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.
-----------------------
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

[rlamego]

TCB, I like the idea but would like to see this as optional as it can be, I mean, something that doesn't involve adding a new text field and forcing someone to fill it in every article written. This way, it won't affect all the people that use GAS to post reviews, instructions, FAQs, etc.

A BB tag would be great if Samuel could extract it from the middle of the text.
Imagine you select a paragraph, enclose it in [ summary ] [ /summary ] tags and that's it.
When reading through the article, summary tags would simply be ignored.

[The Geek]

Hey guys.
First off I want to say that the new version is coming along sweetly. I have redone the installer so that it makes copies of the required files that need edits - moves the copies into another folder, and makes all the file edits itself. If it cant find what it is looking for because your file has already been hacked, then it simply lets you know which step you have to manually do. It is freaking sweet. I tested the install script on a new vb test installation (unmodified files) and the entire thing (settings, phrases, templates, file changes, data stuff) took under 30 seconds

I am hoping to give Ricardo it by end of week (when I go away). If there are any problems with it - he will find them Then when I get back ill make the changes and issue to the Beta testers that contacted me.

Now onto your points!

The new summary you are seeing in the new forum display is the synopsis box. Put whatever the heck you want in there (or leave it blank). It doesnt matter. If you use the forumdisplay legacy option (where by the forumdisplay looks more like a normal forumdisplay) then it wont particularly matter if you use the synopsis box as that is the only place it appears right now (I am working on a new featured/random/latest articles add on that would use it though).

Hope that helps (see attachments of new forumdisplay, article extras and image chooser/uploader)

[tormodg]

Geek - are those shots of an *upcoming* release? Stuff does not look that sweet in my GAS3, for sure.

[The Geek]

yup - this is for the next release

[tormodg]

Man, you should have a paypal donation button somewhere so you can get a real GargleBlaster. Well deserved.

[saree]

thank you very much for your fast reply.

i also need to know if i want to translat the language from english to may language is it easy say like a sepreat file for language and it could be used in the fully auto installation script you did.

if there is an easy way i'll do the translation. it would be great.

[The Geek]

Depends what your language is

I think they have done (or are doing) a French Translation over at vBulletin-fr.org

Many of the phrases were translated to French for 2.0 (which are still pretty valid). However if you want a complete (and easy) way to translate than just edit the install file. There you will see all the english phrases in an array. Leave all the variable and such the same... just change the text and then install and its done!

If you do translate - let me have your install script back and I will roll up the translation into the next install file.

[kevinnguyen]

do we need to uninstall the previous version in order to install the new one?
arrrrggggg cant wait

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by gregwatson

That's a critical feature for me ...

I've got about five sites that I would migrate to vBulletin immediately if that one feature were available to me ...

Are you guys saying that you want a 'cron' job of sorts? Or are you saying that you want to backdate a thread/article?

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by kevinnguyen

do we need to uninstall the previous version in order to install the new one?
arrrrggggg cant wait

To go v1 or 2 to v3 (the current release) then yes, run the install script and uninstall.

For this upcoming release (3.5) I am going to try to do an upgrader along the installer lines though in all honesty it may just be easier and faster to grab fresh files to hack as it is done automatically.

I want to get the version finalised first and then the last thing I will do is the upgrader. Ill have more info then