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

[The Geek]

Razz-> If you do a search on the source of one of the articles you are editing, do you find <!-- byline field --> anywhere?

latum-> Wow, thats an ugly error! If you have 2 seconds could you try something for me? Eidt functions_geekarticles.php and change the line:
function prep_for_breaks($text)
to
function prep_for_breaks(&$text)

and revert your previous change. The only reason I ask is that I cant repro the error and If possible, I would like to pass the message contents by reference to lower overhead. Its not really a big deal, but it would help me improve the hack a smidgen.

Thanks!

[latum]

latum-> Wow, thats an ugly error! If you have 2 seconds could you try something for me? Eidt functions_geekarticles.php and change the line:
function prep_for_breaks($text)
to
function prep_for_breaks(&$text)

and revert your previous change. The only reason I ask is that I cant repro the error and If possible, I would like to pass the message contents by reference to lower overhead. Its not really a big deal, but it would help me improve the hack a smidgen.

Thanks!

Yeah, I tried that also. It works, but only in conjunction with the change in line 25 (where you remove the &) that I mentioned before. So this was the smallest change possible

[The Geek]

thanks. So remove the & in showthread and add the & in prep_for_breaks?

[Razz]

Originally Posted by the nail geek

Razz-> If you do a search on the source of one of the articles you are editing, do you find <!-- byline field --> anywhere?

No, none of the articles have that in them.

Thanks for taking time out to help btw

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by Razz

No, none of the articles have that in them.

Thanks for taking time out to help btw

its no problem sorry you are having a snag. Shouldnt be hard to figure out what happened.

Do this for me. edit your editpost template and stick this in it:
<!-- Test for GAS. GAS_is_article=$GAS_is_article, Gas_forums=$GAS_forums END test for GAS-->

Then edit an article, view the source, and do a search for GAS... then post me the results.

BTW: do you have a link to an article forum causing you grief?

[KTBleeding]

Hey nail geek?

I installed this hack:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=73220
For the forum id's that I have the GAS working on..

I wanted to install this for it as well:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....6&postcount=79

But judging from the looks of that modification, it probably wouldn't work out very well.
Would I be better off just editing the "GAS_forumdisplay" template to match the layout of that?

[Razz]

Originally Posted by the nail geek

Do this for me. edit your editpost template and stick this in it:
<!-- Test for GAS. GAS_is_article=$GAS_is_article, Gas_forums=$GAS_forums END test for GAS-->

Then edit an article, view the source, and do a search for GAS... then post me the results.

BTW: do you have a link to an article forum causing you grief?

Ran the test, nothing showed up in the source.

Test account and URL sent via PM

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by KTBleeding

Hey nail geek?

I installed this hack:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=73220
For the forum id's that I have the GAS working on..

I wanted to install this for it as well:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....6&postcount=79

But judging from the looks of that modification, it probably wouldn't work out very well.
Would I be better off just editing the "GAS_forumdisplay" template to match the layout of that?

I was doing the same thing for GAS3, but doing it that way adds 1 query for every thread. 30 threads per forumdisplay=30 more queries. Plus, you cant really limit to only images (if its any other file, it looks funny).

I am working on a new forumdisplay for GAS3 that will do the same thing without the extra queries.

If your server is cool with the extra queries and users only post images, then go for it. Or, just wait a few and see how I get on with the next version. The attachment is a very early preview (column headers and alternating row color isnt done). The first image is a default for no article.

And before anyone asks - done when its done

[KTBleeding]

Okay, cool.

I'll just run it this way for now, then update/uninstall/whatever when you release yours.

[WMadden]

I have installed the article hack. I have also installed the hack for the "latest 3 articles" module. In the installation "reademe" file, you reference "don't forget to update your Index page(s)" .. okay, I'm new, what index page or pages are you referring to here? .. and how to I update them to include the module?