Custom error-handler based on vBulletin templates

What this hack does?
---------------------------

UPDATE: Improved instruction.txt, fixed for those who use external style sheets

This hack adds a custom error-handler to your site using the vBulletin template engine to display the appropriate errors (e.g. 404 File not Found, 403 Forbidden, etc).

Demo
-------
Go to my site and enter some non-existing url. E.g. Random 404 Error. Or try to access my /cgi-bin path to receive a 403 error.

What to do?
----------------
queries to run: 0
templates changed: 0
templates added: 1 (ERROR_SHELL)
files changed: 1 (.htaccess)
files added: 1 (error.php)

Time needed to install
----------------------------
< 5 mins

[Natch]

Originally Posted by Boofo

The $vboptions[bburl] doesn't work for stylesheets as files. I just tested it. You have to have the absolute path for the home page to work right.

You're right ... then you could use $vboptions[homeurl]/forums/ but that defeats the purpose of having one template for all ...

Originally Posted by Boofo

How would you set up the switch code?

I knoew you would ask see above

[Natch]

I believe that Zachery has posted code that gives an absolute path to the link href statement to call stylesheets - that's why I didn't notice it not working ... it did for me

[Boofo]

Witrh Zach's code, I don't need the Base code in the template anymore. Thank you, sir.

[Boofo]

Originally Posted by Natch

As I mentioned in the post above, this code can be more efficient (and easier to add new error codes) witha switch statement:

Find:

PHP Code:

if(isset($_SERVER['REDIRECT_STATUS']))
{
    if ($_SERVER['REDIRECT_STATUS']=="404") 
    {
        $error['title'] = "404 File Not Found";
        $error['description'] = "The web server cannot find the file you asked for. Check the URL to ensure that the path is correct.";
        $error['contact'] = "Please <a href=\"$vboptions[bburl]/$vboptions[contactuslink]\">contact</a> us if you believe that the mistake is on our part.";
    }
    elseif ($_SERVER['REDIRECT_STATUS']=="403") {
        $error['title'] = "403 Forbidden";
        $error['description'] = "You don't have permission to access this document on this server.";
        $error['contact'] = "Please <a href=\"$vboptions[bburl]/$vboptions[contactuslink]\">contact</a> us if you think that there is a mistake.";
    }
    elseif ($_SERVER['REDIRECT_STATUS']=="401") {
        $error['title'] = "401 Unauthorized";
        $error['description'] = "The URL you are requesting requires proper authentication.";
        $error['contact'] = "Please <a href=\"$vboptions[bburl]/$vboptions[contactuslink]\">contact</a> us if you think that there is a mistake.";
    }
    elseif ($_SERVER['REDIRECT_STATUS']=="500") {
        $error['title'] = "500 Internal Server Error";
        $error['description'] = "We encountered an unexpected condition.";
        $error['contact'] = "Please <a href=\"$vboptions[bburl]/$vboptions[contactuslink]\">contact</a> us to report this problem.";
    }
    elseif ($_SERVER['REDIRECT_STATUS']=="503") {
        $error['title'] = "503 Service Unavailable";
        $error['description'] = "We are currently unable to handle your request due to a temporary overloading or maintenance of the server.";
        $error['contact'] = "Please <a href=\"$vboptions[bburl]/$vboptions[contactuslink]\">contact</a> us if this problem persists.";
    }    
    else
    {
        $error['title'] = "Unknown Error: " . $_SERVER['REDIRECT_STATUS'];
        $error['description'] = "We are currently unable to handle this error.";
        $error['contact'] = "Please <a href=\"$vboptions[bburl]/$vboptions[contactuslink]\">contact</a> us if this problem persists.";        
    }
}
else
{
        $error['title'] = "Unknown Error";
        $error['description'] = "We are currently unable to handle this error.";
        $error['contact'] = "Please <a href=\"$vboptions[bburl]/$vboptions[contactuslink]\">contact</a> us if this problem persists.";        
} 


Replace with:

PHP Code:

if(!isset($_SERVER['REDIRECT_STATUS']))
{
        $error['title'] = "Unknown Error";
        $error['description'] = "We are currently unable to handle this error.";
        $error['contact'] = "Please <a href=\"$vboptions[bburl]/$vboptions[contactuslink]\">contact</a> us if this problem persists.";        
}
else switch($_SERVER['REDIRECT_STATUS'])
{
    case("404"):
        $error['title'] = "404 File Not Found";
        $error['description'] = "The web server cannot find the file you asked for. Check the URL to ensure that the path is correct.";
        $error['contact'] = "Please <a href=\"$vboptions[bburl]/$vboptions[contactuslink]\">contact</a> us if you believe that the mistake is on our part.";
    break;
    case("403"):
        $error['title'] = "403 Forbidden";
        $error['description'] = "You don't have permission to access this document on this server.";
        $error['contact'] = "Please <a href=\"$vboptions[bburl]/$vboptions[contactuslink]\">contact</a> us if you think that there is a mistake.";
    break;
    case("401"):
        $error['title'] = "401 Unauthorized";
        $error['description'] = "The URL you are requesting requires proper authentication.";
        $error['contact'] = "Please <a href=\"$vboptions[bburl]/$vboptions[contactuslink]\">contact</a> us if you think that there is a mistake.";
    break;
    case("500"):
        $error['title'] = "500 Internal Server Error";
        $error['description'] = "We encountered an unexpected condition.";
        $error['contact'] = "Please <a href=\"$vboptions[bburl]/$vboptions[contactuslink]\">contact</a> us to report this problem.";
    break;
    case("503"):
        $error['title'] = "503 Service Unavailable";
        $error['description'] = "We are currently unable to handle your request due to a temporary overloading or maintenance of the server.";
        $error['contact'] = "Please <a href=\"$vboptions[bburl]/$vboptions[contactuslink]\">contact</a> us if this problem persists.";
    default:
        $error['title'] = "Unknown Error: " . $_SERVER['REDIRECT_STATUS'];
        $error['description'] = "We are currently unable to handle this error.";
        $error['contact'] = "Please <a href=\"$vboptions[bburl]/$vboptions[contactuslink]\">contact</a> us if this problem persists.";        
} 


Also (to follow all those W3C tips about the TITLE tags) ...

In the ERROR_SHELL template, find:

<title>$vboptions[bbtitle]</title>

Replace with:

<title>$error[title] - $vboptions[bbtitle]</title>

Shouldn't there be a break before the default line?

[paulomt1]

Where I can add the 'AllowOverride FileInfo' entry?

Problem already resolved, thanks

[Synicide]

Originally Posted by Boofo

Have you thought about releasing it at all?

I dunno dude, I kind of like my one of a kind styles. But hey, if I ever feel like coming up with a more generic version of it... I guess I could release it, you think it'd be a good idea?

[Boofo]

Originally Posted by Synicide

I dunno dude, I kind of like my one of a kind styles. But hey, if I ever feel like coming up with a more generic version of it... I guess I could release it, you think it'd be a good idea?

I think that would be an excellent idea.

[ImportPassion]

i wasn't using the sendmessage.php, so the link was messed up for contact. that should be an option.

also, it's funny, when you do click the contact us link, it takes u to the contact page and after you send it, it takes u back to the 404 page.

[Natch]

Originally Posted by Boofo

Shouldn't there be a break before the default line?

Yup - I''ll modify my post to reflect that (good debugging)

[Boofo]

Originally Posted by Natch

Yup - I''ll modify my post to reflect that (good debugging)

Always willing to help a friend out.