Integration with vBulletin - YAFB - Yay! Another Facebook Bridge

This is not just a "port" for vBulletin 4 of this modification, this is the next version of the modification which support both vBulletin 4 and vBulletin 3 family

IMPORTANT: FILE ISSUES HERE: http://code.google.com/p/vbulletinfacebook/issues/list (require a Google Account)

Yay! Another Facebook Bridge 3.3.2
Tested to work with vBulletin 3.7.x and 3.8.x (3.6.x requires some manual edit, contact me for detail instruction)
Tested to work with vBulletin 4.0 (use different .xml import file)
Please note: this product requires PHP5. If you get weird error messages, please check if you PHP version is still 4 (which is very old and you should change to PHP5 as soon as possible). Also, MySQL 5 is strongly recommended

[WHAT IS IT?]
There are many vBulletin - Facebook bridge out there but installing is always the problem for most of forum owner. So I decided to build this product from scratch and provide you the ability to install this Facebook Bridge into your forum in 10 minutes. The detail install instruction can be found below (under the Feature section). A few technical notes: This product uses Facebook Connect to maintance connection between vBulletin forums and complicated (and awesome) Facebook servers. All most everything is automatically done by the script, even the Administrators don't need to do any manual editing (yeah, I'm talking about manual templates editing, you WON'T need to edit templates each time you implement a new style). Once again, most of everything is options which can be enabled/disabled via AdminCP or UserCP interface. All possible type of caching is use to improve performance and reduce heavy PHP load on server side or javascript load on client side. Well, it's quite a long paragraph for introducing. Let's make it work!

[SEE IT IN ACTION]
Screencast:
1. Installation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ComjeipReE4
2. Connecting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7m85O_iX70
3. Posting and Notifications: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBwwiffLvJ8
Demo board:
vBulletin 3.8: http://daohoangson.com/vb38
vBulletin 4: http://daohoangson.com/vb40
Authentication Username: demo. Password: demo.

[MAIN FEATURE]
*** Damn easy to install!
1. Loaded with long list of actions/notifications: posting thread, posting reply, rating thread, sending pm, sending visitor message, uploading image (avatar/profile picture), uploading pictures, comment on pictures. This list are designed to be expandable easily later by me or other people who loves to develope this product (well, if you do, contact me right now!)
2. Ability to quick register with Facebook credential but Administrator can disable this function via AdminCP. Facebook proxied email addresses are handled completely and vBulletin can send email without any problems (of course, the member must grant the Email extend permission). There is a setting in AdminCP to disallow Facebook proxied email addresses also for boards that need email explicitly
3. Ability to auto login with Facebook session (Administrator can turn this on or off in AdminCP and members can enable or disable this feature on their accounts either)
4. Other abilities: Display a profile block on vBulletin member page. Display a wall tab/box on Facebook profile page. Synchronize avatar from Facebook.
5. [AdminCP] Administrator can "edit" template bundle easily. Actually the old template will be deactivated, the new template will be registered and then all action associated with the old template with be updated with the new template bundle id. Oops, why you need to care about all of it? I did it for you already! Just go the the editing page and click Edit. Yay! All done
6. [AdminCP] Staffs can manage connected users and see basic information about them (including granted permissions)
7. [AdminCP] Administrator can decide to: migrate connected users from other products to YAFB, restrict private forums from being posted to Facebook, view detail log of YAFB in action, send notifications to connected users
*. [Experimental] I have added a fun feature that generate the Fans List, the photo will be posted to new thread with friend tagged (if available). The main purpose of this bonus feature is to demostrate the ability of the bridge. If you have an idea, contact me and I will implement it if I can
*. [Experimental] Friend Inviting functionality is added. Access from UserCP > Facebook Bridge > Invite Friends

[CHANGE LOG]
Version 3.3.2 (released on Jun 10, 2010): Register On-the-fly issue with vBulletin 3.8.4 fixed
Version 3.3.1 (released on Jun 08, 2010): Bug fixes and Migration for vBulletin 4.0.3
Version 3.3 (released on Apr 06, 2010): Auto login related features added. User experience reached a new higher level!

[NEW INSTALLATION]
*. Upload all files/folders in folder "upload" into your forum root (Please upload before importing product)
1. Import Product:
1.1. Go to AdminCP
1.2. Plugins & Products ~> Manage Products ~> Add/Import Product:
1.2.1. Browse to the .xml file (use product-yafb.xml for vBulletin 3 and product-yafb_vb4.xml for vBulletin 4)
1.2.2. Click Import

2. Fill the settings:
2.1. Go to AdminCP
2.2. vBulletin Options ~> vBulletin Options ~> Yay! Another Facebook Bridge
2.2. Create a Facebook Application if you haven't had one for your forum. Refer to the Creating Facebook Application below if you don't know how to do it
2.3. Fill the API key and Secret into the approriate fields. You can leave the Template fields untouch (the will be filled automatically). If you want to use the Account Reclamation feature, please place http://domain.com/forums/register.php?do=fbb_reclaim into Account Reclamation URL field. With other fields, it's your decision to made
2.4. Click Save and you are done!

2.* Creating Facebook Application:
2.*.1. Go to Facebook Developer > Create Application page http://www.facebook.com/developers/createapp.php (login if you didn't)
2.*.2. Enter the Application Name. Suggestion: Put your forum name here. Don't forget to tick the Agree radiobox and then click Save Changes
2.*.3. Now you can get your API Key and Secret (that are needed in step 2.3)
2.*.4. And go to the Connect tab, fill your forum url into Connect URL, fill your domain into Base Domain.
2.*.5. You are done with required information. But you can go through other tab and enter more detail about your forum, your application. I suggest putting a nice icon, banner into it. Happy customizing!

[UPGRADING]
Just upload overwrite files/folders then reimport the xml file. Do not forget to check "Yes" under "Allow Overwrite" to upgrade

[CONFLICT]
Since this product interfere with the registration procedure, I have found some other plugins/products that conficts with this product. Below is the full list of known confict and action taken to resolve the issue
No Spam (Human Verification): Temporary disabled during Facebook registration
vMail (Email Verification): Temporary disabled during Facebook registration

[OTHER PLUGINS/PRODUCTS]
I have developed an easy to use options/permissions system that allow other plugins/products to add it's actions into this bridge and let the forum members experience a whole new era of connections. I did a small demostration with my kBank System (which is a money system with award/thank functionality and a useful hiding feature) and it runs pretty well. If you are interested in testing kBank in action with YAFB, contact me. If you are a developer who wants to integrate your plugins/products with this Bridge, contact me either! You are all welcome
*Also available: Publishing Blog (vBBlog) to Facebook [New! Updated on Jan 10th, 2010]


[KNOWN ISSUES]
FILE HERE: http://code.google.com/p/vbulletinfacebook/issues/list (require a Google Account)

[Digital Jedi]

Originally Posted by ErrorJustin

Digital Jedi is correct - I was wrong about the registration process. It say email and passwords are "optional" and only the forum username is required. I had three people test though, and all three didn't notice the word "optional" until I pointed it out

Also, if someone attempts to register a new account with the FB bridge after having already set up one (by going through the registration process again and entering a 2nd username), this PHP error is generated:

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_VARIABLE, expecting ';' in /[mydomain]/html/forums/fbb/runbox_hook_register_addmember_complete.php on line 5

Lastly, the text on the registration page (the warning that passwords are case-sensitive, etc) is not displaying properly. It is putting one letter/character on each line, or another similar strange behavior.

Overall, although this mod technically does work (in that it creates a vb account from a Facebook account), it is buggy, confusing for users, and the user experience is not great compared to other implementations of FB connect around the web.

It is simply not in good enough shape for me to use on my boards. Which is a shame considering it is the only vb4 FB Connect option, at the moment. Hopefully further patches are introduced, or someone else releases their own version. I certainly appreciate the dev's effort.

The old 3.8 Facebook Connect functionality is what is needed, here. Something dead simple. Users press connect, press connect again when the Facebook dialogue pops up, select a forum username, and are then off and posting.

It was simple process, but ultimately Facebook Connect didn't take into account what would happen with the uninstall situation I mentioned before. I also don't know what would have happened had I made one of the FB users a moderator or admin, and they needed they're own forum password. Nevertheless, it was really tough to install for less experienced admins and it generated a ton of daily database errors, at least on my install. It was a nice idea, but the author just didn't have the time to address all those bugs which were way harder on my installation then anything I've seen from this one.

That runbox error, by the way, is something that has been mentioned a few times. Just disable the runbox plugin in your Admin CP and it will go away. It's apparently not needed. Also, the registration page error might have something to do with any custom styles you are running.

I wouldn't take user confusion as a sign of a mod's flaws. Users often have trouble trying to figure out vBulletin itself. They learn new things only from experience, and especially if they've never used something with as many options as this. Give them time and a little instruction and they'll get used to it. Ultimately, you should consider the fact that you're getting a lot of questions about a particular feature as a sign of it's popularity. If no one is using it, then no one will ever bother to mention it.

[bloggeroftheweb]

i hv a suggestion.

shall we add a facebook "Add As Friend" button in the user profile?

Benefits: Allow your forum members to make more friends in your community while they participate in discussion.

[MedellinStyle]

Originally Posted by GerhardAT

Hello!

I have a problem after registration:
After sign up (with username, password and email) I got a white (blank) page. After refreshing it works.

Version 4.0.1
No other mods installed

Would be nice if you could tell me what the problem is.

Greets

Same happened to me, u reload page and it loops until goes in again as logued with the new registrar.....

people will think there is a error on blank page ans just leave... :S:S:S

[MedellinStyle]

Also when I login to facebook, and after to vbulletin with the account already registrered de LOGIN SCREEN after CONNECT WITH FACEBOOK, should show REGISTRER NOW, again as my facebook account is alredy registrered????

[Digital Jedi]

Originally Posted by bloggeroftheweb

hello everyone,

i need help for the following for this mod.

1. Able to display the "Connect with Facebook" button at the login page, the page whereby it says the person has no permission to post a reply.

Yeah, they're still logged in. It just does that for some reason when you happen to be sent to the facebook.php page.

Originally Posted by MedellinStyle

Same happened to me, u reload page and it loops until goes in again as logued with the new registrar.....

people will think there is a error on blank page ans just leave... :S:S:S

I'm not sure what causes that, but the first thing I would check is too see if all my files uploaded or something disappeared somehow. Also, try disabling the runbox plugin.

[MedellinStyle]

Is there a way to connect a FAN PAGE to a VBULLETIN MEMBER ???????

[MedellinStyle]

And its working smoothly on 4.02! thank you very much, amazing work, this is the best ADD ON of all vbulletin with VB EVENTS.

Thanksss!!!!!!!!!!

[MedellinStyle]

Originally Posted by Digital Jedi

I'm not sure what causes that, but the first thing I would check is too see if all my files uploaded or something disappeared somehow. Also, try disabling the runbox plugin.

I have no runbox plugin, and files are ok, indeed, all plugin is working superb, except for this blank page after a new registration.

I made 2 tutorials here, maybe can help others, are in spanish but with good screenshots:

ONE FOR NEW MEMBERS:
http://medellinstyle.com/foro/thread...UEVOS-MIEMBROS.

OTHER FOR OLD MEMBERS:
http://medellinstyle.com/foro/thread...MBROS-ANTIGUOS.

:erm::up::up::up::up::up::up::up:

[Digital Jedi]

Originally Posted by MedellinStyle

I have no runbox plugin, and files are ok, indeed, all plugin is working superb, except for this blank page after a new registration.

I made 2 tutorials here, maybe can help others, are in spanish but with good screenshots:

ONE FOR NEW MEMBERS:
http://medellinstyle.com/foro/thread...UEVOS-MIEMBROS.

OTHER FOR OLD MEMBERS:
http://medellinstyle.com/foro/thread...MBROS-ANTIGUOS.

:erm::up::up::up::up::up::up::up:

[Runbox] Register Adding Member Complete (register.php) is the last plugin in the Facebook Bridge's list of Plugins in the Plugin Manager.

[reefland]

Originally Posted by Digital Jedi

[Runbox] Register Adding Member Complete (register.php) is the last plugin in the Facebook Bridge's list of Plugins in the Plugin Manager.

That solved the problem for me on 4.0.2. What is the disadvantage of having that plugin disabled?