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 Sovereign

I was wondering whether there was a language string. As in the vB Phrase system...cause I noticed that some of it was not expressed in variables...

I have not used the VB phrase system. One of those things to do someday, but someday never comes...

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Tbird66

If I click either Goto link then I get the follwing error:
PHP Warning: array_merge() [function.array-merge]: Argument #2 is not an array in C:\Forum Site\includes\init.php on line 517 PHP Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in C:\Forum Site\includes\sessions.php on line 270 PHP Warning: array_merge() [function.array-merge]: Argument #2 is not an array in C:\Forum Site\includes\functions.php on line 3615

Any ideas?

Thanks!

What version of PHP are you using? These messages come from the main VBulletin initialisation code, and I suspect it is telling us about some uninitialised variables.

[AndrewD]

Post removed - version 1.45 now available in first post in this thread.

[Natch]

A few things I have noticed mate:

1. When you set a valid monitor_catid, but invalid monitor_dir, the error msg states invalid monitor_catid.

2. A lot of the page titles in the local_links_admin.php section have EIRMA Web Site - Links Administration in the title tag.

3. If a link is added via the "monitor_dir" facility, and moderated as deleted, it's then added the next time you trawl the directory. I think that maybe it needs to flag that filename, or that entry as "deleted" rather than deleting it totally.

Other than that, once again, great work!

[Tbird66]

What version of PHP are you using? These messages come from the main VBulletin initialisation code, and I suspect it is telling us about some uninitialised variables.

I'm using PHP 5.0.2

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Tbird66

I'm using PHP 5.0.2

Suspected as much. Haven't tested anything with PHP5 - not even sure about the status of VB itself. Let me know how the fix suggested by PM goes.

[Tbird66]

Suspected as much. Haven't tested anything with PHP5 - not even sure about the status of VB itself. Let me know how the fix suggested by PM goes.

VB works fine on 5.0.2, and I'm running vBadvanced CMPS, vbGarage, Dynamic Announcements, and Geek Articles. I only get errors when installing your hack, so I'm not sure what you're asking me.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Tbird66

VB works fine on 5.0.2, and I'm running vBadvanced CMPS, vbGarage, Dynamic Annonucements, and Geek Articles. I only get errors when installing your hack, so I'm not sure what you're asking me.

You've told me the first thing I wanted to know - that VB works with PHP5 - so I think my suspicions are correct about uninitiatialised variables. Can you either try the fix I suggested by PM, or alternatively just try installing the beta version of 1.45 (see a couple of posts up), in which I've tried to spot the problems.

[Tbird66]

You've told me the first thing I wanted to know - that VB works with PHP5 - so I think my suspicions are correct about uninitiatialised variables. Can you either try the fix I suggested by PM, or alternatively just try installing the beta version of 1.45 (see a couple of posts up), in which I've tried to spot the problems.

Oops - missed the mention of the PM in your previous post. That fix did the trick, I'm up and running now - thanks so much!

Clicks Install

[GiJoe]

I'm having a VERY strange problem. No errors during install nor upgrade.

We had to change servers. Now that we have changed downloads (we use it for download links) will start but about half way through will just stop/pause. If we download directly from the server it works fine. It is only when downloading through Links 1.41 that this occurs.

PHP v 4.3.10
vBulletin 3.0.3

I looked through this thread alittle but with it being 50+ pages long it would take me days to look at all of them.