Links and Files Database

The VB3.0 version is no longer supported although there have been no reported problems for some time

See here for the VB 3.6 version of this hack, which is now the supported version. This version currently also works with VB 3.5
See here for the VB 3.5 thread for this hack.

What's new in v1.60?

Option to display associated thumbnail images
Option to accept/not accept new entries if these already exists in database
Code for mass edits (accessed via admincp) tidied up
VB phrasing completed
Includes a full French and a partial German translation (thanks to cclaerhout, Allan and LeeWicKeD), handled properly by installation script.
Various bugs fixed and tested against php4 and php5:
Better database validation (on startup/in admincp: links with invalid associated forumids, categories with invalid parentids)
Alternative linkbit templates provided (default uses a fieldset, the other is the old-style table row)
Alternative category selection templates (pull down menu/list of checkboxes),
Star rating displayed using standard VB stars rather than in text form
Series of minor bug fixes
See file change.txt in zip file

What it is/does

- Provides a searchable database of weblinks and/or downloadable files, for example manuals, music files, pictures, etc.
- Integrates within VBulletin, without requiring any code changes.
- Transparently handles links and file downloads. (If you want to provide downloads from your own site, you need a separate tool to upload these files. This hack does not and will not include a file uploader.)
- Provides unlimited nested categories.
- Each link/file can be a member of multiple categories.
- Link and category title and descriptions can use all BBCODEs, giving the possibility to add images, colouring, etc, as you wish
- Viewing/access permissions controlled using VBulletin forum system
- Users can rate links, in a similar manner to VB thread rating.
- File downloads are semi-leechproof, i.e. the user does not see where the file is stored and can only access the link if she has access to the associated forum.
- Audio files playable via Windows Media Player can be offered as a jukebox .
- Tracks who downloads what
- Validates links on entry/editing, and provides admin facility to validate the entire database.

Installation/upgrading instructions

Read instructions.txt in the zip file. Installation script works out whether to install or upgrade.

To upgrade from an earlier release of this hack, simply re-run the installation script. If you modified the templates in the top styles, you will lose these modifications unless you back up and re-edit.

PLEASE BACK UP YOUR DATABASE

See also

For screen shots, see attachments.

Tested with

VBulletin 3.0 and higher
PHP 4.1.1 and 4.3.4, should work with all 4.x versions, seems ok with 5.0.4
MySQL 4.0.
Reported ok with MySQL 4.1 but not exhaustively tested

Credits

Initially inspired by drkFusion's vb2 hack "vb Link Directory" v.2 and discussion about v.3 on Vbulletin.org. This is a complete rewrite with many more features. Every credit to the VBulletin folks for providing the infrastructure and to those on vbulletin.org who have helped with testing.

Integrations/Conversions

Natch has written extensions to integrate this hack with VBindex and VBAdvanced.

For convenience, this hack includes fully integrates with, but does not install, his VBIndex hack - i.e. the required template and code are provided, and the admin panel handles the configuration settings. Please refer to his thread for instructions.

Integration with VBadvanced is described in thread 1319 at vbadvanced.com.

The zip file includes a script and instructions for converting from vbLinks v2 (see thread 44551

[LoOnEyToOnZ]

Does this allow people to submit their websites to be listed in the directory ? And require admin approval beforehand

[brianstevz]

Awesome hack. It's much better than drkfusion's imho. Clicks install.

[AlexanderT]

I installed the hack ( *installed* ) and am very happy with it. I have one question though:

I added a link to an external file (from another site). When a uses clicks on the link to download the file, he cannot see the original site. Fine. But does that mean that all filedownloads are "proxied" from the original site to my site and then from my site to the user? Like this:

file -> my site -> user

If this is the case, wouldn't it generate unnecessary traffic for my site on all external filedownloads?

[CERTguide]

I installed the hack and all looked good. I am trying to add files but it keeps telling me that they are not available:

checking 1 http://www.certguide.com/forums/guid...rplusguide.asp (force next): failed
checking 2 http://www.certguide.com/forums/guid...003aplusos.doc (force next)

If I paste the links in my browser the files open right up.

What am I doing wrong?

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by MrD

Hi,
i become an Error.
Fatal error: Call to undefined function: print_cp_header() in /home/www/web1/html/v3/local_links_install.php on line 44

Can anywhere Help ?

Are you sure you put the file in your admincp directory?

local_links.php and local_links_templatex.xml go into your main forum, local_links_install.php goes into the admincp directory.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by LoOnEyToOnZ

Does this allow people to submit their websites to be listed in the directory ? And require admin approval beforehand

There is *no* moderation facility yet. The permission to add links is defined by the site admin by usergroups. If a usergroup has the relevant permission, then a user in that group can add their website.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by AlexanderT

I installed the hack ( *installed* ) and am very happy with it. I have one question though:

I added a link to an external file (from another site). When a uses clicks on the link to download the file, he cannot see the original site. Fine. But does that mean that all filedownloads are "proxied" from the original site to my site and then from my site to the user? Like this:

file -> my site -> user

If this is the case, wouldn't it generate unnecessary traffic for my site on all external filedownloads?

It depends, and it also depends what you mean by unnecessary. If the entry has a recognised mimetype (recognised = defined in the main vb admincp), then the file is successively read and transferred on to the end user. If it does not have a recognised mimetype (e.g. is just a link), then the code executes a standard redirect, and there should be no traffic through your site.

As for unnecessary, I'm open to suggestions of other ways of handling the process in a way that will work reliably.

[AlexanderT]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

It depends, and it also depends what you mean by unnecessary...As for unnecessary, I'm open to suggestions of other ways of handling the process in a way that will work reliably.

By unnecessary I mean a link to a file download where I don't mind whether the user finds out the direct file location or not. Perhaps one solution would be to offer a switch called "anti-leech on/off" when creating new links, and if the switch is on, follow your current procedure (stream the file through the site), and if it is off, redirect it (disregarding the vB minetypes).

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by CERTguide

I installed the hack and all looked good. I am trying to add files but it keeps telling me that they are not available:

checking 1 http://www.certguide.com/forums/guid...rplusguide.asp (force next): failed
checking 2 http://www.certguide.com/forums/guid...003aplusos.doc (force next)

If I paste the links in my browser the files open right up.

What am I doing wrong?

I don't know

I tried adding these links to my test database and they work just fine for me. The links checking process simply tries to open a connection to the specified file. Maybe you had a very busy server?

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by AlexanderT

By unnecessary I mean a link to a file download where I don't mind whether the user finds out the direct file location or not. Perhaps one solution would be to offer a switch called "anti-leech on/off" when creating new links, and if the switch is on, follow your current procedure (stream the file through the site), and if it is off, redirect it (disregarding the vB minetypes).

Thanks - I'll think about this idea. But is bandwidth to your site more expensive than my time as a programmer? (smiling)

[CERTguide]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

I don't know

I tried adding these links to my test database and they work just fine for me. The links checking process simply tries to open a connection to the specified file. Maybe you had a very busy server?

I tried several times with no luck. I wish my server was that busy.

[AlexanderT]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

Thanks - I'll think about this idea. But is bandwidth to your site more expensive than my time as a programmer? (smiling)

:nervous:

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by CERTguide

I tried several times with no luck. I wish my server was that busy.

I think the code would benefit from a bit better error reporting when these problems arise. I'll have a look at it next time I have some free time (probably the weekend). Otherwise we're grappling in the dark.

What I did to get the link working was simply open your link in a new window then cut and paste from the address line into the links database. Sure you've not missed out a character somewhere?

[CERTguide]

I copied the link into the database and copied it back out after it said it was not available. Always works in a browser, never in the database.

[Konk]

A fantastic hack, I'm in the process of installing it. Thanks!

I hope that you find interest/time to continue with the:
- Integrate this with the VB attachment system to allow users to upload files
- Integrate this with the VB moderation system

I imagine it's complicated but I'm sure many would be very appreciative!