Custom Avatars as Files

Custom Avatars As Files Hack for VB 2.2.1
BASED ON THE KIER'S HACK

Description: This hack lets you store custom avatars in a separate folder rather than in the VBulletin database, saving space & querys in your MySQL database

Here are some of the features:

• Allows to switch between file mode & database mode on the fly
  
• You can specify the custom avatar folder
  
• No SQL queries or PHP code required to display custom avatars
  
• If you use the Apache Web Server, the avatars folder can be protected by .htaccess thus preventing bandwidth stealing
  
• No cacheing issues with Internet Explorer 5.5
  
• All avatar options that are present when using the standard mySQL avatar system are still present, and users will not notice a difference in the interface.

Intructions:
Upload install_fileavatar.php to your ADMIN directory and open it in your browser, then follow the screen instructions.

[Justice]

cocomiel, since this system is file-based, is there any way to allow members to use hot linked images for custom avatars? This would be a great feature, giving members more freedom and saving the host bandwidith.

So far, the only way I can think of using this would be to add an extra profile field for avatars, and add the image url in postbits. But that would require me to turn off the other avatars all together, losing all of the features and options that come with the system.

Any ideas?

I have installed the hack, but i have some trouble with it. The installationscript worked great etc, and users avatars are showing. But, when I want to change my avatar in 'my profile' or add one i just recieve a blank page :\. I tried to upload the 2.0.3 orginal files on to the server but still the same thing happens.

The forum is at http://www.sweclockers.com/forum

Could you please help me?


Edit: I found the error, It was not because of this hack. My members.php had been modified ealier and when upgrading to v2.0.3 it stopped working.

[Cocomiel]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Justice
cocomiel, since this system is file-based, is there any way to allow members to use hot linked images for custom avatars? This would be a great feature, giving members more freedom and saving the host bandwidith.

So far, the only way I can think of using this would be to add an extra profile field for avatars, and add the image url in postbits. But that would require me to turn off the other avatars all together, losing all of the features and options that come with the system.

Any ideas?

[Justice]

thanks

[dost]

Does it check for the maximum dimensions of the avatar when using this hack? Because I installed it and set the max. dimensions to be 65 and someone used an image with 173x200 but it was smaller than the max. file size.

Thanks

[dost]

I tried it on my computer and it works. So the problem is with my host. I also can't change others' avatars via the Admin CP in my host. It says changed but it doesn't. It's an unix machine with apache and plesk software installed. What can cause this problem? Bad permissions or what?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Justice]

I got the same error as grumpy, and followed your directions here...

Originally posted by cocomiel
if you have phpMyAdmin instaled, select to your database
and in the USER table delete the 'avatarrevision' field

then go to the SETTINGS table and delete the last two fields

Now the options in my CP don't load, and I get this error:

Database error in vBulletin Control Panel: Invalid SQL: SELECT settingid,title,varname,value,description,optionco de,displayorder FROM setting WHERE settinggroupid=1 ORDER BY displayorder
mysql error: Unknown column 'optioncode' in 'field list'
mysql error number: 1054

I've been to some threads on my board, and the hack actually seems to work. But I just can't seem to log into my CP. I think I need to add two fields or rows back into my Settings table. I should have backed up, I know... but my forum isn't live yet, so I'm just testing.

[Cocomiel]

Thats because you deleted the wrong fields

[Cocomiel]

I will release Custom Avatars As Files for 2.2.0 in a moment, DONT download Kier's hack because it will not work, its for 2.0.0

[Frank-kun]

Hey, good to see VB.org back and running...

I was looking for the attachment for this great hack that I'm currently using, but it appears to have been edited out. Does Cocomiel or anyone have the hack file or at least offer up some insight on why it was taken down? ^_^