vBxB -> vBJournalLite 1.1b by Ryangel Custom Blog/Journal System ADDON.

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vBxB -> vBJournalLite 1.1b by Ryangel Custom Blog/Journal System ADDON.
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::What does this hack do?::
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This hack enables the user to pick from three different types of templates from an already installed vBJournalLite and customize them to his or her wishes. This can be a great addon for your site. It can be modded to custom-fit "premium" users. It also can also be a great addition for someone's own personal site that would enjoy adding the benefit of having a blog or journal available for their visitor's reading but would rather not install [or cannot install] the proper php or cgi code to run the journal.


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::What templates are included with this journal hack?::
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There are three templates included though more can be added with a little work from the site admin. The first template is the exact same, default template that vBJournal Lite uses. The second template selection isn't really a template at all -- it's a very user-customizable version of a site header and footer [using textboxes saved via the SQL db]. The second template option also uses a custom CSS LINK along with the CSS color code/width options given for setup in the journal config. This enables the user to customize his or her own site [header AND footer] (using their own webserver and webspace) with the user's journal entries being placed firmly in the middle. Finally, the third template available has been taken directly from LiveJournal
(the 'Generator' template) and it has been modded to fit this addon's
needs appropriately. I take no credit for the layout of the template whatsoever
nor it's classed contents.


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::Why have you included Ryangel's journal.php with this zip?::
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As I'm trying to get this out to the public as quick as I can, I just don't remember all of the code I went through trying to get this running. I know that dummy me should've wrote down or saved what I was doing to another file somewhere, but I was too anxious to get this going.

Ryangel, if you have any problems with me including the modded version of your file, please alert me immediately and I'll try my best to edit the install file to include what I've done to your original code asap. Thank you!


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::Warnings?::
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Plenty.

:: REMEMBER THIS HACK IS A BETA! :: It can and probably WILL screw up on you if there is something wrong or if I have forgot anything in the install instructions! If in the case I have forgot something in the install instructions, please tell me and I'll fix it asap!

If you notice something wrong or your journal is acting quirky, please let me know!

This is my first hack for vBulletin! It's probably not the cleanest code you've ever seen nor is it even all that brilliant, but it gets the job done I think. >.>;

I will NOT be held responsible for user's boards that have been messed up
by this hack! You have been forewarned both here and in the journal.php file itself!

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::Possible SECURITY issues?::
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I am not aware of any security issues or threats that this may cause to your vBulletin forum, though this obviously doesn't mean that they aren't possible.

The blog's header and footer function uses a 'textbox' input. That's alot of possible HTML code that can be added and, of course, it can be modded. It reads -anything- like a normal HTML file can. Meaning - if the user has on his or her webspace a flash file, it will read the flash file. I don't know how to take these statements out of the user's input yet.. so please don't kill me for that. :P

Maybe you guys could offer some suggestions on it?

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::To Do:::
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SQL Queries to INSERT: (23) [I think. I was pretty drunk counting this. ]
Files Modified: (2)
Templates Added: (5) Templates Modified: (5)
Files to Upload from .ZIP: (5)


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::This sounds pretty cool, but what about the screenshots?::
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The screenshots are included in the attached ZIP at the bottom. Please make sure you look at these for any information you'd like to receive on what's included in the modifications this addon will install.



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::Thanks!::
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Thanks go out to Ryangel, Anime-loo, PixelFX, LiveJournal, and all the vBulletin
hackers.


If this works, I hope you enjoy! Please have fun with it and try to think of some ideas! This is atleast a backbone for your thoughts if nothing else.

** Updated journal/templates to allow EXISTING USERS [10:28pm] [10-24-03] - This is EXPERIMENTAL at this time. It worked for me! That's all I tested it on, but it should work. This swaps the journal_deftemp and journal_display templates as well as adds an updated journal.php to reflect these changes. Existing users can now change their options at will. If this doesn't work then notify me immediately and I'll try fixin' it.

** Updated SQL INSERT [11:20pm] [10-15-03] - Had someone testing that needed to create a journal. SQL error came up due to an error in the INSERT line [my screwup. Oops.] Fixed.

** Updated WARNING [10:54pm] [10-15-03] - Custom template had no warning to the user whatsoever if their header information was not entered in their journal config. Fixed.

** Updated SCREENSHOTS [7:01pm] [10-15-03] - Updated screenshots. Previous screenshots were way too small anyway. Each screenshot shows the new modifications (atleast what the user sees.)

** Updated QUERIES [12:58am] [10-15-03] - Forgot to add two db queries. Fixed.

** Updated TEMPLATE [1:20am] [10-14-03] - Forgot to add one of the templates to mod. x.x; Fixed.





** EDIT 10:06pm [Jan. 06, 04]

Expect a bunch of new stuff to be released with the next version. For details, check one of the last posts.


** EDIT 11:26pm [Jan. 20, 04]

An active demo of the Nightingale Journal is now available. As it's in beta, you can receive a fully templated journal with no community posts required. Please click here for it.

Warning: It's anime, it's girly, and it's a small community.

Also, if you experience problems (parse errors appearing randomly, something not loading..) it's because of the work I'm doing to it, more than likely.


Another note - don't expect this to be the final version after beta. I'm constantly adding changes and ideas. This is the -base- of the journal, however.

[Brad]

Im going to install a vB 2 on localhost tonight and play with journal.php a bit, if I come up with anything useful ill post back.

[Harlequin]

Eileen -

Please let me know if you have any more issues. I want this to be an enjoyable part of people's boards if they opt to use it.

Anime-loo -

That sounds very groovy to me. You were talking about making a new journal for vb3 -- want to butt a few heads on some ideas?


And I'm still a little uneasy about security. I know it's a pretty big umph whenever users can enter a considerable amount of text and it be read as html. Does anyone else have any concerns about this or any ideas for workarounds if they think this a problem?

[Brad]

Originally Posted by Harlequin

Eileen -

Please let me know if you have any more issues. I want this to be an enjoyable part of people's boards if they opt to use it.

Anime-loo -

That sounds very groovy to me. You were talking about making a new journal for vb3 -- want to butt a few heads on some ideas?


And I'm still a little uneasy about security. I know it's a pretty big umph whenever users can enter a considerable amount of text and it be read as html. Does anyone else have any concerns about this or any ideas for workarounds if they think this a problem?

Already working on the html problems, its a big fix that requires alot of work tho. So what im probbly ganna do is request permission from vBjournal lite's author to release a modifyed version. It really needs a re-write to be honest, and it would only require a day or two of work.

And yea, im working on a vB 3 journal system, but its more to it then just that , send me a pm if you are intrested in helping and we will throw around some idea's.

[sabret00the]

Originally Posted by Anime-loo

Already working on the html problems, its a big fix that requires alot of work tho. So what im probbly ganna do is request permission from vBjournal lite's author to release a modifyed version. It really needs a re-write to be honest, and it would only require a day or two of work.

And yea, im working on a vB 3 journal system, but its more to it then just that , send me a pm if you are intrested in helping and we will throw around some idea's.

one of the things i'll be waiting for before i update to vb3 is a journal based upon/upgrade for vBjournal Lite, will installing this hinder that in any chance as i'll probably go with yours

[sabret00the]

heres the zipped templates for ppl with TBS installed

has anyone installed this with no casualties on a board with an active pre-existing vbjournal lite hack?

any store integration with this yet?

[FleaBag]

I forgot to ask previously... Does this addon give any admin options? I had to stop use of the original journal hack because some of my members were posting offensive comments and I wasn't able to remove them.

[Harlequin]

Store integration - No. But it'd certainly be nice.

I think Anime-loo is currently working on a fixed up spiffied version of this that's actually coded with security in mind.


Fleabag - Admin options are in the journal.php -- but not for curse words, removing comments, etc. This requires me to know what I do not know concerning filtering [for the header and footer textbox, entries, etc.]

This addon includes only the ability to do what's able in the screenshots and the default setup of whatever is in journal.php - that's it.

Though I hope Anime-loo replies soon to my pm.

[sabret00the]

well i really wanna install this, but i want everyone to buy it from the store rather than just have it for free.

[Brad]

Ive been real busy working on bigger projects that dont relate to vBulletin, so I havent been as active as I normally would in the support community's lately.

Harleguin: I got your pm, I will try to reply sometime tonight .


As for the journal hack, it is begin worked on. I want to release something thats secure and includes moderation so it takes awhile to make sure everything is working like it should .

[Koutaru]

Sounds great can't wait to see it!