FREE zz:FlashChat Drop in Flash Animated Chat Integration

No modifications to your existing forums!

This single file enhancement allows one to seamlessly integrate vBulletin 3 with Nik's awesome FREE zz:FlashChat PHP/mySQL Flash based GUI chat. zz:FlashChat supports flash smiley events, MP3 sound/music events, and flash animation events, private messages, admin login, and configurable reduced moderator login.

Online demo of integration is at (registration required - Try U: goner P: goner):
http://myganjagrow.com

Naturally registration is required to see the chat. No email verification is used so you remain anonymous at my counter culture adult oriented site. Use a fake email addy if you please.

Obtain Nik's zz:FlashChat 3 beta 1.1 at: http://download.zehnet.de/ZZ_FlashChat_3_%5bbeta1.1%5d/

Install zz:FlashChat as per Nik's included instructions. The install need not reside within your forums tree. The database tables can also be added to your existing vB database and need not reside in a separate database. I cannot provide support for zz:FlashChat.

Obtain my vbulletin integration at: http://myganjagrow.com/download/zzchat_3_add_ons.rar

UnRAR the integration file "member.php" and edit all the paths to reflect where you installed vB and zz:FlashChat. Save and upload to your zz:FlashChat directory. Calling this script from within vbulletin will use the existing vB security to only allow registered vB members to join your chat. Chat member info is encrypted while in chat. Logged out/Unregistered users will be redirected to your forum registration page. Javascript pop-ups can be used to call the chat script. Index.php and login.php should be deleted from the chat directory to prevent back doors from remaining open.

I've also included a script that can enable you to display "Who's in Chat?" from any other vB page by calling users.php from the chat directory. I use it in the left sidebar at my forumhome: http://myganjagrow.com/forums/index.php

Please give me feedback and URLs if you install this. I'll try and work out the inevitable bugs.

[GoTTi]

man i installed this, config'd it in the database.php, but i have NO idea how to make it work with vbulletin, is there a more descriptive instruction walk through around explaining what should be done to make this integrated?

[x3n0]

Da_GoTTi, tell me exactly where your having a problem. Links will help. Then I can help you.

The chat works flawlessly on my site - complete with animations. A walkthru of the installation would be impossible because of the many different ways it could be integrated with vB.

[Bounce]

Works brilliantly on my site too, had 20 in chat the other night throwing bombs at each other,funny as


Couple o things thou that i'm wondering can be done

When logging out either via X in browser window or in chatroom window is it possible to make it redirect back to your forums??

Also added on from point one can i remove the X in the chat window thus making users only being able to log out via window :surprised:

Cheers

J

[Swanny231]

How do I get the java script to pop up on the forum home ?

[Swanny231]

Originally Posted by Swanny231

How do I get the java script to pop up on the forum home ?

Works great with vb but I don't know where to begin with adding the pop up window and puttn a link on the forum to call the pop up?

http://3rd-565thclan.com/chat/member.php is the chat
http://3rd-565thclan.com/forums is my forum

[x3n0]

Has anyone fogure out how to get a header, footer navbar etc integrated with this? If so, how?

Should be fairly easy. I'll get on it ASAP. I've actually been wanting this myself but have been putting it off due to limited free time.

I have to agree about this script. I had no problems with the integration of the zz-flashchat. The darn chat just didn't work right.

zz:Flashchat really is a superb choice for a chat. The animation and sound abilities are what make it shine. The look is very easily customizable. The MD5 encryption and in house serving are definate security advantages over insecure IRC and expensive externally served chat options. Admin also has complete control of configured chat moderator permissions. 98% of surfers already have the Flash plugin installed and no spooky client side downloads or applets are required. The content of our site is controversial and our members insist on such security precautions.

I've seen quite a few users named "Goner" (referred from this thread) dropping into my chat without ever trying the advanced animation and sound capabilities. Please take the time to give zz:flashchat a complete evaluation before writing off these awesome scripts. Some of my colleagues who have already integrated expensive subscription chat services with vB have switched over to Flashchat after seeing what it can do. Several users dropping loud animated bombs in the chat window to get your attention while you are AFK can be a riot. Don't like it? Users have the choice to disable sound and animations. Not bad for a GPL script IMO. GPL sometimes still seems to be a cuss word even though most of us primarily work with Linux/php/Apache systems.

When logging out either via X in browser window or in chatroom window is it possible to make it redirect back to your forums??

Also added on from point one can i remove the X in the chat window thus making users only being able to log out via window.

Please remember I didn't write the chat and cannot provide support. These modifications require editing of the flash components using the source Macromedia MX code. Source mods should be quite easy to implement but should be taken up with the author at: http://download.zehnet.de/

Installation is bulletproof as long as you get into the PHP code and modify the paths correctly, create the correct SQL permissions for your new database (or your existing database with new tables), CHMOD your paths correctly, and set up the config file to point to the database with the correct host/IP, SQL user, and password. Same scenario as a virgin vB installation, same complexities. The zz:Flashchat installation script (installation.php) will only run if everything is set up correctly beforehand, just like vB... Being that English is not the author's primary language, the install manual can be a bit confusing - especially considering we are not using the default method for initiating the chat engine but instead a modified script that melds with vB's existing variables.

I obviously need to elaborate on the install process. That's why it's here in beta folks.

After zz:Flashchat is installed and working the chat has to be presented to your users in a manner that vBulletin's built in security will accept. This requires including external script calls and Javascript pop-ups from vB's templates. A tricky process for some of us non-guru types - but invaluable for adding new php mods to vB with vB's built in security. A tutorial is sadly lacking from vBulletins existing documentation. While such a tutoorial would be handy I assume Jelsofts concerns about cookie security kept the documentation limited to some commented-out code in the default templates. I'll try my best to make a step by step process to simplify the install. Please be aware that calling an external script (the chat or the "users chatting" scripts) from vBulletin requires a few extra modifications that should be installed on a local development server before running in a production environment. Calling an external php script with an incorrectly defined path will immediately cause a fatal SQL crash, effective locking you out of the template editing capabilities (and the rest of vB). Fixing the broken forum would require writing custom queries to be used with a 3rd party sql admin tool or a template restore from a good dump. Always back up your existing database with an SQL dump before installing any hack.

I'll work on giving a detailed explanation of the entire integration process (as used on my site) and I'll update post #1 of this thread with all the pertinent info as soon as I can. I'll try to have it online within the next 24 hours, if my workload allows. Please bear with me. Thanks!

Peace out,
x

[karlogaga]

@x3n0

Hi, when i am logged out of vbulletin and i call the member.php it logs me into the chat automatically with the user-name "unregistered".

What do i have to change so the script will only allow registered users of the forum?

Greets Karlo

[x3n0]

Karlo,
Are you sending the username to member.php via the URL?

[karlogaga]

Originally Posted by x3n0

Karlo,
Are you sending the username to member.php via the URL?

no, it fills it in by itself, i just call http://www.xxx.com/xxx/member.php, then it fills in the username "unregistered" amd opens the chat-window...

[karlogaga]

Originally Posted by karlogaga

no, it fills it in by itself, i just call http://www.xxx.com/xxx/member.php, then it fills in the username "unregistered" amd opens the chat-window...

...and if i'm registered in the forum it opens the caht with my username.