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

[shiva]

Well, first off, this looks incredable, though I have to admit, the amount of changes needed has scared me off a bit, but as I look at this, I am getting braver every day.

I can see this as idea for a help guide system, with multiple pages, one for each topic. Is there a way for a built in Page Jump type listing, say create a "subtitle" after each break, and have it displayed on the side as a link title, as opposed to just the page numbers at the bottom? That way we could use this for say manuals, FAQ's, and other things where a link with a topic title would be more helpful than a number.

By the way, couldn't we use this idea as a BBcode thing? have a icon set up, that adds the break, and pulls up a text box for a "subtitle"? just a thought, but not very good when it comes to coding etc.

Still, I can see the huge future potential of this script, and the fact it changes the entire appearance of the forum into something a lot better looking is simply awe inspiring. I like the new Forumhome look as well BTW.

[rlamego]

Originally Posted by shiva

Well, first off, this looks incredable, though I have to admit, the amount of changes needed has scared me off a bit, but as I look at this, I am getting braver every day.

If you were scared by the amount of changes needed, you should have a look at the installation instructions of vbJournal =)

As for the rest, something along those lines as already been proposed but seems it involved major modifications that didn't follow the KISS rule (although I'm not quite sure that was the reason why). Anyway, you can do that by hand.
Write an article, insert the page breaks, begin each "page" with a "subtitle" and submit it. Then browse your article, copy each page url and create the links with [ URL ] bbtags at the end of each page.

[shiva]

Hmm, can understand that, shame, as I could see it handleing say 100 pages (by the time my members get through with it.)
Be simplier then to split that into seperate threads completely. Thanks.

[The Geek]

Hey Shiva - Thanks for the compliment.

I agree that the file changes may occasionally put a couple of people off even though they only seem a lot because of the amount of text that is inserted. The reason for all the text was to make uninstalling or upgrading a piece of cake
I have worked very hard for the next version to have less file edits and less text to change. Most of the GAS code is moved into external files with simple function calls to make file changes much lighter.

As for the change you are putting forward - If I understand you right, you are wanting each page of an article to be a named link? Like a TOC? Or are you suggesting a named link to the next page?

This can make a slight change in the 'doability' of the request. Regardlessly - Ricardo is right. It does start to make things slightly more complex than it needs to be. This came up during beta testing gas3 and the conclusion was that if a named link to the next page (or anypage) is required - just create a url to jump to it).

Then again - I may be misunderstanding what you are envisioning for the use of Gas3.

nJoy

[The Geek]

Just a note to say that its working perfectly fine with latest vb3 release of the week (3.07) though I had to reinstall phrases. Thankfully its one click with the installer.

[Breaker]

i realised that i had used v3Articles in the past, so tested the import thing... worked like charm

[shiva]

TOC actually. I know it may be tough though, it's VB and not some proper system made for it after all. If you ever figure out a basic system even, that would be cool, even like the present FAQ system used in VB.

[dookie]

Originally Posted by The Geek

Just a note to say that its working perfectly fine with latest vb3 release of the week (3.07) though I had to reinstall phrases. Thankfully its one click with the installer.

All the templates are gone too.
Isn?t there a better way?

[The Geek]

For some unknown reason, upgrading vb frequently wipes out random custom installed templates. This is the case with many other hacks too (my vba installations always go screwy any time I upgrade vb).

Thats why in the install file, you can install templates/phrases only.

I have actually decided to postpone the next release a tad. I am redoing my installers to make all file modifications automatically. That way upgrading vb and the Geek hacks will be a bit o cake

[Blam Forumz]

all the file mods automatically? :| Could you give us options whether we want to do that or not, because we may have hacks which could interfere with that=\