The Arcive of Official vBulletin Modifications Site.

Links and Files Database · **Released**: 01-17-2004

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

r00t3d · #**347** 04-20-2004, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewD

My impression, looking at the code, is that get_hotlinks() will just return a null string. If this is problematic, it could be fixed by modifing the vbindex_custom template, e.g. (not sue if my syntax is correct)

PHP Code:


			
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="tborder" width="100%"> 

    <tr> 

        <td> 

            <table cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="$stylevar[cellspacing]" border="0" width="100%"> 

                <tr> 

                    <td colspan="2" class="tcat" style="text-align: center"> 

                        <a name="hotties" style="float:$stylevar[right]" href="#top" onclick="return toggle_collapse('vbindex_customblock$box')"><img id="collapseimg_vbindex_customblock$box" src="$stylevar[imgdir_button]/collapse_tcat$collapseimg_vbindex_customblock.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a> 

                        <strong><a href="$vboptions[bburl]/local_links.php" title="Visit the Downloads section">Hottest Downloads</a></strong> 

                    </td> 

                </tr> 

                <tbody id="collapseobj_vbindex_customblock$box" style="$collapseobj_vbindex_customblock"> 

<if condition="$hotlinks">$hotlinks<else />There are no downloads available to you</if>

                </tbody> 

            </table> 

        </td> 

    </tr> 

</table> 

<br />

would this be the same for vbadvanced homepage v1.1?

AndrewD · #**348** 04-20-2004, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r00t3d

would this be the same for vbadvanced homepage v1.1?

I imagine so.

AndrewD · #**349** 04-20-2004, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Natch

Looks good to me !

I'm happy to roll-up my hack into yours with this facility and be logged for support in the one place (if you are OK with that ?)

I'm happy with this. Why don't we do the following -

I'll make a minor change to the basic hack to add a new set of permissions via the admin page (e.g. can_see_links). Usergroups with this setting will be able to *see* (but not necessarily access) links via the portals.

I'll update get_hotlinks.php to use this setting and the forums permission checking.

We'll roll the two hacks together, with you flagged for support.

I'll also contact the vbadvanced thread to see if we can get the same approach taken on board there.

This may take me a few days, as I'm away on two business trips from tomorrow for a week.

Natch · #**350** 04-21-2004, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewD

I'm happy with this. Why don't we do the following -

I'll make a minor change to the basic hack to add a new set of permissions via the admin page (e.g. can_see_links). Usergroups with this setting will be able to *see* (but not necessarily access) links via the portals.

I'll update get_hotlinks.php to use this setting and the forums permission checking.

We'll roll the two hacks together, with you flagged for support.

I'll also contact the vbadvanced thread to see if we can get the same approach taken on board there.

This may take me a few days, as I'm away on two business trips from tomorrow for a week.

Sounds good to me - once it's finalised, I'll edit the other thread to point to here for all support, or maybe see if the two threads can be merged ...

Thanks man - your work is excellent

ChrisSy · #**351** 04-21-2004, 08:29 AM

does this also support attachments in filesystem rather than database? an also is there a way of importing old attachments into this links area

thanks

AndrewD · #**352** 04-21-2004, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSy

does this also support attachments in filesystem rather than database? an also is there a way of importing old attachments into this links area

thanks

This hack is *not* connected with the VBulletin attachment system - whether in the database or the filesystem.

You create links by giving the correct URL to what you want to access. To get at a VB attachment, you would give the correct URL for that attachment. To get at a file, you would give the URL that points at that file.

Automatic mass imports are not yet possible, but I am preparing a "links harvest" tool that will scan all posts for links and attachments and allow the admin to insert them into this database. I estimate that this will be released in 2-4 weeks time.

Skyline_GT · #**353** 04-22-2004, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 13th_Disciple

now that this thread has grown to over 20 pages, I find it hard to search to see if this has been asked, so if it has, just point me to the correct post..

when you click a link to DL a file, in the status bar of the DL, the file size is not shown nor is the "time remaining"

any idea why that may be? using 1.01 with vB RC3 - upgrading to 3 gold this weekend..

I personally don't mind, but my members get a little pissy about it..

I wonder what I need to change in order it will show the status bar and the time remaining?
I really want this..
THanks.

Areku · #**354** 04-22-2004, 08:42 PM

Does this hack support subcategories?
If so, how much deep is supported?

If not, are they planned?

Thanks!

OGT · #**355** 04-22-2004, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Areku

Does this hack support subcategories?
If so, how much deep is supported?

If not, are they planned?

Thanks!

yes areku, unlimited

Areku · #**356** 04-23-2004, 06:21 AM

So coool!

/me licks install!

AndrewD · #**357** 04-25-2004, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skyline_GT

I wonder what I need to change in order it will show the status bar and the time remaining?
I really want this..
THanks.

You shouldn't need to change anything if you have the latest version installed.

What browser are you using? And what file formats are you trying to download?

LoOnEyToOnZ · #**358** 04-25-2004, 02:12 PM

Hi Andrew.

Any idea if you are gonna add the moderation of submitted links into the next version ? Thanks

AndrewD · #**359** 04-25-2004, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoOnEyToOnZ

Hi Andrew.

Any idea if you are gonna add the moderation of submitted links into the next version ? Thanks

Indeed I am...

Wolfy.2k · #**360** 04-25-2004, 03:52 PM

this may sound like a really retarded question...

i installed it fine and everything... but ermm.. how do u make categories>

lol i looked in all of admin section and cant see anything about it :S

AndrewD · #**361** 04-26-2004, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfy.2k

this may sound like a really retarded question...

i installed it fine and everything... but ermm.. how do u make categories>

lol i looked in all of admin section and cant see anything about it :S

Not at all...

You go to the Links Home, (../local_links.php) then on the left hand drop down menu for this hack, there should be two items - Home and Create Subcategory.

After you have created your first category, then extra items will appear on that drop down menu to allow you to create links.

X vBulletin 3.8.12 by vBS Debug Information
Page Generation 0.05901 seconds Memory Usage 2,388KB Queries Executed 30 (?)
More Information
Template Usage: (1)SHOWTHREAD (1)ad_footer_end (1)ad_footer_start (1)ad_header_end (1)ad_header_logo (1)ad_navbar_below (1)ad_showthread_beforeqr (1)bbcode_php (10)bbcode_quote (1)footer (1)forumjump (1)forumrules (1)gobutton (1)header (1)headinclude (1)modsystem_post (1)navbar (6)navbar_link (120)option (1)pagenav (1)pagenav_curpage (4)pagenav_pagelink (3)pagenav_pagelinkrel (16)post_thanks_box (16)post_thanks_button (1)post_thanks_javascript (1)post_thanks_navbar_search (16)post_thanks_postbit_info (15)postbit (16)postbit_onlinestatus (16)postbit_wrapper (1)spacer_close (1)spacer_open (1)tagbit_wrapper Phrase Groups Available: global inlinemod postbit posting reputationlevel showthread	Included Files: ./showthread.php ./global.php ./includes/init.php ./includes/class_core.php ./includes/config.php ./includes/functions.php ./includes/class_hook.php ./includes/modsystem_functions.php ./includes/functions_bigthree.php ./includes/class_postbit.php ./includes/class_bbcode.php ./includes/functions_reputation.php ./includes/functions_post_thanks.php Hooks Called: init_startup init_startup_session_setup_start init_startup_session_setup_complete cache_permissions fetch_threadinfo_query fetch_threadinfo fetch_foruminfo style_fetch cache_templates global_start parse_templates global_setup_complete showthread_start showthread_getinfo forumjump showthread_post_start showthread_query_postids showthread_query bbcode_fetch_tags bbcode_create showthread_postbit_create postbit_factory postbit_display_start post_thanks_function_post_thanks_off_start post_thanks_function_post_thanks_off_end post_thanks_function_fetch_thanks_start post_thanks_function_fetch_thanks_end post_thanks_function_thanked_already_start post_thanks_function_thanked_already_end fetch_musername postbit_imicons bbcode_parse_start bbcode_parse_complete_precache bbcode_parse_complete postbit_display_complete post_thanks_function_can_thank_this_post_start pagenav_page pagenav_complete tag_fetchbit_complete forumrules navbits navbits_complete showthread_complete
Messages:

The Arcive of Official vBulletin Modifications Site.

It is not a VB3 engine, just a parsed copy!