Links and Downloads Manager

LDM extends VBulletin to manage a library of documents, files and links to other web sites. Documents can be stored on your own web site, stored on your server separate from the web site, uploaded by your user community, or held somewhere else altogether. So you can use LDM to provide your user community with access to your own files and allow them to share files with each other.

12/08/06 - Versions that work with vb36 are available and supported in the VB36 thread. Version 2.2.1, which works with VB 3.5 but not with VB 3.6, remains available here.

Thanks to everyone who has helped with all the design, testing, etc.
Translations are provided (thanks dLutt and LeeWicked) into German, (thanks to Allan) into French, and (thanks to Hugo) into Spanish. Harry1951 has handled the Dutch translation.

Screenshots, Instructions and How to Install

Full details and instructions are available as a Wiki at http://www.eirma.org/wikis/index.php...nloads_Manager

LDM installs as a VBulletin product. There are no modifications required to standard VB code.

Basically - upload php files and run the installer through VB's Product installer. No changes needed to VB code. Remember to BACKUP YOUR DATABASE. By default, LDM prefixes its database tables 'local_'. Edit the configuration file, local_links_init.php, if you need/wish to change this.

LDM can handle an essentially unlimited number of categories and nested subcategories, and an unlimited number of entries (hyperlinks or downloadable files). Each entry can be placed in one or several categories. Categories can have styles. Descriptions and titles can optionally include BBcodes, smilies, images and html, giving the possibility to add images, colouring, etc. File types can be flagged using icons and individual entries can also have associated thumbnail images.

Standards templates are provided for libraries of links, files, documents, and photographs.

Users can offer comments and rate the links/downloads. Each user is allowed one rating and many comments per entry, and can freely edit these if they change their mind.

Permission to use specific features is established via the product's admin page, where the administrator specifies which usergroups can add and edit entries, comment and rate these entries, moderate, etc.

By default, all entries are visible to all users. You can restrict visibility/access to links and categories by using the permissions masks from your board's forums.

Moderation of new entries is available but turned off by default.

Users can report bad links to the relevant moderators/administrators.

Each user can flag links as his/her "Favourites".

Modules are provided for VBAdvanced.

Hooks are provided in suitable places in LDM and sample plugins are included in the release (see extras directory), for example to integrate with ID3 tags in mp3 files, for slideshows, to autocreate new threads in your forums, etc.

Plus much more.

[josiespencer]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

Good point, I'll take a look. I don't think LDM should create subcategories if there's nothing in the corresponding directory, and it should be possible to delete them again anyway.

Only if there is not a subdirectory contained in the subdirectory. You have to keep going down to the lowest level and delete your way back up. Sort of like UNIX when you don't use the -r option for a rm.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by josiespencer

Only if there is not a subdirectory contained in the subdirectory. You have to keep going down to the lowest level and delete your way back up. Sort of like UNIX when you don't use the -r option for a rm.

Yes, that's right - coded and ready for release... (I hope...)

[josiespencer]

Hey, Andrew! Have you coded the capability for LDM to talk to a password protected directory?

[Doeko]

It says
=======================================
Unexpected critical failure
Critical Error: Links and Downloads Manager v.2.2.1 requires VBulletin version 3.5
=======================================

What did I do wrong?

Edit: I have version 3.6.5

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Doeko

It says
=======================================
Unexpected critical failure
Critical Error: Links and Downloads Manager v.2.2.1 requires VBulletin version 3.5
=======================================

What did I do wrong?

Edit: I have version 3.6.5

Version 2.2.1 is written to work with versions VB 3.5.x, and checks that you are using that version of vbulletin. You will find the version of LDM that works with VB 3.6.x in the VB 3.6 forums - here.

There are some differences in the way the vb guys have coded vb 3.5 and vb 3.6, so LDM had to be updated.

[novabandit]

I must say, I love this mod!

But, I'm having a little formatting issue.

My statistics box at the bottom of my main category page is squished off to the right:
http://forums.minnesotamud.com/local_links.php

Any idea why, or how I might be able to center (AND MAKE WIDER) the statistics box?

[novabandit]

Nevermind!

I found an empty cell in the same table that was taking up 70%.

All better now!

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by novabandit

Nevermind!

I found an empty cell in the same table that was taking up 70%.

All better now!

Thanks. I have a bit of a penchant for broken symmetry

[josiespencer]

Andrew, remember when we touched on disabling search by user group? Here is another good example of why to do so:

Report of bad link
From: arefeh
Email address: nargess.mohaghegh@modares.ac.ir
IP: 81.12.37.7

Link: http://www.sapsuperusers.com/forums/...=1&linkid=3314

Reason that this user gives:
I found nothing here

I just want to use LDM as a storage manager that must be called via a specific link tied to a specific post. I don't want my users out there just pulling down random files on their own.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by josiespencer

Andrew, remember when we touched on disabling search by user group? Here is another good example of why to do so:



I just want to use LDM as a storage manager that must be called via a specific link tied to a specific post. I don't want my users out there just pulling down random files on their own.

It's on my list for 2.2.8...

Bear with me.