vBindex v2.1

[HIGH]vBindex v2.1[/HIGH]

This hack is **NOT** to be re-distributed or placed on website for download unless I give express permission.

Please read this post and the thread before asking questions. You may find that you question has already been answered. I will ignore posts which ask questions that have been asked several times already.

[HIGH]Latest Stable Version: 2.1[/HIGH]

Latest Avalible Version: 2.1 Final

[high]Using vB3?[/high]

Get vBindex 3.0.0 for vB3 Gamma/RC1 and above!


Version 1.x of this hack was done by el3m3nt, since then there have been many updates and fixes and as e3l3mnt is no longer updating this hack he has given me permission to re-release it (see Permisson.txt in the zip).

[HIGH]Features[/HIGH]

• Latest Threads;
• News & Polls (taken from a specified news and a poll forum), with vBcode, Smilies and news posters avatar;
• Quick User CP Links in the menu when logged in;
• Shows online and offline buddies when logged in;
• Very easy to customize, just edit/add templates;
• Intergtared Welcome Panel;
• Capable of operating a multi-paged site;
• Usergroup based viewing permissions;
• Will work 100% outside of your forums directory;
• [HIGH]*NEW*[/HIGH] Fully integrated into the Admin CP, change all options there!
• [HIGH]*NEW*[/HIGH] Fully integrated Shoutbox (this hack is a prerequsit);
• [HIGH]*NEW*[/HIGH] Limit the length of news posts;
• [HIGH]*NEW*[/HIGH] Reduced queries and cleaner code;
• [HIGH]*NEW*[/HIGH] Switch vBindex on and off via the CP.

[HIGH]Demo Site[/HIGH]

A standard demo of vBindex can be found here:

Currently Offline.

A customised demo of vBindex can also be found here:

Currently Offline.

[HIGH]Screenshots From v2.1[/HIGH]

vBindex Home Page
vBindex ACP Options
vBindex Usergroup Options
vBindex Update Counters

[HIGH]vBindex v2.1 Information[/HIGH]

[HIGH]Installation/Upgrade[/HIGH]

Upload vbi_install.php and select the relevent options.
If you wish to use the shoutbox then this hack is a prerequsit, and needs to be installed first, however if you do not require the shoutbox option disable it in the ACP, otherwise you will get DB errors.

[HIGH]Latest Bug Fixes[/HIGH]

None.

[HIGH]Download[/HIGH]

See the attachment on this post.

[HIGH]Credits[/HIGH]

vBindex 1.x by el3m3nt
Shoutbox by TWTCommish
Welcome Panel by trilOByte
News Code based on code by TECK
Poll PHP from vBPortal by wajones

[HIGH]Feature Requests[/HIGH]

If you have any requests for new features please post them in this thread and I will consider integrating them / creating an addon.

[HIGH]Addons[/HIGH]

I will support all addons for vBindex v2 that are either posted by myself or are included in the distribution zip file unless otherwise stated. I cannot guarentee that I can provide support on any other addons.

[HIGH]Support/Feekback[/HIGH]

Please provide me with any feekback you have on this hack, I will be continuing to support this hack here only, unless otherwise arranged. Should you have a question about this hack, please post it in this thread. Support will not be given via PM, Email or IM unless arranged, you will just be ignored.

Please click on the [HIGH]install[/HIGH] button if you use this hack.

French templates have been made for v2.0.1 (Note: vBindex 2.0.1 is no longer avalible), see this post for details.

[mknott]

is there anyway i could get the forum to load in the middle section by clicking a link for the forum?

[NTLDR]

Yes this is posible, I would say it would be easier to get the side bars to appear on the forum pages then the other way around. I posted a addon-earlier in the thread for a menu for the forums, however it proved to be a bit buggy.

[mknott]

thats a shame

i know i need to edit a template to add somthing to the menu on the left...

basicly what im wanting to add is a link to my forums that opens in a new window.

[mccollin]

For the news edit find:

...

OK, I'm probably the first person to get burned FOR reading the thread. I spent the last hour reading back through the thread... got through all but about 25 pages and decided that version was too old, pulled out the code and hacked through it, figured it out, came back here excited to post the solution, and OOOPS... you beat me to it!

Thank you for getting back with the answer, just the same. I will post the solution to multiple forums on multiple pages shortly.

[mccollin]

OK, combining a couple of things here, let me see if this is correct.

Let's use my car example again. I have a main site that deals with all cars. I have various forums for the different types of cars. I want to combine all car news on my home page. I want individual portal pages for the car types that only show news for them... chevy, ford, dodge, etc.

In this example, chevy has one news forum, ford has two, and dodge has one.

I first add the multiple forum hack that was just posted about 5 or 6 posts back. That replaces

PHP Code:

... WHERE forumid = '$newsforum' ... 


with

PHP Code:

... WHERE forumid in ($newsforum) ... 


You can then put multiple forums in the field in the control panel and it will work, but you would get all the forums on all the pages. I want to segregate forums on pages. So.....

I add the following just below the opening comments where it says support is only provided in this forum.

PHP Code:

// Set variables for this page

if ($mode=='') { 
  $newsforum = '3, 5, 8, 9';
} elseif ($mode=='chevy') { 
  $newsforum = '3';
} elseif ($mode=='ford') { 
  $newsforum = '5, 8';
} elseif ($mode=='dodge') { 
  $newsforum = '9';
} else { 
  $newsforum = "$newsforum";  // default to what is in cp
} 


Then you would call the home page using

www.myurl.com/vbindex.php

or chevy with

www.myurl.com/vbindex.php?mode=chevy

etc, etc.

OK, that solves the multiple forums problem. But, I want to have different page layout as well... in particular I want to have targeted adds, and a panel of different info at the top of each page that talks about that car type. If I modify the code to this...

PHP Code:

// Set variables for this page

if ($mode=='') { 
  $newsforum = '3, 5, 8, 9';
  $page = ''; 
} elseif ($mode=='chevy') { 
  $newsforum = '3';
  $page = 'chevypage';     
} elseif ($mode=='ford') { 
  $newsforum = '5, 8';
  $page = 'fordpage'; 
} elseif ($mode=='dodge') { 
  $newsforum = '9';
  $page = 'dodgepage'; 
} else { 
  $newsforum = "$newsforum";
  $page = ''; 
} 


I can now have a different template page for each one. These need to be added in the control panel as "home_extra_chevypage", "home_extra_fordpage", and home_extra_dodgepage". No problem, now I have some more control.... but I ran into a problem here... my lack of knowledge on vBulletin.

I want to have other custom templates for the other bits... "home_newsbits", home_header", etc. I tried adding "home_custom_news" and added it to one of the "extra" pages, but I ended up with nothing showing up, telling me that it couldn't find my template. I tried adding the templates in the list at the head of vbindex.php, but that also didn't work. This is probably a basic vB question, but how do I add and call custom templates within the vB template system.

Thanks. (almost done )

[NTLDR]

The $templatesused list at the top contains all the templates that could be used by vBindex, this removes 1 query for each template, so any you add I strongly recomend that you place them in this list.

For the $mode if clause, make sure this goes after the require global.php line otherwise it will not work.

For the custom templates I assume these are based on $mode? If so then I would rename them in the eval lines to variables, for example:

PHP Code:

eval("\$threadbits .= \"".gettemplate('home_threadbit')."\";"); 


to:

PHP Code:

eval("\$threadbits .= \"".gettemplate($home_threads)."\";"); 


and set $home_threads equal to the template you wish to use in the $mode if statement, this seems the easiest way to me.

I may consider making some of these changes standard in v3 as it seems like many people would find it usefull

[mccollin]

Actually, no. I took a left turn on you there. Remember that I'm a phpBB guy and have just been using templates for a few weeks... totally new to me. Assume I'm an idiot with this stuff and may be missing something simple.

In the $mode statement, I've got a new page template for each. Rather than pass two variables in the url, I've just piggy backed on the one you already put there for "page" (it's the last code in vbindex.php at the bottom). So, I'm not passing page... I'm sticking it in there from the $mode conditionals. So, the $page=chevypage is for the template named "home_extra_chevypage" as you've defined in your code.

That works fine. But, it's not enough for me to replace just that home template. I want to let home_extra_chevypage call a different home_news, home_newsbits, home_right, and home_header (than the one that the home page calls).

I created new templates of those names as home_custom_news, etc., then I referenced them in home_extra_chevypage... but they didn't do anything.

The evaluate part of this is probably where I'm missing something. Again, assume I'm an idiot on this. I will keep trying and let you know if I figure it out before you respond. Thanks a ton for your quick responses.

[mccollin]

PHP Code:

// Set variables for this page 

if ($mode=='') { 
  $newsforum = '3, 5, 8, 9'; 
  $page = ''; 
} elseif ($mode=='chevy') { 
  $newsforum = '3'; 
  $page = 'chevypage';     
  eval("\$home_custom_mews = \"".gettemplate('home_custom_news')."\";");
  eval("\$home_custom_mewsbits = \"".gettemplate('home_custom_newsbits')."\";");
 
} elseif ($mode=='ford') { 
  $newsforum = '5, 8'; 
  $page = 'fordpage'; 
} elseif ($mode=='dodge') { 
  $newsforum = '9'; 
  $page = 'dodgepage'; 
} else { 
  $newsforum = "$newsforum"; 
  $page = ''; 
} 


I tried doing this and it still doesn't work. When I call mode=chevy, it does use the home_extra_chevypage template, but the news part is blank.

[mccollin]

OK,

I still need to get an answer on the template question before I can complete my next phase, but I now have my home page moved from phpBB2/Smartor EZPortal/Heavy Hacking, to vBulletin/vBindex/Heavy Templating. You can see it at pdaPhoneHome New Home Page . The old page that is temporarily still online is at pdaPhoneHome Old Home Page .

So, can you recognize that this started two days ago as a standard vBindex page?

I love this thing... very clean and easy to work with.

By the way, is the users online supposed to only show 12 people? If so, what 12 does it show? I usually have a lot more users online than this.

[NTLDR]

Both links go to the same place for me.

Here is how I would suggest doing the templates:

PHP Code:

// Set variables for this page 

if ($mode=='') { 
  $newsforum = '3, 5, 8, 9'; 
  $page = ''; 
} elseif ($mode=='chevy') { 
  $newsforum = '3'; 
  $page = 'chevypage';      
  $news_template = "home_custom_news";
  $newsbits_template = "home_custom_newsbits";

} elseif ($mode=='ford') { 
  $newsforum = '5, 8'; 
  $page = 'fordpage'; 
} elseif ($mode=='dodge') { 
  $newsforum = '9'; 
  $page = 'dodgepage'; 
} else { 
  $newsforum = "$newsforum"; 
  $page = ''; 
  $news_template = "home_news";
  $newsbits_template = "home_newsbits";
} 


Then change the following lines:

PHP Code:

  eval("\$news = \"".gettemplate('home_news')."\";"); 
  eval("\$newsbits .= \"".gettemplate('home_newsbits')."\";"); 


To:

PHP Code:

  eval("\$news = \"".gettemplate($news_template)."\";"); 
  eval("\$newsbits .= \"".gettemplate($newsbits_template)."\";"); 


Hope that makes sense

[mccollin]

Both links go to the same place for me.

Oh, but they don't. Check the url... one goes to /forums/portal.php (vB and vBi), the other goes to /phpBB/portal.php (phpBB). I have accomplished my goal if you thought they were the same! :smoke:

I'm amazed that I could take your script and exactly replicate (well, not exactly because I now have a registered and unregistered welcome block) my home page in about 2 days.

Back to the

Thanks for your explanation... it makes perfect since. I had been playing with the templates and finally figured it out. I had accidentally typed "m" instead of "n" in the names (i.e. mewsbits). My editor font made it hard to see. Your approach is cleaner, though because it keeps my edits up at the top of the page, and not down in the code. I'm going to add a setting for number of news posts to include, and I'll be all set.

Thanks a ton.

Now I've got to tackle some custom queries to do the FAQ section. I have to make 7 passes through the article forum, and do a join on an index which drives the order, and which of the threads, to include. :classic:

[NTLDR]

*heh* Indeed it is different *hehe*

You've done a great job converting it, it looks totally different and matches your old page perfectly

[mccollin]

OK, that works great. In case anyone else is following this discussion, I'll summarize and add in a few details to your last suggestion. This example may not even make sense to do, but it covers all the things you need in order to have multiple forums, multiple templates working together, and called from a single vbindex.php file.

The scenario is this...

You have a vBulletin that is focused on cars. You want to create a home page that shows all the news for all the cars. You also want "portal" pages where each car owner can see just news about their brand of car... chevy owners see chevy news, ford owners see ford news, etc. You can use the concepts here to expand this into covering the whole range of things that you might want to tailor on a portal page. My motivation was to figure out news first.

This documents what I found out. Many thanks to the great and mighty NTLDR, for creating a script that is easy to understand and work with, and for being willing to help someone that dares to alter their work! :banana:

Make the following changes in vbindex.php

FIND:

PHP Code:

$templatesused.=',home_shoutbox,home_postshout'; 


ADD AFTER:

PHP Code:

$templatesused.=',home_extra_chevy,home_chevy_news,home_chevy_newsbits';
$templatesused.=',home_extra_ford,home_ford_news,home_ford_newsbits';
$templatesused.=',home_extra_dodge,home_dodge_news,home_dodge_newsbits'; 


FIND:

PHP Code:

require('./global.php'); 


ADD AFTER:

PHP Code:

// Set variables for this page 

if ($mode=='') { 
  $newsforum = '3, 5, 8, 9'; 
  $page = ''; 
} elseif ($mode=='chevy') { 
  $newsforum = '3'; 
  $newsposts = '10';
  $page = 'chevy';       
  $news_template = "home_chevy_news"; 
  $newsbits_template = "home_chevy_newsbits"; 

} elseif ($mode=='ford') { 
  $newsforum = '5, 8'; 
  $newsposts = '10';
  $page = 'ford'; 
  $news_template = "home_ford_news"; 
  $newsbits_template = "home_ford_newsbits"; 
} elseif ($mode=='dodge') { 
  $newsforum = '9'; 
  $newsposts = '10';
  $page = 'dodge'; 
  $news_template = "home_dodge_news"; 
  $newsbits_template = "home_dodge_newsbits"; 
} else { 
  $newsforum = $newsforum; 
  $newsposts = $newspost;
  $page = ''; 
  $news_template = "home_news"; 
  $newsbits_template = "home_newsbits"; 
} 


FIND:

PHP Code:

WHERE forumid = '$newsforum' 


REPLACE WITH:

PHP Code:

WHERE forumid in ($newsforum) 


Then go into the admin control panel and setup a default configuration. You can put in multiple forums for default news like this:

3, 5, 8, 9

Then create the following templates...

home_extra_chevy (copy of home)
home_chevy_news (copy of home_news)
home_chevy_newsbits (copy of home_newsbits)
home_extra_ford (copy of home)
home_ford_news (copy of home_news)
home_ford_newsbits (copy of home_newsbits)
home_extra_dodge (copy of home)
home_dodge_news (copy of home_news)
home_dodge_newsbits (copy of home_newsbits)

This assumes that there were already the following news forums:
Chevy News - forum number 3
Ford New Car News - forum number 5
Ford Antique News - forum number 8
Dodge News - forum number 9

Edit the custom templates to your liking.

Then upload the new vbindex.php... you could call it something like cars.php.

Then, if you called cars.php with no parameters, you'd get all the news and use the standard templates.

If you called cars.php?mode=chevy, you'd get the chevy news and use the appropriate news templates.

etc, etc,

Like I said, this is a fictional example to show how to do multiple forums and multiple templates from one vbindex.php. If you wanted separate *.php files, like chevy.php, ford.php, etc., then you would do the same changes and drop the conditional logic. If you want to alter more template, then you would make the same template changes shown...
1. create the new template and copy the orginal
2. add it in the list of templates at the top of the page
3. add it to the conditional logic

This could be used to run targeted banners for each car type, or to include colors and images to match a particular theme.

If anyone finds any mistakes with this, let me know and I'll edit it.

[mccollin]

OK, another night of work and I almost have my more complicated portal page built with vBindex. I am really learning the power of vB, templates, and this great script.

I have FAQ content on my site that I stored in forums by category. With phpBB, I had written separate scripts for each device and the maintenance was getting to be difficult with simple changes requiring me to replicate it across all the scripts.

Using vBi and some custom tables, queries, and templates... I have managed to make this all run from one script... my home page news, my faqs, everything. You just pass "device=" in the url and you are in business. Because NTLDR has made this such a clean single file script, it was very easy to get it to work.

Here is a current example of these techniques in action. This page shows a subset of the news from the home page, and then organizes FAQs that are stored in multiple forum by category. I two tables... one for the index of what FAQ threads go to what category, and another that stores all the device info... specs, newsforums, faqforums, image location, etc, etc. I look for device= at the beginning of the script.... if it doesn't find it it runs the vbindex as designed. If it does find it, it loads variables for news and a custom block of code (based on news) to organize and display the device specs and faqs.

I still have some more work to do to add the blocks for new, updates, and popular FAQs... but that should be a piece of cake to add add using these techniques. I have a lot of data to migrate from the phpBB tables to the vB tables, so I need to do that before putting this in production for all devices. I've got a production page of for an older device... the Audiovox Thera to show how it looks...

vBindex version of Thera Portal page

Old phpBB version of Thera Portal Page

By the way, is it necessary to include the HASH info in the url when callling a vbindex.php?

[NTLDR]

Looking good Mike! You have done an superb job of converting you pages and to get them all running from the one script. Its good to see someone else use this hack to its full potential.

As for the hash, I recomend including it in all your links (demo.php?s=$session[sessionhash]&device=test) as this is what tracks non-cookie users on your board.