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

[BigIke]

nice job geek.. one question. Do you have any ideas as to why the synopsis isn't shown on the article forum page? http://s116946478.onlinehome.us/vb/f...splay.php?f=18

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by bringindaruckus

nice job geek.. one question. Do you have any ideas as to why the synopsis isn't shown on the article forum page? http://s116946478.onlinehome.us/vb/f...splay.php?f=18

Thank check your settings for the legacy forumdisplay option.

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by fabz

Thank you Geek, so I think it should be a good idea to include in your script a small list box when editing a new article, and asking whereas it's pure HTML content or "none specified"
In that case, may it be possible in forumdisplay to avoid vbulletin analysing html content ?

For security reasons this could only be possible for certain usergroups.
I don't know if you see what I mean or if it should be better for the script.

id have to look into it fabz... like I said - it was really just a guess anyway. There may be a better way to do it.

[fabz]

Thank you very much.
Really nice job.

[BigIke]

ahh I see. I did try changing the legacy forumdisplay option, but since there was no attachment, it looked kind of weird, because I had not set the path to the default.jpg image right. Thanks again

[fuse3k]

I have a small MOD request, if someone is kind enough to help me:

Firstly, I love this Article system, however I'm not using it for it's [original] intended purpose. I'm using this as a product review system. I've altered the phrases so everything is fine there...what I'm hoping to do is modify the system in a way so, instead of having one box to write the article, there are 4 boxes total, then combine the input of all three boxes and post it. More specifically I'm looking for a text field for product Pro's, product Con's, then the main section for posting their final conclusion, etc. Doing so the end-user will have a standard to follow so that all the reviews are of the same organized layout. The Pro text area and the Con's text area can be added just below the synopsis text area. If there's a coder willing to help me with this please reply on this forum or e-mail me at fuse3k-at-gmail.com. I would be forever in debt to you.

[trulylowcarb]

Having no luck uploading custom avatars or linking to them. No other hacks installed since this one, except for I just now tried your auto-avatar resizer hack, hoping that might fix things. Had already moved avatars into the file system instead of the db successfully, but that didn't solve the problem for me as it did someone else in this thread. (Uploading to articles forums works perfectly.)
Help, please.

EDIT: I just uninstalled a profile hack to block animated avatars that had been installed before this one, and all is fine again, now.... sorry to confuse the issue. There must be a conflict there in the two hacks somewhere.

[She Unlimited]

I was wondering how I can supply a user manual to my editors how to submit articles etc?

[She Unlimited]

I have the Geek article system, can I run both cings, and the Journal at once?

[The Geek]

carb - PM me those details and Ill look into it for you.

She - You should be able to run Cinq's and the journal at the same time without a problem. As far as a user manual - Make an article about article submissions