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.
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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

[Omega Prime]

Awesome hack! I installed the previous Articles system, so when I saw this, I had to check it out! I also ran into the issue with the phrases not showing, but after editing it like you mentioned, it seems to work great! Thanks again

[high]* Omega Prime clicks install[/high]

[ndahiya]

hi

trying to decide which articles hack to use. anyone tried this vs cinq's vbarticle hack ?
tia.

[The Geek]

Anyone insterested in testing my vBarticles importer... drop me a PM.

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by ndahiya

hi

trying to decide which articles hack to use. anyone tried this vs cinq's vbarticle hack ?
tia.

Hey there.

Not too sure about cinqs as I havent used his.
GAS3 is built around vB so anything you can do in vB you can do in GAS3 (i.e. user permissions, attachments, polls, ratings, wysiwyg editor, subscriptions, etc...).

Why not try them both out and decide which is right for you?

Good luck!

[KTBleeding]

Originally Posted by the nail geek

Anyone insterested in testing my vBarticles importer... drop me a PM.

vBarticles or v3articles?

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by KTBleeding

vBarticles or v3articles?

:laugh: Guess that would make a difference wouldnt it?

The importer is for v3articles

Thanks.

[KTBleeding]

Originally Posted by the nail geek

:laugh: Guess that would make a difference wouldnt it?

The importer is for v3articles

Thanks.

No problem. That's really awesome that you're offering an importer, I know that's a major issue with a few people.

I'll have to install this hack on a test forum and try it out.
The way I would hope to run it is to run.. multiple instances of it, but change the name "articles" to "reviews" or something similar.. So I could have both an "articles" section, and "reviews" section. Does that make sense?

Is that possible with GAS3? I was able to pull it off with the v3articles hack, but this seems nicer/more promising for the long run with upgrades and what not.

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by KTBleeding

No problem. That's really awesome that you're offering an importer, I know that's a major issue with a few people.

I'll have to install this hack on a test forum and try it out.
The way I would hope to run it is to run.. multiple instances of it, but change the name "articles" to "reviews" or something similar.. So I could have both an "articles" section, and "reviews" section. Does that make sense?

Is that possible with GAS3? I was able to pull it off with the v3articles hack, but this seems nicer/more promising for the long run with upgrades and what not.

You could have your forums named whatever you want.

ie. A forum called articles and one called reviews.

Remember that this 'transforms' your forums into displaying them like articles.

The only trip up that I can think of is that the phrases will be the same for both forums (i.e. article attachments). But I would think that would be the same no matter what article system you used. You could at a pinch do some minor alterations to make it use a different phrasegroup, but my guess it would be more work than worth.

Hope this helps

[winky6]

The way I would hope to run it is to run.. multiple instances of it, but change the name "articles" to "reviews" or something similar.. So I could have both an "articles" section, and "reviews" section. Does that make sense?

Think "Conditionals" in your templates.

I.E. - IF forum id = a, then template is bla.bla.bla
else
template is GAS default.

change the names in the instance of "A" to fit your naming requirements.

"Conditionals are your salvation" :devious:

[spence2]

Originally Posted by winky6

Think "Conditionals" in your templates.
I.E. - IF forum id = a, then template is bla.bla.bla
else
template is GAS default.
change the names in the instance of "A" to fit your naming requirements.
"Conditionals are your salvation" :devious:

Good approach.

Another approach is this. Let's say you want to have Articles & Reviews.
1. Name your parent non-forum "Articles & Reviews"
2. Name a child forum "Articles"
3. And another "Reviews"
4. Then look at your Geek phrases one by one in the phrase manager. I found a lot of phrases that I could amend to fit by a little alteration.
Some examples:
"Edit Article" changed to "Edit Entry" (or "submission" or "Article or Review")
"Article Tools" changed simply to "Tools" (or else "Article & Review Tools")
5. Sometimes you can think of another word that might better fit your needs than "articles" ... one that emcompasses more than articles.
Some examples:
commentary,opinions,editorials,writings,essays,
write-ups,features,columns,comps ...
and amend your parent forum & Geek phrases to one of these

In my particular instance, my articles vary from Reviews to Recipes to Obits!
So, I named my parent forum: "Articles & Features".
I created child-forums to fit my needs and revised my phrases to be a bit more ambiguous than this great hack installed for me.

Combined with conditionals, I know you can find a way to make this hack serve many purposes.