Links and Files Database

The VB3.0 version is no longer supported although there have been no reported problems for some time

See here for the VB 3.6 version of this hack, which is now the supported version. This version currently also works with VB 3.5
See here for the VB 3.5 thread for this hack.

What's new in v1.60?

Option to display associated thumbnail images
Option to accept/not accept new entries if these already exists in database
Code for mass edits (accessed via admincp) tidied up
VB phrasing completed
Includes a full French and a partial German translation (thanks to cclaerhout, Allan and LeeWicKeD), handled properly by installation script.
Various bugs fixed and tested against php4 and php5:
Better database validation (on startup/in admincp: links with invalid associated forumids, categories with invalid parentids)
Alternative linkbit templates provided (default uses a fieldset, the other is the old-style table row)
Alternative category selection templates (pull down menu/list of checkboxes),
Star rating displayed using standard VB stars rather than in text form
Series of minor bug fixes
See file change.txt in zip file

What it is/does

- Provides a searchable database of weblinks and/or downloadable files, for example manuals, music files, pictures, etc.
- Integrates within VBulletin, without requiring any code changes.
- Transparently handles links and file downloads. (If you want to provide downloads from your own site, you need a separate tool to upload these files. This hack does not and will not include a file uploader.)
- Provides unlimited nested categories.
- Each link/file can be a member of multiple categories.
- Link and category title and descriptions can use all BBCODEs, giving the possibility to add images, colouring, etc, as you wish
- Viewing/access permissions controlled using VBulletin forum system
- Users can rate links, in a similar manner to VB thread rating.
- File downloads are semi-leechproof, i.e. the user does not see where the file is stored and can only access the link if she has access to the associated forum.
- Audio files playable via Windows Media Player can be offered as a jukebox .
- Tracks who downloads what
- Validates links on entry/editing, and provides admin facility to validate the entire database.

Installation/upgrading instructions

Read instructions.txt in the zip file. Installation script works out whether to install or upgrade.

To upgrade from an earlier release of this hack, simply re-run the installation script. If you modified the templates in the top styles, you will lose these modifications unless you back up and re-edit.

PLEASE BACK UP YOUR DATABASE

See also

For screen shots, see attachments.

Tested with

VBulletin 3.0 and higher
PHP 4.1.1 and 4.3.4, should work with all 4.x versions, seems ok with 5.0.4
MySQL 4.0.
Reported ok with MySQL 4.1 but not exhaustively tested

Credits

Initially inspired by drkFusion's vb2 hack "vb Link Directory" v.2 and discussion about v.3 on Vbulletin.org. This is a complete rewrite with many more features. Every credit to the VBulletin folks for providing the infrastructure and to those on vbulletin.org who have helped with testing.

Integrations/Conversions

Natch has written extensions to integrate this hack with VBindex and VBAdvanced.

For convenience, this hack includes fully integrates with, but does not install, his VBIndex hack - i.e. the required template and code are provided, and the admin panel handles the configuration settings. Please refer to his thread for instructions.

Integration with VBadvanced is described in thread 1319 at vbadvanced.com.

The zip file includes a script and instructions for converting from vbLinks v2 (see thread 44551

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Lionel

I did a nice little addition to rating
below:

$linkrate = round($links_totrate[$linkid] / $links_numrate[$linkid]);

I added:

$thevote="<img src=\"images/rating/rating_$linkrate.gif\">";

and in template ratebit, I swapped $linkrate with $thevote. :squareeyed:

Thanks Lionel

Those who do not like coding can achieve this just by editing the links_ratebit template

PHP Code:

<span class="smallfont"> <img src=images/rating/rating_$linkrate.gif> <if condition="$links_permissions[can_admin_links]"> <a href="local_links.php?action=doratelink&amp;vote=-1&amp;id=$linkid&amp;catid=$viewcatid&amp;page=$pagenumber">clear</a></if></span> 


[Blam Forumz]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

See reply to bitg. Will try to provide a fix soon.

Thanks

Also, i got it to work by making it so it has the parent of a section on my forum ^^

[hodur]

I have a error, when I want to moderate a link:

Datenbankfehler in vBulletin 3.0.3:

Ungueltige SQL-Abfrage:
mysql error: Query was empty

mysql error number: 1065

Datum: 17.10.2004 19:48:54
Skript: http://mysite.com/forum/local_links....modcat&catid=7
Referer: http://mysite.com/forum/local_links.php?action=mod
Benutzername: hodur

Any ideas?

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by hodur

I have a error, when I want to moderate a link:

Any ideas?

Sorry, there's a bug in the uploaded version, see https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=600 for the fix.

I forgot to upload the corrected version.

[hodur]

Now ist works fine. :squareeyed:
Thanks.

[AndrewD]

Version 1.35a now supported; version 1.41 beta; see first post of thread.

Reports please.

[welo]

Looking pretty good, Andrew . I was going to wait until 1.35 went stable and use that, although I think it's a safe risk just to go ahead with 1.41b . Oh, and kudos on your superior documentation.

[Lionel]

"added option to allow new links to have an empty link, i.e. just a name
and description"

Is that something that is typical with new beta or could that be achieved in 1.35?

[Roms]

I like it, it was very user friendly to install. I customized it a little just to say "downloads".....

Thanks for the work.

*Clicks Install

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Lionel

"added option to allow new links to have an empty link, i.e. just a name
and description"

Is that something that is typical with new beta or could that be achieved in 1.35?

It was added in 1.41, following your (and others) suggestion/request. Version 1.35 did not allow it. I have not included the other bits that you added, to provide the extended link description and wisiwig editor.