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

[Mijae]

Originally Posted by ixian

PM sent, and thank you!

I just installed this but I am a little paranoid about it breaking my forum :P

How many queries does it use? Does it affect normal thread load anyway, like in time, etc?

Also, is there a way to hide the quick reply box if you're on a page where you can't leave comments?

I would love to have a separate file for the articles, like articles.php, but this works nice too. Also, is there an option to set more characters for article submission? My first article was over 20k characters while posts are only allowed up to 10k (altho I put it to 0 to disable meanwhile).

So far it has worked great.

[Blam Forumz]

Idea! Pros and Cons box? Possibly in the header of the article template?

[rlamego]

Originally Posted by Mijae

1 - I just installed this but I am a little paranoid about it breaking my forum :P
2 - How many queries does it use? Does it affect normal thread load anyway, like in time, etc?
3 - Also, is there a way to hide the quick reply box if you're on a page where you can't leave comments?
4 - I would love to have a separate file for the articles, like articles.php, but this works nice too.
5 - Also, is there an option to set more characters for article submission? My first article was over 20k characters while posts are only allowed up to 10k (altho I put it to 0 to disable meanwhile).

Mijae, the whole concept behind GAS is to use existing forum tools and functions instead of creating a new thing on top of vB.
The original script was nothing more than a set of templates more suitable for article displaying than vB's showthread templates.
Since that version a lot has happened and some I didn't follow but the main concept remains.
So, having said that:
1 - Why?
2 - With the inclusion of some new fields (like the byline thing), it adds at least one more query. You can wait for Samuel's answer or install a mod to count queries. Either way I believe the number of additional queries it's not significant.
3 - If the user has no permission to leave comments, the quick reply shouldn't be displayed. You can edit the templates and put an if conditional around the quick reply box if there isn't an option for that in the GAS settings.
4 - In theory you can duplicate showthread.php, name it articles.php, make the necessary edits on that file and change GAS code to call articles.php when a GA is displayed. In practice I don't know what are the side effects of this.
5 - Again, this should use your forum's settings although I'm also not sure if there is a value for that in GAS settings.

[rlamego]

Originally Posted by Blam Forumz

Idea! Pros and Cons box? Possibly in the header of the article template?

I like the idea but would prefer a BBcode thing like [ quote ] works than a new text field.

[tamarian]

Hi The Geek, I just found that the GAS templates are not cached (like in showthread and forumdusply). This is due to including functions_geekarticles.php after global.php was included. I just added them to $globaltemplates directly and commented out the array_merge code. Just thought I'd let you know for the next release

[rlamego]

Go to the GAS 2.0 thread and download again =)

[shiva]

A suggestion, how about including some instructions for the vb3articles convertor as well when you release. including a brief overview of what you need to do before you start messing around with it.

[RichieBoy67]

Ok, I have this installed but I have not got a clue on how to use this..... Instruction please????

[H2k]

I have installing this hack

vb3 Postbit Style Option v1.0

in the showthread.php your modify have removed the

$template = 'postbit';

and the hack postbit style it ask to change the code

Find: ( 2 )

			$template = 'postbit';

Replace With:

			$template = iif ( $bbuserinfo['postbitstyle'] == 0,'postbit','postbit_legacy' ) ;

anyway to fix this problem ?

Thankyou very much

[Anfiniti.net]

I seem to have done something wrong, take a look at this screenshot.

http://www.anfiniti.net/forums/error.JPG

Somethin's up with the phrases methinks.