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

[fabz]

Originally Posted by SkyShadow

Hi,

the hack sounds very interesting but I've one question:

When I write and article and want to release it for the users.
Where does the hack put this article in?
Can I choose a forum or do I have to put the article in only one forum (for e.g. "My Articles")

Hi,
you must choose a folder (a forum) that will only be for articles, you can't mix articles and usual threads.
When you write it, like a thread, it's online directly (no draft possibility, maybe in next version )

The problem I encountered also is when writing full html articles, because vbulletin's text box isn't done for html editing. So you have to remove all blank spaces, put all text in one only line etc.

That's why I asked if someone succeeded in installing some online editors like FCKeditor or htmlarea on this hack, that would be the best thing it could happen (for me ) on this fabulous hack.

[The Geek]

Can articles and normal threads co-exist in same forum? Nope - Not sure why anyone would want that anyway. You can choose any number of 'article' forums anywhere on the site. Rich was right in the fact that all you do is specify the forumids you want to hold articles - put that id in and bam! they are all articles. The posting, reading, deleting, etc... permissions is all handled via the forum permissions. If they have permission to post a new thread - they have permission to create a new article. If they have permission to reply to others threads - they can comment.

There are no plans to impliment a draft version. I think there is a hack around here that does that - ill look into it as its a pretty grovvy idea.

Other than that - as I said - everything you do in a normal thread/post you can do in an article (and more).

HTH's

[rrr]

Hey Geek, any help with my problem with the autoavatar resizer (still waiting for a response in that thread )?

[shiva]

Hey Geek, can you attach the code to force the Chmod to 644 for image file uploads for me? Members can't display their images untill I manually chmod them in ftp. Thanks.

Also, there's a problem with going to the last post (by clicking the icon next to the thread) in Opera, calls up a error. Minor problem really.

Been very happy creating all those categories for my site, absolutely perfect for what I need, though I hate editing files.

[fuse3k]

*install*

Thank you for your time and effort.

[trulylowcarb]

Originally Posted by trulylowcarb

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.

Hoping you got my PM, Geek...

[Quelyn]

Sorry if this was already addressed but what's happening is that i have HTML enabled in the forums that are articles. So when it shows in the forums the first parts of the post, it shows the HTML as code... is there any way to work around this.

http://www.emocrap.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=36

if this was already addressed pelase point me to the right place to look for the answer.

[The Geek]

hmmm.

looks like I need to add a check to see if HTML is enabled. In the meantime - for those of you who have html enabled and have this problem, edit your forumdisplay.php file and search for:

PHP Code:

$thread['synopsis']=parse_bbcode2($thread['synopsis'], 0, 1, 1, 1); 


and change to

PHP Code:

$thread['synopsis']=parse_bbcode2($thread['synopsis'], $foruminfo['allowhtml'], 1, 1, 1); 


[The Geek]

Originally Posted by trulylowcarb

Hoping you got my PM, Geek...

I didnt carbman!

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by shiva

Hey Geek, can you attach the code to force the Chmod to 644 for image file uploads for me? Members can't display their images untill I manually chmod them in ftp. Thanks.

Also, there's a problem with going to the last post (by clicking the icon next to the thread) in Opera, calls up a error. Minor problem really.

Been very happy creating all those categories for my site, absolutely perfect for what I need, though I hate editing files.

Hey Shiva. Havent tried this but it should work!

edit your includes/functions_geekarticles_images.php file and replace

PHP Code:

    @copy($simg,$spath . $dest);
    @chmod($spath . $dest, 0777);
    return $dest; 


with

PHP Code:

    @copy($simg,$spath . $dest);
    @chmod($spath . $dest, 0644);
    return $dest; 


and for uploaded images (same file):

after:

PHP Code:

createthumb($dest, $dest,$GAS_setting['max_upload_width'],$GAS_setting['max_upload_height']); 


put:

PHP Code:

@chmod($dest, 0644); 


Like I said - I havent tried this myself and the issue may not be the chmod - it could be the image ownership which is another issue.

Ill look into the opera issue soon. I hope that helps!