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

[trulylowcarb]

I seem to have resolved my all or nothing comment or content issue by changing the GAS settings:
Show preview of comments only on the last page to YES
as well as Show comment button only on the last page to YES.

[MickDoneDee]

Can I install this hack without closing my site?

Is CHMOD 0755 acceptable?

After creating table geek_articles this message appeared in database: PRIMARY and INDEX keys should not both be set for column `threadid`

I was able to CHMOD your files and folders to 0777 within my FTP application by right-clicking the mouse on the item and selecting CHMOD from the menu and typing 777.

All installation steps went smoothly. Not sure what problem Sim encountered with
if (!is_dir("/$folderchanges[root]")){

Did an error message flag? Did the installation process stop? My installation was completed successfully except for that strange database message.

I dropped the geek_articles and used the installer again to create the table with the same error message appearing.

These are the queries:

CREATE TABLE `geek_articles` ( `threadid` int(11) NOT NULL default '0', `byline` varchar(150) NOT NULL default '', `userid` int(11) NOT NULL default '0', `iconpath` varchar(255) NOT NULL default '', `synopsis` varchar(255) NOT NULL default '', `feature_untill` int(11) NOT NULL default '0', PRIMARY KEY (`threadid`), KEY `threadid` (`threadid`) ) TYPE=MyISAM;
ALTER TABLE `attachment` ADD `description` VARCHAR( 150 ) NOT NULL ;
ALTER TABLE `geek_articles` ADD `iconpath` VARCHAR( 255 ) NOT NULL default '' ;
ALTER TABLE `geek_articles` ADD `synopsis` VARCHAR( 255 ) NOT NULL default '' ;
ALTER TABLE `geek_articles` CHANGE `synopsis` `synopsis` MEDIUMTEXT;
DB changes complete

[FleaBag]

Got it working. Re-hacked on a fresh copy for a second time, guess I must have taken a little more care this time! Thanks anyway Geek.

[Bonee70]

* left blank *

great hack, great install instructions!

Good job!

[Bernd]

Does Geek Articles actually support paging for the article "threads"?
I've set the max amount of threads to 10, but my articles already reach over 10 and they are all listed on the same page.

I've checked the settings, but couldn't find an option for it.

Thanks in advance for answering

[The Geek]

Bernd - Im stumped over what you are asking. I am most likely just being thick after a heavy day at the Races yesterday - can you explain another way for a man nursing a hangover?

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by MickDoneDee

CREATE TABLE `geek_articles` ( `threadid` int(11) NOT NULL default '0', `byline` varchar(150) NOT NULL default '', `userid` int(11) NOT NULL default '0', `iconpath` varchar(255) NOT NULL default '', `synopsis` varchar(255) NOT NULL default '', `feature_untill` int(11) NOT NULL default '0', PRIMARY KEY (`threadid`), KEY `threadid` (`threadid`) ) TYPE=MyISAM;

You can try editing the above in the install file to:

CREATE TABLE `geek_articles` ( `threadid` int(11) NOT NULL default '0', `byline` varchar(150) NOT NULL default '', `userid` int(11) NOT NULL default '0', `iconpath` varchar(255) NOT NULL default '', `synopsis` varchar(255) NOT NULL default '', `feature_untill` int(11) NOT NULL default '0', PRIMARY KEY (`threadid`)) TYPE=MyISAM;

Not sure why there is a primary key and normal key. Furthermore any complaints from MySQL should be quiet (shouldnt see any errors)

[Bernd]

Originally Posted by The Geek

Bernd - Im stumped over what you are asking. I am most likely just being thick after a heavy day at the Races yesterday - can you explain another way for a man nursing a hangover?

Sure..



The amount of threads in a forum can be set in the vbulletin options. If the amount of threads is say 10, then the forum will display page numbering at the top and bottom of the forum.

It seems that there is no limit to the amount of articles listed in a forum. Currently I have over 20 articles in one forum and the amount will probably grow over 100. I would like to know if Geek's Article system allows paging for listed articles in a forum category..

For example, 10 out of 20 articles would be listed in a forum category + the page numbering to get to the next 10.

[The Geek]

er - it should. I dont think GAS overrides any of those values at all.
I was thinking of doing it as the average is 30 threads per page per forum and that is a lot when you are including the article header images - but I never did anything.

So - in a nutshell - it should use whatever default vb is using.

[Bernd]

Ahh, silly of me. I had it changed in thread settings instead of forum. Thanks.
Would be a nice feature though to allow a separate setting for the article system (in case someone adds article image headers).