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

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Tradjick

When i save the settings i run into the following error. It saves things correctly, but what is it that?s causing this?

Warning: implode(): Bad arguments. in /local_links_admin.php on line 730

Warning: implode(): Bad arguments. in /local_links_admin.php on line 837

One of the arguments being passed from the permissions form to the script is bad. This shouldn't happen. Have you edited the admin templates at all?

Please can you upload the attached version of local_links_admin.php and go through the process of saving the settings. It will not actually save anything, but instead will produce a page of debugging messages. Pls send these to me by PM so I can take a look. Once you're done, just re-upload the original loccal_links_admin.php

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

One of the arguments being passed from the permissions form to the script is bad. This shouldn't happen. Have you edited the admin templates at all?

Please can you upload the attached version of local_links_admin.php and go through the process of saving the settings. It will not actually save anything, but instead will produce a page of debugging messages. Pls send these to me by PM so I can take a look. Once you're done, just re-upload the original loccal_links_admin.php

I don't understand why, but the value of monitor_dir is being returned from the form in the wrong format. I cannot reproduce this. However, the attached version of local_links_admin.php should correct the bug. Can you try?

Can you also let me know what version of php you are using.

[Tradjick]

Excellent! It works now.

Is that problem also fixed for future updates?

Thank you so much!

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Tradjick

Excellent! It works now.

Is that problem also fixed for future updates?

Thank you so much!

Good, fixed and uploaded and imprinted on my mind...

[joeychgo]

INstalled again on my new Mopar Forum - Thanks for the great hack!

[CHIngs]

On the next version, can you please include a feature where we can limit ONE DOWNLOAD until the TIME SPECIFIED?

Because I tried it on my own and it didnt seem to quite work.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by CHIngs

On the next version, can you please include a feature where we can limit ONE DOWNLOAD until the TIME SPECIFIED?

Because I tried it on my own and it didnt seem to quite work.

Thanks for the suggestion. Do you mean:

- When a user enters a link/file, she specifies the first time at which it can be accessed? (e.g. at 15:00 on the 1st June)

or

- The administrator can set up the database for that people can only make multiple downloads at certain times of day? (e.g. between 09:00 and 12:00)

or something else?

[Slave]

++++ .. I was happily adding links to my db and I suddenly get the following error message ..

Database error in vBulletin 3.0.3:

Invalid SQL: 
		SELECT DISTINCT link.linkid AS linkid, link.linkname AS linkname, link.linkuserid AS linkuserid,
			link.linkusername AS linkusername, link.linkurl AS linkurl, link.linkimg AS linkimg, link.linkdesc AS linkdesc,
			link.linkhits AS linkhits, link.linkstatus AS linkstatus, link.linkdate AS linkdate,
			link.linkmoderate AS linkmoderate,
			ltoc.catid AS linkcatid, ltoc.displayorder AS linkdorder, ltoc2.catid AS linkcatid2
		FROM (local_linkslink AS link
		LEFT JOIN local_linksltoc AS ltoc
		ON link.linkid = ltoc.linkid)
		LEFT JOIN local_linksltoc AS ltoc2
		ON link.linkid = ltoc2.linkid
		WHERE
			ltoc.catid = '6' 
			AND link.linkforum NOT IN (0)
		
		ORDER BY linkdorder ASC, linkname ASC,  linkcatid ASC
		
mysql error: Can't open file: 'local_linkslink.MYD'. (errno: 145)

mysql error number: 1016

Date: Monday 16th of May 2005 10:40:41 AM
Script: /local_links.php?catid=6
Referer: /local_links.php?action=links&catid=-1
Username: Slave
IP Address: 81.433.23.12

So I go and have a look at the local_linkslink table within the db and it's empty! and semingly corrupted ..



So a quick reminder to peeps to keep things backed up .. just in case! Luckily I've got a backup from a few days ago I think so it's not too bad ..

AndrewD .. anything in the code that would cause this? .. or have you heard anything like that before?

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Slave

++++ .. I was happily adding links to my db and I suddenly get the following error message ..

[code]Database error in vBulletin 3.0.3:

So a quick reminder to peeps to keep things backed up .. just in case! Luckily I've got a backup from a few days ago I think so it's not too bad ..

AndrewD .. anything in the code that would cause this? .. or have you heard anything like that before?

Ouch!

I've not seen this happen before - as you say, it looks like a corrupt database table.

I've found that it's worthwhile doing regular optimize/repair checks on your database - the VB admin page permits this, or phpmyadmin can do it also.

[Slave]

In fact I went one step further and repaired the table using the vB tools.php within the admin folder ..

/me wipes his brow!