vBindex v3.0.0 RC5

[high]vBindex v3.0.0 RC5[/high]

I happy to announce the fith release of vBindex for vBulletin 3 here at vBulletin.org and also the first Offical vB3 Hack here . This is the 9th release of vBindex for vB3 and there are few known problems currently. This release works with vB 3.0.0 Gamma, vB 3.0.0 RC1, vB 3.0.0 RC2, vB 3.0.0 RC3, vB 3.0.0 RC4 and vB 3.0.0.

[high]Features[/high]

The following are the features that are presently avalible in vBindex, those marked [high]*NEW*[/high] have been updated since vBindex 2.1 and those marked [high]*NEW*[/high] have been updated since Pre-RC2 was released and those marked [high]*NEW*[/high] have been added since RC2 and those marked [high]*NEW*[/high] have been added since RC3.

• News:
  • News (taken from a specified news forum), with vBcode, Smilies and optional news posters avatar;
  • [high]*NEW*[/high] Improved avatar system for news posts;
  • [high]*NEW*[/high] Option to have sticky threads in the news forum sticky on vBindex;
  • [high]*NEW*[/high] Option to limit the number of characters in news posts;
• Side Blocks:
  • Easy Administration:
    • [high]*NEW*[/high] All side blocks can be moved from within the ACP, no template edits needed!;
    • [high]*NEW*[/high] Custom blocks, add unlimited custom side blocks and control them all from the ACP;
    • [high]*NEW*[/high] Support for right, left and dual side blocks;
    • [high]*NEW*[/high] Each side block can be expanded/contracted just like the forums, QRB, post rules etc on the forum;
      [high]*NEW*[/high] Dynamic side blocks via a special PHP Include type system (vbindex_customblock_php);
  • Latest Threads:
    • [high]*NEW*[/high] More functional and faster new threads and posts;
    • [high]*NEW*[/high] Link to first unread post if the user has not read the thread yet;
      [high]*NEW*[/high] Ability to have the latest threads under the news with more details;
  • [high]*NEW*[/high] Online user list, with buddies and invisible users marked:
    • [high]*NEW*[/high] Option to show users online in the past 24 hours;
    • [high]*NEW*[/high] Online users block can be switched off;
  • Integrated Welcome Panel:
    • [high]*NEW*[/high] Option for detault avatar in the Welcome Box for members without an avatar and Guests;
  • Fully integrated Shoutbox:
    • [high]*NEW*[/high] Scrolling shoutbox option;
    • [high]*NEW*[/high] Allow users to delete own shouts if option is turned on;
    • [high]*NEW*[/high] Select which usergroups can delete any users shouts;
    • [high]*NEW*[/high] View all shouts, a full page shoutbox built it;
    • [high]*NEW*[/high] Option to show disabled postshout area to unregistred users;
    • [high]*NEW*[/high] Order shouts in either direction;
      [high]*NEW*[/high] Limit the length of shouts;
  • Poll, with the option to select a random poll from a given set of forums;
  • [high]*NEW*[/high] Calendar:
    • [high]*NEW*[/high] Links to events;
    • [high]*NEW*[/high] Option to show weekends and dynmically adjust the side bars to the correct size;
  • [high]*NEW*[/high] Todays birthdays;
• Templates & Phrases:
  • [high]*NEW*[/high] Fully phrased, both the vBindex Options and the front end are 100% phrased;
  • [high]*NEW*[/high] 100% Valid XHTML 1.0 Templates.
  • [high]*NEW*[/high] Templates/Phrases installed during install/upgrade;
• General:
  • [high]*NEW*[/high] Thread subscription icons for news and latest threads;
  • [high]*NEW*[/high] Global and user specific ignore list throughout all items;
  • Will work 100% outside of your forums directory;
  • Fully integrated into the Admin CP, change all options there!
  • Very easy to customize, just edit/add templates;
  • Capable of operating a multi-paged site; (Extra Page Tutorial)
  • [high]*NEW*[/high] Dynamic PHP Driven Extra Pages via Templates; (Extra Dynamic Page Tutorial)
  • [high]*NEW*[/high] Optimised code;
  • [high]*NEW*[/high] Use date/time option (Today/Yesterday and Detailed) specified in vB Options;
  • Only 5 queries with everything switched off, and still only 13 with all options turned on, thats 5 queries less than our nearest competitor!
  • [high]*NEW*[/high] Improved install, easy onscreen instructions that even new hackers should be able to follow and have vBindex working quicky;
  • [high]*NEW*[/high] Compatible with vBwar for vB3 when its released.
  • [high]*NEW*[/high] Admin Help system, gives help with all the vBindex options in the ACP.
  • [high]*NEW*[/high] Uninstall/Re-Install System.

[high]Installation/Upgrade[/high]

See the README_1ST.htm file included in the zip for more detailed install instructions and details of where to upload the files. Then point your browser to http://www.mydomain.com/forums/admin/vbiupgrade.php.

Changes Since vBindex 3.0.0 RC4

vBindex 3.0.0 RC4 was released about a week ago, RC5 has just a few changes and is expected to be the last release before vBindex 3.0.0. Changes include fixing of an XHTML issue in the custom block templates; admin help system added; ability to restrict the length of shouts.

[high]Support[/high]

Support will be given here in this thread ONLY. [high]Support *WILL NOT* be given via PM/Email/IM.[/high]

[high]************************************************[/high]

vBindex is Copyright MMII - MMIV Winter Systems, you may not distribute in part or whole any portion of the source code (apart from in this thread) or any file included in the zip (Unless you are posting a language translation of vbindex_phrases.xml in this thread). Portions Copyright MM - MMIV Jelsoft Enterprises Limited. Both the Jelsoft vBulletin and the Winter Systems vBindex Copyright notice in the footer must stay in place for any page powered by vBindex.

[high]************************************************[/high]

[high]vBindex is *FREE*, please have the courtesy click install if you use this hack, thank you[/high]

RC3 Build 7: 719
RC3 Build 8: 377
RC3 Build 10: 486
RC4 Build 5: 107
RC5 Build 5: 87

[Big Kahuna]

I installed this last night at www.moparstyle.com

After reading this thread -- I was quite honestly scared -- but it went well.

It did hiccup at the point where I had to use the full path for graphics and did a tilt/game over. I restarted the install and skipped the section where I had to put the full path in. I have 13 templates -- and that might be beyond what the install could handle. Each style had the banner graphic of the next style. I manually fixed and all was well.

I very much appreciate the time you took to make this Portal -- and I would like to tell others who may been as scared as I -- to take their time, follow the instructions, and don't panic.

I did notice that the Portal "Who was online today" and the hack in the forum home template don't appear to like each other. I just removed that hack from each style's forum home template and all is well.

I am far from a programmer -- and I was able to follow the destructions. Don't be scared -- just jump in.

It might help give you an idea of how I implimented it with many styles. www.moparstyle.com

[Big Daddy]

Nice site!!! Wish mine was half that complete.

Well, this really is getting fairly aggravating..... I am almost to the pointing of trashing it all, and starting over.

Perhaps the average person on here is WAY more advanced than me in terms of their knowledge. I sometimes find it hard to understand the extremely brief answers I get. I need details..... ARGHH

I know that it isn't really possible for the big guys on here to spend alot of time responding to each question, so I guess I will have to just be patient, and keep asking the same questions.....

I am gonna keep trying, but if I don't get some specific answers to specific questions soon, I am gonna ditch it all, and start all over....

[Big Daddy]

Case in point..... ugh!!!

I just "uninstalled" vbindex, and then pointed my browser back to "www.mydomain.com/forums/admincp/vbiupgrade.php" so I could go through the installation process again.

The very first screen says:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This script will install vBindex version 3.0.0 RC5

Before preceding, please follow and make note of the following changes you need to make, to both vbiconfig.php and your vBulletin settings to ensure correct operation with vBindex. The settings edits can be performed after the installation, however vBindex won't function properly untill they are done. After this step there is only one more step that requires user input, the rest of the install is automatic.

Please edit vbiconfig.php and find and replace the following code:

***(NOTICE THERE IS NO TEXT OR CODE HERE, IT'S JUST A SOLID WHITE BAR. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO "FIND & REPLACE"???)***

with:

***(YOU GOT IT, NO TEXT OR CODE HERE EITHER, IT'S JUST A SOLID WHITE BAR. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO "FIND & REPLACE"???)***

In order for smilies to work on vBindex you will need to go into the Smilie Manager in the vBulletin Admin Control Panel and edit the smilies to use a full URL.



Press the 'Next Step' button to proceed.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

***HELP*** Any suggestions???? I can't even get past the first step right....... Also, when i install vbindex, do i still need to install a "hack", or is it all included in the vbindex files???

[NTLDR]

If you see no text I would assume there is a problem with your browser, there should allways be some text in the white boxes. Use the path I provided earlier in vbiconfig.php and continue with the installation. Anything you need to change with either be listed in the read me or detailed in the install routine.

[xTerMn8R]

And thanks for your fast Reply NTLDR, if ya dont mind I have a couple other questions now that I got it up and working...

1) 1st problem I see is that in my forum I'm using shoutbox 1.03d hack on site and the shout in the portal doesnt sync with it, Should it?

2) How do make custom stuff to add to the "Home Page" in the blocks(left , right, and center)... I'm not sure what those 6 custom templates are and what they're for? How do ya get one to appear on the page? Is that where I would code custom stuff. They seem to have code in them already that looks like it's to expand and collapts them is that correct? and if so, should my code go after the builtin code?

I'd like to get my page looking a lot in style and with different content of course like the Big Kahuna's Mopar site...

Thanks again NTLDR, very nice work you do... and thanks for sharing ur site Big Kahuna, you've also done a nice job...

Peace Y'all

[NTLDR]

Originally Posted by xTereMn8R

1) 1st problem I see is that in my forum I'm using shoutbox 1.03d hack on site and the shout in the portal doesnt sync with it, Should it?

You'd need to hack that in, vBindex uses its own shoutbox.

2) How do make custom stuff to add to the "Home Page" in the blocks(left , right, and center)... I'm not sure what those 6 custom templates are and what they're for? How do ya get one to appear on the page? Is that where I would code custom stuff. They seem to have code in them already that looks like it's to expand and collapts them is that correct? and if so, should my code go after the builtin code?

See the first post for details of tutorials to add extra pages via vBindex, if you want to add extra blocks follow the instructions in the Options page to select the number of blocks you want (and where you want them), then edit the vbindex_customblock_X template (X being the number of the block) and replace the sample text with your own content. For stuff in the center just edit the VBINDEX template.

[Big Daddy]

ok, did that NTLDR....... now, in going through the steps, I came to "edit image paths". It says they need to point to full url's.

So, I inserted "http://www.mydomain.com" in front of the default folders already showing in the fields.....

I click "save" at the bottom, and it brings me right back to that page..... If I click "skip this step" it still brings me back to it.

If I click "If you are not redirected, bla, bla, bla click here" it takes me to the "Installation Complete" page, but my image paths are still wrong.

What do I do???

Before you say "do it in the style manager", i tried that before, but didn't see anywhere in Style Manager to do that.

[NTLDR]

If they don't save for whatever reason goto ACP -> Style Manager -> All Options (for each style) and edit the paths from there.

[Big Daddy]

Well, I am shutting this all down for now, before I throw my computer out the window. I went into the style manager, and saw this big list of stuff.

vbindex
vbindexthis
vbindexthat
vbindexetc

I click on them and a window opens with code...... what am i supposed to edit??? I thought it was image paths??? there was not one single item on the list called "image" anything.... Good night!!!!

Please respond to this with some helpful info, and when i log on tomorrow, I will check again..

Thanks alot!!

[xTerMn8R]

NTLDR, you have done a great job with this and your support has been stellar... I really like this hack ...

Thank you mate...

Peace..

[NTLDR]

You really should check out the vBulletin manual which explains howto use all the built in functions: http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/main/stylemanager

The first screenshot there shows where "All Options" is that I said to select to give you the place to edit the image paths.

[NTLDR]

Originally Posted by xTereMn8R

NTLDR, you have done a great job with this and your support has been stellar... I really like this hack ...

No problem and good luck with your site

[Big Daddy]

Any chance of you (or a trustworthy good samaritan) logging in to my site, to see what's going on????

[Big Daddy]

I want my end result to be like this page

http://www.riderinfo.com

[NTLDR]

PM me with your board URL, the details of an admin account (preferably one with query running permissions) and FTP login details if you want me to check and edit vbiconfig.php and I'll take a look tonight.