Geek Article System 3.52

IMPORTANT:
Please note that I can no longer support this project. Primarily as it is designed for vb3.0.x and I no longer use that version (im obviously on vb3.5x ). There is a version for vb3.5 however its a commercial script. This project is left here for the community.
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HowdA All.

The GAS3 system is a comprehensive article system that completely integrates into vB3.

News:

• Updated 3/08/05 to version 3.53 for compatability with vb3.08
• Updated 13/05/05 to version 3.52!!! Posts for 3.52 to integrate with GAL4.0 start here

History

Originally, I looked into other article systems to integrate with my forums but just got irritated over and over again as I found the other offering out there very limiting for my needs. I wanted to use my members usergroup permissions, the search facility (so when someone did a search for 'bob' both articles AND threads appeared on one page), I also wanted wysiwyg editing and vBs attachment system. Well, I accomplished 99% of my needs with the Geek Article System 2.0
Why 3.0? While the 2.0 was fine for my needs, many users began asking for a far more complex system that took the beauty of 2.0 and added popular features in the other article systems.

Here are the features in a nutshell:

• Integrates 100% into vB. No importing forums or creating special groups. Simply mark forum as an 'Article' forum and instantly all threads become articles. Dont like it anymore? Simply remove the ID and the therads and forums go back to normal.
• Whatever you can do in a thread or post, you can do with the GAS3 system (uploading attachments, smiles, BBcode, various editors, yadayadayada)
• Adding on the above point: all the differing vB editors (wysiwyg, etc..), usergroup permissions (heck - anything you can set for a forum you can set in this - AND MORE!) why> because it is totally integrated!
• Create multiple pages in your post by simply putting [BREAK] anywhere in your post.
• The first thumbnail in an article substitutes the posters avatar (switchable via admincp)
• Upload header images and have them auto resize
• Choose header images from a global (or forum specific) gallery
• Integrated article byline.
• Synopsis - allows users to give a summary that appears on the new forumdisplay
• New forumdisplay shows article header image and synopsis (if no synopsis then the first X amount of characters from the article is used)
• Synopisis allows BBCode
• Integrates with the Geek AutoLink system (optional)
• Allows you to post as other users
• Article sidebar that shows the article rating, your rating, the rating form, article tools, and article attachments (all toggable via admincp)
• An auto installer/upgrader/uninstaller that makes all file edits for you!
• A whole host of other tiddlybits that I wont bore you with

Special thanks goes to rlamego, peterska2, Snow, Gldtn, and Magic Spark for private Beta testing this for me. Couldnt of happened without them!

Change log
13.05.05 - updated to 3.52
All this does is update GAS for the GAL4.0 integration.
To update, simply replace your existing functions_geekarticles.php with the one in the latest package.

18.3.05 - updated to 3.51
This really just fixes a couple of mega minor bugs.
Added new default icon per forum functionality (see readme)
Wrote a real README.
Wrote a seperate 3.5x upgrade script. Users of 3.5x should run admincp/gas3_upgrade.php

16.3.05 - updated to 3.50
Loads of new features and a new installer that makes the file changes for you.
New forumdisplay
Uploading of images for your header
Synopsis box
yadayadayda

10.2.05 - updated to 3.02
Fixed typo in readme (step 2.6 referenced $articlebyline instead of $GAS_byline). This bug fixes the disappearing byline when editing an article.
To upgrade - edit your editpost template and search for $articlebyline then replace it with $GAS_byline

Importers
I have made an importer for v3articles. Technically speaking, you dont have to strictly have GAS3 installed to use the importer (though it is ideal). What it does is essentailly import v3articles, comments, ratings, and attachments into existing forums as new threads, replies, threadratings, and post attachments. The idea is that you install GAS3, create the forums to house your articles, and then import your existing v3articles into them (but as I said, you can simply import v3articles into normal forums without having GAS3 installed).
There is also a rollback feature in case you change your mind or experience a problem with the import. Your v3articles installation isnt touched. In fact, no v3articles are harmed in the process

Known issues:

• none that I am aware of.

Demos: (note that I have a custom skin, so your results will be ever so slightly different)
http://www.thenailgeek.com/showthread.php?t=11287
http://www.thenailgeek.com/showthread.php?t=8801 - pages with comments (click View Comments to see comments only)


Difficulty - EASY
Time - about 5 minutes
File modifications? a few but now all done automatically for you

Change log:

Updated to 3.01 Feb 7th
Fixed a couple template errors and minor readme instructions


Instructions

Click install. I have busted my butt over the past few weeks to do this and all I ask is that you click install if you use it

• Download the package and unzip.
• Follow the README!
• Ther installer does all the work for you
• When done, go into your admncp, and adjust your settings

Troubleshooting:

• No phrases after install? This happens a lot with many installers for some bizzare reason. All you have to do is do a phrase search for GAS_ , edit the phrase (dont change it), then save it. Bingo - all your phrases appear.

Also:

I would therefore backup your DB, your styles, and any of the files the README asks you to change.

nJoy

[trulylowcarb]

Installed last night on a vb3.07 forum running cmps1.01
Ran into some trouble with the installer, probably due to some changes I have made in order to wrap my forum homes pages with the portal modules, but I wanted to let you know what's up.

One error: "Can not complete change to forumdisplay.php - step 209 as I can not find the text to replace. You will have to manually complete this step.
Looks like there were some errors reverting the files. manual changes (link will open in new window) before continuing."

step 209
in forumdisplay.php, replace:
eval('print_output("' . fetch_template('FORUMDISPLAY') . '");');

with:

// === GAS step 208 ===
if ($GAS_setting['rt_template']){

eval('print_output("' . fetch_template($GAS_setting['rt_template']) . '");');

}else{
eval('print_output("' . fetch_template('FORUMDISPLAY') . '");');
}
// === /GAS step 209 ===

MINE WAS:
eval('$HTML = "' . fetch_template('FORUMDISPLAY') . '";');
print_portal_output($home, $HTML);

So I did this instead:

// === GAS step 208 ===
if ($GAS_setting['rt_template']){

eval('print_output("' . fetch_template($GAS_setting['rt_template']) . '");');

}else{

eval('$HTML = "' . fetch_template('FORUMDISPLAY') . '";');
print_portal_output($home, $HTML);
}
// === /GAS step 209 ===

Wasn't sure what to do after that, the installer doesn't start up again on its own, so I tried running again, got some 'this is already done, skipping this step' messages, then it appeared to complete the rest of installation. However, at the end, I discovered that it hadn't, and I had to go back and manually do all edits after step 209. Once I did that, all appeared to be as it should be. Thanks for the chuckles in the install file.

Now that I've given you some feedback that I assume you want, I need to pick your brain. It doesn't appear to be displaying the designated article forum as designed. Hoping you/someone can/will help me figure out how to either
a] use this changed code appropriately so I can display the articles forum "wrapped" the same as my others
OR
b] Figure out how to use and call a different showthread template for the forums I am designating as articles. I really don't care if *they* are wrapped, actually, but the regular forums do need to stay as-is, and I am a rank ametuer with conditionals and the rest... everything I do is by trial and error guesswork....
Thanks in advance.
(Voting for this hack for HOTM now!!)

[The Geek]

Thanks Carb. The changes should have been made on the other files - it will have told you if it couldnt have done those (like step 208). Are you sure you copied the files from gas/changes to your forum?

I am not sure what you mean by wrapped. A link would help out if possible.

Thanks

[Lionel]

I am using your Geek Auto Link.

I am also using your vBaGallery thumbs insert in post so I see you are familiar with vBa hacks.

Please consider making a hack for vBaLinks to work with GAL. Any title in Links database should automatically be recognized in GAS when typed in and parsed as link to the detail in vBaLinks (not the external link, the details one).

[The Equivocate]

Is there any way I can have it default to view the articles by Title, not by Last Post? I plan on using this as a Lyrics database. On that note, is there any way to separate by letter?

[trulylowcarb]

Originally Posted by The Geek

Are you sure you copied the files from gas/changes to your forum?
I am not sure what you mean by wrapped. A link would help out if possible.

Mea culpa on the first one, that explains why I had to do the rest of the mods by hand. Guilty of one of my own biggest pet peeves, failure to follow details in directions. *makes disgusted sound in lieu of slapping self* But I must have done okay with the hand-mods, because nothing has changed since I fixed that.

Will PM you all the info and links, including the mod I used to 'wrap' the forums with the portal, I am sure I am probably using the wrong term there, that's just how I think of it.

(Which all means that your installer worked perfectly, and this little problem is surely due to this other hack and my own incompetence at 2AM.)

[intrigue]

Warning: move_uploaded_file(): open_basedir restriction in effect. File(/home3/sub005/sc11388-aswk/www/forum/gas/images/1/robots.jpg) is not within the allowed path(s): (/home3/sub005/sc11388-ASWK:/home/sub002/:/home/sub000/:/home/sub007/:/tmp:/usr/local/lib/ImageMagick/:/usr/local/lib/php/) in /includes/functions_geekarticles_images.php on line 104

im not sure what this means but my understanding would be a permissions problem
but the folders are set to 777
any ideas?
.matt

[The Geek]

intrigue - Other users with the open_basedir error have simply changed to using relative instead of absolute paths and that has sorted it (see previous page).

the equivocate - Im pretty sure you can do this via the forum settings - however I could be wrong. If not, you would need to hack the hack - let me know and ill see if I have time to look into it for you.

[hockyfan]

As seen here, my articles stretch farther out than the rest of the forum does. How can I fix this?


h

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by hockyfan

As seen here, my articles stretch farther out than the rest of the forum does. How can I fix this?


h

Tough to say without playing about. however try this:
edit GAS_forumdisplay and change:

$announcebits
<table class="tborder" cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="$stylevar[cellspacing]" border="0" width="100%" align="center">

to

$announcebits

See if that sorts it.

HTH's

[Symbian.info]

Ok install it but a problem with the installer, it says that directory GAS is not there.
But it is there! With cmod777. Ik make the subdirs manual and it works fine. Strange.

Missing phrase in Template GAS_threadbit stands now Posted by, but must be: $vbphrase[geek_articles_posted_by] and why not use the global one?? $vbphrase[posted_by] ?

Also with last activity why not use the global one: $vbphrase[last_activity]

And a dubble phrase: geek_articles_rate_article and geek_articles_rate_this_article and a other one:
geek_articles_search_article and geek_articles_search_this_article

BTW are vBaCMPS Latest Geek Articles and vBaCMPS Featured/Random Geek Articles update so it works with this version (forum IDs from the config database)???

Thanks for this awsome script!