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

[jaks]

Great hack Geek,

I have absolutely no complaints.

Is there anyway to create a directory of categorys articles? I'm talking about a list of categories and under each cat a list of the articles within the cats. How would i make each article show the number of votes on each article and make it so someone could search or arrange the articles in that order? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jaks

[jaks]

Got another question,

How did you do the alert on your site. "It looks like you are not yet a geek" I would love to have that on my site.

Jaks

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by jaks

Is there anyway to create a directory of categorys articles? I'm talking about a list of categories and under each cat a list of the articles

Thats the infobar mack thats about here somewhere. If you cant find it, look at the posts I have made as it was pretty recent I installed and complimented the author (as in the last week). Its about a 2 second install and well worth it.

TO do what youre asking is not difficult... However something I wouldnt have time to do now. Maybe post something in service request?
As for the other items, if I understand you correctly, you only need to modify your GAS_threadbit template. Just compare it to your normal threadbit template to see the difference.

[Rob Locke]

Originally Posted by The Geek

Geez, my head is getting a bit more disproportionate for my body.

What would be the difference between a pro version and this? I really couldnt think of any more functionality to add apart from what I already mentioned will be in 4.0 for vb3.5

THanks again for your kind words - especially for the vb and vba team. Personally I think the vba team (Brian) produces some of the most solid stuff for vb (hence the reason I use all thier stuff).

Really, the 'PRO' version would just be a dedicated setup like vba, with members' area for downloads, support tickets, etc. and a forum for new feature requests, bugs and so on. GAS would ideally have its own expandable group in the template manager. I guess the installer and admin settings would be a little more 'vanilla' in their wording. Perhpas the addition of a 'Reviews' setting, i.e. the choice to make a forum an 'Articles' forum or a 'Reviews' forum, with pertinent differences between the two.

Just my opinion as a self-professed entrepreneur, that you could sell this as a significant professional add-on to vBulletin. Perhaps the name would just be 'Articles System' for professional users, like me, who would love this to be a professional product in full ongoing development, rather than just a hack for vb devotees.

To be honest, I think all your hacks could be very successful as 'PRO' products.

I hope it's okay for me to make these suggestions. There just aren't enough good, solid, professional add-ons out there. You are already a step ahead of the game and I am sure someone will eventually start doing this, so why not you!!!

I'd be the first in a massive line of paying customers, I'm certain.

Thanks again for all your hard work!

[The Geek]

hehe. Thanks again

I guess my opinion has always been, sure I may be able to make a few quid on the side with it... but then never enough to be able to make it a full time job which is what paying members would deserve.

As far as I am concerned, if it helps others (and me) and people accept that it is just a hobby... then Im cool to leave it as is. My site wouldnt be the same without some of the free macks that I have downloaded from here.

Saying that - I have no quarrel with paying for macks... I own everything from vba and some stuff from photopost, and a skin designed by Alex (Direct Pixel). All that has cost a bit and I dont regret it at all.

I guess I like the freedom to play and release stuff at no charge... whereas I would have to turn it into a job if I did charge. Also - lets face it, not everyone can fork out for enhancments for their site.

I know at one time I couldnt.

[OFFSHORE DAN]

I did everything it said. Copied the files to right locations and still I don't see anything in the admin cp. Getting frustrated! PLease help. Here is the last page of the script before I copied the files to the right locations.

Modifying file: forumdisplay.php
Completed step 200
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Saving changes to gas/changes/forumdisplay.php

Warning: fopen(gas/changes/forumdisplay.php): failed to open stream: Permission denied in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3151

Warning: fputs(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3152

Warning: fclose(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3153
Modifying file: editpost.php
Completed step 000
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Saving changes to gas/changes/editpost.php

Warning: fopen(gas/changes/editpost.php): failed to open stream: Permission denied in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3151

Warning: fputs(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3152

Warning: fclose(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3153
Modifying file: includes/functions_showthread.php
Completed step 300
Saving changes to gas/changes/includes/functions_showthread.php

Warning: fopen(gas/changes/includes/functions_showthread.php): failed to open stream: Permission denied in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3151

Warning: fputs(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3152

Warning: fclose(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3153
Modifying file: admincp/index.php
Completed step 400
Saving changes to gas/changes/admincp/index.php

Warning: fopen(gas/changes/admincp/index.php): failed to open stream: Permission denied in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3151

Warning: fputs(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3152

Warning: fclose(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3153
Modifying file: newthread.php
Completed step 500
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Saving changes to gas/changes/newthread.php

Warning: fopen(gas/changes/newthread.php): failed to open stream: Permission denied in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3151

Warning: fputs(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3152

Warning: fclose(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3153
Modifying file: showthread.php
Completed step 600
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Saving changes to gas/changes/showthread.php

Warning: fopen(gas/changes/showthread.php): failed to open stream: Permission denied in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3151

Warning: fputs(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3152

Warning: fclose(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3153
Modifying file: printthread.php
Completed step 700
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Saving changes to gas/changes/printthread.php

Warning: fopen(gas/changes/printthread.php): failed to open stream: Permission denied in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3151

Warning: fputs(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3152

Warning: fclose(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3153
File modifications complete. All files are waiting in the change folder. If you get any error messages, make sure you spply the correct steps before replacing files.

Your moves amaze the Red Dragon.
With a ninja like motion, you twist the crown of the pineapple off and hurl it with deadly aim toward the Red Dragon (level 10)
He falls down in defeat which in turn reveals the sacred treaure - a great golden Pineapple
What do you want to do?
Eat the pineapple in peace - The End

[The Geek]

failed to open stream: Permission denied in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3151

this means that the gas folder and its contents are not chmod 0777

Just chmod the folder and its contents and re-run the file change part of the installer.

HTH's

[OFFSHORE DAN]

How do I do that?

[OFFSHORE DAN]

oK I got everything loaded. But How do I make an article. No Article box pops up.

www.TopicsChat.com

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by OFFSHORE DAN

oK I got everything loaded. But How do I make an article. No Article box pops up.

www.TopicsChat.com

you need to specify which forums are your article forums in your settings