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

[sketch42]

Originally Posted by corriewf

Just edit the forum permissions.

regardless of editing the permissions the images always show.

[TheMusicMan]

Sorry, I posted this in the Geek lite thread... sorry Mods...!!! Can you delete the other one please.

When I try to upload any new articles I get the following error...

Invalid File Specified

Any ideas...?

[fribs]

Thanks Geek, this is really cool.

How would I go about adding a few more fields?

What do I edit to display the synopsis field in showthread?

Is this as simple as creating new entries in the geek_articles table and duplicating the code that puts and pulls the entries in a few php files (and the code for showing/hiding the field in admincp)? I'm willing to devote a day to this but I would hate to see it turn into a week. I will also gladly post the end result for everyone else once I get it done but I could save a lot of time by being pointed to the right files and given a few words of direction. I'm still learning so it's rather slow going with W3Schools open on one monitor and textpad on another.

[The Geek]

Kafi - you are correct. The only way to give someone the ability to edit comments left by others is via hacking or via making them a moderator.

Bacon - Thats a bbcode relic that occurs via the auto synopsis function. What you CAN do to work around it is edit the functions_geekarticles.php file and look for the first function (think its called prep_for_broken_tags). In that function you will find an array of codes liek [url and such. What you need to do is enter a new one for [size= and it will get rid of it. Sorry I cant be of more help... Im still on Holiday BTW: the next version will have an admincp page for this.

Sketch42: It just follows the same flow as the new Thread button. However I am sure with a template mod this can easily be done... However I couldnt tell you off hand as I dont have any of the code with me.

Musicman - Tough to say... looks to me like you have missed uploading some files. Is it when creating a new article or when uploading an image header? I would download the package and reupload the files.

Fribs. Basically - yes. However this really depends on what you are adding and what it is for. In function_geekarticles are the fetching,inserting and updating functions so tecnically you only need to add more fields, change the sql in those functions accordingly and then your editpost and newthread fields to pass and catch the fields. However I couldnt really give you too much of a hand with this as I previously mentioned Im away on vacation. I couldnt think it would take you more than a few hours tops depending on your level of expertise.

HTH?s

[kafi]

Originally Posted by The Geek

Kafi - you are correct. The only way to give someone the ability to edit comments left by others is via hacking or via making them a moderator.

Can you suggest something that has this feature? I want this for users. Should be used as mix of blog and article system.

Thanks

[The Geek]

Sorry mate, not sure of anything like that. It could really open a can of worms to give the ability of any thread starter to edit anyone elses comments!

Sorry I cant be of more assistance

[redspider]

I got this one finily working and happy with it
my first test article if some one want to see how this look .

Geek thank you.

[fribs]

Originally Posted by The Geek

Fribs. Basically - yes. However this really depends on what you are adding and what it is for. In function_geekarticles are the fetching,inserting and updating functions so tecnically you only need to add more fields, change the sql in those functions accordingly and then your editpost and newthread fields to pass and catch the fields. However I couldnt really give you too much of a hand with this as I previously mentioned Im away on vacation. I couldnt think it would take you more than a few hours tops depending on your level of expertise.

HTH?s

Thank you for the direction, it helped a lot.

I'm adding new fields so I can use this as a form for many different kinds of posts. I can have several fields for the user to fill out when they post and I can use several of those fields in showthread or forumdisplay pages depending on the function of that particular forum. I wanted to modify your program rather than go with erwin's form hack because it handles attachments, bbcode, smilies, indexes the post and has a cool thumbnail that can be used in the forumdisplay pages. The only thing that is unfortunate is that the additional fields do not get indexed, but I can work around that so long as the body does.

I have made the modifications, it took me about 6 hours (I am very new to scripting languages). I basically did a lot of copying and pasting and added 4 more fields then duplicated the admincp synopsis options for each one in the admincp geekarticles settings menu. (Max number of characters to show in forumdisplay and the option to turn each on or off.) I am using conditionals in the GAS_articles_options template so I can use a different incarnation of this in several forums. I have also removed the option to enter the username. I didn't like that if you mistyped it and hit submit you would loose everything you typed that is not in the title or the body on the resulting screen. It seems to work ok, can you see this causing any problems?

I have modified functions_geekarticles.php, newthread.php, editpost.php, GAS_admin.php, and two templates to get it working but it appears solid.

1 Question: In

functions_geekarticles.php in this function:
function insert_new_article($threadid, $byline, $synopsis='',$oldiconpath='',$newiconpath='',$movedicon=0,$featuretill=0)

I added the custom fields ($custom1-4) before the $featuretill=0 because it was empty and the script kept thinking the value for $custom1 was $featuretill if that makes sense. (Still learning how to communicate this stuff too.) Will this screw something up on the occasion that $featuretill holds a value or is this ok?

Anyway, thanks for the help Geek, and enjoy your vacation. I'm suprised you're checking in here so often, when I go on vacation no one hears anything from me until I'm back for at least a few days.

Later,

Fribs

[The Geek]

GAS3.5x doesnt use featuretill so it shouldnt be much of a problem though technically it would be better to put it AFTER the featuretill parameter (You just need to make sure that a 0 is passed whenever that function is called).

On another note (and the reason I popped in):

Right now, the article pages are hooked into the page navigation at the top and bottom of every page.
Does anyone object to the new version using a form of bbode that does something like this instead:
[break] transaltes into Next page (1 of 5 pages)
and
[break=On to the next page!] translates into On to the next page! (1 of 5 pages).

Just wondering. I know a few were partial to this kind of system. The amount of work required to do it the old way is a right pain.
Also, anyone object to not having control of how many comments per page? essentially, page 1 will be the article and first 14 (by default) comments, each subsequent page will have 15 comments and a preview of the article (which should avoid the comlpaints about people jumping to the last comment but not seeing the article itself).

Hope this make sense. Off to go code by the pool.

[banuchi2]

Could I install this with vBulletin Version 3.5.0 Release Candidate 1?