Geek Article System 3.52

IMPORTANT:
Please note that I can no longer support this project. Primarily as it is designed for vb3.0.x and I no longer use that version (im obviously on vb3.5x ). There is a version for vb3.5 however its a commercial script. This project is left here for the community.
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HowdA All.

The GAS3 system is a comprehensive article system that completely integrates into vB3.

News:

• Updated 3/08/05 to version 3.53 for compatability with vb3.08
• Updated 13/05/05 to version 3.52!!! Posts for 3.52 to integrate with GAL4.0 start here

History

Originally, I looked into other article systems to integrate with my forums but just got irritated over and over again as I found the other offering out there very limiting for my needs. I wanted to use my members usergroup permissions, the search facility (so when someone did a search for 'bob' both articles AND threads appeared on one page), I also wanted wysiwyg editing and vBs attachment system. Well, I accomplished 99% of my needs with the Geek Article System 2.0
Why 3.0? While the 2.0 was fine for my needs, many users began asking for a far more complex system that took the beauty of 2.0 and added popular features in the other article systems.

Here are the features in a nutshell:

• Integrates 100% into vB. No importing forums or creating special groups. Simply mark forum as an 'Article' forum and instantly all threads become articles. Dont like it anymore? Simply remove the ID and the therads and forums go back to normal.
• Whatever you can do in a thread or post, you can do with the GAS3 system (uploading attachments, smiles, BBcode, various editors, yadayadayada)
• Adding on the above point: all the differing vB editors (wysiwyg, etc..), usergroup permissions (heck - anything you can set for a forum you can set in this - AND MORE!) why> because it is totally integrated!
• Create multiple pages in your post by simply putting [BREAK] anywhere in your post.
• The first thumbnail in an article substitutes the posters avatar (switchable via admincp)
• Upload header images and have them auto resize
• Choose header images from a global (or forum specific) gallery
• Integrated article byline.
• Synopsis - allows users to give a summary that appears on the new forumdisplay
• New forumdisplay shows article header image and synopsis (if no synopsis then the first X amount of characters from the article is used)
• Synopisis allows BBCode
• Integrates with the Geek AutoLink system (optional)
• Allows you to post as other users
• Article sidebar that shows the article rating, your rating, the rating form, article tools, and article attachments (all toggable via admincp)
• An auto installer/upgrader/uninstaller that makes all file edits for you!
• A whole host of other tiddlybits that I wont bore you with

Special thanks goes to rlamego, peterska2, Snow, Gldtn, and Magic Spark for private Beta testing this for me. Couldnt of happened without them!

Change log
13.05.05 - updated to 3.52
All this does is update GAS for the GAL4.0 integration.
To update, simply replace your existing functions_geekarticles.php with the one in the latest package.

18.3.05 - updated to 3.51
This really just fixes a couple of mega minor bugs.
Added new default icon per forum functionality (see readme)
Wrote a real README.
Wrote a seperate 3.5x upgrade script. Users of 3.5x should run admincp/gas3_upgrade.php

16.3.05 - updated to 3.50
Loads of new features and a new installer that makes the file changes for you.
New forumdisplay
Uploading of images for your header
Synopsis box
yadayadayda

10.2.05 - updated to 3.02
Fixed typo in readme (step 2.6 referenced $articlebyline instead of $GAS_byline). This bug fixes the disappearing byline when editing an article.
To upgrade - edit your editpost template and search for $articlebyline then replace it with $GAS_byline

Importers
I have made an importer for v3articles. Technically speaking, you dont have to strictly have GAS3 installed to use the importer (though it is ideal). What it does is essentailly import v3articles, comments, ratings, and attachments into existing forums as new threads, replies, threadratings, and post attachments. The idea is that you install GAS3, create the forums to house your articles, and then import your existing v3articles into them (but as I said, you can simply import v3articles into normal forums without having GAS3 installed).
There is also a rollback feature in case you change your mind or experience a problem with the import. Your v3articles installation isnt touched. In fact, no v3articles are harmed in the process

Known issues:

• none that I am aware of.

Demos: (note that I have a custom skin, so your results will be ever so slightly different)
http://www.thenailgeek.com/showthread.php?t=11287
http://www.thenailgeek.com/showthread.php?t=8801 - pages with comments (click View Comments to see comments only)


Difficulty - EASY
Time - about 5 minutes
File modifications? a few but now all done automatically for you

Change log:

Updated to 3.01 Feb 7th
Fixed a couple template errors and minor readme instructions


Instructions

Click install. I have busted my butt over the past few weeks to do this and all I ask is that you click install if you use it

• Download the package and unzip.
• Follow the README!
• Ther installer does all the work for you
• When done, go into your admncp, and adjust your settings

Troubleshooting:

• No phrases after install? This happens a lot with many installers for some bizzare reason. All you have to do is do a phrase search for GAS_ , edit the phrase (dont change it), then save it. Bingo - all your phrases appear.

Also:

I would therefore backup your DB, your styles, and any of the files the README asks you to change.

nJoy

[MikaK]

Originally Posted by the nail geek

Hi Mika.

If you view your GAS_article_pb file, search for this:

<div class="normal">
	 $vbphrase[geek_articles_by] <if condition="$show['profile']">
	 <a href="member.php?$session[sessionurl]u=$post[userid]">$post[musername]</a>
	 <else />
	 $post[musername]
	 </if>

This is the condtional for the username display. Mika is coming up linked because $show['profile']==1. Test5 is taking the other route for whatever reason.

Yep. So it seems... Addmittedly the board is heavily hacked with pretty much all bells and whistles for 303. However, when installing this all file and template modifications were found by Dreamweawers find and replace, so no hacked code was touched...

Also the point that the username shows correctly in other parts of the board but the comment postbit and the postbit legacy (without me touching that one at all) indicates that there is something funny in the php rather than the templates. I saw a fair amount of replacing with if-else conditionals going on when modding the php. What parts of the php files hacking would affect the post/comment outputs?

Giving out passwords at this point is a little sesnsitive a case. I hope you understand - really no offence.

Thanks for your time in any case,
-Mika

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by MikaK

Yep. So it seems... Addmittedly the board is heavily hacked with pretty much all bells and whistles for 303. However, when installing this all file and template modifications were found by Dreamweawers find and replace, so no hacked code was touched...

Also the point that the username shows correctly in other parts of the board but the comment postbit and the postbit legacy (without me touching that one at all) indicates that there is something funny in the php rather than the templates. I saw a fair amount of replacing with if-else conditionals going on when modding the php. What parts of the php files hacking would affect the post/comment outputs?

Giving out passwords at this point is a little sesnsitive a case. I hope you understand - really no offence.

Thanks for your time in any case,
-Mika

Careful with those find and replaces. There are not that many actual replacements. If you had a hack that previously altered showthread areas that GAS3 deals with, it could cause the problem you are mentioning.
My opinion is that something wasnt done right in the showthread modifications or another of your hacks is screwing up the GAS3 changes.
The only area that could really affect the $post variables is step 5.22 open showthread and do a search through that step and see if it matches correctly.

As per the password, I didnt think it was a such a sensitive issue to set me up a standard user account with style permissions. I was only trying to help.

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by Blam Forumz

ok geek boy, i r back :P


is there anyway to add some sort of prefix for articles, so when people write them it says

[Movie] Article

or

[WHATEVER] Title here

Sure, I guess you could do... but why not just create a forum for Movies or whatever you want?
If that doesnt do it for you, you could always just edit your newthread/edit post files to append a prefix to the title field. Personally, I would prefer my eariler suggestion but I guess that depends on what you are trying to accomplish

HTH's

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by KTBleeding

Hey Geek, I'm just curious..
Is there an easy way to add a.. vbadvanced style menu above the articles.. to have "what's hot / what's new" drop down menu's?

I tried messing with it a little earlier but had no luck.
I only want this so most of the stuff on my site looks the same, therefore is easier for members to get used to/understand how to use it.
Thanks,

To be honest - I am not sure what you are asking for. Can you PM me a link or some screen shots and then Ill take a look for you.

HTH's

[Blam Forumz]

Originally Posted by the nail geek

Sure, I guess you could do... but why not just create a forum for Movies or whatever you want?
If that doesnt do it for you, you could always just edit your newthread/edit post files to append a prefix to the title field. Personally, I would prefer my eariler suggestion but I guess that depends on what you are trying to accomplish

HTH's

is it possible to integrate the thread prefix hack with this? i'll give it a go and release it as an addon if so

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by Blam Forumz

is it possible to integrate the thread prefix hack with this? i'll give it a go and release it as an addon if so

Sure, go for it

[Jason McConnell]

Originally Posted by the nail geek

Sure, go for it

This hack looks very promising... gonna give it a go when I get home from work

[winky6]

However, when installing this all file and template modifications were found by Dreamweawers find and replace, so no hacked code was touched...

OOOPS,that sent up a red flag.

[MikaK]

Originally Posted by the nail geek

Careful with those find and replaces. There are not that many actual replacements. If you had a hack that previously altered showthread areas that GAS3 deals with, it could cause the problem you are mentioning.
My opinion is that something wasnt done right in the showthread modifications or another of your hacks is screwing up the GAS3 changes.
The only area that could really affect the $post variables is step 5.22 open showthread and do a search through that step and see if it matches correctly.

As per the password, I didnt think it was a such a sensitive issue to set me up a standard user account with style permissions. I was only trying to help.

Ok. I'll se wether I can come up with something substantial according to that one. I am quite new to vB, so I didn't know there is a way to allow stylemod rights if not an admin. I really didn?t mean to offend you and there is nothing mystical about my case. A plain hacked board doesent straight accept the hack - really nothing new on planet earth I'll get back to this once I?ve had a chance to look at your pointed 5.22.

Peace,
-Mika

[The Geek]

No offence taken, double check the file changes. I am sure that step 5.22 is your ticket.

Otherwise... let me know and Ill try to help.