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

[corbint]

Hi TheGeek-

I have a quick question.. Im getting the following error upon install :

cant find root directory gas
Make sure you have created this in your forum directory.

My issue is that my vbulletin install is in the /forums sub-directory, its not sitting in my root directory, so I think thats where it is getting confused. Is there a setting in the install script that I can edit to add the /forums directory so the auto-install works as expected?

Thanks, and this script looks GREAT! Excellent work!

[fabz]

Hi The Geek,

may I suggest you some improvement ?

When creating multipages articles should be great if each page includes a "table of content" on top, with links automatically created to each section (page).
Each page could manually include a [ page_title ] to give a content name.
(why not also creating an option <show table of content> : yes or no)

I think it's better vor viewers, and easier to navigate through an article.

Just an idea...

[The Geek]

iguanaairs - finally found it! The article bit was missing the $scrolltothis
In GAS_article_pb find:

<if condition="$post['postid'] == $thread['firstpostid']">
<!-- Articles -->
	 <tr>
	 <td class="alt2" align="left" style="padding:10px 10px 10px 10px">

REplace with:

 <if condition="$post['postid'] == $thread['firstpostid']">
<!-- Articles -->
<tr>
<td class="alt2" align="left" style="padding:10px 10px 10px 10px" $scrolltothis>

corbint - Shouldnt matter what your forums folder is called. Check the readme for instructions on folder creation errors. Bascially you just need to manually create the folder structure.

fabz - this has been debated in this thread a few times. It is a lot more work to extrapolate those types of values out in a logical pattern. However it is something ill mull about for a good way to do for maybe the next major version.

[Howdy]

Great hack, installed and voted... the only problem I'm having is the header image size doesn't seem to be changing. I dropped it all the way down to 1x1 and it doesn't do anything?? any thoughts on what could be going wrong?

[The Geek]

whts your vboptions GD version set at? Also, whats the GAS setting max size and max width?

[Howdy]

My GD version is showing as "bundled (2.0.28 compatible)". In Vboptions it is set to GD Version 2+.

The GAS settings for image width and height are set to 1 and 1.

[CTroyMathis]

Yeah. This is a no-brainer 'heck yes I'll install.' Geek, you rule. And your humor is right up my alley.

Thanks!
(I have it in a practice-session member-group forum for the goofs to learn how to use it before launching in full retard force on my dfw urban forum.)

Again, you rule. If I gets any problemos - I'll throw'em down here.

[corbint]

Originally Posted by The Geek

corbint - Shouldnt matter what your forums folder is called. Check the readme for instructions on folder creation errors. Bascially you just need to manually create the folder structure.

hrm, i swear i followed the readme to the best of my abilities! check out the below output, tell me where i went wrong!

servername# pwd
/usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/domainname.org/httpdocs/forums
unagi# ls -alFR gas/
total 8
drwxrwxrwx   4 root     wheel   512 Apr  2 21:04 ./
drwxr-xr-x  14 root  wheel  1536 Apr  2 20:55 ../
drwxrwxrwx   2 root     wheel   512 Apr  2 21:20 changes/
drwxrwxrwx   3 root     wheel   512 Mar 18 21:52 images/
-rwxrwxrwx   1 root     wheel     0 Mar 18 21:52 index.htm*

gas/changes:
total 122
drwxrwxrwx  2 root    wheel    512 Apr  2 21:20 ./
drwxrwxrwx  4 root    wheel    512 Apr  2 21:04 ../
-rwxrwxrwx  1 apache  wheel  26408 Apr  2 21:20 editpost.php*
-rwxrwxrwx  1 apache  wheel  24087 Apr  2 21:20 forumdisplay.php*
-rwxrwxrwx  1 apache  wheel   9780 Apr  2 21:20 newthread.php*
-rwxrwxrwx  1 apache  wheel   5588 Apr  2 21:20 printthread.php*
-rwxrwxrwx  1 apache  wheel  51998 Apr  2 21:20 showthread.php*

gas/images:
total 16
drwxrwxrwx  3 root  wheel   512 Mar 18 21:52 ./
drwxrwxrwx  4 root  wheel   512 Apr  2 21:04 ../
-rwxrwxrwx  1 root  wheel  6144 Mar 18 21:52 Thumbs.db*
-rwxrwxrwx  1 root  wheel  2236 Mar 18 21:52 default.jpg*
drwxrwxrwx  2 root  wheel   512 Mar 18 21:52 forums/
-rwxrwxrwx  1 root  wheel     0 Mar 18 21:52 index.htm*

gas/images/forums:
total 4
drwxrwxrwx  2 root  wheel  512 Mar 18 21:52 ./
drwxrwxrwx  3 root  wheel  512 Mar 18 21:52 ../
-rwxrwxrwx  1 root  wheel    0 Mar 18 21:52 index.htm*
servername#

isnt that the proper directory structure?

thx for the help in advance!

[The Geek]

Howdy - If you PM me details - ill look into it for you.

Corbint - looks ok to me. I but the error says it cant find the gas folder? Have you tried skipping the folder structure and file copying stages since you have done that part manually?

[corbint]

yep, i get a bunch of "file not found" errors :ermm: