Links and Files Database

The VB3.0 version is no longer supported although there have been no reported problems for some time

See here for the VB 3.6 version of this hack, which is now the supported version. This version currently also works with VB 3.5
See here for the VB 3.5 thread for this hack.

What's new in v1.60?

Option to display associated thumbnail images
Option to accept/not accept new entries if these already exists in database
Code for mass edits (accessed via admincp) tidied up
VB phrasing completed
Includes a full French and a partial German translation (thanks to cclaerhout, Allan and LeeWicKeD), handled properly by installation script.
Various bugs fixed and tested against php4 and php5:
Better database validation (on startup/in admincp: links with invalid associated forumids, categories with invalid parentids)
Alternative linkbit templates provided (default uses a fieldset, the other is the old-style table row)
Alternative category selection templates (pull down menu/list of checkboxes),
Star rating displayed using standard VB stars rather than in text form
Series of minor bug fixes
See file change.txt in zip file

What it is/does

- Provides a searchable database of weblinks and/or downloadable files, for example manuals, music files, pictures, etc.
- Integrates within VBulletin, without requiring any code changes.
- Transparently handles links and file downloads. (If you want to provide downloads from your own site, you need a separate tool to upload these files. This hack does not and will not include a file uploader.)
- Provides unlimited nested categories.
- Each link/file can be a member of multiple categories.
- Link and category title and descriptions can use all BBCODEs, giving the possibility to add images, colouring, etc, as you wish
- Viewing/access permissions controlled using VBulletin forum system
- Users can rate links, in a similar manner to VB thread rating.
- File downloads are semi-leechproof, i.e. the user does not see where the file is stored and can only access the link if she has access to the associated forum.
- Audio files playable via Windows Media Player can be offered as a jukebox .
- Tracks who downloads what
- Validates links on entry/editing, and provides admin facility to validate the entire database.

Installation/upgrading instructions

Read instructions.txt in the zip file. Installation script works out whether to install or upgrade.

To upgrade from an earlier release of this hack, simply re-run the installation script. If you modified the templates in the top styles, you will lose these modifications unless you back up and re-edit.

PLEASE BACK UP YOUR DATABASE

See also

For screen shots, see attachments.

Tested with

VBulletin 3.0 and higher
PHP 4.1.1 and 4.3.4, should work with all 4.x versions, seems ok with 5.0.4
MySQL 4.0.
Reported ok with MySQL 4.1 but not exhaustively tested

Credits

Initially inspired by drkFusion's vb2 hack "vb Link Directory" v.2 and discussion about v.3 on Vbulletin.org. This is a complete rewrite with many more features. Every credit to the VBulletin folks for providing the infrastructure and to those on vbulletin.org who have helped with testing.

Integrations/Conversions

Natch has written extensions to integrate this hack with VBindex and VBAdvanced.

For convenience, this hack includes fully integrates with, but does not install, his VBIndex hack - i.e. the required template and code are provided, and the admin panel handles the configuration settings. Please refer to his thread for instructions.

Integration with VBadvanced is described in thread 1319 at vbadvanced.com.

The zip file includes a script and instructions for converting from vbLinks v2 (see thread 44551

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by DeMiNe0

ermmm, the download is currupted. Can somone pleae upload a new one? Or send me a good one at demine0@digitaltoxicity.net?

The zip file d/l's and opens ok for me... What is happening to yours?

[13th_Disciple]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

The zip file d/l's and opens ok for me... What is happening to yours?

When you get a no permission to access link error, there is no navbar or register button in the error box.. what template should I edit to at least have the navbar show? Also, what template for the error permission denied on accessing a link?

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by 13th_Disciple

When you get a no permission to access link error, there is no navbar or register button in the error box.. what template should I edit to at least have the navbar show? Also, what template for the error permission denied on accessing a link?

Unfortunately, these messages are all generated using print_standard_error, which uses the standard_error template. I don't think you will be able to change this to include a navbar - not least because there is not necessarily a navbar available at the point at which print_standard_error is called.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by joeychgo

Well -- I come across site who "offer' to do a link trade-and ask me to link first. Ok, so I provide them with a link and send my info to them..... However they dont always provide that link back - so its important to verify that they actually linked you back.

Since its reasonable to expect a few days for the link to appear, it is easy to forget to check after a few days and veryify that link. So it would be nice to simply have a check box to let me know if I have already verified they linked me back.

How about using the moderation facility to achieve this? Enter your cross-links using an account that is required to have new entries moderated, then accept them once you've checked the status.

[13th_Disciple]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

Unfortunately, these messages are all generated using print_standard_error, which uses the standard_error template. I don't think you will be able to change this to include a navbar - not least because there is not necessarily a navbar available at the point at which print_standard_error is called.

oh ok.. but i could go to the phrase and do a $vboptions[bburl]/register.php link in there somewhere, i guess..

would that be the correct assumption?

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by 13th_Disciple

oh ok.. but i could go to the phrase and do a $vboptions[bburl]/register.php link in there somewhere, i guess..

would that be the correct assumption?

Having had a couple of decent night's sleep, I realise what you're asking :tired:

We need to change one or two of the calls to print_standard_error to print_no_permission. I'll try it this evening. Sorry for the delay.

[13th_Disciple]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

Having had a couple of decent night's sleep, I realise what you're asking :tired:

We need to change one or two of the calls to print_standard_error to print_no_permission. I'll try it this evening. Sorry for the delay.

Quite alright Andrew.. i appreciate your answers and your work on this..

The only other thing for this my members have requested is instead of all of the links appearing on one page, have it so when you click on one from the full list, it opens in it's own page.. I have thought about trying to mess with that a bit, but have had zero to no time myself..

again, thanks Andrew for this hack.. the only thing i would ever want to see added, would be an upload function..

[Ian Montgomerie]

I found a bug, but I'm not sure how to fix it or even if it's fixable. If a user has an apostrophe in their user name, SQL gives an error when they try to insert into the database. Example:

Database error in vBulletin 3.0.1:

Invalid SQL: 

		INSERT INTO local_linksdownloads (linkid, linkurl, username, userid,
userip, userbrowser, usertime) 

		VALUES ( 

		'54', 

		'http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Corridor/2298/index.html', 

		'Strategos' Risk', 

		'290',

		'12.72.192.151', 

		'Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1; AT&T CSM6.0)', 

		1087061901 

		)

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Ian Montgomerie

I found a bug, but I'm not sure how to fix it or even if it's fixable. If a user has an apostrophe in their user name, SQL gives an error when they try to insert into the database.

Indeed, it's fixable. Sorry about that. I'll correct it in the next upload, which is currently being tested.

In the meantime, if you want a fix:
- Edit local_links.php.
- Find function record_hit($id, $url, $status), which in version 1.22 is at line 1827

Replace

PHP Code:

    $DB_site->query("
        INSERT INTO ".THIS_TABLE."linksdownloads (linkid, linkurl, username, userid, userip, userbrowser, usertime) 
        VALUES ( 
        '".$id."', 
        '".$url."', 
        '".$username."', 
        '".$userid."',
        '".$userip."', 
        '".$userbrowser."', 
        $time 
        ) 
    "); 


with

PHP Code:

    $DB_site->query("
        INSERT INTO ".THIS_TABLE."linksdownloads (linkid, linkurl, username, userid, userip, userbrowser, usertime) 
        VALUES ( 
        '".$id."', 
        '".$url."', 
        '".addslashes(htmlspecialchars($username))."', 
        '".$userid."',
        '".$userip."', 
        '".addslashes(htmlspecialchars($userbrowser))."', 
        $time 
        ) 
    "); 


[13th_Disciple]

Andrew, will the error page be changed to the no permission page in this next version?

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by 13th_Disciple

Andrew, will the error page be changed to the no permission page in this next version?

Yes, but I meant to contact you for clarification. Can you indicate the situations in which you want to see this change made - there are many potential routes to "no access" errors. I hope you're not referring to the use of the VBindex/VBAdvanced portal interfaces, as these are not under my control.

[13th_Disciple]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

Yes, but I meant to contact you for clarification. Can you indicate the situations in which you want to see this change made - there are many potential routes to "no access" errors. I hope you're not referring to the use of the VBindex/VBAdvanced portal interfaces, as these are not under my control.

Ok, if there is a direct link to the file, not thru the portal or anything, but just a direct link to the file thru the links deal, like so:

http://www.dbcenter.org/forums/local...ion=jump&id=84

you will get the print_standard_error.. but if you go to the actual catagory:

http://www.dbcenter.org/forums/local...links&catid=63

you will get the print_no_permission

So I would like to see either the print_no_permission error there, or at least have the navbar displayed to allow someone to register rather quickly.. does that explain it a little better or do you need a bit better clarification? and thank you Andrew for taking the time to look in to this.. greatly appreciated!!

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by 13th_Disciple

Ok, if there is a direct link to the file, not thru the portal or anything, but just a direct link to the file thru the links deal, like so:

http://www.dbcenter.org/forums/local...ion=jump&id=84

you will get the print_standard_error.. but if you go to the actual catagory:

http://www.dbcenter.org/forums/local...links&catid=63

you will get the print_no_permission

So I would like to see either the print_no_permission error there, or at least have the navbar displayed to allow someone to register rather quickly.. does that explain it a little better or do you need a bit better clarification? and thank you Andrew for taking the time to look in to this.. greatly appreciated!!

Got it - will make this consistent in the next release due out this week, assuming all goes well.

[13th_Disciple]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

Got it - will make this consistent in the next release due out this week, assuming all goes well.

Excellent.. thank you very much, Andrew..

[Onkel_Tom]

Works fine, thank you !
Onkel_Tom clicks install