Version: 2.0.4, by CyberRanger
Developer Last Online: Jan 2015
Version: 3.5.4
Rating:
Released: 02-05-2006
Last Update: 08-01-2006
Installs: 249
DB Changes Uses Plugins Template Edits
Additional Files
No support by the author.
What is AboutToday?
AboutToday provides a central place to bring daily items of interest to your forum visitors. It includes two main components: an RSS Reader System and Local Events database System.
Please NOTE: This mod has been modified for vb ver 3.6.4. It should work on vb ver 3.5.4 and 3.6.x.
An RSS Reader system where the admin can enter RSS feeds that will then be displayed on the page. RSS feeds can be set to AUTOMATICALLY create threads or be set so that users can easily create a thread from a feed.. Feeds can be read via fopen or cURL.
The RSS Feeds are fully intergrated with vbAdvanced and could actually be placed anywhere you want!!
A database system that can hold unlimited categories of "AboutToday" events. For example, you could have a history category (like a Today in History) with sub-categories for different eras in history. Or, you could have a daily joke or software tip of the day, etc.
The "Add Event" feature is intended to help you if you want for example - Sports: Today in History. With the vb calendar, you cannot have categories and you are restricted with how far back the dates can go.
So with the "Add Event" feature, you could have a category tree like:
Hockey
Professional
College
High School
Football
American Football
The Rest of the World (Soccer)
Baseball
with the normal calendar feature, you cannot have categories. And with "Add Event" you can have any date. So, if you want an event like "Jan 1, 132 B.C. - the first ball was invented", you can do that. But, that isn't possible in the normal calendar. Also, the events in "Add Event" are fully searchable.
Installation
Copy the following files to your server in the forums directory:
From the admincp, import the product file product-abouttoday.xml (Manage Products - Add/Import Product).
REFRESH your admincp window. You should now see a listing in the left column of the admincp for "AboutToday".
Getting Started
NOTE - if this is a new install, a Yahoo RSS Feed and CNN Entertainment Feed have been automatically added to give you a feel for how the product looks.
If you plan to use the RSS Feeds:
1. From the admincp, select AboutToday - RSS Feeds. Add an RSS Feed.
2. From the admincp, select Usergroups - Usergroup Manager. Add permissions so the Administrator group can use the product.
3. From your forum directory, bring up the file abouttoday.php. 4. If you want the feeds to AUTOMATICALLY create threads, go to admincp - abouttoday - settings. There you must set the userid of the account to use to create the thread. Then, edit the RSS Feed with the forumid of where the threads for that feed should be created!
If you plan to create your own "today in history" type of database:
1. From the admincp, select AboutToday - Categories. Add a category.
2. From your forum directory, bring up the file abouttoday.php. "Add" your first event to the category you have created!
Version Status
I've tested this product extensively but ... use this totally at your own risk!
Credits
I learned a lot about how to code this and used a lot of the code from what Ron1n did with ecDownloads. What I've learned from his code while helping to support ecDownloads has been invaluable.
Hmmm...I was using this on 3.6.5 and my members loved it. Last night it went haywire for some reason though.
It was causing an error on the global.php and I was able to disable all hooks with a command in there. Then I systematically turned them back on and it was the one.
Just wondering if anyone else had the problem and if there is a fix. I suppose I could use the built in RSS but I love the idea of being about to showcase site events on the main page easily
What was the exact error message? My guess is that something funky happened with one of your feeds. I'd try removing all the feeds then add them back one by one.
What was the exact error message? My guess is that something funky happened with one of your feeds. I'd try removing all the feeds then add them back one by one.
It was a 304 I believe, something about the header not coming over.
I would hate to think one lousy feed could down the whole board that way so I am going to check into it but if that's the case...I may need to switch to the built in function.
I would hate to think one lousy feed could down the whole board that way so I am going to check into it but if that's the case...I may need to switch to the built in function.
I really don't think a bad feed could have that impact. I've helped a number of sites isolate bad feeds. In those cases, the feed hasn't stopped the site from working, it's only stopped AboutToday from updating correctly.
Maybe the issue is a corrupt AboutToday file? (sort of shooting in the dark) Reloading the AboutToday php files wouldn't hurt, may help.
I have a little problem with the output on my portal.
I updated my forums (vb 3.6.8) and portal (vbadvanced 3.0.RC2) today.
The module on the portal worked perfectly but now it doesn't anymore.
I reinstalled alle files from abouttoday (2.0.5) and uploaded the xml. Nothing seems to help.
Output on the forums is ok and the script is functioning great except for the portal block.
There is a new function in vbadvanced 3.0 that lets you test the template code for a new module and there the rss outputs fine. But when I try to view it on the portal itselfe it doesn't show.
yay, finally got mine finished, displaying exactly how i want now, in my rightside column. Thanx for this great mod, was exactly what i was looking for.
AboutToday - Bring RSS Feeds and Daily Events to Your Site! Details »»
About Developer
DB Changes 
No support by the author.
09-17-2007, 11:14 AM
