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 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.

Your symptoms look like exceeding the cpu time for a php script.

Have a look at the CPU and memory limits set for php scripts in php.ini. Also consider if you really need the facility of this script to "hide" the location of downloads. There's a setting on the admin page which forces the script to use browser redirects rather than server based read/writes. It will significantly reduce cpu overhead, but at the cost of making the location of your downloads visible at the time the redirect is executed.

[CSS59]

who has a live demo of the new version?

[Sadie Frost]

Originally Posted by JonelZ

who has a live demo of the new version?

I do: http://www.buffy-boards.com/local_links.php?

[GiJoe]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

Your symptoms look like exceeding the cpu time for a php script.

Have a look at the CPU and memory limits set for php scripts in php.ini. Also consider if you really need the facility of this script to "hide" the location of downloads. There's a setting on the admin page which forces the script to use browser redirects rather than server based read/writes. It will significantly reduce cpu overhead, but at the cost of making the location of your downloads visible at the time the redirect is executed.

That seems to have been it... Thank you! Merry Christmas everyone!

[AndrewD]

Version 1.45 is now the supported release, see first post in thread.

NB: slight changes in installation procedure (a couple of new files added).

[aussiev8]

good work andrew! i respect the speed you got the newer more secure version out by.
i think everyone should update due to security issues in earlier versions.

[Spinball]

Awesome, Andrew, thanks very much for your efforts.
I think I have found a bug, however.
Click on the 'What's Hot' and What's New' drop-down links and the [-Fav] option appears against all the links instead of [+Fav].

[norvo]

Cheers! Great work!

N.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Spinball

Awesome, Andrew, thanks very much for your efforts.
I think I have found a bug, however.
Click on the 'What's Hot' and What's New' drop-down links and the [-Fav] option appears against all the links instead of [+Fav].

You're right of course - and what's more I'd already spotted it but forgotten...

Please can you unzip and upload the attached file and then re-run step 2 of the installation process (templates). When you confirm, then I'll update the zip file.

I'm not happy with the page sequence as one moves between what's hot/mark favourite/back to base category, but the full fix requires more work and will have to be in the next release.

[Spinball]

Hi Andrew,
I did as instructed and it now displays [+Fav] against them all. Even against those already in your favourites list.
A minor point, I guess, but as a programmer, something I would notice
It's a great hack.