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.
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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]

Originally Posted by Anfiniti.net

Somethin's up with the phrases methinks.

Take a better look at the mods description, specially at the Troubleshooting part

[Breaker]

seems like u set it up right to me

[Lars-Christian]

Excellent hack! Got everything installed without any problems is less than 30 minutes (I'm a little slow) :P

[gregwatson]

Any timeline on when install instructions will be available for 3.07?

[eva01_]

probably already works for 3.0.7 but i can't say that it does because i haven't tested it

[Ted S]

Is there anyway to assign articles to other users so I can post articles for authors who have different usernames or for that matter may have no user name?

[gregwatson]

Originally Posted by eva01_

probably already works for 3.0.7 but i can't say that it does because i haven't tested it

Showthread has been modified in 3.0.7 ... so for example, I think step 5.13 needs to be updated to take into account the udpates in 3.0.7 ...

Greg

[Mijae]

Originally Posted by gregwatson

Showthread has been modified in 3.0.7 ... so for example, I think step 5.13 needs to be updated to take into account the udpates in 3.0.7 ...

Greg

One bug I found is that if I use [BREAK] to separate pages, as its set by default, the word break will be in upper case if used.

What I mean is that if you use [BREAK], and you write breakout, it will show up as BREAKout :P

Just a little bug

[The Geek]

Hey Guys.

Sorry to not get back sooner but I am traveling on business. Ill try to hit each of your Q's here:

Mijae: There is a fix for the break issue a couple of pages back (on page 12). This is fixed in the next release.

Greg: Ill look into that - but I didnt think there was a problem. THanks for bringing it to my attention.

Ted: This is in the next release currently in Beta TEsting

Tamarian: THanks for that. I noticed that too so I made them inline in the next version.

Shiva: I thought the converter had sufficient instructions (it walks you through the importing) however Ill look into adding more.

Richie: Just make new threads (articles) in the article forums just as you would do in standard forums and they appear as articles. Or even better - just take an existing forum and specify it as an article forum. Presto! They all appear as articles

H2K: That line still exists so it shouldnt be a problem. Just apply that mod to the current template assignment to get the results you are after (hope this makes sense )

Afiniti: Doesnt look like phrases were installed. Just search for a GAS phrase - edit it - then save it to build them again.

Can I ask that you guys that have installed it please click the Install button. It only takes a second

HTH's

[Mijae]

I see nothing related the BREAK on page 12?

Also, what about the character limit for articles? Is there any chance to make it different from normal posts?