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

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by 13th_Disciple

Andrew, will the error page be changed to the no permission page in this next version?

Yes, but I meant to contact you for clarification. Can you indicate the situations in which you want to see this change made - there are many potential routes to "no access" errors. I hope you're not referring to the use of the VBindex/VBAdvanced portal interfaces, as these are not under my control.

[13th_Disciple]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

Yes, but I meant to contact you for clarification. Can you indicate the situations in which you want to see this change made - there are many potential routes to "no access" errors. I hope you're not referring to the use of the VBindex/VBAdvanced portal interfaces, as these are not under my control.

Ok, if there is a direct link to the file, not thru the portal or anything, but just a direct link to the file thru the links deal, like so:

http://www.dbcenter.org/forums/local...ion=jump&id=84

you will get the print_standard_error.. but if you go to the actual catagory:

http://www.dbcenter.org/forums/local...links&catid=63

you will get the print_no_permission

So I would like to see either the print_no_permission error there, or at least have the navbar displayed to allow someone to register rather quickly.. does that explain it a little better or do you need a bit better clarification? and thank you Andrew for taking the time to look in to this.. greatly appreciated!!

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by 13th_Disciple

Ok, if there is a direct link to the file, not thru the portal or anything, but just a direct link to the file thru the links deal, like so:

http://www.dbcenter.org/forums/local...ion=jump&id=84

you will get the print_standard_error.. but if you go to the actual catagory:

http://www.dbcenter.org/forums/local...links&catid=63

you will get the print_no_permission

So I would like to see either the print_no_permission error there, or at least have the navbar displayed to allow someone to register rather quickly.. does that explain it a little better or do you need a bit better clarification? and thank you Andrew for taking the time to look in to this.. greatly appreciated!!

Got it - will make this consistent in the next release due out this week, assuming all goes well.

[13th_Disciple]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

Got it - will make this consistent in the next release due out this week, assuming all goes well.

Excellent.. thank you very much, Andrew..

[Onkel_Tom]

Works fine, thank you !
Onkel_Tom clicks install

[AndrewD]

Beta release 1.25 uploaded in first post to this thread. Please test and report.

New features:
a) Boolean fulltext searches and highlighted keywords
b) Ability to sort links display on name, date, hits
c) Facility to link to local downloads outside the web directory tree

Modifications:
a) Bug fix for quotes in usernames
b) More consistent error templates

[Onkel_Tom]

thanks AdrewD, beta 1.25 works fine for me !

[Ranma2k]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

Beta release 1.25 uploaded in first post to this thread. Please test and report.

New features:
a) Boolean fulltext searches and highlighted keywords
b) Ability to sort links display on name, date, hits
c) Facility to link to local downloads outside the web directory tree

Modifications:
a) Bug fix for quotes in usernames
b) More consistent error templates

There is a bug if you did a search
it will give the error

Invalid SQL: 
		SELECT link.linkid AS linkid, link.linkname AS linkname, link.linkuserid AS linkuserid, 
			link.linkusername AS linkusername, link.linkurl AS linkurl, link.linkdesc AS linkdesc, 
			link.linkhits AS linkhits, link.linkstatus AS linkstatus, link.linkdate AS linkdate,
			ltoc.catid AS linkcatid
		FROM local_linkslink AS link
		LEFT JOIN local_linksltoc AS ltoc
		ON link.linkid = ltoc.linkid
			
		WHERE
			link.linkforum NOT IN (0)
			AND (link.linkmoderate = 0 OR link.linkuserid =1 )
		
			AND  MATCH (link.linkname, link.linkdesc) AGAINST ('Naruto2' IN BOOLEAN MODE) 
			
			ORDER BY linkcatid, linkname
		
mysql error: You have an error in your SQL syntax near 'BOOLEAN MODE) )
			
			ORDER BY linkcatid, linkname

how can i fix this ?!

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Ranam2k

There is a bug if you did a search
it will give the error

how can i fix this ?!

I have two questions/suggestions:

a) did you install version 1.25 fresh or upgrade from an earlier version? If you upgraded, did you remember to run the local_links_install script?

b) which version of MySQL are you using? If it is earlier than 3.23.23 (I think), this version will not work. Most people are using version 4.0.something.

[ImportPassion]

I just installed 1.25, first time.

Wondering why link count doesn't show up for local files?