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

[waternut]

i am currently testing out the beta version of my site on www.salespodium.com.

i seem to have some problem with my welcome box (rendered by vbadv cmps) after i install GAS353. now my beta users cannot log out and on the NavBar, the log out links is also gone.

hmm...

anyone can help with some advice/suggestions on how to remedy this problem?

-waternut

[The Geek]

It looks like you have installed vbaCMPS for vb3.5 on a 3.08 board. I would assume thats your problem. GAS doenst go anywhere near vba CMPS and vice a versa.

HTH's!

Detomah - Cheers for the kudos. Next version makes this one look pants

[Trana]

Is it me, or is the site www.thevbgeek.com down?

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by Trana

Is it me, or is the site www.thevbgeek.com down?

Alive and kicking here. Been on and off all day and it hasnt so much as blinked

[Trana]

I am getting the following error message when trying to access the forums:

There seems to have been a problem with the The vB Geek database.
Please try again by clicking the Refresh button in your web browser.

An E-Mail has been dispatched to our Technical Staff, who you can also contact if the problem persists.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

[The Geek]

seems fine from here. Right after I posted before, I went and upgraded the site to RC3 so you may have caught the tail end of it.

Regardless - seems to work a peach from here

[Clayton]

Hi Geek

any plans for there being an ability for an image to be included in the article and the text to wrap round the image according to 'align right', please?

If it does so already, then apologies for question

Thanks

GB

[TheMusicMan]

Hi Geek

When I run the Installer I get many errors, the first page of them looks like this; (this is the actual first one)

There are many more... any advice please.

Warning: fopen(gas/changes/index.htm): failed to open stream: Permission denied in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 2928

In an attempt to fix this I ChMod /gas to 777 to no avail...

[claimbuddy]

Got an error on the install page following the link that creates or verifies file structure telling me it could not find the root directory gas

1) Since I had forgotten to chmod the directory, I chmod the gas directory and index page, clicked the back button twice to take me back to the page with the link to create or verify file structure, clicked the link again, and, still got the error message

2) I verified the folder is there httpdocs/forums/gas/

[B]Could it be issue with my naming "forum" directory "forums"?[/B]

3) I tried going to the next step and got the following errors

moving showthread to gas/changes

Warning: copy(gas/changes/showthread.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3013
moving showthread to gas/changes/backup

Warning: copy(gas/changes/backup/showthread.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3019
moving forumdisplay to gas/changes

Warning: copy(gas/changes/forumdisplay.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3013
moving forumdisplay to gas/changes/backup

Warning: copy(gas/changes/backup/forumdisplay.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3019
moving printthread to gas/changes

Warning: copy(gas/changes/printthread.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3013
moving printthread to gas/changes/backup

Warning: copy(gas/changes/backup/printthread.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3019
moving editpost to gas/changes

Warning: copy(gas/changes/editpost.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3013
moving editpost to gas/changes/backup

Warning: copy(gas/changes/backup/editpost.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3019
moving newthread to gas/changes

Warning: copy(gas/changes/newthread.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3013
moving newthread to gas/changes/backup

Warning: copy(gas/changes/backup/newthread.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3019
moving functions_showthread to gas/changesincludes/

Warning: copy(gas/changes/includes/functions_showthread.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3013
moving functions_showthread to gas/changes/backupincludes/

Warning: copy(gas/changes/backup/includes/functions_showthread.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3019
moving index to gas/changesadmincp/

Warning: copy(gas/changes/admincp/index.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /admincp/gas3_install.php on line 3013
moving index to gas/changes/backupadmincp/

Warning: copy(gas/changes/backup/admincp/index.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /admincp/gas3_install.php on l

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Waiting to here suggested next step

Thanks

[Sleazy]

Does the upgrade to 3.0.9 affect this mod at all? I had it running fine on 3.0.8 but when I upgraded it doesn't seem to work anymore, anyone else have this problem?