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

[r00t3d]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

I haven't looked at the vbadvanced integration but I pointed out a similar problem to Natch who wrote the vbindex integration. Without looking at their code, I'm not sure how the vbadvanced hack handles permissions - I'll try to look this week.

Thank You, very much.
I appreciate your help

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by lasto

the hack works but when i go to add new link how come in the small box in bottom left hand corner where it says based on which forums permissions it is just blank ?

Have i missed somethign out.

Also i may be on wrong track but does this auto link to attachments added to the board or does it only do ones that u specify ?

a) Have you set up any forums on your site? If you have none, then that box will be empty.

b) No, it does not auto link to attachments - but I assume that it works ok with attachments provided you give a valid url to the attachment - has anyone tried this?

[lasto]

yeah i have forums set up on my site but they deffo dont show in that box.The box above that one shows the sections i have made but thats about all.

Was there anything i should of changed in admin settings as i noticed forum was set to -999 or something so i set that to 8 which is a valid forum on my forum and still no luck.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by lasto

yeah i have forums set up on my site but they deffo dont show in that box.The box above that one shows the sections i have made but thats about all.

Was there anything i should of changed in admin settings as i noticed forum was set to -999 or something so i set that to 8 which is a valid forum on my forum and still no luck.

Maybe you could pm me with your site url so I can take a look?

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by r00t3d

Thank You, very much.
I appreciate your help

As far as I can see from your site, everything is working correctly.

The people who did the vbadvanced integration have lifted the integration code that Natch wrote for vbindex. This code ignores the forums-based checking that is in my hack. It means that the vbadvanced (and vbindex) home page shows links regardless of whether you are allowed to access them or not. If a user tries to access a link that is not available to that user, then she will get an error message (link #N not available).

So the bottom line (which I tested on your site) is that the protection works, but you get to see things you can't access.

Natch felt that it was better to show all users all the available links as a way of encouraging them to register to use the site.

[r00t3d]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

As far as I can see from your site, everything is working correctly.

The people who did the vbadvanced integration have lifted the integration code that Natch wrote for vbindex. This code ignores the forums-based checking that is in my hack. It means that the vbadvanced (and vbindex) home page shows links regardless of whether you are allowed to access them or not. If a user tries to access a link that is not available to that user, then she will get an error message (link #N not available).

So the bottom link (which I tested on your site) is that the protection works, but you get to see things you can't access.

Natch felt that it was better to show all users all the available links as a way of encouraging them to register to use the site.

Thanks for that info, I am also thinking of allowing people to see the links without having to be registered, but not download them until they are.

The vbadvanced latest downloads block is ignoring the permissions like you said.
Did Natch by anychance post the edited code?

tnx

[pseudocode]

Great hack!! I'm having some difficulty though. I'm sure I'm just missing something. The only thing that displays for me is "alt2" in the box on the portal page. What am I missing? I've gone back over my changes several times. Thanks in advance for your help!

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by pseudocode

Great hack!! I'm having some difficulty though. I'm sure I'm just missing something. The only thing that displays for me is "alt2" in the box on the portal page. What am I missing? I've gone back over my changes several times. Thanks in advance for your help!

Sure - will try - sounds as if you've got a template error. Which portal are you using? Easiest way to sort these things out is to send me a pm or email with details of your site, including ideally a userid that has admin privs

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by r00t3d

The vbadvanced latest downloads block is ignoring the permissions like you said.
Did Natch by anychance post the edited code?

tnx

I don't know if Natch posted it. This was the code I suggested to him for get_hotlinks.php - I have not tested it recently as I do not run either the vbindex or the vbadvanced integrations myself. You may need to do some editing - certainly if you want to have category based integration. I don't want to get caught up in this.

[Skyline_GT]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

The link you've given simply redirects to your home page. It does not download the zip file. The same thing happens if I click it here in VB or if I cut and paste the link to the address line of Internet Explorer.

Thanks.. it seems is my hot link problem..
thanks