctly saving award images
- Extended character length for manual award assignment
- Several smaller fixes

vBExperience 4.1.0, 16th December 2011

- Introduced the feature to start the calculation by a defined date. By default all data will be considered for calculation. Please keep in mind that there are some data that cannot be filtered by date, like added friends. You need to re-install all plugins to have them obeying the new calculation limit. This feature has been sponsored by BryanB. Thanks!
- Fixed Discussion Ender, can be now disabled by setting value to 0
- Fixed Arm of Law, can be now disabled by setting value to 0
- Insight: Optimized layout
- Insight: Optimized colours for darker styles
- Achievement "Three Friends" renamed to "Social" (does not affect existing achievement)
- Renamed point descriptions so they can be identified better as point system (f.e. Days since registered -> Points for every day since registration)
- Added: Romanian Translation (thanks to Teascu Dorin)
- Custom Points can now have a category, can be used as entry point for other modifications using vBExperience points, eg. Market/Shop purchases
- Fixed several smaller issues

Changelog for other versions is in history.txt

[goxy63]

Great, thanks for quick reply, but..

Originally Posted by Phalynx

Look out for the fieldname "Arcade Championships" and select it. Create three awards and put gold, silver or bronze on each of them - automatically the best three user should get the award.

Did that, recounted awards and nothing in user profile

in list of awards I can see all 3 images
gold (Pos. 0)
silver (Pos. 1)
bronze (Pos. 2)
why "(Pos. 0)" is not same for all 3?
EDITED: its working now, after changing "Display Order" within options and for all 3 set "1" its working, not sure why

One more thing, translations...for example in user profile under "Achievements":
"Social"
"Your first Group"
"1 year registered"
"Created Album pictures" .....

I know that I can translate those through some file uploaded....but some of mu users are using english as an option and I am not sure how to add new phrases if that is possible?

Thanks

Edited: found how to translate some things as awards, just change their name within optios

[Phalynx]

Originally Posted by sweetpotato

How to config Last Promotion to show more? On my site only 15 days showed. I want more to inform all members who have been promoted
Thanks,

Settings, Experience, "Limit Activity entries?". This is by default limited to 120 entries, not days.

Originally Posted by snowlion

Yes, I did

Please post the errors here or PM me.

[Phalynx]

Originally Posted by goxy63

EDITED: its working now, after changing "Display Order" within options and for all 3 set "1" its working, not sure why

By default awards and achievements with an display order of 0 are beeing ignored. This is for the case the admin creates the achievement and did not configure it. That way you can also disable some achievements you don't need.

[snowlion]

v3arcade_Champion

Database error in vBulletin 4.1.4:
Invalid SQL:
SELECT COUNT(highscorerid) as countchampionships 
   FROM `sty_v3arcade_games` 
   WHERE highscorerid = '1' 
   AND v3arcade_games.dateadded > 315532800;
MySQL Error   : Unknown column 'v3arcade_games.dateadded' in 'where clause'
Error Number  : 1054
Request Date  : Sunday, November 13th 2011 @ 09:16:36 AM
Error Date    : Sunday, November 13th 2011 @ 09:16:38 AM
Script        : http://forum.bentinhyeu.info/admincp...min_recount_xp
Referrer      : http://forum.bentinhyeu.info/admincp...php?do=recount
IP Address    : 113.170.31.129
Username      : kisibachda
Classname     : vB_Database
MySQL Version : 5.1.56
Stack Trace:
#0 vB_Database->halt() called in [path]/includes/class_core.php on line 423
#1 vB_Database->execute_query() called in [path]/includes/class_core.php on line 456
#2 vB_Database->query_read() called in [path]/includes/class_xperience.php(821) : eval()'d code on line 14
#3 eval() called in [path]/includes/class_xperience.php on line 821
#4 xPerience->CalculateXP() called in [path]/admincp/xperience_admin.php on line 287

It seem you're missing table prefix...

one more error

Database error in vBulletin 4.1.4:
Invalid SQL:
SELECT userid
                                FROM sty_xperience_stats
                                WHERE  points_user_online > 60 AND
                                userid NOT IN(
                                        SELECT userid FROM sty_xperience_achievements_issues WHERE achievementid=6
                                )
                                LIMIT 0,100;
MySQL Error   : MySQL server has gone away
Error Number  : 2006
Request Date  : Sunday, November 13th 2011 @ 02:20:27 PM
Error Date    : Sunday, November 13th 2011 @ 02:21:01 PM
Script        : http://forum.bentinhyeu.info/cron.php?rand=1321215623
Referrer      : http://forum.bentinhyeu.info/threads...g-L%E1%BB%ADa?
IP Address    : 95.88.140.106
Username      : Kh?ch
Classname     : vB_Database
MySQL Version :

[Phalynx]

Please import the attached plugin. Does it fix the error with v3arcade?

The second error is caused by server:

MySQL Error : MySQL server has gone away

[snowlion]

Originally Posted by Phalynx

Please import the attached plugin. Does it fix the error with v3arcade?

OK, I'll try it.

The second error is caused by server

Yes, I know

** Edit:
Fixed. Thanks Phalynx.

[Phalynx]

Great, thanks for verification.

As to the server error, try to decrease the amount of achievements processed at once.

[Budget101]

Originally Posted by snowlion

Yes, I calculate from the beginning of the board so I set 0 to &quot;Start calculation of points from given date&quot; not from a specific date and I think you should do it, or can you tell me why you have to calculate from a <i>specific date

because members would have literally over 4 million points and they've already been paid for previous years posts using the old 3.7 version vbexperience shop (the GOOD one!!). Unfortunately, setting the 'calculate from a specific date'doesn't work properly, it calculates threads from god knows what date (in one case a member hasn't even logged in in a year, let alone posted and it shows her points for threads at 45,000+- despite the fact that it's only supposed to calculate for the past 3 months. It changes the registration dates to the 'start calculating on date' which screws up the preset user achievements. Doesn't do any good to report the errors/bugs because the dev doesn't want to hear it, he thinks it works- because he's using it from the beginning of time on his board, not from a set date. I've tried it on all 3 of my sites, using 4.06, 4.1.1 and 4.1.7 and the issues are the same on all 3.

[Phalynx]

I'm also using it on my boards with the defined date.

Please don't spread wrong informations. You simply misconfigured vBExperience.
You stated several times that you are not using it anymore, so please leave this thread.

[snowlion]

Originally Posted by Budget101

because members would have literally over 4 million points and they've already been paid for previous years posts using the old 3.7 version vbexperience shop (the GOOD one!!). Unfortunately, setting the 'calculate from a specific date'doesn't work properly, it calculates threads from god knows what date (in one case a member hasn't even logged in in a year, let alone posted and it shows her points for threads at 45,000+- despite the fact that it's only supposed to calculate for the past 3 months. It changes the registration dates to the 'start calculating on date' which screws up the preset user achievements. Doesn't do any good to report the errors/bugs because the dev doesn't want to hear it, he thinks it works- because he's using it from the beginning of time on his board, not from a set date. I've tried it on all 3 of my sites, using 4.06, 4.1.1 and 4.1.7 and the issues are the same on all 3.

Don't blame him. At first, I don't understand what you meant too :d
OK, Let try this, set Yes to: Options > Setting > Experience > Only active users? > Calculate stats only for active users. Please do a recount after you set this to Yes to get a clean calculation result.

Move inactive user in a period time that you set to another usergroup (maybe it call Inactive group), than use Ignore Group feature (same place with above setting) to ignore that group from recount.

Do a recount to update Experience points of active users.

So, when inactive users comeback, they have to collect point from the beginning or you just move them into an active usergroup than do a recount again.

It's just my suggesttion, do it if it ok with you and let me know if you success