Major Additions - GRPS: Groups Commune 2.0.x

Welcome ladies and gentleman, this is the release thread for GRPS, an interactive groups commune. I hope you enjoy this release and i sincerely hope it provides everything to your community in which you're looking for.

What is it?
It's a groups commune. The original idea is that forums with lots and lots of forums on the front-page suck, as a result i thought most of the conversation was rather obscure in regards to what the forums were trying to achieve, so it'd be nice to have that all going on elsewhere, not detracting away from the content and stopping your front-page from looking like a car crash.

Features?

• Groups Home
  
  • Groups Activity List
    
    • Newest Groups
      
    • Most Popular Groups
      
    • Largest Groups
      
  • Category List
    
  • Group Search by Title
    
  • Group Sort by Alphabetical Title, Categories, Member Count
    
    
  • Users can create groups
    
  • Admin switch to moderate groups or not
    
    • Admin CP access to moderation panel
      
• Groups Page
  
  • Posts since last visit notification
    
  • Group Info
    
    • Group Leader shown with avatar
      
    • Category
      
    • Type
      
      • Groups can be listed as public, private or hidden
        
    • Start Date
      
    • Member count
      
    • Post count
      
  • Group Desciption
    
    • Shows group title
      
    • Shows random image
      
    • Shows group information set by group leader
      
  • Groups Thread List (Forum)
    
    • Status Icon
      
    • Title
      
      • Threads use postbit as per the forums
        
    • Thread Author with avatar and time that the thread was started
      
    • Last reply with avatar, username and time that the last reply was posted
      
    • Post New Thread Button
      
      • Groups Members can create threads
        
  • Newest Members
    
    • Shows five newest members
      
    • Link to view all members
      
      • Shows all members of the group
        
  • Group Options
    
    • Users can join/leave groups
      
      • PM Notification for group leaders upon join requests (when moderation enabled).
        
      • PM Notification for of acceptance or refusal.
        
    • Users can send invites to other users via PM
      
• Groups Thread
  
  • Groups Info Box (see above for more info)
    
  • Group Description box (see above for more info)
    
  • Newest Members List (see above for more info)
    
  • List of groups posts using forums postbit
    
  • Pagination using native vBulletin pagination
    
  • Group Leader/Moderation Options
    
    • Open/Close Thread
      
    • Stick Thread
      
    • Delete Thread
      
  • Users have the ability to report posts
    
  • Moderators have the ability to view IP and host.
    
• Group Leader Options
  
  • Groups Management
    
    • WYSIWYG Editor
      
    • Reason for editing box
      
    • Group Options
      
      • Private Posts
        
      • Only group leader can make threads
        
      • Moderate Members
        
      • Show group text edit details
        
      • Hide group image on group pages
        
      • Hidden Group
        
        • This option is only available to admins
          
  • Group Members Moderation
    
    • Ability to accept or deny new members
      
• Postbit Integration
  
  • View Users Groups
    
• User Control Panel (Integration)
  
  • List of groups appears in usercp in order of the last post
    
• Administrator Options
  
  • vBulletin Options
    
    • Turn groups on or off
      
    • Groups Limit Per User
      
    • Posts Per Page (threads)
      
    • Check Forum Activity Posts
      
    • Check Forum Activity Time
      
    • Number of Random Images
      
    • Turn email notification of new groups on/off
      
  • Usergroup Options
    
    • Can view groups
      
    • Can create groups
      
    • Can join groups
      
    • Can post messages in groups
      
    • Can edit messages in groups
      
    • Can delete messages posted in groups
      
    • Numbers of groups usergroup can join limited
      
    • Can moderate groups
      
      • See above for more info
        
    • Can view IP Addresses
      
  • Category Editor
    
    • Edit
      
      • Edit cat id (please not this can ef up your show)
        
      • Edit cat title
        
      • Edit cat description
        
    • Add
      
      • New Cat Title And Description
        
  • Groups Editor
    
    • Search for group by id
      
      • Edit
        
        • Title
          
        • Desciption
          
        • Categoryid
          
        • Group leader id
          
        • Private Posts
          
        • Moderate Members
          
        • Hidden group
          

Special Thanks to harry1951, without his help testing and his recommendations, this would've never ended up the way it did.

Honestly, i can't think of anything else, if you appreciate the work gone into this mod, please donate (in GBP) (right click open in new window)

Hopefully you all appreciate that i just relaunched my site and rather than soak up the atmosphere there or go out drinking i came to release this tonight.

Screens below, rest to your right

Please note this mod does work with 3.5.x

PLEASE DO NOT JOIN MY SITE IN A BID TO PLAY WITH IT OR HAVE A LOOK AT IT FURTHER, MY SITE IS SOMETHING I VALUE FOR BEING SOMEWHERE I CAN CHILL AT, IT'S NOT A TEST SUITE OR DEMO!

Bug Fixes

• Groups v2.0.0 RC1b.zip: fix regarding incorrect table prefixes in index.php and editpost.php
• Groups v2.0.0 RC2.zip: fix regarding incorrect table prefixes in functions_grps.php and class_grps.php. also fix regarding installation instructions.
• Groups v2.0.0 RC3.zip: fix regarding inability to get to create groups page. updated simplified instructions, sadly still not cool html ones and also added ability to delete groups, delete categories and of course the menu options to get to these.
  • Groups v2.0.0 RC3b.zip: fix regarding joining and leaving group depreciated function error added uninstaller to the zip at http://www.yoursite.com/groups/tools...p?do=uninstall
  • Groups v2.0.0 RC3c.zip: fix regarding edit being stated as 70's on group stages, requires re-installtion of the plugin only.
• Groups v2.0.0 RC4.zip: various bug fixes and new general setting, please reupload all files and then reinstall the product.
• Groups v2.0.0 RC5.zip: bug fixes regarding fixing links to forums being broken and forcing redirects for create group outcomes.
• Groups v2.0.0 RC6.zip: various bug fixes including table prefixes in admincp, invitations system now features in-line erroneous username fall-back and clean up regarding broken images in viewthread.php
• Groups v2.0.0 RC7.zip: bug fixes including missing phrases and missing 'noavatar.gif for group leader on groups info.
• Groups v2.0.0 RC8.zip: various bug fixes including missing phrases, smilies not working. new function to turn of new group moderation. form now working on print_no_permission page (thanks Adrian) and something else i forgot.
• Groups v2.0.0 RC9.zip: fixes two spelling mistakes, moves viewthread.php string_replacements to admincp and simplifies the installer experience. (yeah i thought there'd be more to it too).
  • Groups v2.0.0 RC9b.zip: re-fixes two spelling mistakes, fixes a viewthread.php string_replacement via the admincp and turns the default random image count down to that of which is provided.
• Groups v2.0.0 RC10.zip: optimises some of the code, cuts down on queries in exchange for additional joins and now forces compatibility in groups/viewthread.php with vBulletin options. also adds new option in admincp in order to make usercp listing work better out of the box.
• Groups v2.0.0 RC11.zip: fixes a problem with avatars not displaying correctly in thread listing and also optimises the code in membership.php
• Groups v2.0.0.zip: adds and array_merge to the code and smilie popup fixed. now features hooks for plug-in 'easability'. uCS integration moved to external plugin too.
• Groups v2.0.1.zip: removes one hook, fixes problem with membership.php, fixes problem editgroup.php not remembering options and fixes avatar problem.
• Groups v2.0.2.zip: various bug fixes (like missing pagenavs, more elegant removal of reputation button and infraction button and php notices), one or two new features (like intuitive page titles) and now fully phrased.
• Groups v2.0.3.zip: bug fix regarding now being able to select categories. includes a new feature which is basically pagination for the thread listings.
• Groups v2.0.4.zip: bug fix regarding not being able to moderate group memberships.
• Groups v2.0.5.zip: bug fix regarding those introduced via 2.0.4, new features such as double post prevention disable, admins can override privacy settings, usergroup permission text more intuitive and end-user usability increased with modification to threadbit on groups.php. group leaders can now kick users from there groups.
• Groups v2.0.6.zip: bug fix including report, missing edit button and other misc small bugs, new features such as disable hidden groups, allow mods to see private groups, and resign from group handing off to another user.
• Groups v2.0.7.zip: bug fix including fixing post counts, thread goto's and fatal php errors.
• Groups v2.0.8.zip: bug fix regarding inability to delete posts, problem with editing posts and other misc errors.
• Groups v2.0.9.zip: various bug fixes including wywiwyg error, admin cp error and redirect/goto errors.
  • Groups v2.0.9b.zip: fixes problem with upgrade4.php
• Groups v2.0.10.zip: various bug fixes including acknowledging renamed modcp and admincp dir's also adds option regarding removing of posts at group exit/kick.
• Groups v2.0.11.zip: various bug fixes including security/privacy fixes.
• Groups v2.0.12.zip: permission bug fixed.
• Groups v2.0.13.zip: various bug fixes including ability to ignore members in groups and newreply bug.

[Mythotical]

Need to know how I can get the columns changed from 3 to 2 or make it so they are in a table instead of div tags.

[Merriweather]

This is a long thread and it's late, so please forgive me if my questions are already asked/answered...

(1) Can I make groups not allowed to be hidden and/or private?

(2) There is a typo on the main group page. In the left column, under the Group Leader info, instead of "Category" it says "Gateogory" -- where do I go to fix that?

(3) When an invite is sent, the screen with the confirmation message actually says "grps_invitesent" instead of the message it should say. I'm new to vB and don't know where I can edit language files (if that's what they are in vB) to correct this.

(4) Where/how do I change the images shown by default?

(5) Is there a way to control how many characters can be used in the intro?

That's all I have for now, but so far, great, and my members are very excited about it!

[pcoskat]

I'm really excited about GRPS!

Couple of questions:

- Can I restrict who can start or join a group by using 'post count'? In other words, I'd like to restrict STARTING a group to members with at least 50 posts. Joining a group would be restricted to members with at least 20 posts. Is that possible?

- Can the GROUP ACTIVITY information be 'syndicated' onto non-vb pages? I would like to have a 'box' on a non-vb page on my domain which displays dynamic information about active groups.

[Exitilus]

Originally Posted by pcoskat

I'm really excited about GRPS!

Couple of questions:

- Can I restrict who can start or join a group by using 'post count'? In other words, I'd like to restrict STARTING a group to members with at least 50 posts. Joining a group would be restricted to members with at least 20 posts. Is that possible?

- Can the GROUP ACTIVITY information be 'syndicated' onto non-vb pages? I would like to have a 'box' on a non-vb page on my domain which displays dynamic information about active groups.

1.) You can use the vbulletin promotion setup. That's what I do.

[kj_ugs]

I was wondering if it was possible to list recent posts and topics in the groups commune on the forum home page somehow?

[pcoskat]

Originally Posted by kj_ugs

I was wondering if it was possible to list recent posts and topics in the groups commune on the forum home page somehow?

I'd like this, too.

[bada_bing]

Originally Posted by pcoskat

I'd like this, too.

I would like to see a nice add-on to list the newest and/or hottest groups listed for vbportal.

[robertdjung]

I'm baffled that you never mention that one has to manually edit the user group permissions after you've installed this. I mean, why not add a line that says as much? I thought I'd lost my mind trying to figure out why the proggy wasn't working.

But thanks again, it's a nice add.

[Morrus]

A great hack. Some notes on problems/bugs I've noticed or which have been reported to me by users:

1) The navigation breadcrumbs don't work (broken links leading to non-existent pages). Note that groups is not level with the forum directory, but within it. I've tried changing that setting in the AdminCP to no effect.

2) When I click the Quote button to respond to a post, it brings up a blank reply form with no quoting. There's no normal reply button in group forums. When I try to quote, I get a blank reply page (so you could also say there's no quote function and the reply function has a quote button).

3) Same thing happens when you do a preview.

4) I started a thread and when I tried to post a new response in that thread and it simply appended it to the original post. I tested another thread and found that if you reply to someone elses post, it'll put a new response under theres. But if you reply and then reply again, with no other posts in between, it simply appends your reply to your previous post.

5) If I click on "Go Advanced" under the quick reply feature, then I get the following error message:

Warning: array_merge() [function.array-merge]: Argument #1 is not an array in /groups/newreply.php on line 189

6) Some spelling/phrasing errors. "Category" is spelt "Category".

7) The sidebar telle me that "Type: Group Posts Are Private. Members Are Moderated. Only The Group Leader Can Make Threads.", yet a non-group leader can create threads.

And my thoughts on necessary changes/additions to make this a professional mod:

1) The default image in the group header needs to be sorted out and user-definable. Lots of people have suggested that in this thread, and there's a reason for that.

2) The wacky moderation/group leader powers setup needs to be straightened up. It's not only unintuitive, but it's impractical. As many have pointed out in this thread, the group leader should effectively be moderator of his/her own blog.

3) The ability to remove users is pretty fundamental. A woman created a private girls only group, and while she was struggling to figure out how to make it private, a man joined. Now he can't be removed.

I know that sounds all very critical, but I do think this is a very good hack and well on its way to being as professional as, say, vBlogetin.

[daystorm]

Hi I am trying to make a search groups code to go on the groups home page.

I would like for it to be a drop down box where they can choose the catagory and then underneath a text box were they can refine their search with a search term.

So far this is the code I have, though, while the drop down is working the extra refining is not. Any help would be greatly appreciated....

<div id="main_form_container" style="width:275px;float:right;">

<div id="main_form_header">Group Search</div>
<div class="row_light">
<form action="browse.php" method="get" name="group_search_form">
<input type="hidden" name="do" value="list">
<div style="padding:2px; padding-left:15px;">
<br/>
Search In: &nbsp;&nbsp;<select name='c'>
<option value='0'>Choose a category</option>
<option value='13'>Activities</option>
<option value='1'>Automotive</option>
<option value='14'>Business & Entrepreneurs</option>
<option value='5'>Cities</option>
<option value='16'>Companies / Co-workers</option>
<option value='2'>Computers & Internet</option>
<option value='7'>Cultures & Community</option>
<option value='4'>Entertainment</option>
<option value='8'>Fan Clubs</option>
<option value='9'>Fashion & Style</option>
<option value='33'>Fetish, BDSM, & S/M</option>
<option value='10'>Film & Television</option>
<option value='11'>Food, Drink & Wine</option>
<option value='5'>Games</option>
<option value='17'>Gay, Lesbian & Bi</option>
<option value='18'>Government & Politics</option>
<option value='6'>Health, Wellness & Fitness</option>
<option value='34'>Kink</option>
<option value='19'>Literature & Arts</option>
<option value='37'>Mandingo</option>
<option value='20'>Money & Investing</option>
<option value='21'>Music</option>
<option value='22'>Nightlife & Clubs</option>
<option value='23'>Non-profit & Philanthropic</option>
<option value='12'>Other</option>
<option value='24'>Pets & Animals</option>
<option value='25'>Places & Travel</option>
<option value='32'>Porn Industry</option>
<option value='26'>Professional Organizations</option>
<option value='27'>Recreation & Sports</option>
<option value='28'>Religion & Beliefs</option>
<option value='29'>Romance & Relationship</option>
<option value='30'>Science & History</option>
<option value='3'>Sexual Education</option>
<option value='31'>Sorority / Fraternities</option>
<option value='36'>Swinging / Swapping Couples</option>
<option value='35'>Swinging / Swapping Singles</option>

</select>

<br/>
<br/>
Search For: <input type="text" name="searchterm" size="30">
<br/><br/>
<div style="padding-left:60px;">
<input type="submit" value="Search" size="30"></div>
</div>
</form>
</div>

</div>

Thank you,
Ella