Show Thread Enhancements - Automatic Embedded Video (youtube, plus many more)

This hack has been withdrawn. Read on for an explanation. Shortly after the initial release I was contacted by another developer who had some ideas for the mod. This developer basically rewrote a new mod based on my original concept. Unfortunately we couldn't come to an agreement on a way to develop and support the future of this mod. Since he has released his mod separately, and it does pretty much everything my original mod did and is more efficient for those running large systems, I have decided to discontinue the further development of my mod. I took this decision because I don't believe that it makes sense to have two mods out there doing the same thing. I recommend to all users, both present and future, that you switch over to his mod instead (here). I've taken a look at it and I think it's a great mod and you'll all be very happy with it. I understand that he will also provide routines to import and convert tags used by my mod, this should also make your life easier.

Since I will not develop this mod further, I am also withdrawing support for it. Since I don't believe there is such a thing as an unsupported mod (since people will ALWAYS ask for and expect support regardless) I have therefore withdrawn the file from download. I hope some of you can understand my decision.

This mod has had a short but happy life, and I wish you all the best with the replacement mod. Thank you to everyone who has offered encouragement so far, and I hope to see you on my next mod.

I've left the original text below for historical reasons:


What does this mod do?

If a user copies and pastes a URL that links to a video streaming service (such as youtube) the mod will automatically take the URL and convert it into an embedded form directly in the post itself. Users can now play the videos directly from the thread! In other words:

• No template or file edits
• Nothing to configure
• Initial version supports sixteen different video sharing sites
• Pasted URLs are automatically converted to versions that display embedded video - in thread
• Option to include original URL in additional to providing embedded version.
• Forum, group and user permissions allow you to include or exclude who/what is affected by this mod.

How many services will it support?

The initial version contains support for sixteen different video services. If others contribute the required information for other services, this is likely to grow. The initial version (1.0) contains support for the following services:

Youtube, Metacafe, iFilm, Putfile, Bolt, Google Video, Guba, Grouper, Revver, Atom Films, Veoh, Myspace Video, Vimeo, Vmix, Eyespot, Liveleak, Sapo

Which services does it not support?

Many video sites don't provide enough information in the URLs to make automatic embedding possible. The following services were checked and found to be impossible to use with this mod:

Photobucket, Daily Motion, vidiLife, Yahoo Video, AOL Uncut, Yikers, vSocial, ManiaTV, Phanfare, CastPost, Jumpcut, Sharkle, Clipshack, Filecow, Break

Please don't request that these services be included in this mod - it's not possible. If you'd like to try and figure out how to do it yourself - please do!

Why is this different to other mods?

Other mods require you to enter BB Code yourself, but more importantly they require the user to have to add the tags themselves. Users are notoriously lazy and often won't even bother to use BB Code. This mod suits lazy users - it handles everything automatically without the user having to do anything - they just copy and paste the URL!

How do I install it?

Download the enclosed .xml file. In your AdminCP -> Plugins and Products -> Manage Products -> Add/Import Product use the browse button to upload the .xml file you just downloaded and make sure "Allow Overwrite" is set to yes if you are upgrading from a previous version. Click "Import". Installation time - 30 seconds.

How do I configure it?

Go to AdminCP -> vBulletin Options -> Automatic Embedded Video. All settings are pretty much self explanatory and there is nothing that needs to be changed for most forums.

Are there any limitations?

The hack will only work with properly formatted URLs. If the user mangles them, it may not work. Only new messages posted will be affected and this mod will not have any effect on any URLs you may paste in while editing. It will only take effect when you preview or submit new posts!

Is there a downside to this mod?

None that I can think of!

Will new services be added in future?

Possibly. Make sure you click "Installed" so that you'll be notified about new versions.

How can I expand it myself?

See the first post on this thread for details.

User Testimonials

What have people been saying about this mod?

"Anyway, this is be far the best mod of the year! something so simple, yet so effective! My members and myself love it. Thanks again." - hornstar1337

"No way! This Hack is simply a Must!!" - Silvio

"simply the best mod ever." - kushal

"You are my hero. My users are always F'n up the BBcode that should be so simple and now its idiot proof." - MortysTW

"Thanks very much for the mod - very simple to install yet useful as anything." - p0ng0

"Sorry I had to come and re-post how excited this mod has made me lol." - Fleabag

"Working great with vbSEO" - mtlcore

"I have only tested a few videos so far but works like a charm!!! What an awesome mod!!!" - RichieBoy67

Version History

1.0 - Initial release (23.06.2007) (updated a couple of hours after release with some minor fixes 01:31 24.06.2007 GMT)
1.1 - Feature upgrade (26.06.2007). Added ability to include/exclude users, groups or forums. Added feature to replace even when BB Code permissions don't allow it. Added feature to both embed the video AND display the original URL above the video. Loosened logic to include variations in URLs for certain services (different countries, domains, etc). Should cover a wider range of URLs now. More video services coming soon...

27.06.2007 - Mod withdrawn. Details above and here.

[Hornstar]

Originally Posted by FleaBag

I changed the execution order of this hack, to 1, and it all works just fine now. Working with vBSEO. I'm guessing this technically should deal with the URL before anything else - as long as vB gets there first I'm happy. Will changing execution order to 1 have any detremental effects?

that is what im thinking, and how do you change the execution order ^^
Maybe vbseo execution order could be changed a little higher, could be worth asking vbseo as well.

[FleaBag]

vBSEO is already at 5. You browse plugins in ACP and click edit to change the order.

I think I spoke too soon... I sucessfully posted a URL, but the next one I tried resulted in vBSEO replacing the string again. The only thing I did in between was to try and edit an old post, to see if it would have any effect. Maybe editing the post is causing the issue.

[mfyvie]

Originally Posted by hornstar1337

This looks truly awesome, but it is a shame that a feature in vbseo will need to be turned off first, hopefully there can be another solution for this.

Actually, I've just confirmed this with my own internal test, and if you download this mod in about 30 minutes it won't be an issue.

Originally Posted by FleaBag

I changed the execution order of this hack, to 1, and it all works just fine now. Working with vBSEO. I'm guessing this technically should deal with the URL before anything else - as long as vB gets there first I'm happy. Will changing execution order to 1 have any detremental effects?

I've actually changed it to 3 - just in case there is something out there later than needs to get in earlier. Changing to 1 effectively locks any other mod from going before you if it needs to.

Originally Posted by Lizard King

I think you missed that i edited my post and included the links.

Yes, after or during my reply. From looking at the links I can see that some were working, some were not. This is due to the - character in the youtube URLs (wasn't expecting that, my test URLs didn't have them). This will be fixed in a few minutes. Watch this thread.

[Lizard King]

Strange thing , After posting a metacafe link now youtube videos also started to work on my test server. However on live server metacafe videos work but youtube videos look like [YOUTUBEvid]C7V3WCy1Ozc[/youtubevid] , Here is the link for the thread http://www.ayyas.com/road-trip/18229...ur/#post313522
I have my execution order for this product set to 1 also.

[FleaBag]

Affirmative - YouTube's without URL's work just fine. Great work, good to hear the fix is coming!

If you could make it let us edit posts manually and work too, you'd really make my day. My month in fact.

[aj8690]

Works great. Hope we can fix that YouTube no www. problem.

AJ

[mfyvie]

PRODUCT FILE UPDATED

All users who have downloaded and installed this mod prior to the date stamp on this post (which is after all a couple of hours after the release) should redownload and reinstall the .xml file included with this release.

This should resolve all issues reported on this to date (that I have control over).

Those who have reported issues so far, please retest to see if they are resolved after you reinstall, and raise them again if they are.

PRODUCT FILE UPDATED

[mfyvie]

Originally Posted by aj8690

Works great. Hope we can fix that YouTube no www. problem.

Now fixed. Also loosened the logic for all the other services in case this happens to them in the future.

Originally Posted by FleaBag

If you could make it let us edit posts manually and work too, you'd really make my day. My month in fact.

Well I want to avoid duplicating the entire code at another hook, or using a file (I hate it when I have to upload a file). Remember that when you edit you can manually use the BBCode tags, you just won't get an automatic conversion.

If your issue is that you want to go and convert all your EXISTING posts, then I'm going to make a script to do this for you - so you wouldn't need the edit feature you are asking for.

Originally Posted by Lizard King

Strange thing , After posting a metacafe link now youtube videos also started to work on my test server. However on live server metacafe videos work but youtube videos look like [YOUTUBEvid]C7V3WCy1Ozc[/youtubevid] , Here is the link for the thread http://www.ayyas.com/road-trip/18229...ur/#post313522
I have my execution order for this product set to 1 also.

If you are seeing the bbcode tags like that then my mod has done its work. You may be having some kind of other issue related to the bbcode itself - I'd look into that separately.

Please don't set execution order to 1, I'm now using 3. Use 1 only to verify that there isn't something sitting at 3 or lower, but nothing else should be.

Originally Posted by FleaBag

vBSEO is already at 5. You browse plugins in ACP and click edit to change the order.

I think I spoke too soon... I sucessfully posted a URL, but the next one I tried resulted in vBSEO replacing the string again. The only thing I did in between was to try and edit an old post, to see if it would have any effect. Maybe editing the post is causing the issue.

I don't use any of the hooks for post editing, but vbseo may well be doing so. However, if the mod has already converted it to bbcode, then vbseo won't be able to touch it in the edit (since it won't see it as a link).

Originally Posted by hornstar1337

that is what im thinking, and how do you change the execution order ^^
Maybe vbseo execution order could be changed a little higher, could be worth asking vbseo as well.

Not needed. My mod is now at 3, vbseo default is at 5, which is also fine. Provided you've reinstalled my mod - everything should now be working.

[Lizard King]

The - problem has been solved. My other problem [YOUTUBEvid]C7V3WCy1Ozc[/youtubevid] was a conflict with another Youtube video bbcode i disabled this to test and now it works. However i have tons of messages using this tag.

[mfyvie]

Originally Posted by nfn

Here is the first contribution.

http://videos.sapo.pt

Just to let you know - this is now included in the current version. I loosened the logic on the regular expression a little in line with some changes I made to all the others. Seems to work fine on my board.