Show Thread Enhancements - Automatic Embedded Video (youtube, plus many more)

This hack has been withdrawn. Read on for an explanation. Shortly after the initial release I was contacted by another developer who had some ideas for the mod. This developer basically rewrote a new mod based on my original concept. Unfortunately we couldn't come to an agreement on a way to develop and support the future of this mod. Since he has released his mod separately, and it does pretty much everything my original mod did and is more efficient for those running large systems, I have decided to discontinue the further development of my mod. I took this decision because I don't believe that it makes sense to have two mods out there doing the same thing. I recommend to all users, both present and future, that you switch over to his mod instead (here). I've taken a look at it and I think it's a great mod and you'll all be very happy with it. I understand that he will also provide routines to import and convert tags used by my mod, this should also make your life easier.

Since I will not develop this mod further, I am also withdrawing support for it. Since I don't believe there is such a thing as an unsupported mod (since people will ALWAYS ask for and expect support regardless) I have therefore withdrawn the file from download. I hope some of you can understand my decision.

This mod has had a short but happy life, and I wish you all the best with the replacement mod. Thank you to everyone who has offered encouragement so far, and I hope to see you on my next mod.

I've left the original text below for historical reasons:


What does this mod do?

If a user copies and pastes a URL that links to a video streaming service (such as youtube) the mod will automatically take the URL and convert it into an embedded form directly in the post itself. Users can now play the videos directly from the thread! In other words:

• No template or file edits
• Nothing to configure
• Initial version supports sixteen different video sharing sites
• Pasted URLs are automatically converted to versions that display embedded video - in thread
• Option to include original URL in additional to providing embedded version.
• Forum, group and user permissions allow you to include or exclude who/what is affected by this mod.

How many services will it support?

The initial version contains support for sixteen different video services. If others contribute the required information for other services, this is likely to grow. The initial version (1.0) contains support for the following services:

Youtube, Metacafe, iFilm, Putfile, Bolt, Google Video, Guba, Grouper, Revver, Atom Films, Veoh, Myspace Video, Vimeo, Vmix, Eyespot, Liveleak, Sapo

Which services does it not support?

Many video sites don't provide enough information in the URLs to make automatic embedding possible. The following services were checked and found to be impossible to use with this mod:

Photobucket, Daily Motion, vidiLife, Yahoo Video, AOL Uncut, Yikers, vSocial, ManiaTV, Phanfare, CastPost, Jumpcut, Sharkle, Clipshack, Filecow, Break

Please don't request that these services be included in this mod - it's not possible. If you'd like to try and figure out how to do it yourself - please do!

Why is this different to other mods?

Other mods require you to enter BB Code yourself, but more importantly they require the user to have to add the tags themselves. Users are notoriously lazy and often won't even bother to use BB Code. This mod suits lazy users - it handles everything automatically without the user having to do anything - they just copy and paste the URL!

How do I install it?

Download the enclosed .xml file. In your AdminCP -> Plugins and Products -> Manage Products -> Add/Import Product use the browse button to upload the .xml file you just downloaded and make sure "Allow Overwrite" is set to yes if you are upgrading from a previous version. Click "Import". Installation time - 30 seconds.

How do I configure it?

Go to AdminCP -> vBulletin Options -> Automatic Embedded Video. All settings are pretty much self explanatory and there is nothing that needs to be changed for most forums.

Are there any limitations?

The hack will only work with properly formatted URLs. If the user mangles them, it may not work. Only new messages posted will be affected and this mod will not have any effect on any URLs you may paste in while editing. It will only take effect when you preview or submit new posts!

Is there a downside to this mod?

None that I can think of!

Will new services be added in future?

Possibly. Make sure you click "Installed" so that you'll be notified about new versions.

How can I expand it myself?

See the first post on this thread for details.

User Testimonials

What have people been saying about this mod?

"Anyway, this is be far the best mod of the year! something so simple, yet so effective! My members and myself love it. Thanks again." - hornstar1337

"No way! This Hack is simply a Must!!" - Silvio

"simply the best mod ever." - kushal

"You are my hero. My users are always F'n up the BBcode that should be so simple and now its idiot proof." - MortysTW

"Thanks very much for the mod - very simple to install yet useful as anything." - p0ng0

"Sorry I had to come and re-post how excited this mod has made me lol." - Fleabag

"Working great with vbSEO" - mtlcore

"I have only tested a few videos so far but works like a charm!!! What an awesome mod!!!" - RichieBoy67

Version History

1.0 - Initial release (23.06.2007) (updated a couple of hours after release with some minor fixes 01:31 24.06.2007 GMT)
1.1 - Feature upgrade (26.06.2007). Added ability to include/exclude users, groups or forums. Added feature to replace even when BB Code permissions don't allow it. Added feature to both embed the video AND display the original URL above the video. Loosened logic to include variations in URLs for certain services (different countries, domains, etc). Should cover a wider range of URLs now. More video services coming soon...

27.06.2007 - Mod withdrawn. Details above and here.

[mfyvie]

Originally Posted by Fenriz

1. If you edit a thread and add the youtube code, it is not converted to video
2. On the dark background there is some white borders around ( http://valhalla.ulver.com/f155/t8409.html )

1. Are you reporting this to me, or telling the poster above to read the notice at the top of the page? If you are reporting this, I would refer you to the post IMMEDIATELY ABOVE the one you wrote. I've taken the time to support people here - could you please just read the notes before you raise an issue with me that I've known from the start? two people in a row raising exactly the same thing is a bit much sometimes.

2. This is what comes in the embed code. If it makes sense at some later date I might consider seeing if it is possible to configure this, but it would be a pain doing it for every different type of embed code.

[mfyvie]

Originally Posted by dizzy100

Just got around to testing this. I have found a plugin clash using the Youtube video embedding.

Posting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2OC5Z1Fii8

Gives me this

[YOUTUBEvid]m2OC5Z1Fii8[/youtubevid]


But doesn't actually embed. Obviously your mod is working but isn't showing.

Through the process of elimination however i tracked it down to a conflict with the Embed XHTML valid YouTube and Google Video into your posts plugin

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=130868

If i disable his plugin and repost the same link, yours embeds as it should.

Whats bizarre is that viper uses the bbcode

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2OC5Z1Fii8[/YOUTUBE]

So its not touching your BBCODE at all. But i've now tried several times and the only way i can get your embed to work is by disabling his. Although thats an option, we do have many youtubes already embedded using his BBCODE.

Any ideas for a fixable solution ?

I tried with myspace videos and they parse and emded fine.

Fixable solution? Yeah, disable Viper's mod! I didn't have time to completely reverse engineer his mod, but I'll explain what I saw. He's going in to the bbcode parser and screwing around. The bad part is things like this:

	// Everything that's left is invalid calls to the BBCode, so let's ditch it
	// Not using an array since the pre-PHP5 replica function can't handle arrays
	$text = str_ireplace('[YOUTUBE', '[INVALIDYOUTUBE', $text);
	$text = str_ireplace('[/YOUTUBE]', '[/INVALIDYOUTUBE]', $text);
	$text = str_ireplace('[GVIDEO', '[INVALIDGVIDEO', $text);
	$text = str_ireplace('[/GVIDEO]', '[/INVALIDGVIDEO]', $text);

If you look closely, instead of checking for [YOUTUBE] (which is the tag he uses, also not a good choice to use the same name tag as everyone else might and to delete it if you uninstall the product...), he is checking for [youtube (without the ending bracket).

This basically means that he is looking for any other tag which starts with the word youtube, and trashing it. Since I chose youtubevid to try to be unique, his mod is killing my tag, which is why it isn't showing up until you disable his mod.

Be careful about uninstalling his mod though - it will delete the tags he uses as well, and any existing content you have won't be embedded after that. Disable it instead.

The only way you can fix this is to get him to update his mod to not kill off other people's bbcode, or disable it. If you do uninstall it, manually copy down the details of the bbcode for the existing tags, because you'll have to recreate them again afterwards.

What I can do however is make the next version of my mod refuse to install if it finds a mod like this one which conflicts. I know that's not the perfect solution, but short of changing tag names to get around this issue, there's nothing I can do (and I don't want to change tag names now that they are out there!)

[cayne]

Sorry to bug again, but I still don't know where to disable the "copy url above" option:

It sounds to me like you switched on the option to copy the URL above the embedded text. If you don't want that feature, then don't use that option

...

[qtouch]

great hack, love it !!

[mfyvie]

Originally Posted by cayne

Sorry to bug again, but I still don't know where to disable the "copy url above" option:

Ummm, well since you were the one who switched it on, you should really know where to switch it off? Try the clue in the description of this mod listed at the top of the page, namely:

How do I configure it?

Go to AdminCP -> vBulletin Options -> Automatic Embedded Video. All settings are pretty much self explanatory and there is nothing that needs to be changed for most forums.

[Hornstar]

Hey not sure if you are aware of this link, but this is another link from youtube that is different and doesnt work http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtRk0-B7QEc

[mfyvie]

Originally Posted by hornstar1337

Hey not sure if you are aware of this link, but this is another link from youtube that is different and doesnt work http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtRk0-B7QEc

Umm, you've been pretty good so far, but does the following from post #129 apply to you?

If requesting support, please confirm that you are running version 1.1. People running 1.0 will not be supported and raising issues which are fixed by 1.1 because you didn't bother to upgrade first will result in sarcastic and irritable comments from me

I tested that URL, and it works. It works because I allowed for that format in 1.1.

[dizzy100]

Originally Posted by mfyvie

Fixable solution? Yeah, disable Viper's mod! I didn't have time to completely reverse engineer his mod, but I'll explain what I saw. He's going in to the bbcode parser and screwing around. The bad part is things like this:

    // Everything that's left is invalid calls to the BBCode, so let's ditch it
    // Not using an array since the pre-PHP5 replica function can't handle arrays
    $text = str_ireplace('[YOUTUBE', '[INVALIDYOUTUBE', $text);
    $text = str_ireplace('[/YOUTUBE]', '[/INVALIDYOUTUBE]', $text);
    $text = str_ireplace('[GVIDEO', '[INVALIDGVIDEO', $text);
    $text = str_ireplace('[/GVIDEO]', '[/INVALIDGVIDEO]', $text);

If you look closely, instead of checking for [YOUTUBE] (which is the tag he uses, also not a good choice to use the same name tag as everyone else might and to delete it if you uninstall the product...), he is checking for [youtube (without the ending bracket).

This basically means that he is looking for any other tag which starts with the word youtube, and trashing it. Since I chose youtubevid to try to be unique, his mod is killing my tag, which is why it isn't showing up until you disable his mod.

Yikes yes that does seem like sloppy code. I'll have to look at a workable solution.

Disabling vipers code won't work as his bbcode fails to function then. I can only assume hes parsing as its displayed to alter the {param} tag as he presents his bbcode as

            <object width="425" height="340" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/{param}">
                <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/{param}" />
                <param name="wmode" value="transparent" />
                <em><strong>ERROR:</strong> If you can see this, then <a href="http://www.youtube.com/">YouTube</a> is down or you don't have Flash installed.</em>
            </object>

But we posted in the youtube videos using the url link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eKifSDgU48

So this results in quite a messed up

            <object width="425" height="340" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eKifSDgU48">
                <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eKifSDgU48" />
                <param name="wmode" value="transparent" />
                <em><strong>ERROR:</strong> If you can see this, then <a href="http://www.youtube.com/">YouTube</a> is down or you don't have Flash installed.</em>
            </object>

The only workable option i've so far found is to remove vipers code completely and manually edit each youtube embedded video replacing his tags with your tags and removing the front line url so

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eKifSDgU48[/YOUTUBE]

becomes

[YOUTUBEvid]1eKifSDgU48{/YOUTUBEvid]

That works effectively but will require some work to track down each post that has his tags embedded.

Thankfully there is a solution to this using phpmyadmin.

Just enter into your database and type in the following mysql in the SQL tag to show you all your posts that have referance to youtube tags (note on a big board this could be many]

SELECT *
FROM `post`
WHERE `pagetext` LIKE '%[youtube]%'
LIMIT 0 , 30

The you just have to edit the tags from

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZBxfntDq3M[/YOUTUBE]

to

[YOUTUBEvid]VZBxfntDq3M[/YOUTUBEvid]

removing referance to the url and adding this new embedded bbcode.

Its a cludge but if you only have around 50 or so linked youtube videos is likely the best course of action to get this mod working and remove vipers.

[mfyvie]

Originally Posted by dizzy100

Yikes yes that does seem like sloppy code. I'll have to look at a workable solution.

Disabling vipers code won't work as his bbcode fails to function then. I can only assume hes parsing as its displayed to alter the {param} tag as he presents his bbcode as [snip]

Well if I were you I'd complain to viper about that block of code. I don't want to second guess him, but if it were me, and I were dealing with this issue, I'd probably go into his plugin and knock out that block of code - it seems agressive to me and doesn't actually do any good. So there might be some other tags around? So what? They can be left in peace.

I think that will solve your issue - but like I said - the thread for that mod would be the best place to discuss how that mod should be changed, rather than this thread.

[dizzy100]

Agreed however i'm happy to substitute one for the other and for those using vipers mod that think the same, theres a workable solution now posted to allow yours to be used across the board