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

[obsidian]

You might be having the same problem I had. Go back through all the templates you installed and check to ensure they are all correct. I had the same problem so I went back and deleted my templates and reinstalled them and it started working.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Mickie D

erm i can add a catogorie fine but i cannot see it

and i dont get any links up to view either i get the links navbar with search and links

i get the admin section, i think i get most of it but i cant see anything under the links bar

also i am using my general chat room for the permissions as it lets everyone view it

please help this seems so good but i am just lost as to what is going wrong for me


also it installs fine but where is the links ???

I really have to sort out this installation process - too many of you are having problems - sorry!!

I have the same suggstion as obsidian - the templates. Can you PM your site url + an admin userid, otherwise I can't really help you

[SandsUSA]

This hack is exactly what I'm needing on my site. I mean 100%. I'm a bit leery of installing a .3 beta release, tho. How close are you to feature-complete? Hopefully, not .7 away

[Natch]

I'm using it on my forum and it's definitly badly named ... it's only beta 0.3 cos he's released 2 updates from 0.1 - it's production ready IMO.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by SandsUSA

This hack is exactly what I'm needing on my site. I mean 100%. I'm a bit leery of installing a .3 beta release, tho. How close are you to feature-complete? Hopefully, not .7 away

From what I see in this thread and on our own site, the hack is pretty solid, if you install it correctly.

These seem the only important features still left to add:

- Information on file size available in the links_linkbit template
- A rock solid installation and upgrade script (it's a bit too hands on at the moment and people have been messing up the template installation)
- A bit more documentation on the variables that are available to the templates

I intend adding these this weekend, if other things don't get in the way.

There are then three related "add ons"

- A utility script to scan the VB posts, find all URL tags and cross reference them into the links database. (This was the original reason for writing this hack - we have a large library of pdfs, scattered across many many posts.) This is nearly written
- The BBCodes needed to access links from within posts. This is trivial.
- A utility to export/import the links database. I need to brush up on my XML.

Natch has done the integration with VBIndex.

Any other big ones needed?

[SandsUSA]

I Followed the instructions, and the install went smoothly.

This is exactly what I need for my link and file pages. Between vBulletin, vbIndex, and this hack, I have a perfect site

I highly recommend this hack to anyone browsing...

Thanks!

[Sadie Frost]

Thank you Tradjick! That was exactly what I was missing

[Hoffi]

Originally Posted by Sadie Frost

Thank you Tradjick! That was exactly what I was missing

I wold love it if you use Phrases in the Future.

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Hoffi

I wold love it if you use Phrases in the Future.

I would love it too :ermm: but my family want me to spend more time with them than at the computer... Someday, maybe...

[Mickie D]

Originally Posted by AndrewD

I would love it too :ermm: but my family want me to spend more time with them than at the computer... Someday, maybe...

yeah my family are the same m8, tell me i am on my site to much

but anyway regarding admin acess to my forum

sorry m8y i once did that b4 and got burnt badly , its nothing personal against you but i am reluctant to give any details out at all

i would like to say i am more than patient to wait until you get some spare time and release a newer version when you get the time.

and thanks for the help

Regards
Mickie