vB Easy Auction v1.1

vB Easy Auction v1.1
by yoyoyoyo

Don't let the length of this post fool you... this is actually very simple to setup... I just tend to get long-winded at times...

WHAT YOU NEED:

* vBulletin Software (for vBulletin integration - the perl files will work fine without vBulletin)
* Web server account that has CGI capabilities, and will allow you to run executable cgi files.
* Perl 5.6 or better installed on that web server. Contact your server administrator if you are unsure (most servers are running version 5.8.X, so this should not be a problem). If you do not have perl installed then read a little further below about perlsp.
* Access to either Sendmail, BLAT, or Sockets mail. No mail can be sent without at least ONE of the above. If you are using either BLAT or Sockets mail (NT users usually), you will also need access to an SMTP mail server. Contact your server administrator to find out if you do. Note: the SMTP mail server needs to allow the user to send mail without requiring them to log into the server.

OVERVIEW

This will add auctions to your site quickly and easily. Simply edit the auction.pl file and admin.pl files to reflect your server's filepaths, etc., and then upload the files to your server. Create a template and make a couple edits to your vbulletin files to allow navigation to your auctions and that is it! The core of the auction is based on a HEAVILY modified version of EveryAuction Release Version 1.53, and can be further edited or modified to suit your needs, as long as you follow the GNU public license.

SEE POST #1 OF THIS THREAD FOR INSTALL INFO, ETC.

If members of your site are interested in participating in the auctions then they need to register for them also, since this is not integrated with the vBulletin database for security reasons (since people put actual contact info, etc. in their auction registrations).

FEATURES

• a comprehensive, professional user interface that makes navigation simple
• auction classifieds or traditional auction settings
• configuration takes only a few minutes if perl is installed on your system
• colors and tables can be easily changed to match the look and feel of your system
• supports HTML front-ends
• unlimited categories and items
• category listing lists number of open items per category
• item listings list items, closing time, and current bid
• automated e-mail validation registration system keeps non-legitimate users out of your database
• system generated easy-to-remember (and user changeable) passwords sent to users via e-mail
• users must "sign" an agreement upon registration.
• optional non-registration mode allows fast posting or bidding by anyone
• users may update their contact information, password or Registration E-Mail.
• any registered user can post an item using the easy-to-use submission system
• images can be posted along with an item description and starting bid
• supports reserve prices which allow a seller to set a minimum sell price above the minimum bid
• seller determines minimum bid increment and length of the auction
• item preview before an item is actually posted
• each item is given a unique ID number and URL, so sellers can advertise their auctions in newsgroups or via a link
• item display lists bidding history and product information
• displays Closed items in a table with Radio Buttons for Selection
• bidding is easy with the minimum bid price displayed on the item page along with a quick bid form
• sellers can choose the ending time of an auction
• amount of time left in each auction is displayed in the listing
• outbid e-mails automatically sent by the system with a link back to the auction item
• sniper protection: auctions can close a configurable time after the last bid and the designated closing time, or the admin can choose to disable the sniper protection
• integrated search engine allows search by username or keyword
• users can view closed auction history and contact information depending on whether he/she is the buyer, seller, or losing bidder
• auction items may be deleted or updated by the system administrator using a password
• e-mail sent to both high-bidder and seller on auction close
• fast re-posting of items that were not sold
• data file construction allows experienced administrators to add, remove, or edit items or users by simply editing a plain text file
• everything is compressed into a single lightning-fast perl script
• advanced file locking system eliminates the risk of data corruption even during heavy bidding
• separate secure Admin Console
• pagebreaks in listings
• automatically updates the bids on the item display page
• seller can edit an auction if there are no bids.
• auto-prune of old inactive user data (admin specified length of time)
• prevents email registration from the same address more then once
• users must enter valid e-mail addresses when signing up for the auctions.
• enter e-mail addresses twice
• "e-mail auction to friend" option
• view all auctions option

LEGAL NOTICE

Version: vB Easy Auction 1.0
Last update: 07/20/2005

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
See the GNU General Public License for more details.

modifications and integration with vbulletin
released at vbulletin.org by yoyoyoyo
No additional rights reserved by the author

Matt Hahnfeld DBA EverySoft expressly emphasizes that
this program is *NOT* an official release version of
EveryAuction, and that this program is *NOT* sanctioned
or distributed by Matt Hahnfeld DBA EverySoft.

Dieter Werner expressly emphasizes that
this program is *NOT* an official release version of
eAuction, and that this program is *NOT* sanctioned
or distributed by Dieter Werner.

vB Easy Auction for vBulletin is not affiliated with eBay or jelsoft or any affiliated companies.

The author of this release agrees to these statements absolutely.

VERSION 1.1: Added the optional ability to allow users to create their own auction sites using the easy-auction ezauctgn.zip script.

PLEASE CLICK INSTALL IF YOU FIND THIS USEFUL!

[icecube0045]

Originally Posted by yoyoyoyo

The auction.php file should never be taken out of the forum root directory. It is uploaded to your forum root, since it is part of your forum.

see above post.

OK. I have all the directories set up correctly. When I go to www.mysite.com/forums/auction.php a blank page comes up.

[yoyoyoyo]

Originally Posted by icecube0045

OK. I have all the directories set up correctly. When I go to www.mysite.com/forums/auction.php a blank page comes up.

When you say a blank page do you mean totally blank, or does it have the header and footer?

If it is totally blank then you are missing the template and if that is the case then either you didn't actually save it, or you named it something other than auction

If you see the header and footer, with A LOT of blank space or a "FILE NOT FOUND" error message inbetween (but no auction) then you need to make sure that the URL in the iframe reflects the URL to your auction.pl file.

[icecube0045]

its totally blank

[yoyoyoyo]

Originally Posted by icecube0045

its totally blank

Then, as I said you are missing the template. Blank pages mean no templates, or misnamed templates. What did you name your auction template?

[MUDERCOOL]

awesome hack, thank you very much.

is it possible to merge it with uttstore hack? is it possible for users to use "ucash" instead of real money??

[yoyoyoyo]

Originally Posted by MUDERCOOL

awesome hack, thank you very much.

is it possible to merge it with uttstore hack? is it possible for users to use "ucash" instead of real money??

The auction database is independent of the forum database, so the answer is no unless you used some sort of honor system, or the admin kept track of the auctions closely and manually deducted them from the store accounts.

Please click INSTALL if you liked the hack

[yoyoyoyo]

Here is an option for folks who don't have CGI access:

http://www.cgispy.com/scripts/auction.shtml

They offer free hosting of their version of the EveryAuction script. It doesn't have all of the same features as the one I wrote, but it will work, as long as you don't mind their banner ad on your auction page. You also won't be able to change the style, etc. to match your forum, like you can with the version I wrote, but it will still be an auction.

To use this simply change the URL in the iframe area of the template to match the auction that is hosted at cgispy.com. Then there is no need to worry about uploading the files, CHMOD'ing, etc., yet you can still integrate the auction in to your site. This is obviously much less desirable than keeping the script on your own server, but as a last resort for people who want to use this script, but don't have a server that allows them to use PERL executable scripts, I thought it was a good option.

EDIT: I also just found this page:

http://www.planetscream.com/auction/

simply click on "new page" to start creating your auction site.

There are many other sites that offer free EveryAuction hosting... just search google for "free EveryAuction hosting" and you will find a few more.

Hope this helps

NOTE: I do not have any experience with any of these free hosts, nor do I endorse any links in this post. Just trying to help.

[yoyoyoyo]

Originally Posted by icecube0045

its totally blank

Originally Posted by yoyoyoyo

Then, as I said you are missing the template. Blank pages mean no templates, or misnamed templates. What did you name your auction template?

icecube0045, I am assuming that you got this straightened out since you stopped asking questions, but in case you didn't...

If you really added your auction template then it should appear in the Style Manager, after you click on "Edit Templates" and you should see an extra template that you added near the top under "custom templates" that is called "auction" and it will be highlighted in red.

If you do not see that template listed there then you did not add it.

If you see it, make sure you spelled it correctly: auction

If you spelled it correctly, make sure that the content of the template matches the template I posted earlier in this thread for you, but be sure to change the URL in the iframe area to match the URL to your auction.pl script.

This hack is really very basic: it has a simple vbulletin powered php page that pulls in the content from a template. That template is an iframe that points to the URL of your auction.pl script.

If you are seeing a blank page then something about your template is not correct.

[icecube0045]

Originally Posted by yoyoyoyo

icecube0045, I am assuming that you got this straightened out since you stopped asking questions, but in case you didn't...

If you really added your auction template then it should appear in the Style Manager, after you click on "Edit Templates" and you should see an extra template that you added near the top under "custom templates" that is called "auction" and it will be highlighted in red.

If you do not see that template listed there then you did not add it.

If you see it, make sure you spelled it correctly: auction

If you spelled it correctly, make sure that the content of the template matches the template I posted earlier in this thread for you, but be sure to change the URL in the iframe area to match the URL to your auction.pl script.

This hack is really very basic: it has a simple vbulletin powered php page that pulls in the content from a template. That template is an iframe that points to the URL of your auction.pl script.

If you are seeing a blank page then something about your template is not correct.

Nope, I named it auction and I did name it "auction". DO you have aim or something we can speak faster over? I Pmed you my aim name.

[icecube0045]

I only added the template to 2 of my skins and I have 5. Could this be the problem?