Miscellaneous Hacks - vbNetwork - share forums with other boards

vbNetwork

Summary

This add-on gives you the ability to share forums with other message boards without having to share any database information. The plugin runs through webservices and uses XML.

Release Notes
Currently the installation is easy but if you want to set up and run your own network it will help if you're familiar with XML. Joining an already existing network is fairly simple.

This plugin is developed using vBulletin 3.8.X and being tested on 3.6.X and 3.8.X. If it works on both of those, I will assume it works on 3.7.X.

If you would like my help writing versions for phpBB, IPB or other message board software, please feel free to contact me.

If you are interested you can join my existing network, but please note that it is mostly a trolling-based community of boards. Feel free to start your own network with other boards.

Product Specifications

1. several plugins
2. one cron job
3. file uploads
4. new DB tables
5. several phrases

Installation
Approx 2-5 mins

See the included installation instructions.

Upgrading/Updating

1. upload all files in the upload directory, overwriting any existing files
2. re-import the XML file, setting "Overwrite" to "Yes"

Configuration

See the included documentation for details.

Support

If you encounter problems or discover any bugs, please create a new issue at: http://code.google.com/p/vbnetwork/issues/list

Change History

• 0.9.0 (2009-02-20) - initial Beta release
• 0.9.2 (2009-05-03) - added (some) logging, fixed bug for 3.8.2
• 0.9.3 (2009-05-03) - added 'Delete' to Network Management, other minor changes
• 0.9.4 (2009-05-08) - added new board and forum management functionality, and some new minor features
• 0.9.5 (2009-05-09) - adds new option to sync network users via email, and added ability to change the network name
• 1.0.0 (2010-06-02) - Version 1.0 for vBulletin 3.8.X

Sample

This is one shared forum on three different boards (the content of this forum may be NSFW).
http://www.anothermessageboard.com/f...splay.php?f=29
http://www.juot.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=50
http://www.drunkensquirrel.net/com/f...splay.php?f=28

PLEASE CLICK INSTALL!

[swissknife]

Hi! Your mod sounds great! But i got a question:

This plugin is developed using vBulletin 3.8.2 and has been used with 3.6.X and 3.7.X, though I will not support backwards compatibility anymore.

Does it mean, that a combination linke vb 3.7.2 and vn 3.8.2 wont work?

[Crrrazzzy]

how do you remove a network?

[Lynne]

I've got a question.... what about forum permissions? If site A has this shared forum set to be 'private' (only members of a special usergroup may see/post in it), then will this mod work since the posts from the other sites are set to be written as 'guests' and Site A doesn't allow regular guests to post in this forum? (I hope that made sense.)

[Mit3b]

wow i like this plugin !!

[Crrrazzzy]

can we get a better example of setting this up in the network management?

board a = slave where posts will go
board b = master where posts originate

i asked earlier on how to remove a network since i am doing alot of trial and error to get this to work to no avail

[waza]

I can't use it right now, but it's a very intresting mod.

[KURTZ]

really interesting mod ...

[zethon]

Originally Posted by swissknife

Does it mean, that a combination linke vb 3.7.2 and vn 3.8.2 wont work?

It should work just fine.

[zethon]

Originally Posted by tim@myinternets

how do you remove a network?

I'll release an update in a few days that will allow you to do this in the 'Network Manager".

Right now you'll have to remove the network in your database under the 'network' table..

Originally Posted by tim@myinternets

can we get a better example of setting this up in the network management?

board a = slave where posts will go
board b = master where posts originate

i asked earlier on how to remove a network since i am doing alot of trial and error to get this to work to no avail

I'll update the docs too with some better explanations of how to setup your own network.

[zethon]

Originally Posted by Lynne

I've got a question.... what about forum permissions? If site A has this shared forum set to be 'private' (only members of a special usergroup may see/post in it), then will this mod work since the posts from the other sites are set to be written as 'guests' and Site A doesn't allow regular guests to post in this forum? (I hope that made sense.)

Forum permissions do not carry across the network. So yes, you could have a network forum be private on one messageboard and have that same network forum be public on another.

I can't recall which permission it is off hand that allows Guest to post, but if I remember correctly as long as they're allowed to in the Usergroup (not necessarily in any forums) then the plugin should work.