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

[Razz]

Originally Posted by spence2

I would not have a use for this either. I love the ability to rate the article and wouldn't want to confuse what was being rated ... article or "product". I love the simplicity of the showthread and would hope it won't get crowded.

Of course, if it's an add-on that won't display unless we enable it, why not?

If as suggested it was a toggle between reviews/articles there would be no confusion as the article rating would not show in reviews and vice versa.

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by Razz

I've come across another problem when using page breaks ([BREAK] in my case), on a new article I just added, the ratings do not show on any page except for the last.

If I remove the page breaks so it's a single page, it returns.

Do any special characters used in articles cause problems?

Hey Razz... Ill look into it. I think there was a potential minor bug with showing the ratings that I have fixed for the next version. Ill have to double check.

[Razz]

Originally Posted by The Geek

Hey Razz... Ill look into it. I think there was a potential minor bug with showing the ratings that I have fixed for the next version. Ill have to double check.

Thanks

btw, I don't know if this is by design but the comment buttons only show on last page of the article, could this be changed to every page?

[KTBleeding]

There was something I noticed with page breaks as well. I don't use them yet, but when I had the break set as "[BREAK]" and if I would type just the word "Break" in the article (without the brackets) it would capitolize the word "break"

For example:
I have the page break set to [BREAK].
I typed "breakdown" in a review, and it changed to "BREAKdown".

Just thought I'd let you know. I fixed it by simply changing [BREAK] to [PAGEBREAK].

[rlamego]

Razz, the comment button was moved to the last page after a long discussion where it was pointed out that allowing people to comment before reading the whole article is not a good thing. There was an option to show them on every page but I believe it was removed.

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by rlamego

Razz, the comment button was moved to the last page after a long discussion where it was pointed out that allowing people to comment before reading the whole article is not a good thing. There was an option to show them on every page but I believe it was removed.

Yeas rlamego is right. I kind of agree. May not hurt as an option... Ill see what I can do.

Bleeding. Thanks for bringing that to my atetntion... Ill get on it

[Blam Forumz]

how about after a certain ammount of characters / lines it automatically inserts a page break? and has a little Continue... link in the bottom right of the article like in that other article system which is floating around somewhere :/

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by Blam Forumz

how about after a certain ammount of characters / lines it automatically inserts a page break? and has a little Continue... link in the bottom right of the article like in that other article system which is floating around somewhere :/

I think that its best to leave that in the hands of the user. Character breaks would cut article pages into something illegible and line breaks could do the same IMO.

[Blam Forumz]

fair enough ??

How about a seperate page system, where the user has the opportunity to edit every single page by itself? and maybe a bigger editor box?

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by Blam Forumz

fair enough ??

How about a seperate page system, where the user has the opportunity to edit every single page by itself? and maybe a bigger editor box?

Did that for the first design of the system.

To write articles, it was a bit more intuitive IMO, but I dont think it really worked out in the long run. It became logistically very difficult to do.

Just out of curiosity... Why do you dislike the [BREAK] system?

BTW: Thanks for your support on HOTM. Im a bit miffed about what happened though. Hopefully it will get resolved - but Im not turning blue holding my breath!