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

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by corbint

yep, i get a bunch of "file not found" errors :ermm:

at what stage?

[dynaimc]

I am unable to upload a article image properly with Internet Explorer. It will upload the file, chmod it correct (0777) (image gets uploaded to server with correct path/permissions) but it won't auto insert it in the new article window, it instead posts the new uploaded article image thumbnail at the very top of the upload pop up window instead of inserting it into the new article default image window and closing the upload pop up. It also won't allow selecting of default images, they don't do anything when clicked. I am however able to do everything with the article image uploading/selecting/clicking without a problem in Firefox. The images upload/insert correctly in Firefox from the pop up upload box so I don't know what the issue is. All IE security is trusted for the domain and pop up blocking and all that is off.

I am running IE 6/Firefox 1.0.2 on XP SP2 on vb 3.0.6 w/3.0.7 security patch and GAS 3.5.1 newly installed. Everything else seems to work correctly on both browsers except the auto switch/upload default image in IE.

Thanks for any help!

[The Geek]

Sounds like a javascript problem. Do you get any javascript errors?

[dynaimc]

Originally Posted by The Geek

Sounds like a javascript problem. Do you get any javascript errors?

Thanks for the quick reply.

I tried it on another computer here and it's IE worked fine, so I guess mine has some issue (that's why I use firefox as my primary now) -- I haven't used IE in a while, I just use it to make sure things display correctly on both browsers.

[dynaimc]

Actually, I do get a script error. Here is what the error says:

Line: 9
Char: 1
Error: 'opener.document' is null or not an object
Code:0
URL: GAS_image_upload.php?f=19

Don't know why it's doing that on my IE. My firefox has no issues.

[The Geek]

sounds like your ie js is screwed. Ive had similar issues with IE before. it makes sense though. THe opener is the window that opened the popup. if it thinks its null, then there aint no way it can send the image back.
Not sure how you can 'repair' your ie js - but that is the problem!

BTW - please take a second to click install if you think its a keeper.

Thanks!

[dynaimc]

Originally Posted by The Geek

sounds like your ie js is screwed. Ive had similar issues with IE before. it makes sense though. THe opener is the window that opened the popup. if it thinks its null, then there aint no way it can send the image back.
Not sure how you can 'repair' your ie js - but that is the problem!

BTW - please take a second to click install if you think its a keeper.

Thanks!

Looks like some files got messed up. I had to do the following fix to get IE to run the js code (Windows XP SP2):

I fixed this issue by clicking on "Start Menu" - "Run", and entering the following 
entries on command prompt:

regsvr32 msscript.ocx   [enter]
regsvr32 dispex.dll   [enter]
regsvr32 vbscript.dll   [enter]

If anyone else has the IE not uploading article images problem on their machine, the above fix should solve it.

[Razz]

The Geek, are the article views meant to show in the forumdisplay?

I notice you can sort the articles by reads but it doesn't actually show the reads on my 3 installs.

[fabz]

hi
Do you know why inserting a form button in an article do not work ?
(it shows a text box instead)
Looks like vb restrictions ?

[She Unlimited]

Razz:

When articles are submitted in our geek article system they are shown up as new posts.