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 Dontom

Hi Andrew,
i upgraded an old (vb3) installation of links - now if someone (regular user or admin) tries to add a new link nothing happens (link is not added)
Moderation is set to no. I used the last zip provided by you - any idea?

Not without more information, sorry!

Adding links works fine for me on my live and test board, both of which were upgraded to the code you say you've used. a) are you sure that you've uploaded all the five files; b) that you've run all stages of the upgrade script. I'm happy to have a look at your site, except that I see that it's in German!

[Dontom]

thank you for your quick response I just edited my post above to include some more information.
the installation is here: http://www.rennrad-news.de/forum/loc...p?action=links

yes, all files were uploaded and the install script went through without any errors.
Merci beaucoup
If you want to try use test/test to login
Thomas

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Dontom

thank you for your quick response I just edited my post above to include some more information.
the installation is here: http://www.rennrad-news.de/forum/loc...p?action=links

yes, all files were uploaded and the install script went through without any errors.
Merci beaucoup
If you want to try use test/test to login
Thomas

I took a look and see what you mean. Even if there is an error, there should be an intervening screen between trying to create the link and getting back to the category display. You've translated everything into German but as far as I can see from the page source, the form submission is still correct. Can you email me your uploaded version of local_links.php, just so that I can do a comparison with my master version ad_rodin (at) noos.fr?

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

I took a look and see what you mean. Even if there is an error, there should be an intervening screen between trying to create the link and getting back to the category display. You've translated everything into German but as far as I can see from the page source, the form submission is still correct. Can you email me your uploaded version of local_links.php, just so that I can do a comparison with my master version ad_rodin (at) noos.fr?

Fix sent by email - bug was a result of the translation. Apologies.

[Slave]

Just installed 1.45a and then noticed 1.50Beta .. so I upgraded

Here's a few comments ..

instructions.txt:
still mentions 1.45 (3.1.b)
irc needs to be added to list of files (3.1.f)

On the link listings you seem to have changed [edit] to [E] .. can you change it back as I much prefer the look of [edit] .. if not, let me know how I can do it and I'll sort it just for my version.

Any chance you can make it a </ br> between the name of the link/file and its size instead of a space? Just makes it look neater IMO.

On the show menu you click "Available Links" but get to a page called "Accessible Links"? Shouldn't it be the same name?

Also .. on the Accessible Links page, when a link is linked to more than one cat it shows all of the cat links. This isn't a problem when it is just 2 cat's but if it is linked with 3 or more cats the links to these cats get repeated. (hmm hard to explain that one, I'll point you towards mine if you like so you can see what I mean) - Edit - This also happens on the Also .. on the Accessible Links page, when a link is linked to more than one cat it shows all of the cat links. This isn't a problem when it is just 2 cat's but if it is linked with 3 or more cats the links to these cats get repeated. (Edit - This also happens on the My Favourites page too) (hmm hard to explain that one, I'll point you towards mine if you like so you can see what I mean)

Ok .. that's it I think ..

Very very cool Hack .. thank you for sharing

[Slave]

A couple of suggestions/additions come to mind .. (Only if you find the time)

The ability for users to report a link which would send a PM to the admin .. with permissions so admin can decide what user groups can report.

In the Show drop down a "Random Link" option.

In the Description of a Category have a "Sub Categories:" list .. similar to how the forums show "Sub Forums:" on the forums front page. With an on/off switch in the admin area.

[Curzon564]

Just upgraded from 1.45 to 1.50.

I started the upgrade script and it seemed to work.

After upgrading there was an error message:

Critical error: software version 1.50, database version 1.45
Cannot continue - ask administrator to install correct verson

So i went to the DB and changed the version manually to 1.50. Now it seems to work so far. Perhaps a small error in the installation script?

Anyway, the new IRC Feature... it works perfectly!
Just as I hoped.

Thanks for your work.

[Slave]

hmm .. I didn't get that when I updated ..

Were you using 1.45 or 1.45a? I was using 1.45a .. Perhaps it's something to do with 1.45?

[Curzon564]

According to my database it was 1.45.

Even started the install script 2 times. No effect.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Curzon564

According to my database it was 1.45.

Even started the install script 2 times. No effect.

There were no significant changes to the install script between 1.45 to 1.50, so I suspect that you either didn't upload the new install script or missed one of the steps of the script. Step 1 checks the database tables and record the new version number; step 2 upgrades the templates. AS you say, simply resetting the version number on the admin page works (for this upgrade at least) because there were no database changes.

Have a look on the admin page - if the text describing the force_redirect setting reads "1: redirect regardless of filetype (quicker/less bandwidth but file location visible and no header control).');" then you didn't run the latest script. It should read "1: use browser redirect regardless of filetype (quicker/less bandwidth but file location visible and no header control); 2: standard html hyperlink (file location visible, no checking, no hit counting).');"

OK?