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

[offlead]

Well, it's installed, but I can't access the admin portion? :ermm:

(I haven't installed a lot of hacks, so I may be missing some simple.)

I followed the instructions.txt. Uploaded the files it says to upload. local_links.php and local_links_template.xml are in my main forum directory. local_links_install.php was placed in my admincp directory, and I ran the install script. The tables were created. The templates were installed. I get to the page that says

Run Step 3: Goto Links/Files AdminCP to check/initialise permissions?
Installation complete: Goto Links/Files main page

If I click on the link for the AdminCP, I get the standard forum error stating:

you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:

1. Your user account may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
2. If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.

The non-admin link takes me to a Links page, but of course, there's nothing there.

I'm logged in as one of the admins (or I wouldn't be able to access to install script in the first place).

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by offlead

Well, it's installed, but I can't access the admin portion? :ermm:

(I haven't installed a lot of hacks, so I may be missing some simple.)

I followed the instructions.txt. Uploaded the files it says to upload. local_links.php and local_links_template.xml are in my main forum directory. local_links_install.php was placed in my admincp directory, and I ran the install script. The tables were created. The templates were installed. I get to the page that says


If I click on the link for the AdminCP, I get the standard forum error stating:



The non-admin link takes me to a Links page, but of course, there's nothing there.

I'm logged in as one of the admins (or I wouldn't be able to access to install script in the first place).

1) Check ( standard VB admincp, users ) that you are using a userid with *primary* usergroup = Administrator (not an additional usergroup). Please also check (admincp, usergroups) that the admin usergroup id is 6.

2) Upload the attached script into your main forums directory (uid.php) and point your browser at it. It will report what it thinks is your usergroupid. It should say 6.

Get back to me if you still have problems.

[offlead]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

1) Check ( standard VB admincp, users ) that you are using a userid with *primary* usergroup = Administrator (not an additional usergroup). Please also check (admincp, usergroups) that the admin usergroup id is 6.

2) Upload the attached script into your main forums directory (uid.php) and point your browser at it. It will report what it thinks is your usergroupid. It should say 6.

Get back to me if you still have problems.

Thanks!! I assumed it was something just this simple, but this never occurred to me. (Due to site-politics, all of the admins are regular users with "admin" as a secondary usergroup. We have one primary admin user that we can log in as for special site announcements and, of course, situations just like this. It just never occurred to me. )

I get in just fine now. Thanks bunches!!

[offlead]

Okay, I've started setting things up, and it all looks to be working so far. Very nice, and quite close to exactly what we were looking for.

A couple quick questions. First, is there a way to grant admin access based on secondary usergroups? While our admins can log in as the primary admin, if they have to do so it becomes much less likely that they'll pitch in to help out with this. Also, some of them cannot seem to remember the precise login information for the primary admin to save their lives. (Again, all of the admins are listed as regular members by primary group, with admin as a secondary group. The users do not know who all of the admins are, and this is done on purpose.)

Second, it would be very useful if our regular registered users could suggest categories, that would go into moderation pending approval by an admin. I don't want them to be able to just add any old categories, but I also know that I won't be able to think of all the cats we'll need. Can this be accomplished? Would this be accomplished if I assigned a default_forumid that matched a forum that allows registered members to post, but where their posts are moderated pending approval? (This just came to me, and I'll try it out after I get a few hours sleep, unless I hear that it won't work.)

Thanks again. Lovely work!!

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by offlead

Okay, I've started setting things up, and it all looks to be working so far. Very nice, and quite close to exactly what we were looking for.

A couple quick questions. First, is there a way to grant admin access based on secondary usergroups? While our admins can log in as the primary admin, if they have to do so it becomes much less likely that they'll pitch in to help out with this. Also, some of them cannot seem to remember the precise login information for the primary admin to save their lives. (Again, all of the admins are listed as regular members by primary group, with admin as a secondary group. The users do not know who all of the admins are, and this is done on purpose.)

Second, it would be very useful if our regular registered users could suggest categories, that would go into moderation pending approval by an admin. I don't want them to be able to just add any old categories, but I also know that I won't be able to think of all the cats we'll need. Can this be accomplished? Would this be accomplished if I assigned a default_forumid that matched a forum that allows registered members to post, but where their posts are moderated pending approval? (This just came to me, and I'll try it out after I get a few hours sleep, unless I hear that it won't work.)

Thanks again. Lovely work!!

Thanks and glad you've got it working. I realise that I need to deal with the admin usergroup issue, so will look at that this weekend.

Moderation is close to ready. I have it working for new links but had not realised that new categories should also be moderated. I'll give that some thought - it is not difficult.

[offlead]

Great! Yeah, letting others use your work tends to bring little except more work! I do appreciate it. I'll be taking what we've got so far live today, and I'll just tend it myself until we get the secondary usergroup and moderation set up. They can always suggest categories in one of the forums.

This is great, because this is one of the last functionalities we wanted for the site, and once I have it set up on my own hobby site, I'll be setting it up for on of my clients as well.

[Holidazed]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

Access to files/links and categories is controlled by assigning them to a forum. So if you want only some usergroups to see certain links, you assign these links (or their category) to a forum that has the same usergroup permissions. The association between link and forum or category and forum can be changed by anyone who has can_edit_link and/or can_edit_category access to the links database (set via the link_admin page).

AndrewD, The links thing installed flawlessly.

Question, when 1st installed, I can create a sub-category. Should it not be called a "Category" and then have "Sub-Categories" underneath the "Category"??

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by bitg

AndrewD, The links thing installed flawlessly.

Question, when 1st installed, I can create a sub-category. Should it not be called a "Category" and then have "Sub-Categories" underneath the "Category"??

Thanks.

You're right - I think they should all be called categories and they will be in version 1.2.

[Holidazed]

I just thought it was odd. Main Categories and Sub-Categories seems the right way to go. BTW, thanks for the hack. It is quite awesome.

BTW, any idea of how long the wait for 1.2 will be?

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by bitg

BTW, any idea of how long the wait for 1.2 will be?

Only a couple of days! :squareeyed: I had it ready until I learned I'd missed a feature... :knockedout: