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

[axi]

The geek,

i installed your hack yesterday and was unable to use it, couldnt work it out so i un installed it and now that thread i had subscribed for articles has an error coming up when u click it saying:

Database error in vBulletin 3.0.7:

Invalid SQL:
SELECT filename, filesize, visible, attachmentid, counter, postid, IF(thumbnail_filesize > 0, 1, 0) AS hasthumbnail, thumbnail_filesize, description
FROM attachment
WHERE postid IN (-1,706,707,713,715,716,732,748,773,780,1117)
ORDER BY dateline

mysql error: Unknown column 'description' in 'field list'

mysql error number: 1054

Date: Friday 08th of April 2005 07:13:27 PM
Script: http://www.beastclub.com.au/forums/showthread.php?t=117
Referer: http://www.beastclub.com.au/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=2

can you please help me? the hack didnt un install it propoerly and is causing error..???what do i do?

[The Geek]

Originally Posted by axi

The geek,

i installed your hack yesterday and was unable to use it, couldnt work it out so i un installed it and now that thread i had subscribed for articles has an error coming up when u click it saying:

Database error in vBulletin 3.0.7:

Invalid SQL:
SELECT filename, filesize, visible, attachmentid, counter, postid, IF(thumbnail_filesize > 0, 1, 0) AS hasthumbnail, thumbnail_filesize, description
FROM attachment
WHERE postid IN (-1,706,707,713,715,716,732,748,773,780,1117)
ORDER BY dateline

mysql error: Unknown column 'description' in 'field list'

mysql error number: 1054

Date: Friday 08th of April 2005 07:13:27 PM
Script: http://www.beastclub.com.au/forums/showthread.php?t=117
Referer: http://www.beastclub.com.au/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=2

can you please help me? the hack didnt un install it propoerly and is causing error..???what do i do?

Did you follow the readme?
Did you copy files from gas/changes back to their nromal directory?
Did you get any errors during the uninstall?
What was wrong in the first place?

Enquiring minds want to know

[axi]

no errors during un install. yues i read readme.
the sutff in gas/changes ? was i meant to re copy them after un install, you said to remove that directory when un installiong?

man i am copping hardcore sql errors into my email like 70 a day coz of this hack. whats going on? its damaged my boards.

what was wrong in the first place? well i was copping the same errors as djrocketboy and followed his prompts and installed it, but i wanted to un install it because njothing worked well.. now i un installed it and its gone crazy. help me can ya

[The Geek]

There is no problem.

When you uninstall, it copies the uninstalled changes to gas/changes. You have to manually move them back (the readme talks about how the changes take place). If you downloaded the backups - just replace your current files with those as long as you havent installed any other hacks since then.

It has gone crazy because you are running hacked files, but uninstalled all other aspect. In essence, its only partially uninstalled. Sorry if that was unclear in the readme (its pretty detailed).

[axi]

i am confused. im inbetween uninstalling and installing, if i re install this can it fix it everything?

[axi]

it ssays:

The script will also create backups of the files it tries to change in gas/changes/backup (the installer will not touch those. They are there in case you need them)

it never created backup folder

[The Geek]

yes.

Installing puts in the templates, phrases, and table needed for the system.
it also makes the file changes for you but does not copy them over to their original location for you (as a safety feature).
When you uninstall, it removes the phrases, templates and the gas table. It then tries to copy over the existing files to gas/changes and then it uninstalls the file changes.
When that is done, you have to move the files back over yourself (as a safety feature).
You did all the uninstall steps except for copying the uninstalled files back. Therefore you are running on half a system.

So either reinstall the system (dont bother with the file changes) OR copy back the uninstalled file chages.

HTH's

[axi]

il re install it
i love the look of the hack but it didnt work
do you have msn you can help me step by step?

because i know i will run into the same errors yesterday

[The Geek]

naaa. Cant stand it. If you run into problems, PM me login details (with admin access and ftp access) and ill look into it for you.

To be honest - its a pretty easy system. Most errors are from not following or understanding the readme.

[axi]

ok i just pm'd you some detail on the install bro. hope you can help me.