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

[tpr]

Hi,
any chances a beta version of the new gas system be released in the next couple of days ?
don't wana annoy just need to know what to do with my site

thanks

[The Geek]

chances are pretty slim to none for this weekend. Mrs Geek is forcing me to get the user management features of my ad system done this weekend so I can start selling ad space on my site.

sorry but I can only do so much and she has supported my extending coding habits so far

[tpr]

Heh
no problems and thanks for the quick replay.
good luck with the ad system.

[Mithan]

I have a few questions that I couldn't really find the answer to earlier (sorry, but there are 37 pages )

Questions:

1. I ran the Installer and it ran fine, however it did not edit any of the files, even after it said it DID edit the files. The replacement files were all added to the /gas/ directory and such. Either way, I had to manually edit all the files to get them to work. Should I have CHMOD'ed all the files that were going to be changed?
2. What is meant by "edit the PHRASES" stuff? Use PHPMyAdmin to just find the table and edit them there? I ended up just running that part of the Install file again and it started working.
3. Is there a vBAdvanced Module for this that enables the articles to appear in the News on the front page, using the look they have when they appear in the forum table?

I appreciate anybody taking the time to answer these questions and I greatly appreciate the Author making this in the first place, as this is a great tool for sites.

[sketch42]

Originally Posted by Mithan

Questions:

1) I ran the Installer and it ran fine, however it did not edit any of the files, even after it said it DID edit the files. The replacement files were all added to the /gas/ directory and such. Either way, I had to manually edit all the files to get them to work. Should I have CHMOD'ed all the files that were going to be changed?

all the replacement files are located in your GAS folder
forum/gas/changes
all you needed to do was move the files in the changes folder to their appropriate locations and overwrite the existing ones..

Originally Posted by Mithan

2) What is meant by "edit the PHRASES" stuff? Use PHPMyAdmin to just find the table and edit them there? I ended up just running that part of the Install file again and it started working.

this is just in the instructions in case you dont see the option in the admincp and such
what its saying to do is goto your Admincp and goto Languages and Phrases and search for any phrase that has the word gas_ in it and press edit and save it it so all the phrases will appear..

Originally Posted by Mithan

3) Is there a vBAdvanced Module for this that enables the articles to appear in the News on the front page, using the look they have when they appear in the forum table?

I appreciate anybody taking the time to answer these questions and I greatly appreciate the Author making this in the first place, as this is a great tool for sites.

i dunno bout this one as i dont use vBAdvanced or any other portal software

[TPCComOld]

Could you please goto http://www.tpcsdl.com/geek/ and tell my webmaster why we are getting 2 warnings and a fatal error when he clicks install for the Geek Article System?

Thanks in advanced. :ermm:

[sketch42]

Originally Posted by TPCCom

Could you please goto http://www.tpcsdl.com/geek/ and tell my webmaster why we are getting 2 warnings and a fatal error when he clicks install for the Geek Article System?

Thanks in advanced. :ermm:

ummm all i see in the link you provided were the files contained in the zip he needs to follow the Readme and follow the installation instructions.. you cant just unzip the files an upload everything to a folder called geek and expect things to work

[TPCComOld]

Originally Posted by sketch42

ummm all i see in the link you provided were the files contained in the zip he needs to follow the Readme and follow the installation instructions.. you cant just unzip the files an upload everything to a folder called geek and expect things to work

Sketch42 I think my webmaster realizes the obvious that you pointed out. The 2 warnings and the fatal error messages come when he clicks the install. So how about going back, or anyone for that matter, to http://www.tpcsdl.com/geek/ then clicking on the install.php file and looking at the error and warning messages and then offering your advice please. Thanks

[SamirDarji]

Well, for starters, I don't think the files are in the right directory. Second, if they don't know that or couldn't figure it out, they probably don't need to be hacking a vb forum.

[sketch42]

Originally Posted by TPCCom

Sketch42 I think my webmaster realizes the obvious that you pointed out. The 2 warnings and the fatal error messages come when he clicks the install. So how about going back, or anyone for that matter, to http://www.tpcsdl.com/geek/ then clicking on the install.php file and looking at the error and warning messages and then offering your advice please. Thanks

You truly are an idiot.. YOU need to read the README.html file that clearly states

Copy the files included with this package into their corresponding folders
Run the /admincp/gas3_install.php file and follow it through. This will install phrases, settings, DB changes and templates needed.

What this means is, and ill speak sloooooooowly foooor you .
is that you need to upload all the files in specific directories.
i.e the gas3_install.php shoul be uploaded to the admincp folder on the server and than you need to goto www.mySite.com/forums/admincp/gas3_install.php and follow the installation instructions there

Originally Posted by SamirDarji

if they don't know that or couldn't figure it out, they probably don't need to be hacking a vb forum.

Exactly