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

[Blam Forumz]

Not too keen on the forum display screenshot, but the new article looks brilliant, maybe you could make the forumdisplay edit optional in the admincp?

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by Blam Forumz

Not too keen on the forum display screenshot, but the new article looks brilliant, maybe you could make the forumdisplay edit optional in the admincp?

Wow, thats a bummer. I guess I can make it optional... I just liked the idea of the header image being in the forumdisplay. I originally did that with using the attachmentid, however that added an additional query per image, so I have created a thumbnail upload facility. I also did this as I think its a better improvement over showing the first attachment as the header image (saves space and a query too).

Anyway - thanks for the feedback. I will look into an optional system (will end up making the synopsis useless though )

[Lore]

I get the following SQL error when I try to upload the first image to be used as the article feature picture?

Invalid SQL:
SELECT filename, filesize, visible, attachmentid, counter, postid, IF(thumbnail_filesize > 0, 1, 0) AS hasthumbnail, thumbnail_filesize, description
FROM vb3_attachment
WHERE postid IN (-1,171)
ORDER BY dateline

mysql error: Unknown column 'thumbnail_filesize' in 'field list'

mysql error number: 1054

any ideas?

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by Lore

I get the following SQL error when I try to upload the first image to be used as the article feature picture?



any ideas?

Wow - I would double check to see if that field is there as it is integral for vb3 attachments! GAS3 adds the description field (for porting v3articles and for the next version)... but thats all.

[Lore]

Looking at the SQL: vb3_attachment, I have the following in order:

attachmentid int(10) No
userid int(10) No 0
dateline int(10) No 0
thumbnail_dateline int(10) No 0
filename varchar100) No
filedata mediumtext No
visible smallint(5) No 0
counter smallint(5) No 0
filesize int(10) No 0
postid int(10) No 0
filehash varchar(32) No
posthash varchar(32) No
thumbnail mediumtext No
description varchar(150) No

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by Lore

Looking at the SQL: vb3_attachment, I have the following in order:

attachmentid int(10) No
userid int(10) No 0
dateline int(10) No 0
thumbnail_dateline int(10) No 0
filename varchar100) No
filedata mediumtext No
visible smallint(5) No 0
counter smallint(5) No 0
filesize int(10) No 0
postid int(10) No 0
filehash varchar(32) No
posthash varchar(32) No
thumbnail mediumtext No
description varchar(150) No

huh. You are missing the thumbnail_filesize field.
Wonder where it buggered off to
What version of vB3 are you running and what other hacks have you installed?

Your column order is also different, but I guess that isnt too much of a problem. I assume currently do not have many attachments on your board.

Try adding column thumbnail_filesize int(10) unsigned

[Lore]

Still running version 3.0.1 with all the patches. I've tried a few of the other Article Hacks such as V3 Articles and cings vbArticles. Also running CMPS v1.0.0, ReviewPost, and Links 1.22. Not sure which ones if any messed it up?

I'll insert the field and give it a go!

[Lore]

That did the trick!

Everything seems to be working well with the exception a slight little bug. When I BREAK a page I get a bracketed left showing up on the first page of the published thread at the break followed by /left at the start of the second page?

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by Lore

That did the trick!

Everything seems to be working well with the exception a slight little bug. When I BREAK a page I get a bracketed left showing up on the first page of the published thread at the break followed by /left at the start of the second page?

Must be using a wysiwyg editor on aligned text. Double check by switching to a standard editor.
The text is split using the BREAK code. If that code is put between two code brackets like this:

PHP Code:

[b][BREAK][/b] 


Then the open bracket will appear on one page and the close on the next page. The only wat to prevent this is by not putting BREAK between two tags.

If anyone knows how to automatically open and close BBcode tags that may get orphaned by the splitting process, Id love to hear about it.

[The Geek]

I am still looking for more feedback on the new features (mostly the forumdisplay). I am not 100% sure on the exact look right now (am craving some spacing between threadbits) but I would like some other input.

Maybe I should offer a 'design the new threadbit' contest. The winner gets a cookie.

Hungry?