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

[allan grossman]

Installed without a hitch. Thanks!

[13th_Disciple]

after messing with the links directory for awhile now, i see no real reason to put it in the adminCP of vbulletin.. it's actually nice being able to "admin in place" so to speak..

i do need to upgrade to .95 though and see what kind of differences there are now.. haven't had much time lately..

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by 13th_Disciple

after messing with the links directory for awhile now, i see no real reason to put it in the adminCP of vbulletin.. it's actually nice being able to "admin in place" so to speak..

i do need to upgrade to .95 though and see what kind of differences there are now.. haven't had much time lately..

I've now uploaded 0.95 into post 1, with instructions on how you can integrate this with the VB admincp if you want to.

0.95 is really a continued tidying up. The only thing that remains to be done for 1.0 is moderation (and of course any more bugs you find...)

[13th_Disciple]

Andrew, are you going to add any kind of links rating system? possibly even a comments section for each DL.. or.... is there a way to tie each DL into a forum maybe so users can comment in there.. maybe have it generate a thread once a link is created so users could comment on it.. then the "thread" could not only contain the users comments, but also a rating.. may add a bit of overhead to what you may have in mind.. not sure.. i thought you did mention before the possiblility of doing a rating deal though.. can't remember, and too tired to review the thread..

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by 13th_Disciple

Andrew, are you going to add any kind of links rating system? possibly even a comments section for each DL.. or.... is there a way to tie each DL into a forum maybe so users can comment in there.. maybe have it generate a thread once a link is created so users could comment on it.. then the "thread" could not only contain the users comments, but also a rating.. may add a bit of overhead to what you may have in mind.. not sure.. i thought you did mention before the possiblility of doing a rating deal though.. can't remember, and too tired to review the thread..

:lick: Ratings are there already - there's a permissions setting in the admin page called can_rate_link. Users in these usergroups get the opportunity to rate links on a 1-5 star basis, and the main links display will then show the average rating.

Links are tied to forums through the forumid. I'd primarily intended this as a way to establish viewing permissions, but it will work the other way round also. If you use the link

local_links.php?action=show&forum=nn

you'll get a list of the links associated with that forum. I'll think about how easily one could have an automatic "link to thread" jump, although perhaps not for v1.0.

[GenSec]

When add new links it writes linkid=0 in local_linksltoc table.
And it needs multi-page listing.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by GenSec

When add new links it writes linkid=0 in local_linksltoc table.

Really? Under what conditions?

And it needs multi-page listing.

I agree - sometime, someday...

thanks

[Natch]

For those having trouble with my addon after this upgrade, note that you will need to re-install the template from the addon after the upgrade to 0.95 ...

[???`S?LV?R???`]

lol I can't even begin to explain how much I needed a hack like this.... nice to see that it's released.

[Mellow]

<Clicks INSTALL>

I love this, much cleaner than making forums/sub forums links. IMHO

Thanks!