Miscellaneous Hacks - vbNetwork - share forums with other boards

vbNetwork

Summary

This add-on gives you the ability to share forums with other message boards without having to share any database information. The plugin runs through webservices and uses XML.

Release Notes
Currently the installation is easy but if you want to set up and run your own network it will help if you're familiar with XML. Joining an already existing network is fairly simple.

This plugin is developed using vBulletin 3.8.X and being tested on 3.6.X and 3.8.X. If it works on both of those, I will assume it works on 3.7.X.

If you would like my help writing versions for phpBB, IPB or other message board software, please feel free to contact me.

If you are interested you can join my existing network, but please note that it is mostly a trolling-based community of boards. Feel free to start your own network with other boards.

Product Specifications

1. several plugins
2. one cron job
3. file uploads
4. new DB tables
5. several phrases

Installation
Approx 2-5 mins

See the included installation instructions.

Upgrading/Updating

1. upload all files in the upload directory, overwriting any existing files
2. re-import the XML file, setting "Overwrite" to "Yes"

Configuration

See the included documentation for details.

Support

If you encounter problems or discover any bugs, please create a new issue at: http://code.google.com/p/vbnetwork/issues/list

Change History

• 0.9.0 (2009-02-20) - initial Beta release
• 0.9.2 (2009-05-03) - added (some) logging, fixed bug for 3.8.2
• 0.9.3 (2009-05-03) - added 'Delete' to Network Management, other minor changes
• 0.9.4 (2009-05-08) - added new board and forum management functionality, and some new minor features
• 0.9.5 (2009-05-09) - adds new option to sync network users via email, and added ability to change the network name
• 1.0.0 (2010-06-02) - Version 1.0 for vBulletin 3.8.X

Sample

This is one shared forum on three different boards (the content of this forum may be NSFW).
http://www.anothermessageboard.com/f...splay.php?f=29
http://www.juot.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=50
http://www.drunkensquirrel.net/com/f...splay.php?f=28

PLEASE CLICK INSTALL!

[I.M.O.G.]

For anyone using this plugin, you may want to make the following changes to improve the way vbnetwork handles special characters:

Line 320 of "/forums/network/function_network.php" should read:
$xmlstr = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>'."\n";

The line just below that should change "=" to ".=".

With that small change, you will eliminate a lot of "error code 3"/XML parsing errors, where the XML feeds are corrupted due to the use of special characters in posts.

[mavherzog]

I have installed and created a new network. For those wanting to join and network with geekhack.org, please drop me an email at: me [at] imav [dot] org

[hpidriver]

This is something I have been curious about, tagged... thanks.

[mavherzog]

Originally Posted by mavherzog

I have installed and created a new network. For those wanting to join and network with geekhack.org, please drop me an email at: me [at] imav [dot] org

No takers??

[OldSchoolDSL]

I've given up on this one.

Tried to upgrade it for vBulletin 4, but failed

[Dr.CustUmz]

i know this is quite old, but I dont see why it isnt working... I am using vb 3.8.11 and PHP 5.6.4 when I try to add new network, upon clicking save the page goes blank and nothing is added in the database.

I have tried going through the files and replacing =& with just a = but still no luck. anyone got his working?