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

[Animension]

Hello, I recently installed this hack (along with the integration with vBAdvanced hack).

My problem is that I cannot add links. I can add categories, but when I attempt to add links it sits there and loads nothing. I've tried several different web pages but it still just sits there.

Any help is appreciated.

EDIT: I played around and found that it was the URL check that was messing it up. However now, I get this SQL database error:

Database error in vBulletin 3.0.0 Release Candidate 4:

Invalid SQL:  
                INSERT INTO local_linkslink (linkname, linkurl, linkdesc, linkhits, linkforum, linkcheck, linkstatus, linkdate, linkusername, linkuserid) 
                VALUES ( 
                'www', 
                'http://www.google.com', 
                'thedhrhetrgtgfehe', 
                0, 
                '11', 
                1081171544, 
                , 
                1081171544, 
                'Ultima Ichijouji', 
                1 
                ) 
        
mysql error: You have an error in your SQL syntax near ' 
                1081171544, 
                'Ultima Ichijouji', 
         ' at line 10

mysql error number: 1064

Date: Monday 05th of April 2004 06:25:44 AM
Script: http://www.animension.net/adrf/local_links.php
Referer: http://www.animension.net/adrf/local...ddlink&catid=1
Username: Ultima Ichijouji

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Animension

EDIT: I played around and found that it was the URL check that was messing it up. However now, I get this SQL database error:

Database error in vBulletin 3.0.0 Release Candidate 4:

Invalid SQL:  
                INSERT INTO local_linkslink (linkname, linkurl, linkdesc, linkhits, linkforum, linkcheck, linkstatus, linkdate, linkusername, linkuserid) 
                VALUES ( 
                'www', 
                'http://www.google.com', 
                'thedhrhetrgtgfehe', 
                0, 
                '11', 
                1081171544, 
                , 
                1081171544, 
                'Ultima Ichijouji', 
                1 
                ) 
        
mysql error: You have an error in your SQL syntax near ' 
                1081171544, 
                'Ultima Ichijouji', 
         ' at line 10

The SQL error is happening where the value (statuscheck) returned by check_url is inserted into the database. You said that you'd played around with check_url - perhaps you've deleted the return code by mistake?

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by 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.

OK - this weekend ...

[hitmanuk2k]

just installed.... but when i go to local_links.php?links (where i am told i can add categories...) there are no options at all for anything....

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by hitmanuk2k

just installed.... but when i go to local_links.php?links (where i am told i can add categories...) there are no options at all for anything....

Do you not see another tool bar across the screen? It should say Links, Search and Administer links v1.01. Click on Links and you'll get a pull down menu with the Create Category option

If not, we need to look deeper.

[OGT]

Is there a way to turn the link validation off? http://www.shoutcast.com shows up as unavailable even though it is available. I think a report broken link type system would work better if the validation code cant be tweaked.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by ohgeetee

Is there a way to turn the link validation off? http://www.shoutcast.com shows up as unavailable even though it is available. I think a report broken link type system would work better if the validation code cant be tweaked.

Each time someone reports this problem, I test the link they quote on my own installation and it works fine. This is making it rather hard to get to the bottom of the problem!!

It's straightforward to tweak the links_linkbit template to show all links regardless of whether they test ok or not.

for example, find the sequence

PHP Code:

<if condition="$linkstatus<=0">
$linkname (not available)
</if> 


and replace with

PHP Code:

<if condition="$linkstatus<=0">
<a href="local_links.php?action=jump&id=$linkid" target="_blank">$linkname</a> (maybe broken)
</if> 


This may fix your problem.

[OGT]

Thanks a ton. Is there any information I can give that will help narrow down this problem? I run a fairly low population site on a server that so far has seemed to have all the right things already installed by default.

How does your link validation work? Is it a ping type thing or some other form of mass packet sending that may be blocked by some servers?

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by ohgeetee

Thanks a ton. Is there any information I can give that will help narrow down this problem? I run a fairly low population site on a server that so far has seemed to have all the right things already installed by default.

How does your link validation work? Is it a ping type thing or some other form of mass packet sending that may be blocked by some servers?

I'll have to dig a little to find out what I need to know. The link validation uses the facilities built into PHP to open web pages/files over an http connection. It seems to work ok on the servers I maintain but a couple of you have reported difficulties so I need to investigate.

You should check (although this was checked automatically when you installed the hack) that your server has the php variable allow_url_fopen set to 1 (you can find this out by going into your admincp, down at the bottom Import and Maintenance, then View PHP Info.

[OGT]

allow_url_fopen On On

both my master and local values for that are set to on. maybe its timing out on slower to load sites?

[fortnox]

Is here anybudy to write this Hack in german because this is great for my forums ? :nervous:

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by fortnox

Is here anybudy to write this Hack in german because this is great for my forums ? :nervous:

First I need to "phrase" the hack - to use the VB jargon, i.e. place all the text into the phrase database - then it will be a straightforward task to translate.

[fortnox]

Thanks, but this is to heavy for me, because my english is bad.
Still i wait a little bit time to hope for a German version.

Thanks,

[Okiewan]

It may have been mentioned before? But it would seem that the only thing lacking would be to show how many links are in a cat/subcat and something to indicate that a cat/subcat has "new" links. Maybe total links (number) on the main links page.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Okiewan

It may have been mentioned before? But it would seem that the only thing lacking would be to show how many links are in a cat/subcat and something to indicate that a cat/subcat has "new" links. Maybe total links (number) on the main links page.

I agree - and I think this may happen quite soon :devious: - but tell me - do you want the checks/counts to go right the way through nested subcategories (tricky) or just one level down (easy)