NNTP Gateway for Usenet ( Newsgroups ), Mailing Lists

The latest version: V3.5.0Alpha 1 (21 Jul 2005)

What is it?

This hack provides a gateway from vBulletin forums to the USENET. It allows forum members to read newsgroup messages as well as to send posts to the newsgroups. In a nutshell, it turns vBulletin forums into a basic function news reader.

For an added bonus, this package also supports mailing list archive and forum to mailing list gateway. The software retrieves messages from a pop3 account and import them into the forums threaded. It also allows a forums user to send messages to the mailing list by the forum posting interface.

Why?

The gateway will be appreciated by forum members who do not know how to set up a news reader, or people who do not have port 119 open in their network. A forum interface to read and post news are often considered to be better than a news reader.

The gateway adds more contents to your forums and allows the members to interact with wider audience. It is common to see new users signing up to use this feature.

History

This hack was originally coded by Gilby for vB2. I modified the hack to work with vB3 and have been maintaining and improving the hack. I have now done the modification for this to work with vB3.5.

The very original hack by Gilby can be found here:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...7&page=1&pp=15

The vB3 version can be found here:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=65152

Features

Some of the features and improvement include:

• Handles both newsgroup posts and mailing lists.
• Handles MIME encoded messages and attachment.
• Handles UUEncoded messages.
• Two Admin Control Panels for all settings.
• Automated installation.
• Correct thread implementation. All imported messages and posts sent to newsgroups will be threaded correctly according to References and Message-ID headers.
• Optional setting to thread by subject for mailing lists that strip references header.
• Imported messages will be searchable just like normal forum posts.
• Similar threads are built when the messages are imported if the system setting is on.
• Multiple attachments importing.
• Save attachment to database or file according to vB setting.
• Thumbnail created while importing image files.
• Multiple attachment post to newsgroup is also supported.
• Selectable X-No-Archive header honouring system.
• Light on system resources.
• Global Killfile to filter out unwanted messages. Killfiles can have OR and AND effectiveness.
• Strip footer by setting for incoming messages. Strips out repeated message footers.
• Built options to disable signatures and footers for out going messages.

Future development

• Traditional "> " lead posting interface.

What do you need and do not need?

You do not need to edit vB php files.
No need to manually run SQL.

Installation

Basically the AdminCP interfaces take care of installation as well as upgrade in the background. Back up your database first. The scripts can modify your database without alerting you!

Please follow the instructions in the readme.txt file for more details.

It is not a must to click "INSTALL" for this hack if you use it, I do try better answering the questions from people who do.

Support

Please post your support questions to this thread. Please check the FAQ in the second post within this thread first. It may be surprising, but it is possible your question is answered in the adminCP NNTP settings.

Please always provide more details about your problem. Examples and debug messages will certainly help. Well, if you don't even try to have some effort to compose your question, the answer you get may also not include much effort.

================== UPDATES ======================
Jul 21 2005 (release version 3.5.0 Alpha 1)

AdminCP xml file is written by Kadence.

• Ported to work with vB3.5.
• Existing bug fixes.
• Debug message can be sent by email or logged in vB Tast Scheduler.
• Known problem: image attachment thumb nail creation still needs work.
• Needs to be done: Documentation.

Quick installation instruction:
1) Upload files to their correct directory
2) Enter AdminCP, click on NNTP Settings once to install/upgrade. Change settings to your like.
3) Click on NNTP Groups once to install/upgrade.
3a) For new install. Run once
http://www.yourdomain.com/setlastmsg.php

Delete this file afterwards.
If you are upgrading from an older version. There is no need to upload this file. Actually this file should not be there except brand new install.

4)
Manually run in debug mode: http://forums.yourdomain.com/gateway.php?debug=1

[oldengine]

OK, I'm picking up on this. I set up my outlook express to have a look at the same provider and group and I found the header Xref: pubnews.domain.net uk.rec.my.newsgroup:22623 for the message prior to what I want to start with. So all I need to do is insert that number in my Newsgroups Maintenance Last Message Number.

This may be redundant for a lot of you, but I'l bet there are plenty of newbies too.

Apparently the read only service I was using either took a break, dumped my newsgroup or dumped me. So on to the next one from www.newzbot.com or go with astraweb as recommended.

[Marv]

Hi lierduh,

since your add-on worked like a charme in 3.0.x I upgraded to 3.5 and installed it again. Now the board was running the last weeks - but one thing was left to do. I totaly forgot about that issue - until a whole bunch of original usenet-posters flooded my mailbox with complaints, why the heck we?ld provide a gateway when posts are not sorted in the right way (by reference).
First I was wondering - then I remembered the Advanced Hacking Guide and the problem with the big reply button. The modification-notes are for 3.0.x and can not be used in 3.5 because of the widespreaded code changes.

I believe I asked for an update of that AHG a couple of weeks ago and so far as I can see there was no response to my last post.

lierduh, could you be so kind to release a new version of this AHG asap? I?m in really big trouble with those usenet-people and in the meantime my usenet-provider adviced me to disable this gateway immediatly until it is completly fixed. Looks like the usenet-people had written a couple of complaints..

If you?ld not be able to provide us with a new version atm (I?m aware that life is more then just coding and internet ), would you give permission to others to release the needed changes ? If so I would like to ask the coders in here, wether someone already has a solution for this particular problem or would be willing to give it a try.

Any help appreciated !

[lierduh]

There are quite a few things I need do with this hack. I have been quite busy with things. I have not checked how much will be involved with the AHG. Due to the situation you are in, I would advice you to remove the Quick Reply button temporarity from all the forums. You should be able to do this by altering the template. You have my permission if someone is willing to make the changes.

[lierduh]

Originally Posted by Atsuko

Hello!

My bord is in Japanese, and using S_JIS encoding,
and I can use original vbllutein,
but can not your module.

Would you please give advice for using this module in Japanese?

Unfortunately I am not sure what is causing your problem. Probably due to double byte characters. There are quite a few other things I need to address first. So Japanese support won't be something near the top of the list.

[lierduh]

Originally Posted by twin

Hallo,
I have two questions:
1. is it possible to set this plugin to autorefrash the newsgroup becouse now I have to load gateway script to update latest posts from newsgroup.
2. Is it possible to set small message e.g "This message was send from MyDomains.com" when people are sending a messeges to the newsgroup from my forum.

Hope you understand my poor english

You will find the anwers by going through the settings and readme.

[Atsuko]

Originally Posted by lierduh

Unfortunately I am not sure what is causing your problem. Probably due to double byte characters. There are quite a few other things I need to address first. So Japanese support won't be something near the top of the list.

Thank you for yor reply.
I think it will be wonderful that I can use your hack.
I will check and try by myself.

[mp3dreaming]

Originally Posted by dodgez

http://gt500forums.com/testvb/index.php

There seems to have been a problem with the 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.

heheheh...ooops

[chrispadfield]

Wow, great hack - havn't used this for a long time but wanted to try again. Unfortunatly I am having two problems:

a) The first time I ran it I got this mySQL error:

UPDATE nntp_settings
SET value = WHERE varname = 'last_postid';

b) Although threads are being imported into the database, they are not showing up in the actual forum. They do however exist, ie I can enter a direct link to showthread and they appear in a search. The forum however is empty (says Threads 0, posts 0).

Any suggestions?

[chrispadfield]

Originally Posted by chrispadfield

Wow, great hack - havn't used this for a long time but wanted to try again. Unfortunatly I am having two problems:

a) The first time I ran it I got this mySQL error:

UPDATE nntp_settings
SET value = WHERE varname = 'last_postid';

b) Although threads are being imported into the database, they are not showing up in the actual forum. They do however exist, ie I can enter a direct link to showthread and they appear in a search. The forum however is empty (says Threads 0, posts 0).

Any suggestions?

Ok, upon further investigation:

- The mySQL is real and is causing problems. I assume it is also why the counts in the forums are not being updated because this stops the processing.

- I was wrong about the threads appearing in the forum, i was looking at the wrong one.

There is however an error. Perhaps 3.5.1 made a difference here? I am trying to find the error now.

[chrispadfield]

This code change (an ugly hack, but i was trying to be quick) fixed it:

	if ($get_max_postid['postid'] < 1) {
		$get_max_postid['postid'] = 0;
	}
	$db->query("UPDATE " . TABLE_PREFIX . "nntp_settings
		SET value = " . $get_max_postid['postid'] .
		" WHERE varname = 'last_postid'
	");