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

[The Geek]

That wont be it.

The inserted code is not always lined up simply because of the way it replaces it. THe only way around that is to spend a lot more time formatting the insert code with formatting characters which dont really affect the code anyway.

I wish I could help more right now, but being on vacation away from civilization limits me somewhat. what you want to do is double check that your newthread and editpost templates include $GAS_article_options in them. If they do, then you need to check that newthread.php and editpost.php have the correct include change to them (to include the functions file). If they do, then the only other thing is to make sure that your fourmids are correct in your settings. Thats about all there is to it.

Good luck!

Brinnie - I personally love the forum integration. Hence the reason I made it like this. THat way you get search access and forum inheritance so permissions and moderating options are a snap. However - I guess to each their own
You could take a look at cinqs vbarticles. It doesnt tie into vb the same way as this does however it does use the same user base.

HTH?s

[Corriewf]

Originally Posted by The Geek

That wont be it.

The inserted code is not always lined up simply because of the way it replaces it. THe only way around that is to spend a lot more time formatting the insert code with formatting characters which dont really affect the code anyway.

I wish I could help more right now, but being on vacation away from civilization limits me somewhat. what you want to do is double check that your newthread and editpost templates include $GAS_article_options in them. If they do, then you need to check that newthread.php and editpost.php have the correct include change to them (to include the functions file). If they do, then the only other thing is to make sure that your fourmids are correct in your settings. Thats about all there is to it.

Good luck!

Brinnie - I personally love the forum integration. Hence the reason I made it like this. THat way you get search access and forum inheritance so permissions and moderating options are a snap. However - I guess to each their own
You could take a look at cinqs vbarticles. It doesnt tie into vb the same way as this does however it does use the same user base.

HTH?s

I have gone through and reformatted the edits to comply with the current code structure. I am not thinking that its the template code structure maybe. I am clueless now. When you get back from Spain let me know and maybe if your willing to ftp into my site and take a look around. Those other article are not my cup of tea.

Thanks for your help and advice.

[Bacon Butty]

Firstly... AWESOME mod

However, I am having problems when trying to use the "upload image" feature. I get this error when trying to upload an image;

Warning: move_uploaded_file(/gas/images/1/barton.jpg): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /includes/functions_geekarticles_images.php on line 104

Warning: move_uploaded_file(): Unable to move '/tmp/phpkAHY3d' to '/gas/images/1/barton.jpg' in /includes/functions_geekarticles_images.php on line 104

I am clueless as to how to fix it!, please help!.

[cmiller1014]

Would it be possible to load this in a file called articles.php instead of in a forum like it is now? I would like to keep everything flowing the way I have it now (forums.php, chat.php, articles.php. etc) I see this as a major addition, and dont really want it to look like a forum to the users.

[The Geek]

Bacon - it looks like your server path to gas folder is wrong. It needs to be the complete path and not a relative path like /var/www/html/forums/gas/
If I recall correctly, GAS makes a good guess next to the setting itself to try and help you.

cmiller - not really. Once again, I designed this to be seamless and to integrate with the forums. If you want a seperate system and/or file... try vbarticles

[The Geek]

Just a general FYI... GARS for vb3.5 should be ready in the next couple of weeks. There are some significant improvements like:

• A review system. The new review system allows you to pre-define a set of review ratings like: Playability, graphics, sound, fun , etc... then set their value range (i.e. 1-5). The ratings are on a forum by forum basis which will allow you to have differing ratings depending on the forum (or no ratings for articles). This gives you the ability to have multiple review areas and multiple article areas.
• I dont know what to call this yet, but you can also define the ?keyword?for each forum. In otherwords you can have some forums articles and some tutorials and some game reviews and some movie reviews.
• You will be able to edit GALS (if applicible) and posted as user names when you edit (right now they are one offs).
• The coment previews are now seperate from the article posbit which allows a more intuitive editing ability.
• You can define which templates are used where on a forum by forum basis which gives you more flexability when cusomtizing templates
• You can use condensed or full postbits
• It will make your bed in the morning.

Anyhooo.... Fingers crossed it should only be a couple of weeks away (even if its only a beta). I am working on a workaround for the hook problem (that being the lack of them where I need them). If all goes well there shouldnt be any file edits (though with my installs that is never really a problem now is it )

[kafi]

Originally Posted by The Geek

Kafi - Im pretty sure that can be done based on your forum permissions (ie user can delete thread, edit thread, etc...). Categories are easily accomplished by using sub forums.

Ok I tried it but is not working, because if i want user to be owner of his thread (article thread), than I have to give him moderator competence, but that will give it to him over all forum where article is placed.
There is no way I can give article writer to moderate comments on his article (edit or delet others users posts). Or is there?

[Bacon Butty]

Originally Posted by The Geek

Bacon - it looks like your server path to gas folder is wrong. It needs to be the complete path and not a relative path like /var/www/html/forums/gas/
If I recall correctly, GAS makes a good guess next to the setting itself to try and help you.

I tried guess GAS makes aswell as a whole load of other (trial and error) but none worked. So i just unistalled and installed again and it works fine

I now have another minor problem, I dont know whether this is common or not but I have a bbcode problem.

Click here to see what I mean :ermm:

[sketch42]

Originally Posted by Bacon Butty

I tried guess GAS makes aswell as a whole load of other (trial and error) but none worked. So i just unistalled and installed again and it works fine

I now have another minor problem, I dont know whether this is common or not but I have a bbcode problem.

Click here to see what I mean :ermm:

is it possible to remove the New Article button based on the users permision.. i.e can post new article they see it cant post new article its gone ??

[Corriewf]

Originally Posted by sketch42

is it possible to remove the New Article button based on the users permision.. i.e can post new article they see it cant post new article its gone ??

Just edit the forum permissions.