Links and Files Database

The VB3.0 version is no longer supported although there have been no reported problems for some time

See here for the VB 3.6 version of this hack, which is now the supported version. This version currently also works with VB 3.5
See here for the VB 3.5 thread for this hack.

What's new in v1.60?

Option to display associated thumbnail images
Option to accept/not accept new entries if these already exists in database
Code for mass edits (accessed via admincp) tidied up
VB phrasing completed
Includes a full French and a partial German translation (thanks to cclaerhout, Allan and LeeWicKeD), handled properly by installation script.
Various bugs fixed and tested against php4 and php5:
Better database validation (on startup/in admincp: links with invalid associated forumids, categories with invalid parentids)
Alternative linkbit templates provided (default uses a fieldset, the other is the old-style table row)
Alternative category selection templates (pull down menu/list of checkboxes),
Star rating displayed using standard VB stars rather than in text form
Series of minor bug fixes
See file change.txt in zip file

What it is/does

- Provides a searchable database of weblinks and/or downloadable files, for example manuals, music files, pictures, etc.
- Integrates within VBulletin, without requiring any code changes.
- Transparently handles links and file downloads. (If you want to provide downloads from your own site, you need a separate tool to upload these files. This hack does not and will not include a file uploader.)
- Provides unlimited nested categories.
- Each link/file can be a member of multiple categories.
- Link and category title and descriptions can use all BBCODEs, giving the possibility to add images, colouring, etc, as you wish
- Viewing/access permissions controlled using VBulletin forum system
- Users can rate links, in a similar manner to VB thread rating.
- File downloads are semi-leechproof, i.e. the user does not see where the file is stored and can only access the link if she has access to the associated forum.
- Audio files playable via Windows Media Player can be offered as a jukebox .
- Tracks who downloads what
- Validates links on entry/editing, and provides admin facility to validate the entire database.

Installation/upgrading instructions

Read instructions.txt in the zip file. Installation script works out whether to install or upgrade.

To upgrade from an earlier release of this hack, simply re-run the installation script. If you modified the templates in the top styles, you will lose these modifications unless you back up and re-edit.

PLEASE BACK UP YOUR DATABASE

See also

For screen shots, see attachments.

Tested with

VBulletin 3.0 and higher
PHP 4.1.1 and 4.3.4, should work with all 4.x versions, seems ok with 5.0.4
MySQL 4.0.
Reported ok with MySQL 4.1 but not exhaustively tested

Credits

Initially inspired by drkFusion's vb2 hack "vb Link Directory" v.2 and discussion about v.3 on Vbulletin.org. This is a complete rewrite with many more features. Every credit to the VBulletin folks for providing the infrastructure and to those on vbulletin.org who have helped with testing.

Integrations/Conversions

Natch has written extensions to integrate this hack with VBindex and VBAdvanced.

For convenience, this hack includes fully integrates with, but does not install, his VBIndex hack - i.e. the required template and code are provided, and the admin panel handles the configuration settings. Please refer to his thread for instructions.

Integration with VBadvanced is described in thread 1319 at vbadvanced.com.

The zip file includes a script and instructions for converting from vbLinks v2 (see thread 44551

[Natch]

As AndrewD said, the code I wrote ignores the permissions deliberately. It is a teaser so that unregistered users, or users without permission do not see an Empty Box in your portal, but see the links. If they decide to try and download, they get told they do not have permission, and if unregistered they are prompted to register.

This seemd to me to be the cleanest way to do it - I can test the altered get_hotlinks.php code and get back to you on how it looks, but my guess is that it will not be as clean on your portal page.

Originally Posted by pseudocode

Great hack!! I'm having some difficulty though. I'm sure I'm just missing something. The only thing that displays for me is "alt2" in the box on the portal page. What am I missing? I've gone back over my changes several times. Thanks in advance for your help!

I do not know what might be causing your error - but as AndrewD said as well, it sounds like a template error to me.

[lasto]

i installed this links database yesterday and then installed your addon Natch and it worked first time.It shows me the top 5 downloads.

Well done to both of u for a good hack

[Natch]

Originally Posted by Natch

As AndrewD said, the code I wrote ignores the permissions deliberately. It is a teaser so that unregistered users, or users without permission do not see an Empty Box in your portal, but see the links. If they decide to try and download, they get told they do not have permission, and if unregistered they are prompted to register.

This seemd to me to be the cleanest way to do it - I can test the altered get_hotlinks.php code and get back to you on how it looks, but my guess is that it will not be as clean on your portal page.



I do not know what might be causing your error - but as AndrewD said as well, it sounds like a template error to me.

I've tested the updated [permissions-based] get_hotlinks.php file with my board, and the only question I have [for AndrewD] is what is returned if there are no links available for the user to view ?

It does work by reducing the links that the Guest / limited access usr can see in the CustomBox, but what happens if the number of returned links is zero (0) ?

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Natch

I've tested the updated [permissions-based] get_hotlinks.php file with my board, and the only question I have [for AndrewD] is what is returned if there are no links available for the user to view ?

It does work by reducing the links that the Guest / limited access usr can see in the CustomBox, but what happens if the number of returned links is zero (0) ?

My impression, looking at the code, is that get_hotlinks() will just return a null string. If this is problematic, it could be fixed by modifing the vbindex_custom template, e.g. (not sue if my syntax is correct)

PHP Code:

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="tborder" width="100%"> 
    <tr> 
        <td> 
            <table cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="$stylevar[cellspacing]" border="0" width="100%"> 
                <tr> 
                    <td colspan="2" class="tcat" style="text-align: center"> 
                        <a name="hotties" style="float:$stylevar[right]" href="#top" onclick="return toggle_collapse('vbindex_customblock$box')"><img id="collapseimg_vbindex_customblock$box" src="$stylevar[imgdir_button]/collapse_tcat$collapseimg_vbindex_customblock.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a> 
                        <strong><a href="$vboptions[bburl]/local_links.php" title="Visit the Downloads section">Hottest Downloads</a></strong> 
                    </td> 
                </tr> 
                <tbody id="collapseobj_vbindex_customblock$box" style="$collapseobj_vbindex_customblock"> 
<if condition="$hotlinks">$hotlinks<else />There are no downloads available to you</if>
                </tbody> 
            </table> 
        </td> 
    </tr> 
</table> 
<br /> 


[Natch]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

My impression, looking at the code, is that get_hotlinks() will just return a null string. If this is problematic, it could be fixed by modifing the vbindex_custom template, e.g. (not sue if my syntax is correct)

PHP Code:

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="tborder" width="100%"> 
    <tr> 
        <td> 
            <table cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="$stylevar[cellspacing]" border="0" width="100%"> 
                <tr> 
                    <td colspan="2" class="tcat" style="text-align: center"> 
                        <a name="hotties" style="float:$stylevar[right]" href="#top" onclick="return toggle_collapse('vbindex_customblock$box')"><img id="collapseimg_vbindex_customblock$box" src="$stylevar[imgdir_button]/collapse_tcat$collapseimg_vbindex_customblock.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a> 
                        <strong><a href="$vboptions[bburl]/local_links.php" title="Visit the Downloads section">Hottest Downloads</a></strong> 
                    </td> 
                </tr> 
                <tbody id="collapseobj_vbindex_customblock$box" style="$collapseobj_vbindex_customblock"> 
<if condition="$hotlinks">$hotlinks<else />There are no downloads available to you</if>
                </tbody> 
            </table> 
        </td> 
    </tr> 
</table> 
<br /> 


Looks good to me ! I'm happy to roll-up my hack into yours with this facility and be logged for support in the one place (if you are OK with that ?)

[r00t3d]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

My impression, looking at the code, is that get_hotlinks() will just return a null string. If this is problematic, it could be fixed by modifing the vbindex_custom template, e.g. (not sue if my syntax is correct)

PHP Code:

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="tborder" width="100%"> 
    <tr> 
        <td> 
            <table cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="$stylevar[cellspacing]" border="0" width="100%"> 
                <tr> 
                    <td colspan="2" class="tcat" style="text-align: center"> 
                        <a name="hotties" style="float:$stylevar[right]" href="#top" onclick="return toggle_collapse('vbindex_customblock$box')"><img id="collapseimg_vbindex_customblock$box" src="$stylevar[imgdir_button]/collapse_tcat$collapseimg_vbindex_customblock.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a> 
                        <strong><a href="$vboptions[bburl]/local_links.php" title="Visit the Downloads section">Hottest Downloads</a></strong> 
                    </td> 
                </tr> 
                <tbody id="collapseobj_vbindex_customblock$box" style="$collapseobj_vbindex_customblock"> 
<if condition="$hotlinks">$hotlinks<else />There are no downloads available to you</if>
                </tbody> 
            </table> 
        </td> 
    </tr> 
</table> 
<br /> 


would this be the same for vbadvanced homepage v1.1?

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by r00t3d

would this be the same for vbadvanced homepage v1.1?

I imagine so.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Natch

Looks good to me ! I'm happy to roll-up my hack into yours with this facility and be logged for support in the one place (if you are OK with that ?)

I'm happy with this. Why don't we do the following -

I'll make a minor change to the basic hack to add a new set of permissions via the admin page (e.g. can_see_links). Usergroups with this setting will be able to *see* (but not necessarily access) links via the portals.

I'll update get_hotlinks.php to use this setting and the forums permission checking.

We'll roll the two hacks together, with you flagged for support.

I'll also contact the vbadvanced thread to see if we can get the same approach taken on board there.

This may take me a few days, as I'm away on two business trips from tomorrow for a week.

[Natch]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

I'm happy with this. Why don't we do the following -

I'll make a minor change to the basic hack to add a new set of permissions via the admin page (e.g. can_see_links). Usergroups with this setting will be able to *see* (but not necessarily access) links via the portals.

I'll update get_hotlinks.php to use this setting and the forums permission checking.

We'll roll the two hacks together, with you flagged for support.

I'll also contact the vbadvanced thread to see if we can get the same approach taken on board there.

This may take me a few days, as I'm away on two business trips from tomorrow for a week.

Sounds good to me - once it's finalised, I'll edit the other thread to point to here for all support, or maybe see if the two threads can be merged ...

Thanks man - your work is excellent

[ChrisSy]

does this also support attachments in filesystem rather than database? an also is there a way of importing old attachments into this links area

thanks