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

[PamelaE]

I have uploaded all the files. The automated changes did not bring back any errors but in the admincp there is an empty and nameless section added to the lefthand nav.

I have manually checked all the files and they look ok.

Any suggestions?

[The Geek]

Edit a phrase and click save (any phrase)

[BabesAndStuff]

Is there any search engine friendlyness built into this - IE is it optimised to be picked by the se's

[MickDoneDee]

Yes, the se spiders will index the articles and the articles also appear in the html Archive version which get indexed as well.

[tpr]

The Geek,
Any updates on when the new 3.5 compatible version is going to be out ?
i'm looking forward to installing vb3.5 on my site and the main thing thats holding me back is the article system (which i of course love and wont be able to live without)

please help

[FD929]

Originally Posted by tpr

The Geek,
Any updates on when the new 3.5 compatible version is going to be out ?
i'm looking forward to installing vb3.5 on my site and the main thing thats holding me back is the article system (which i of course love and wont be able to live without)

please help

+1

*itching with anticipation*

[The Geek]

Im just in the process of finishing up GAB. Then I was going to look at reqriting GAL or this, but I was leaning toward GAL first as it wont be such a mamouth task.

I too am eager to get it done as those 2 macks are essential to me upgrading to 3.5 which I want to do as soon as its gold. The biggest problem is that GAS isnt going to be such a straight forward rewrite as GAB or GAL

BTW: The good news is that it will include a review system with rating polls too For example, you can have forums specifed as Movie reviews that will display in the same format as articles, however you can specify 'Reviews' or 'Movie Reviews' instead of articles. You will then be able to specify a preset rating system per forum like:
Entertainment: (1-10)
Acting: (1-10)
Directing: (1-10)
blahblahblah
Overall (1-10)

Whats different between that and a normal poll? Users cant specify their own poll items, only the author can rate the items (im optionally looking at comment reviews too), and they are consistent across the forum.

[KTBleeding]

Originally Posted by The Geek

You will then be able to specify a preset rating system per forum like:
Entertainment: (1-10)
Acting: (1-10)
Directing: (1-10)
blahblahblah
Overall (1-10)

Very cool. This will by my highest anticipation yet.

[jaks]

I'm having a slight problem with your hack and VBadavanced last 10 Posts module. I verified this with a friend and he is having the same issue on his site so this could be a bug. When you click the link from the last 10 post module you only see comments and no article. This is happens from both the Index and Forum Home. Seems there is something missing.

Jaks

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by jaks

I'm having a slight problem with your hack and VBadavanced last 10 Posts module. I verified this with a friend and he is having the same issue on his site so this could be a bug. When you click the link from the last 10 post module you only see comments and no article. This is happens from both the Index and Forum Home. Seems there is something missing.

Jaks

This has been brought up before, however it is actually by design. Id the last post is a comment, it takes you to the comment viewing section.

In the next version, regardless there will be a preview of the article even if they are viewing comments only.