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

[steven s]

Originally Posted by Blam Forumz

Error when i update my links option (who can view, etc)


Warning: opendir(): open_basedir restriction in effect. File(/) is not within the allowed path(s): (/home/blamina/:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php:/tmp) in /home/blamina/public_html/forum/local_links.php on line 2630

Warning: opendir(/): failed to open dir: Operation not permitted in /home/blamina/public_html/forum/local_links.php on line 2630
The following setting(s) are invalid
file_icons_dir : /
Go back

I had the same problem.
I went to install 1.41 and got a warning message.
I went ahead with the install anyway and now no longer have that warning message.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by 1996 328ti

I had the same problem.
I went to install 1.41 and got a warning message.
I went ahead with the install anyway and now no longer have that warning message.

Several of you have reported this problem, which is discussed in the documentation. Basically, your site's php installation has restrictions on which parts of the directory structure can be accessed by a php script. (This is the open_basedir setting in php.ini.) This error message is a consequence of that restriction. The next version will trap the message. It's nothing to worry about.

[CSS59]

is this normal as well?

Warning ==========================
open_basedir is set to /home/jonelz:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php:/tmp in your PHP installation
Please refer to the hack instructions for information on this setting
========================== Warning


and then I get this when I try to save settings:

The following setting(s) are invalid
file_icons_dir : /
Go back

Another setting that causes difficulties is *open_basedir*. If set, this
defines whereabouts in the directory tree files/directories can be opened
by php scripts. This causes problems in two situations:
a) if you offer file downloads and store these within a restricted part
of the directory tree; b) if you use the *file_icons_dir* facility to
add illustrative icons to downloads. The install script will warn you;
the workarounds are i) modify the setting of open_basedir;
ii) for case (a), use *local_file_root* setting to locate file
downloads in an accessible part of the directory tree;
iii) for case (b) point *file_icons_dir* at an accessible part of
the directory tree - otherwise, the hack will simply ignore the request
to display file icons.

I dont want to upload files but it wont let me save my admin settings cuz i keep getting that error and I really donno what to do


Help

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by JonelZ

is this normal as well?

Warning ==========================
open_basedir is set to /home/jonelz:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php:/tmp in your PHP installation
Please refer to the hack instructions for information on this setting
========================== Warning


and then I get this when I try to save settings:

The following setting(s) are invalid
file_icons_dir : /
Go back



I dont want to upload files but it wont let me save my admin settings cuz i keep getting that error and I really donno what to do


Help

Have a look at my reply (above) to NightWalker on 28-11-2004, 08:46. That tells you how to get rid of this error.

[CSS59]

Thank you, this fixed it:

b) Try setting this to a valid directory, e.g. admincp. It won't cause any difficulties because there are no icons there.

Now how can I make a custom field for "where can we find a link on your site?"

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by JonelZ

Thank you, this fixed it:




Now how can I make a custom field for "where can we find a link on your site?"

Sorry, you'll have to sort that out for yourself. I do the reasonable work for free, but also need to live a life.

[CSS59]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

Sorry, you'll have to sort that out for yourself. I do the reasonable work for free, but also need to live a life.

I understand. Thank you for the help.

Anyone want to do this Reciprocal Link's URL field? I really dont know how, I am an accountant :lol:

[ZnARk]

First i want to say thanks for a great hack

I just wonder about one thing...
Is it possible to restrict the ability to add links in a certain category to just one usergroup without restricting viewing by the other groups?

I tried use the forumpermission function but it just seems just to restrict viewing permissions.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by ZnARk

First i want to say thanks for a great hack

I just wonder about one thing...
Is it possible to restrict the ability to add links in a certain category to just one usergroup without restricting viewing by the other groups?

I tried use the forumpermission function but it just seems just to restrict viewing permissions.

You can restrict which usergroups can add links to any category using the admin page. You restrict which user(s)(groups) can see a category or a link using the forum permissions. But you can't have different "adding" privileges for different categories.

[Spinball]

Hi Andrew, hope you are well.
A couple of suggestions I hope might be of interest.
Firstly would it be possible to make rating links optional by forum?
We have a retailers forum and it is open to abuse by competitors leaving low ratings. I would like to disable ratings in this forum.
Secondly I re-submit the idea of being able to add links to a favourites category.
The Favourites category would contain user-specific links and appear in the same way as other categories. It would just contain duplicates of selected favourite links in the other categories.