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

[Watson]

just upgraded my Forums, and installed all again, but the reviews that were there before aint showing up now. Any help?

Watson

[Lionel]

Geek I am having an issue that seems to be only with GAS.
When I post an article and I placed an image plus autolink comma separated, on submit I get a blank page.

When I look, article is posted with small image, but attachment is not. I am able to post attachmnet on editpost. I am saying GAS because it does not happen the normal newthread way. And I am saying autolink because I have been posting hundreds of articles with GAS, no problems. The only new thing today was comma in autolink, accent on a word, and first time using autolink in article since autolink upgraded. I had used autolink before in GAS with no problem.

[KTBleeding]

Geek, now that GaL 4 is released you may have some more time to look into this.

There's still the issue of the size tags showing up in the "description" overview. I'm not sure how far you got into looking into that issue, just reminding you again.

I am also having a problem with the Article Image. Sometimes they do not resize as a thumbnail so when the article is posted with a large image it stretches the page out. Just a little odd that sometimes it does resize, but sometimes it doesn't?

Just thought I'd let you know.

EDIT! Before I forget, I have a suggestion for 3.51/4.0/whatever next release. With the GAL addon feature, allow us to also post the popup description rather than just the keywords.

[The Geek]

hmmm. Lionel it does sound like a compatability problem between GAS 3.51 and GAL 4.
Ill sort that out.
KT- Good idea - ill see what I can do (most likely kill both birds with 1 stone)
However Im not sure about the thumbnail resize issue - I havent seen it yet. Can you get a predictable reproduction fo rme to check out?

[KTBleeding]

I wish I had a prediction, but I don't. I went to check and see if it didn't resize certain file types but that's not the case cause a prior image of the same was resized perfectly.

Here is the latest one added that you can see:
http://www.keepthembleeding.net/foru...splay.php?f=13

It's .jpg, but the one below it was .jpg too and resized fine. I'm stumped. hah

Oh, also.. I'm not sure if this is a vBulletin thing or not.. but if you look closely at the title it says "New NILE CD" which I have since renamed to just "Nile" but it doesn't seem to update on the forumdisplay.

[Watson]

Any chance you could lemme know if there is a solution for my problem geek mate? Got people submitting reviews and really wanna get them up

Thanks

Watson

[|Jordan|]

I had the hack installed and working without problems. Now all of a sudden it get an error message when trying to view threads. I did not edit any files and neither did anyone else (as im the only one who has ftp access).

PHP Code:

Fatal error: Call to undefined function: process_gal_text() in /home/<pathtoforum>/forums/includes/functions_showthread.php on line 677 


I disabled the error producing code for the moment. Any ideas what's happened? I went back through all the files and all file modifications are still there.

[dsboyce8624]

Give a snippet of that section, say lines 655 to 675 in 'code' tags.

[|Jordan|]

PHP Code:

$points = round($points, $vboptions['uttpoints_rounddecimal']);
        $points = number_format($points, $vboptions['uttpoints_rounddecimal'], '.', '');
    }
    // uTT Store Hack
    // Note sure if I even need this, but a safety percausion anyways...
    $post['uttstore_glow'] = htmlspecialchars($post['uttstore_glow']);
    $post['uttstore_usernamecolor'] = htmlspecialchars($post['uttstore_usernamecolor']);
// ## </ucs>

    //=== GAL step 300 ===
                           $post['message']=process_gal_text($post['message']);
  // === /GAL step 300 ===
    // do posts from ignored users

    if ($tachyuser AND THIS_SCRIPT != 'showpost' AND THIS_SCRIPT != 'private')
    {
        $maintemplatename = 'postbit_ignore_global';
    }
    else if ($ignore["$post[userid]"]/* AND !in_array($post['userid'], explode(' ', $bbuserinfo['buddylist']))*/)
    {
        $maintemplatename = 'postbit_ignore'; 


[dsboyce8624]

Okay, I haven't used this hack, but somewhere that function should be defined. If you search for it in the file does it show up any other times?

I found this function defined in functions_gal.php

I don't use the autolinker though. I'm assuming that file is in your fourm path and called at some point. You may need to wait for Geek to help you, unless you can follow the code and see what broke.