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.

[Harlequin]

Most definitely. I have alot of faith in you, Anime-loo.


Certainly, an option for admins to choose store integration with a custom journal wouldn't be that bad of a feature. The more I think about it, the more it sounds pretty groovy.


What I was meaning to mention earlier to FleaBag about the cursing and filtering and whatnot, that'd be a pretty nice admin edit menu, too.


Humm humm. I might have to work on something like that.

[memobug]

Originally Posted by Harlequin

About the Journal 2.0, however. That's a substantial develop task for me. :P The real question is, what features would the majority of users like to see in a Journal 2.0?

Hi There. I remember a few:

1. I think the biggest single issue is the journal display beyond 10 entries is very poor. You can look at either all entries or the last ten, and if you have lots of entries (or even a few embedded graphics) you could be looking at a very long load time.

2. A couple of other people were very anxious to get the capability for buddies to view private entries. Personally I don't have a need, but it was a big deal for them.

3. There was also some issue with journal management. I wasn't clear if it was having admin capability to delete a user journal (I've had a few people create one accidentally and never put anything in it). I suspect they can be culled in phpMyadmin in a pinch, but somebody had a database error, so maybe it's not that easy.

4. There were some posts about having journal entries increment the user post counter. No big deal for me either way.

5. Somebody(s) wanted to be able to use attachments with journals.

6. Option to limit journal entries to one per day.

7. Someone was concerned about spamming the journal (bumping their own view counter). I posted a fix for that in the original vBJournal thread.

8. There is a minor bug in the way the journal invokes BB code that can prevent IMG tags from displaying properly. I posted a fix for that in the original vBjournal thread.

9. URLs don't autolink. I never got to the bottom of that one, because it was small potatoes compared with the other stuff.

10. Someone had the idea that journals could be subscribed to and you'd get notification of new entries in that journal. I don't know if it needs to be that complex, but maybe if the postbit MY JOURNAL button were red if there were posts since the reader's last login, that would be enough to flag new events without full fledged subscription.

11. Some wanted the standard vB editor with smilies and stuff to appear. Makes sense to me.

I'm sure there were other ideas, but those stuck out in my mind. In my opinion #1 is the immediate need, affecting usability for everyone who has a vBJournal.

Regards,

Matt

[Harlequin]

All of those are absolutely great suggestions.

To add to that, I was thinking of adding a 'buddy' capability, including the private journal entry view only option that would allow other people to 'buddy' their friends. [Yet again, hellooo LiveJournal.]

I need to wait on seeing what Anime-loo's finished product is going to be though before I try anything. I don't want to rehash old work if he's going to blow me out of the water [which he certainly can.]

[memobug]

Originally Posted by Harlequin

I need to wait on seeing what Anime-loo's finished product is going to be though before I try anything. I don't want to rehash old work if he's going to blow me out of the water [which he certainly can.]

That's considerate, but it may be unnecessary. He must have bigger fish to fry, which is completely understandable. It was going to be a 2-3 week project nearly six months ago, then a before summer thing, then it dropped off the radar entirely.

I understand we all have shifting priorities. The birth of my daughter recently made that crystal clear.

Regards,

Matt

[Harlequin]

Anime-loo and I have been talking thoroughly about this project for the past two weeks now. It's been given new blood by the addition of this addon and I have faith he'll pull through on whatever he thinks will work.


I look forward to his product.

[Harlequin]

However, curiosity killed the cat and last night I began working on a few tidbits.

One of those is the ability to delete an entry if you're an admin -- that was really no sweat.

The second one is a bit tougher for me but it's coming along okay methinks. I'm integrating vBJournal's buddy list with a LiveJournal-type journal "friend" system.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by memobug

That's considerate, but it may be unnecessary. He must have bigger fish to fry, which is completely understandable. It was going to be a 2-3 week project nearly six months ago, then a before summer thing, then it dropped off the radar entirely.

I understand we all have shifting priorities. The birth of my daughter recently made that crystal clear.

Regards,

Matt

I been trying to take a break from the net this year because I spend 1/2 of the last 4 years on it . Ive been on most of the time the last month and have alot to catach up on, mostly opening two sites, one of which will hopfully bring in some profit. So that explains the delays, I apologize for everyone thats been waiting .

Im going to complie a feture list tonight so people can add to it and post it in a new thread over in general hacking so we can stop hi-jacking this one . It is going to take a total re-write of the code to do it correctly and make sure it is secure.

[Harlequin]

That sounds absolutely wonderful, but have no fear -- I've been on the net ever since I was 9 and haven't bothered taking a break at all. No, I don't have a telephone jack sticking out of my ear -yet-, but I look forward to having one pretty soon.



Certainly I'll add to this feature list when I can.

I think I found something this morning that just makes sense -- having the vBJournal "buddy" feature that I was adding read from the original vBulletin group of "buddies" and if so and so has a recent journal entry, display it.

I think I was somewhere in that vacinity with my stab at coding it last night. :P



I hope to work with you in the future on this -- if you need any templates or anything if I can't help you out on code, please let me know and I won't hesitate to try.

[sabret00the]

hopefully we could get the store integration before work starts on all this, as much as i'd love it all, i'd love to get to this stage atleast first

[Brad]

I have started a new thread here so we dont keep hi-jacking this hack thread.