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

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by joeychgo

Ok, I uploaded the 3 files --

I turned my browser to local_links_install.php, then local_links.php?action=admin then local_links.php?action=links each time I got a blank white page --- ??? Now what? nothing else happened.

Also, there is a Templates directory in the zip file, what is that for?

The templates directory is simply a set of text files containing the individual templates in the .xml file. You can ignore it unless you're interested.

The local_links_install.php should certainly not have given you a blank page. Are you sure you've put the three files into your forum directory?

It should take you through a series of installation steps, starting with table creation.

[joeychgo]

I copied all 3 --- but got no installation sequence.



I installed the navbar link -- but when I click on it I get an error message which says :

Database error in vBulletin 3.0.0 Release Candidate 4:

Invalid SQL: SELECT * FROM local_linksadmin
mysql error: Table 'lincol14_forums.local_linksadmin' doesn't exist

mysql error number: 1146

Date: Wednesday 10th of March 2004 12:37:13 AM
Script: http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/local_links.php?
Referer: http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/
Username: Joeychgo
IP Address: 24.14.128.110

[Morrus]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

As you say, strange. The links are certainly valid.

There can be problems with bad DNS connections. When you do the revalidate, does it immediately tell you that it can't find each link, or does it sit there for quite some seconds thinking about it?

It's immediate. I barely had time to hit the "Print Screen" button to take that screenshot!

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Morrus

It's immediate. I barely had time to hit the "Print Screen" button to take that screenshot!

OK, I'll think about it this evening. There's certainly a quick workaround, but I'd like to get to the bottom of this.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by joeychgo

I copied all 3 --- but got no installation sequence.

I installed the navbar link -- but when I click on it I get an error message which says :

Database error in vBulletin 3.0.0 Release Candidate 4:

Invalid SQL: SELECT * FROM local_linksadmin
mysql error: Table 'lincol14_forums.local_linksadmin' doesn't exist

Yes, this means that the install script hasn't been run, because the required tables don't exist. Just to be absolutely clear, have you pointed your browser at local_links_install.php?

If you want, create me an admin account and PM me the details.

[Morrus]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

OK, I'll think about it this evening. There's certainly a quick workaround, but I'd like to get to the bottom of this.

No problem - I can manage without for a day or so.

[Natch]

joeychgo: you have to do more than just point your browser at the script local_links_install.php - you have to complete all the steps ...

[joeychgo]

Thanks for all the help andrew. works great....

question -- is there a way to increase the font sizes?

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by joeychgo

Thanks for all the help andrew. works great....


question -- is there a way to increase the font sizes?

Just take a look in the links_linkbit and links_catbit templates. Change "smallfont" to "normalfont" wherever you want to have things a bit bigger (or go into your main admin CP and redefine the smallfont style - green, flashing, 26point Comic Sans perhaps?!)

[joeychgo]

lol tried the 26 in the smallfont...... no good.. made lots of things real big, but not the navbar links lol