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

[Imperial Fritz]

PM sent.

[Imperial Fritz]

All works fine now, thanks to Andrew's prompt help

[Imperial Fritz]

And now something more general:

If users want to download a file using some download manager, they can copy the link but then the Save File name the manager gives is local_links.php, yet the file is actually the chosen file. Is there a way to go around this and give the real file name?

Also: currently people with dl managers can't resume the downloads, is there anything that can be done about this?


And another issue:

It would be nice if there was a way to mass-change permissions of links in a single category... I did a test run and now have to manually change some 20 links ))

[Amavisca]

@AndrewD : This is a great hack. I just have a quick question, for example I have some media file (.wma, .wmv) and I mask the link with this hack. When my user want to dload the media file, they have to do right click --> save target as... otherwise if they click on the link, it will auto pop up the window media.
So my question is how can I change to direct dload when I just left click mouse to the link?

Thanks inadvance.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Amavisca

@AndrewD : This is a great hack. I just have a quick question, for example I have some media file (.wma, .wmv) and I mask the link with this hack. When my user want to dload the media file, they have to do right click --> save target as... otherwise if they click on the link, it will auto pop up the window media.
So my question is how can I change to direct dload when I just left click mouse to the link?

Thanks inadvance.

Thanks for your remarks. I struggled with a similar problem with Adobe Acrobat. If you edit the file local_links_include.php, you'll find the following lines:

PHP Code:

// Download handling matches VBulletin.  With Internet Explorer, left click 
// with some mimetypes may open file in a browser window. Right click 
// offers "Save As" option.
define('HEADER_BEHAVIOUR','inline');
// Or... left-click always offers Open/Save As dialogue. Can cause "Open"
// problems for pdf files with Internet Explorer and Adobe Acrobat.
// define('HEADER_BEHAVIOUR',''); 


Try commenting out the first 'define' and uncomment the second so that it looks like this:

PHP Code:

// Download handling matches VBulletin.  With Internet Explorer, left click 
// with some mimetypes may open file in a browser window. Right click 
// offers "Save As" option.
// define('HEADER_BEHAVIOUR','inline');
// Or... left-click always offers Open/Save As dialogue. Can cause "Open"
// problems for pdf files with Internet Explorer and Adobe Acrobat.
define('HEADER_BEHAVIOUR',''); 


This should do what you want - I've tried it with mp3 files using IE and Firefox - but some combinations of browsers and plug ins may cause other problems.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Imperial Fritz

And now something more general:

If users want to download a file using some download manager, they can copy the link but then the Save File name the manager gives is local_links.php, yet the file is actually the chosen file. Is there a way to go around this and give the real file name?

Also: currently people with dl managers can't resume the downloads, is there anything that can be done about this?

I tried this using the LeechGet download manager www.leechget.net. It correctly catches and creates the filename. I imagine some download managers insist on using the linkname as filename (which of course points to the script) rather than the information which the script correctly provides.

If you really want to make this work with all download managers, then I think you will have to set force_redirect to 2 on the links admin page. However, this will create two new problems which may or may not be important to you - the location of all your links will become completely visible and the hit counter will not work.

Originally Posted by Imperial Fritz

And another issue:

It would be nice if there was a way to mass-change permissions of links in a single category... I did a test run and now have to manually change some 20 links ))

In the next version, I'll make it possible for certain usergroups to mass change the permissions of entries within a category.

[Amavisca]

Hi AnDrewD!

Thanks for the reply, I did try your suggestion but it didn't work. Usually when you click on link mp3 the Windown Media will not start automatically but with files are .wmv, .wma it does.

Maybe you can take a look and help me out to solve this problem ?? I am sure many other users who use and love this hack also want the samething as I do.

Thank u.

Ps: mayb this will help you some: http://www.hotscripts.com/Detailed/34430.html

An easy to use force file download script, especially useful for sites that have large media files and would like people to download the files locally instead of playing them remotely off the web server. Usage: http://www.yoursite.com/force-downlo...?file=filepath

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Amavisca

Hi AnDrewD!

Thanks for the reply, I did try your suggestion but it didn't work. Usually when you click on link mp3 the Windown Media will not start automatically but with files are .wmv, .wma it does.

Maybe you can take a look and help me out to solve this problem ?? I am sure many other users who use and love this hack also want the samething as I do.

Thank u.

Ps: mayb this will help you some: http://www.hotscripts.com/Detailed/34430.html

I think you can solve the problem by going to your normal VB admin page, Attachments, Extensions and Sizes, and adding a new attachment type. Specify the extension as wma and the Mime Type as "Content-type: application/force-download" (no quotes)

[Amavisca]

Awsome, it works. All bow down to u. A big thank from my community.

[AndrewD]

** Post deleted - beta 1.55 now available