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

[Lionel]

Correct me if I am wrong. Since the current importer and any exporters will be inserting into the same vb fields, that means I got the destination already coded.

All I would have to worry about is altering the article retrieval part from the available importer?

[swarangal.com]

hi... thanks for the hack its kewl features but while installint i am getin this error

cant find root directory gas
Make sure you have created this in your forum directory

but i made sure there is directory called gas in main directory (forum) i have only forum so with chmoded to 777 also wot am i missin here/

[Lizard King]

gas folder supposed to inside forum folder. it supposed to be like
public_html/forum/gas/
and you have to chmod everhthing to 777

[The Geek]

also - read the readme for your answer

[Polo]

Originally Posted by The Geek

Sorry Polo - I missed your eariler post!

Anyhooo... Sounds very strange. You are not the first to use the importer. No one has reported any problems using it (except for 1 who imported before installing GAS).

What happens if you create an article from scratch? Does it look ok?

no, it wont appear...

here is a link, you can take a look at it and see what I mean...

http://www.God180.com/forumdisplay.php?f=168

[Lizard King]

Polo I think the main problem is your templates are mixed up. Try to revert all the Gas templates and just re install the templates.

[Polo]

Originally Posted by Lizard King

Polo I think the main problem is your templates are mixed up. Try to revert all the Gas templates and just re install the templates.

oh ok... I will do that Lizard King... thanks for the tip..

[Lionel]

Has anyone been able to adapt the excellent thread category hack to this one? I am able to, it creates the article by categories etc... but in gas_forumdisplay template, while I am able to sort by category in the sort line, to display by category in the show articles by etc... I don't see how to add that first left column which states which category the article belongs to.

[JustAskJulie]

Originally Posted by She Unlimited

Razz:

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

Is there a way around this? To keep the new articles from showing up on the new posts list?

[JustAskJulie]

I'm running into a problem with the import. On the drop-down list to choose which forum to import to, it's not giving me the option of the forum I want to put them in. It appears the forums are listed oldest to newest and that some forums that are not visible to everyone are left out... is this a permissions thing?

I'm trying to get everything set up without the forum being visible until I know I want it to be.