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

[dede1]

linkhits? Is the templates?

Where is to be? I inserted 11 Templates

[13th_Disciple]

updating the database won't be a template.. there is probably a query you didn't run for the install of 0.2

check your install and make sure you followed all directions.. haven't installed this hack, but since it refers to an unknown column, that means there should be a column that isn't there and was probably added by a query for the install..

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by dede1

linkhits? Is the templates?

Where is to be? I inserted 11 Templates

The zip file that you downloaded contained a file called instructions.txt and a file called links_maketable.sql. This is only the beta 0.2 release, so you have to manually run the sql code in the second file, e.g. using phpmyadmin or the command line mysql.exe etc. This sets up the four tables and populates the admin table. The next release will automate this process. Sorry if this is confusing.

After installation, you will have four tables (all with names starting local_links), eleven templates (all with names starting links_) and one php file.

[dede1]

Yes that have I everything made.

Nevertheless this error comes

[Natch]

PM sent re: a HTL version I made for my own use ...

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by dede1

Yes that have I everything made.

Nevertheless this error comes

Pls use VB's adminCP to backup just the 4 local_links tables and pm then to me so that I can take a look.

[SpankMe]

Just installed this and found the following bug:

The userid and username are not added to the links db when a member adds a link.

replace:

PHP Code:

        $DB_site->query("
                INSERT INTO local_linkslink (linkname, linkurl, linkdesc, linkhits, linkforum, linkcheck, linkstatus, linkdate)
                VALUES (
                '".addslashes(htmlspecialchars($linkname))."',
                '$linkurl',
                '".addslashes(htmlspecialchars($linkdesc))."',
                0,
                '$pforum',
                $statustime,
                $statuscheck,
                $statustime
                )
        "); 


with:

PHP Code:

        $DB_site->query("
                INSERT INTO local_linkslink (linkname, linkurl, linkdesc, linkhits, linkforum, linkcheck, linkstatus, linkdate, linkusername, linkuserid)
                VALUES (
                '".addslashes(htmlspecialchars($linkname))."',
                '$linkurl',
                '".addslashes(htmlspecialchars($linkdesc))."',
                0,
                '$pforum',
                $statustime,
                $statuscheck,
                $statustime,
                '".addslashes(htmlspecialchars($bbuserinfo[username]))."',
                $bbuserinfo[userid]
                )
        "); 


and replace:

PHP Code:

    $query = "
                SELECT link.linkid AS linkid, link.linkname AS linkname, 


with:

PHP Code:

    $query = "
                SELECT link.linkid AS linkid, link.linkname AS linkname, link.linkuserid AS linkuserid, 


and add the following:

PHP Code:

        $linkuserid = $myrow["linkuserid"]; 


below this code:

PHP Code:

    while ($myrow=$DB_site->fetch_array($asb)) {
        $linkid     = $myrow["linkid"];
        $linkname   = parse_bbcode2($myrow["linkname"], 1, 1, 1, 1);
        $linkurl    = $myrow["linkurl"];
        $linkhits   = $myrow["linkhits"];
        $linkstatus = $myrow["linkstatus"]; 


also the templates are not setup to show the "edit" link for members own links.

In the links_linkbit template

replace:

<if condition="$links_permissions[can_edit_link]>

with:

<if condition="$links_permissions[can_edit_link] or $bbuserinfo[userid] == $linkuserid">

I think thats everything.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by SpankMe

Just installed this and found the following bug:

The userid and username are not added to the links db when a member adds a link.

etc

I think thats everything.

Thanks - will make these fixes in the main release - the userid code was one of the more recent bits to go in. Appreciate your effort.

[daFish]

<font face="Arial">Great Hack but what about a HTL version?
Is there one available?

-Fish
</font>

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by daFish

Great Hack but what about a HTL version?
Is there one available?

-Fish

Yes, the next beta will be an HTL version - but give me a few days as I've a lot on this week.

Thanks to Natch for the insight into HTL.