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

[Polo]

Originally Posted by The Geek

Hey polo. So you used the importer for v3articles?

Those articles ahould now be threads and posts in whatever forum you matched them to. Is this not the case?

The importer worked perfectly... i mean the articles became threads and everytyhing, i was hable to view them and see them as just regular threads... the problem came when I tried implementing the GAS articles... i went into the GAS admincp options and set the forum number and then that problem... as I said, the articles title appear and the images too (the one of the newspaper) but is kind of messed up... and when you click in the article titles only the reply button and quick reply appear.... hope you can help me...

by the way, i'm I the first v3article importer? just wondering...

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by subnet_rx

thanks, that did the trick. Any ideas on how I can edit the buttons to fit my style? I'm using a dark red button set from the vbulletin.com forums. Is there an original somewhere I could edit?

Just edit the ones in the SDK (think you can get them from the members download area at vbulletin.com)

[lucabosurgi]

I need a bit of help with this pleeeeease...

Can 'Comma separated list of forum id's ' be reversed and only include the excluded forums?

[xug]

Originally Posted by The Geek

xug - I have a prototype for vbacmps random articles but its not ready for release yet. I am sure that can be modified for vbportal

Geek, a random or featured article thing would be cool, but I would love to see something else made/fixed.

When I post in my news forum vBPortal picks it up and projects it on the homepage, it picks up a default image or it picks up the image that's attached.

When I use a forum that's transformed into a Geek Article Forum and put this forum in vbportal settings to be projected on the homepage it does works fine, but not the attached image!!

So the news.php file of vBPortal needs an adjustment/addition of the part of your scripts that would pick up that image that is attached to an Geek Article.

[JustAskJulie]

Question on the V3Articles Importer. Does it affect the original articles, or is that stuff still there until I delete it?

Basically, I guess what I want to know is, if I do the import and I decide I liked it better or want to go with another hack, I'm I stuck having my articles in a forum? Or can I go back to the way they were?

[BigIke]

Originally Posted by JustAskJulie

Question on the V3Articles Importer. Does it affect the original articles, or is that stuff still there until I delete it?

Basically, I guess what I want to know is, if I do the import and I decide I liked it better or want to go with another hack, I'm I stuck having my articles in a forum? Or can I go back to the way they were?

I believe you can revert back to the way they were by uninstalling the GAS. Not sure on this though.

[Lionel]

Is there an importer for cinq's article hack? I'd love to put all articles under the same roof.

[The Geek]

lucabosurgi - this is a good suggestion brought up yesterday however no immediate plans to put it in yet

xug - what your asking is basically the same thing: An add on for GAS that really works pretty much the same. Right now my hands are just too full to spend much time developing it. I will - its just a matter of time.

Julie - It doesnt touch the original v3articles so you can always go back. There is also a rollback feature to remove the articles you imported into GAS

Lionel - Given time and enough requests I would do one - but there has only been a couple requests and I dont have the spare time anyway

[Jason McConnell]

Hey Geek, first off I gotta say you got some killer hacks I had Geek Articles 3.5 and Geek Gallery Popup working together just fine, but with Articles 3.51 installation, due to other hacks being installed, I had to do the manaul file edits

I hit a snag with the file edit for Newthread.php. What happens is when I tried to integrate the Articles hack and Gallery pop up hack, the newthread.php in my Articles forum displays as normal... no byline, image uploader, nothing. But the Open link under the smilie box shows just fine. If I remove the Geek_Gallery_Popup from the Phrasegroups = Array, it goes back to working as the Articles hack should.

Anyway, here's the edit with both hacks:

PHP Code:

//=== GAS Step 500 ===
    $phrasegroups = array('threadmanage', 'posting','Geek_Gallery_Popup','geek_articles',); 


Did I do something wrong? Sorry if I'm not making too much sense, this has been a long day, and you seem to have enough to worry about. I did try searching the thread for a similar problem/solution, but like I said, I'm out of it.

[Lizard King]

//=== GAS Step 500 ===
$phrasegroups = array('threadmanage', 'posting', 'geek_articles','Geek_Gallery_Popup');

use this Jason , You have an extra comma