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

[LoOnEyToOnZ]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

Indeed I am...

Ah.... I hope you dont mind but is there a ETA for the new version ?

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by LoOnEyToOnZ

Ah.... I hope you dont mind but is there a ETA for the new version ?

Ah, but maybe I do mind

I hope to have version 1.2 released, at least in beta form, within a couple (=2) weeks.

1.2 will have moderation and a standard interface to the portals. It will probably have an accompanying harvester to trawl through the forum posts for links.

And that, my friends, will be that for the time being...

[Wolfy.2k]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

Not at all...

You go to the Links Home, (../local_links.php) then on the left hand drop down menu for this hack, there should be two items - Home and Create Subcategory.

After you have created your first category, then extra items will appear on that drop down menu to allow you to create links.

ty m8

[Ian Emu-UK]

Hi, thanks for taking the trouble to making this hack for vB3, it's great, a nice addition to my site

One thing that could improve it though is a addition to the "functions_online.php" that showed viewing links instead of "unknown location" and the url to the page.

Probably really easy for a coder such as yourself, but for an novice like me, it's far too advanced

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Ian Emu-UK

Hi, thanks for taking the trouble to making this hack for vB3, it's great, a nice addition to my site

One thing that could improve it though is a addition to the "functions_online.php" that showed viewing links instead of "unknown location" and the url to the page.

Probably really easy for a coder such as yourself, but for an novice like me, it's far too advanced

Thanks for your remarks.

I'm probably a little tired, but I'm not sure what you're asking for? Are you wanting full information on the linked urls or to include the information on who is online?

[Ian Emu-UK]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

Thanks for your remarks.

I'm probably a little tired, but I'm not sure what you're asking for? Are you wanting full information on the linked urls or to include the information on who is online?

Right not it says:

Unknown Location
/forum/local_links.php?action=links

on who's online when someone is browing the main links page.

if it said

Viewing link directory
(Link to directory main page or the exact catergory they are looking at)

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Ian Emu-UK

Right not it says:



on who's online when someone is browing the main links page.

if it said

OK, I'll investigate. I'd removed the "who's online" information from our site's forums, so had not noticed that message.

[Skyline_GT]

I wonder can you make a list of changes for the next version?
also please try to add the status bar (I mean when you download files) to this hack

Thanks.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Skyline_GT

I wonder can you make a list of changes for the next version?
also please try to add the status bar (I mean when you download files) to this hack

Thanks.

I've explained what I'm planning to do. Please don't push too far or I may lose interest.

[Ian Emu-UK]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

OK, I'll investigate. I'd removed the "who's online" information from our site's forums, so had not noticed that message.

Thanks