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

[apfparadise]

OK, just installed, using 3.04. It installed fine, all the Chmod is done, all the files moved, the printthread thing was the only error, fixed it using the advice above (thanks), BUT....

NOTHING is happening. there is no tab for it in Admincp, and nothing else.

Edit: Just noticed a tab, but the tab is empty, and the menu pulls down and all the options are empty. Weird.

Am I missing something? What's wrong?

[The Geek]

rebuild your phrases by editing ANY phrase and saving it.

HTH's

(please click install!)

[hotwheels]

When done, go into your admncp, and adjust your settings

i am having the same issue....my phrases are there, my templates are there, but yet i don't see any area at all on my site where to start building articles. I must be missing something here. One error that i am getting is something about a file, gas/changes/31-351 something like that......hate to be a pain, but i would really like to try this program. Anyone have any suggestions?
I also had to manually install alot of the file's do to the above error, and still nothing.....thanks, hotwheels

[hotwheels]

Hey the geek, would you happen to have this without the installer? I just can't get it to work, no matter what i do. I just went ahead and removed it and fixed all of my php file's back to original.

thanks, hotwheels

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by hotwheels

Hey the geek, would you happen to have this without the installer? I just can't get it to work, no matter what i do. I just went ahead and removed it and fixed all of my php file's back to original.

thanks, hotwheels

It wont work without the installer.

[hotwheels]

well that really sucks...........dang it, thanks anyways...........my search continues'.......

[The Geek]

Can I ask as to why you want it without the installer anyway?

A - its totally automated (unless it cant make the change - then you manually do that step)
B - You can bypass the auto file changer by clicking manul install and it takes you step by step through the file changes (though I would rather gouge my right eyeball out with a fork than make manual file changes... its a pain!).

[hotwheels]

i made all of the changes by hand (manually) and i still couldn't get the program to work....i am assuming i am in safe mode when i try ftp'ing the file's up to my database.........In my template's and phrases, it show's everything is there, i filled in all of the required php change's and still nothing........i am not very good at adding hack's with installer's cause i have problem's linking my directories......usually if there is a step by step manual, i can usually get the file to work........but this one has me stunned.......
I just went and undid all of the file changes, got rid of the templates' and the phrases' and the gas3_ stuff.......not sure what went wrong.

[hotwheels]

does that gas file itself, go into my forum's database? i think that seem's to be the biggest issue i am having. I can get the installer to run, but then it show's me all these error's...gas/changes/31-351 something like that.........and i just can't get it to take for some reason.....suck's too, from the rave's about your program, it sound's like something my site could use......

thanks, hotwheels

[The Geek]

You've got to be more specific on the errors for me to get a better idea.
From what I can guess, there are errors either copying the files GAS needs into gas/changes ... or there are problems making the file changes themselves (usually a result of previous modifications)

GAS copys all files that need changes to gas/changes and then tries to change them. Regardless if it was a goer or not, the files remain in gas/changes for you to manually move over after completion (a safety feature). Many people dont read the readme and leave the files there wondering why nothings working.
Another semi- common problem is that GAS cant copy the needed files into gas/changes. Not quite sure why, but its rare and an easy workaround.
Once you do the first step (creating file structure) and then the second (copying needed files) double check that the files are indeed in gas/changes
If not, then manually copy the files over before you go onto the final step. That always does the trick. The needed files (and this process) is outlined in the readme.

HTH's