Custom Avatars as Files (updated for vBulletin 2.2.2)

Updated for vBulletin 2.2.2, 5th February 2002

Since there has been so much demand for this, I wrote a hack that will allow you to store all your custom avatars as files, rather than in the mySQL database.



Doing this will have the following benefits:

• Avatars folder can be protected by .htaccess (Apache only) to prevent bandwidth stealing
• No SQL queries or PHP code required to display custom avatars - server load decreases
• No cacheing issues with Internet Explorer 5.5, so server bandwidth use should decrease

The install script will make the necessary modifications to your database, install a control panel option to switch the file-based avatars on, and convert your existing custom avatars from the database into files.

All avatar options that are present when using the standard mySQL avatar system are still present, and users will not notice a difference in the interface.

Full instructions for altering your PHP files are included in the zip file.

Once you have made the necessary modifications to the PHP scripts, you should run the enclosed install_favatar.php script from your admin/ folder.

[eva2000]

thanks Bira

[Dark Blaze]

Great Hack Kier, congrats

[Dark Blaze]

Also, thanks Bira for making this hack available for 2.2.1 version forums

[SirSteve]

What happens to the current custom avatars my members are using if I install this hack?

[bira]

Originally posted by SirSteve
What happens to the current custom avatars my members are using if I install this hack?

If you follow the hack's installation instructions accurately and run the script, the avatars will be converted to gif files. From the user standpoint, he will see absolutely no difference: his custom avatar will continue to show up as normal. The only difference is that instead of it being <img src="avatar.php?userid=xxx"> it will be <img src="custom_avatars/xxx.gif"> (or something like that)

[DarkReaper]

For those interested, I rewrote Kier(I think? maybe it was tubedogg...)'s version of the hack to 2.2.1. It works on mine just like the old one did. If you're interested, I could write up the code changes and post them...

[bira]

DarkReaper, I think that's what I did some 6 or so posts up

[SirSteve]

So you still change private.php and announcement.php? I don't have this code in mine:

if ($post[hascustomavatar] and $avatarenabled) {
$avatarurl="avatar.php?s=$session[sessionhash]&userid=$post[userid]";

[bira]

SirSteve, the respective code in those two files would be:

PHP Code:

    if ($post[hascustomavatar] and $avatarenabled) {
      $avatarurl="avatar.php?userid=$post[userid]&dateline=$post[avatardateline]"; 


[Lesane]

Does this hack work in 2.0.3?