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

[ccplim]

OMG! I can't believed that I actually read throught all 80 pages and ended up here :knockedout:

The Geek, a really great support you are giving I must admit :up: I'm gonne get this installed on my local test host and see how things go

[oceanart]

Just installed on my 3.07 and it worked great - already using it.

Questions:
1. I completely forgot to change the chmod of index.htm in every directory to 0777 .. does that matter? Everything worked fine but I am just wondering.

2. Also I copied over all the files from /gas/changes per install instructions, including index.htm .. is that file necessary in the /forum directory?

3. Can I change the chmod of changes back to original?

4. to leave 0777 on some of the folders does it pose security risk?

It is a great addition to my solution - thanks !!! you are the best!
Paul

[The Geek]

Hey Guys - Im out of town right now so Im kind of limited on what I can do to check things out for you but heres my best stab

t3media - does it happen in any other forum? What happens if you rebuild attachements?

tcb - can you check your GD setting and make sure that its right?

wired - whatever the forums permissions are, the article forum persmissions will be (IOW - yup )

Flea - doesnt make sense to me. I see no error off hand with that SQL. Do you get the same error running that SQL through phpmyadmin? You can try to change any instance of ga. to geek_articles.

ccplim - Thanks

oceanart:
1- shouldnt matter - you can actuially get rid of the ones that you moved outside of the gas/changes folder. IOW - if you copied the index.htm's from gas/changes to the standard directory - I would delete them (especially in your root directory) though they shouldnt pose any problem. They are there to prevent directory browsing.
2- see above
3- Yes, but I thought that happens automatically?
4- leaving the gas folder chmodded to 0777 shouldnt pose a problem - but then I am no security expert. I am sure someone else here could give you the juice on that.

nJoy

[TCB]

Originally Posted by The Geek

tcb - can you check your GD setting and make sure that its right?

Hi,

Thanks for trying to help. The GD settings (in vbulletin options) are good (large images are resized perfectly to thumbs when they're uploaded as attachments on forumtopics or GEEK articles).

When I try to upload an article icon, I quickly receive this message (see attachment) before the popup is closed and the non-resized uploaded picture appears as article-icon.

[Wired1]

Originally Posted by The Geek

wired - whatever the forums permissions are, the article forum persmissions will be (IOW - yup )

Did the INDEXs or just the folders have to be CHMOD 0777? I set only the folders, but it didn't work. Had to do it MANUALLY. Works just fine though, so it's all good

Also, IOW?

[The Geek]

hmmm - looks even more like a gd error to me. What version is compiled with php? I may have to look at it when I get back in a couple days

Wired - No the index's are just placeholders to prevent directory browsing - regardless Im glad its sorted for you - IMO, IOW means in other words LOL@TLA's

[oceanart]

Hi

What should be the permitions of the files after I install? the gas directory is still at 0777 should I change it?

:-)
Paul

[Wired1]

Originally Posted by The Geek

hmmm - looks even more like a gd error to me. What version is compiled with php? I may have to look at it when I get back in a couple days

Wired - No the index's are just placeholders to prevent directory browsing - regardless Im glad its sorted for you - IMO, IOW means in other words LOL@TLA's

Ok, I've been on the net for over a decade, but TLA?

ROFLLMFFAOWPIMP Yes, it does mean something

[oceanart]

I installed today the articles and this add on is great. I have still few questions if any of you have figured this out (I am still battling this)
1. Images in the articles. What is the best way to organize them and insert them in the article? I am currently thinking of this (please if you have a better system that works let me know) but it seems it has toooo many steps - is there a way to automate this?
Steps:
1. I create the article and note the post ID, for example if .... post46
2. Than I create a directory in /gas/images/forums/46
3. add the index.htm file in the /gas/images/forums/46 directory
4. upload all images I am planning to use in the article to "46" directory
5. add this line to the post without the dashes [-img]http://www.mysite.com/forum/gas/images/forums/46/image.jpg[/img-]
6. save the post

Is there any easier way of doing this? Am I missing something?

Also I read through the README the following: The gallery displays all images from the gas/images folder combinded with all images (if any) from the gas/images/forums/(current forumid) folder. Question:
1. I created a directory with (current forumid) = 46 however when I clicked on the image upload it did not display the images in '46' directory for me, only the gas/images direcotry files were displayed.
2. Who creates the "current forumid) directory - me? or the system.

Any help would be great ..... :-) I will be writing image intensive articles and really need a good system for this.

Paul

[Clayton]

oceanart

in the readme file that came with the hack, there is a comprehensive explanation of how the images system works .. it is further down on the page explaining exactly what each term is etc

this is quite helpful, hope it helps

Cheers

G