Add-On Releases - vBulletin Raffles

THIS ADD-ON IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND IS NOT SUPPORTED

NOTE: This add-on is designed for use with vBulletin 4.1.1 or higher. It may not work with earlier versions of vBulletin.

Raffles, giveaways, and contests, whatever you wish to call them, are a great way to increase traffic on any forum.

Features:

• Define a different prize image for each raffle.
• Set raffle rules on a per raffle basis.
• Set raffles to start in the future or on the day you create the raffle.
• Allow One or more entries per user.
• Allow multiple entries at one time if desired.
• Admin settable time delay between user entries.
• One or more prizes per raffle.
• One or more winners per raffle (multiple winners require multiple prizes).
• Allow members to win multiple times in one raffle if desired.
• Display winning 'ticket' numbers if desired.
• Selectable usergroups
• Post count limit if desired.
• Require Human Verification if desired.
• Will show in Community Menu if desired.
• Show active raffles in forum sidebar and/or in what's going on.
• Automatic raffle draw via vBulletin scheduled tasks.
• Manual raffle draw to override end date and/or scheduled draws.
• Turn raffles on or off via admincp. (Only raffle admins can view raffles when they are turned off)
• Support for just about any credit system such as vBCredits II, ICash, kBank and vbBux.
• Support for AW Coding's Credit Purchase System so member can purchase "raffle tickets".
• XHTML 1.0 Transitional validated (provided your current template passes the tests)

* DISCLAIMER *
----------------
Laws about how raffles should be handled vary from location to location. Be sure to check with local authorities and to comply with any laws that may apply to you. The author of this add-on can not be held responsible if the use of this add-on results in any violation of local laws.
By downloading this add-on, you agree to abide by local laws and to hold the author of this add-on harmless for any damages that may occurr from the use of this add-on.



* INSTALLATION *
-----------------------
1) Upload the contents of the 'upload' folder to your forum's root.
(If your forum's location is http://www.example.com/forums/, the root is /forums/)

2) Import the product XML file (product-raffles.xml) into the Product Manager in AdminCP.

3) If you want to view raffles on your site while the raffle system is turned off, go to AdminCP -> Usergroups -> Administrator Permissions select yourself and set "Can Admin Raffles" to 'Yes'.

4) Anyone you want to be able to administer raffles on your site must also have Administrator Permissions and have "Can Admin Raffles" set to 'Yes' or they will not be able to administer raffles.

5) Take some time to set the options in Raffle Settings.

6) Set up a raffle.

7) Make sure this add-on is marked as 'Installed' on vBulletin.org!
(If you want to get notices from me about updates for this add-on.)

* UPGRADE INSTRUCTIONS *
------------------------------------
1) Upload the contents of the 'upload' folder to your forum's root.
(If your forum's location is http://www.example.com/forums/, the root is /forums/)

2) Import the product XML file (product-raffles.xml) into the Product Manager in AdminCP and be sure 'Allow Overwrite' is set to 'Yes'.

3) If you are already using vBCredits you will need to go into Raffle Settings and set 'Use vBCredits' to 'Yes' and set 'vBCredits Currency' to the currency you are using. If you are using any other credit system, you will need to provide the information on what table, field and userid field are used by that credit system.

* USING RAFFLES *
------------------------
The whole system is pretty self explanatory, but there are a few things to keep in mind...

1) A default raffle image is supplied with the add-on. You must always supply an image for your raffles. You may change the default image if you like.

2) The entry period for raffles always end at 12:00am (midnight) on the day the raffle is to be drawn. (ie: Draw date is set 12/21/2011.. members can enter through 12/20/2011, the moment the date changes to 12/21/2011 no more entries are possible)

3) The scheduled task to draw the raffles is set to take place at 10:00am the day the raffle is to be drawn. You may change this by going to AdminCP->Scheduled Tasks->Scheduled Task Manager, find "Draw raffles", click on Edit and change the time of the draw to what you want it to be.

4) There are replacement variables used in several phrases. These are what the variables are:

raffle_agree: {1} = Forum name
raffle_eligible: {1} = Forum name {2} = Raffle name
raffle_message_body: {1} = Raffle name {2} = Draw date
raffle_message_close: {1} = Raffle admin name {2} = Phrase (raffle_admin_title)
raffle_message_salute: {1} = Winner name
raffle_recent: {1} = Time remaining before a user can enter again
raffle_winner_multi: {1} = Winner names for multiple raffle winners {2} = Raffle name
raffle_winner_one: {1} = Winner name for single raffle winner {2} = Raffle name

5) When adding a custom user profile field for this add-on, be sure to 'Private Field' is set to 'Yes' and 'Field Searchable on Member List' is set to 'No'.

6) If you don't want to have Raffles in the community menu, you can use a forum link to raffles.php.


* History (Changelog) *
-----------------------------
1.4.6 (November 18, 2015)
- Fix - Missing code for sidebar block

1.4.5 (August 6, 2015)
- Fix - Error entering raffles with entry limit.

1.4.4 (August 29, 2013)
- Fix - XHTML 1.0 transitional validation errors in raffle sidebar box.

1.4.3 (March 15, 2013) (Never released on vB.org)
- Change - Moved hard coded day, hour, minute, second words to vB phrases.

1.4.2 (September 1, 2012) (Released February 18, 2013 on vb.org)
(NO NEED TO UPDATE IF YOU DON'T USE THE COMMUNITY MENU FOR RAFFLES)
- Fix - Community menu navigation information missing from install xml.

1.4.1 (August 15, 2012) (NO NEED TO UPLOAD FILES IF YOU ARE RUNNING 1.4.0 JUST IMPORT XML FILE)
- Fix - Raffle sideblock missing from install file (overlooked in version 1.4.0).

1.4.0 (August 13, 2012)
- Fix - Some servers not providing proper responses with direct MySQL calls. (usually nginx)

1.3.9 (June 28, 2012)
- Fix - Wrong phrase used for file upload error.
No need to import XML file if you are running version 1.3.8. Just upload files to server.

1.3.8 (June 27, 2012)
- Add - Ability to upload prize image from ACP.
NOTE: Depending on your server configuration, you may need to make your images/raffles folder writeable (776 or 777)
- Add - Option to prevent additional usergroups from entering a raffle.

1.3.7 (May 21, 2012)
- Add - Option to show old raffles on a different page than currrent raffles.
- Change - Removed raffle_bits template.
- Change - Made compatible with vB 4.2.0.

1.3.6 (March 12, 2012)
- Fix - Active raffle sideblock will no longer show if there are no active raffles.

1.3.5 (February 25, 2012) (Never released on vB.org)
- Code enhancement for expansion.

1.3.4 (December 28, 2011)
- Add - Mass delete raffle entries (you must select a raffle in ACP->Raffles->Manage User Entries. The selection 'All Raffles' will not display a delete all option).

1.3.3 (October 5, 2011) (No need to install xml file if upgrading from 1.32 to 1.33. Just upload files to server)
- Fix raffle ticket purchase link for AWCoding Credit Purchase System Pro.

1.3.2A (September 29, 2011)
- Re-uploaded 1.3.2 with correct cpnav_raffles.xml file.

1.3.2 (September 29, 2011)
- Fix detection of AWCoding Credit Purchase System Lite (problem caused when fixing Pro detection).

1.3.1 (September 28, 2011)
- Improved user entry list in AdminCP.
- Fix detection of AWCoding Credit Purchase System Pro.

1.3.0 (August 29, 2011) (Uploaded a second time with proper sideblock code)
- Code enhancement for future expansion.
- Enabled CSRF protection.

1.2.9 (August 24, 2011) (never uploaded here)
- Code enhancement for future expansion.
- Unregistered users can now see raffles in WGO and forum sidebar if they are allowed.
- Fix members no longer able to view and enter raffles scheduled in the future.

1.2.8 (August 1, 2011) (never uploaded here)
- Code enhancement for future expansion.

1.2.7 (August 1, 2011)
- Restored AWCPS patch to install script.
- Restored forum sidebar block to install script.
- Restored missing option to show image in sidebar block.

1.2.6 (July 20, 2011)
- Moved 'Allow Multiple Wins' from main settings to individual raffle settings. (user requested)

1.2.5 (July 16, 2011)
- Added Debug Logging option to raffle system. (v1.2.4 was never uploaded)

1.2.3 (July 15, 2011)
- MAJOR FIX - Fix raffle draw so no duplicates happen when allow multiple wins is set to no (finally found bug in 3.8.x version).

1.2.2 (July 11, 2011)
- Fix members can no longer enter multiple times by using the back button on their browser. (reported in vB 3.8.7 version)

1.2.1 (July 6, 2011)
- Fix Allow multiple wins to one member now works.
- Fix database error when no members enter raffle.
- Removed un-needed left joins in some DB queries that were needed in original release.

1.2.0 (July 4, 2011)
- Fix raffle draw time now displays in members's usercp chosen time zone format.

1.1.9 (July 3, 2011)
- Fix error in scheduled task when multiple prizes are awarded.
- Changed copyright so it only displays on raffle pages.

1.1.8 (June 17, 2011)
- Fix SQL error when 'Show Raffles Already Drawn' is set to 'No'.

1.1.7 (June 8, 2011)
- Added maximum picture width option for raffle detail page.

1.1.6 (June 6, 2011)
- Fix PMs not being sent with automated draw.
(NO NEED TO IMPORT XML IF YOU ARE ALREADY RUNNING VERSION 1.1.5 - JUST UPLOAD FILES)

1.1.5 (June 2, 2011)
- Fix vBCredits error created in version 1.1.1.
- Minor code change to make system compatible with PHP 5.3.x

1.1.4 (June 1, 2011)
- Database table creation change to make it compatible with MySQL 5.5.8
(NO NEED TO UPDATE IF YOU ARE ALREADY RUNNING VERSION 1.1.3)

1.1.3 (May 30, 2011)
- Added option to show raffle image in forum sidebar block.
- Added sidebar block image width setting.
- Added vBulletin minimum version 4.0.4 check.
- Changed database creation method.

1.1.2 (May 26, 2011)
- Fix system checking for credits when it shouldn't.

1.1.1 (May 26, 2011)
- Fix 'Other Credit System' saying not enough credits when member has enough.

1.1.0 (May 24, 2011)
- Added option to show the scheduled draw time on raffle pages.(user requested)

1.0.9 (May 21, 2011)
- Fix unregistered members unable to see raffles when they are allowed.

1.0.8 (May 16, 2011)
- Fix blank screen after entry.
- Fix redirect error.
- Fix default maximum entries.

1.0.7 (May 12, 2011)
- Added option to show who has entered raffles.(user requested)
- Reduced database queries by 1.
- Moved vBCredits log phrase to vBulletin phrases.
- Fixed bug where raffle sidebar was being displayed when raffles were turned off.

1.0.6 (May 10, 2011)
- Added the ability to allow multiple entries to be submitted at one time.(user requested)
- Added display of the number of entries a member has submitted to raffle detail page.(user requested)
- Added support for AW Coding's Credit Purchase System. (allows use of different payment systems to purchase 'tickets')
- Added transaction logging for vBCredits (thanks to Darkwaltz4 for info)
- Added minimum/maximum value checks.
- Added option to display winning "ticket" number(s) with winner name(s).(user requested)
- Added option to allow members to only win once per raffle.(user requested)
- Added PM to raffle admin if raffle couldn't be drawn when scheduled.
- Added ability to set a start date other than the day raffle was created.(user requested)
- Stray hardcoded phrase moved to vB phrases.
- Fixed bug where sent PMs were being saved in admin sent box when raffle was drawn manually even if option is set to no in settings.
- Fixed bug where only one winner was being displayed in admin area for a multi-prize raffle when raffle was drawn manually.

1.0.5 (May 4, 2011)
- Sidebar and Current Raffle templates now cached
- Fixed bug where entry limits over 999 only allowed 1 entry.
- Fixed missing phrases on new installs.
- Added support for vBCredits, ICash, kBank and vbBux. (user requested)

1.0.4 (May 3, 2011)
- Sidebar block now installs automatically when the add-on is installed.

1.0.3 (May 3, 2011)
- Added option to display current raffles in What's Going On (Displays what raffles are available for the member's usergroup). (user requested)
- Added Sidebar Block template and instructions in ReadMe on how to add a Current Raffle Block. (user requested)
- Added Banned Usergroup setting for usergroups forbidden to use or see the raffle system. (user requested via PM)
- Modified Raffle Admin so banned usergroups do not show up when creating or editing a raffle.

1.0.2 (May 2, 2011)
- Fixed "Enter Through" date display. (was not following vBulletin date display settings)
- Slight change to database routines so they all go directly through vBulletin.

1.0.1 (April 30, 2011)
- Added check to be sure files are uploaded to server (NO NEED TO DOWNLOAD IF YOU ALREADY HAVE 1.0.0 INSTALLED)

1.0.0 (April 30, 2011)
- Initial Release

* Known Working on vB Versions *
-------------------------------------------
4.0.4
4.0.6
4.0.7
4.0.8
4.1.1 through 4.2.1

[nhawk]

I need to know what version of vBulletin you two are running.

The cron draw works fine in 4.1.3 and 4.1.4. (just tested it again) However, if it's not working for you with the $, remove it as Trek did.

So far are the draw date and time goes, it uses vBulletin's TIMENOW so it should match whatever vBulletin is running at. I will look into this a little more though.

EDIT: I just removed the $ from line 195 and it runs for me that way too. So I will remove it in the next update.

[Trek]

I'm running vb 4.1.4 and the latest version of your raffle mod for download here at vb.org.

Like I said, the cron was easy to fix, there's a typo on that line in the source file. Just remove the extra $ and you're set.

The larger issue for me was the time one. Where the dates I set in the adminCP for the raffle, showed differently than when viewing the raffle as a user.

[nhawk]

Originally Posted by Trek

I'm having a problem with drawing raffles as well. The Task runs as far as I can tell (meaning it's in the log that it ran), but no raffles are drawn that should be. I only have 1 raffle and it should be complete as the draw date is today, that date is on the server and the task was run.

So I ran the task manually and saw no errors on the page, but still no draws.

Thanks for any help, this is my first raffle I was testing giving out a couple free video games to my members and well... hopefully I can get this fixed soon so I don't look like more of an idiot than usual.

Thanks for any help you can provide!

*EDIT* - When I run the raffledraw.php, I get not visual feedback (makes sense, it's a cron), but it runs so quickly and there's no logs, it just feels like it's not doing anything.

There should be entries in the scheduled task log that look something like this..

15 Draw raffles 15:15, 2nd Jul 2011 Start drawing raffles
16 Draw raffles 15:15, 2nd Jul 2011 Draw raffle Test - winner Snog
17 Draw raffles 15:15, 2nd Jul 2011 Finished Drawing Raffles

Originally Posted by Trek

BUG #1: So I guess the problem is that either the raffle page or the raffle entry page aren't using the same timezone modifiers or something and that's where the confusion started. So I guess that's a bug of some sort. =) Awesome stuff though and donation should be there by the time you read this!

As I said above, I'll look into this more. But I don't see the problem on my dev server or a on live site either.

Originally Posted by Trek

*EDIT* - Ok, I did that and now am getting the same error as reported by someone else above: Fatal error: Function name must be a string in /home/XXXXX/public_html/includes/cron/raffledraw.php on line 195

I checked that line in the file and it has a $ next to the fetch_phrase function, I removed that and it ran.

I don't see this on either my dev server or a live site. But, removing it (the $) doesn't seem to hurt so it will be in the next update.

Originally Posted by Trek

BUG #2: At least I think this is a bug, it let the same member win twice... They had 3 tickets in, which is fine, but.. I didn't really want the same guy to win twice as the prizes were the same. I basically wanted one unique winner per draw, is that possible?

If this is a problem, go to Raffle Settings and change 'Allow One Member Multiple Wins' to no.

[nhawk]

I may have this date/time thing sorted out. It's very hard to explain, and I'm running short of time today. I'll try to post an explanation tomorrow morning.

[Trek]

Originally Posted by nhawk

If this is a problem, go to Raffle Settings and change 'Allow One Member Multiple Wins' to no.

I had already set that, but it didn't appear to matter. I just got your PM though and will reply there.

[nhawk]

Originally Posted by Trek

...*EDIT* - Ok, I've figured this out. I'll try to be clear, but... I think this is going to be confusing.

The problem is that my server time is in GMT, which is -8 from my time.

When I created the raffle, the only way I was able to get the dates to display correctly on the raffle portion people could see, was to set the draw date for a day LATER than I really wanted it to go. But on the raffle page, it looked like a date earlier than actually set.

So, I've been looking at the raffle page expecting it to draw, but when I edited it, then I saw that the draw date was in fact 7-03-2011, even though it was displaying 7-02-2011 on the raffle page.

So for now, I dropped the date back a day and now it's waiting to draw and I'll run the cron and it should do what it should of.

OK, let's see if I can explain this. It gets complicated so hang in there, there is a fix at the end.

First, this isn't a bug with setting the end date of the raffle.

When you set an end date, the program converts that date to it's proper Unix timestamp.

When it is displayed on the Raffle Edit page, it is displayed in it's originally entered format.

When it is displayed anywhere else, it is displayed in the date/time format chosen by the member viewing the raffle. (the same thing vBulletin itself does with date/time data)

Remember, the time displayed is NOT the time being used by vBulletin. It is just a DISPLAY format. Not a data storage format. All times stored in the database are in your Servers time zone. Not in the time zone you chose to display as a user or the one used as the default display in vBulletin.

Scheduled Tasks use the server's date/time to run. (this is a function of vBulletin, not the Raffle system)

So, in this case...

If you're in the Eastern time zone and you're server is -8 hours from your time zone, and you're expecting the raffle to draw at 10:00am your time. That will never happen with any Scheduled Task in vBulletin. The server time hasn't reached the 10:00am time yet.

By editing the raffle, you actually did nothing to make the task run. The raffle was already waiting to be drawn at 10:00am server time. Which was still somewhere near 8 hours away.

By running the task manually you did find a bug in the one line. But I'm not so sure it's as much a bug as it might be a PHP version difference. I say that because it runs without a hitch on PHP 5.2.4 and PHP 5.2.9 with or without the '$' in that line. Again, I'll remove the '$' from it for compatibilty sake in a release later today.

Back to the time problem and a possible fixes..

If you are on a dedicated server, the fix should be obvious. Change your server's time from your control panel (or via SSH) to match the time zone you want it to match. (may require a server reboot) And if you're using PHP 5.1 or later, you might also need to edit php.ini because it might be using a different time zone. (see first link below) It's as simple as that. But remember, members will see that date as it should be shown for their date/time display choice.

If you're on a shared server, there are a couple of possibilities...

1) If you use PHP 5.1.0 or later and have access to PHP.INI for your site, edit PHP.INI so it includes the date.timezone setting. See this page for more information..
http://www.php.net/manual/en/datetim....date.timezone

2) If you don't have access to PHP.INI and your PHP version is equal or greater than 5.0 you can TRY adding the date_default_timezone_set to vBulletin's config.php. MAKE IT THE FIRST ENTRY AFTER THE COPYRIGHT NOTICE. See this page for more information..
http://www.php.net/manual/en/functio...mezone-set.php

NOTE: Item 2 has not been tested. The worst thing that could happen is vBulletin would refuse to run and you would have to remove that new line from the config file.

3) If neither of those work, or your PHP version is prior to 5.0, you will need to live with the server time for Scheduled Tasks.

[Mr Morningstarr]

How difficult will it be to change it from saying 'raffle' to 'prize draw'?

[nhawk]

Originally Posted by Trek

I had already set that, but it didn't appear to matter. I just got your PM though and will reply there.

I'm totally unable to duplicate this, even with one member having 20 entries and 1 other with one entry.

I'll continue to see if I can duplicate it.

[nhawk]

Originally Posted by Mr Morningstarr

How difficult will it be to change it from saying 'raffle' to 'prize draw'?

Not difficult at all.

Edit the phrases in Phrase Manager.

[nhawk]

As an addendum to my post about date/time.

I somewhat overstated what is happening.

The date is being displayed as it should be. But, if you select to have the time displayed with it, that IS a bug. More a missed item than a bug.

The time being displayed on the Raffle pages IS the raw unconverted time that the task is scheduled to run at. It is NOT being converted to the members date/time zone display choice.

I'll see what I can do with that in the next release. ( possibly tomorrow )

In the mean time, do not display the draw time to your members.