vbArticles v0.4 -- For your repository of Articles/Tutorials/FAQs etc.

UPDATES
version 0.4 is out

- Now allows for basic VBCODE input.
- Fixed somemore bugs.


Background
Required a section on my site to display articles/tutorials
No such hack in the Hacks Database
Decided to try my hand at it

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This hack uses a lot of code from Arunan Sridharan's vB Links Directory v2.0
I use that hack too and was inspired to code something around that
A big thank-you must go out to him for coding the Links Directory in the first place (I merely modified much of the code to suit my needs for this hack)

Appreciation also goes out to Kars10 for aiding me in this hack
He coded the portion in version 0.3 on number of articles count as well as article hits count
He also suggested several template changes which have been incoporated into version 0.3
A great big special shout out to TheComputerGuy, 97cobracpe, dontpanic for stamping out the bugs with your fixes. Thanks guys


WHATS IT DO ?
This hack allows you to have a database of articles/tutorials etc on your site/forums.

FEATURES

AdminCP
Installer script

Admin options

View Categories
Edit Categories
Add Categories ( category name, category icon, category order, category description )
Delete Categories
Add new article ( title, description, author, date, content )
Edit article
Delete article
View ALL articles in database
Option in vB options to turn validation of articles on/off
Fully template based as to how you wish to display the articles,categories and main article home page.
Addition of articles accepts basic VBcodes

Member options

View Categories
Browse Categories
View articles
Submit new article
Submission of articles accepts basic VBcodes


INSTALLATION & UPGRADING
This Hack should work on ALL 2.2.x versions and v2.3.0
Please read the install_readme.txt file in the package for fresh installation instructions
IMPT: If you installed a previous version pls read the upgrade_readme.txt file carefully for upgrade instructions

HACK DOWNLOAD

Version 0.4 of this hack can be downloaded here

ADD-ONS
i) Add-on for vbHome
ii) Add-on for ForumHome
iii) Add-on to enable only registered members to be able to view the article section


DEMO SITES
http://www.runaked.com/forums/articles.php ( running v0.4 ) - TheComputerGuy's site

http://www.mcseworld.com/forums/infocenter.php ( running v0.3 ) - dontpanic's site


Feel free to submit your sites if u installed this hack so it can be listed as another live demo site

SUPPORT
I cannot promise any support on this as i am pretty new to this but I will try my best.
If you are using this hack , pls click the INSTALL button
to be kept in the loop of any bug reports, add-ons and hack version updates.

Thanks everyone

[AuthorZone.Com]

Also, can you fix it so READERS can rate the articles/reviews please?

BTW, how do I add icons?

[97cobracpe]

Today at 04:59 PM AuthorZone.Com said this in Post #80
THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOO MUCH!
I am going to try it now.

I plan to use it for a book review site and I will add users to a Reviewer's group and only they should be able to post in it and the admins...

Can you tell me how to do this?

Max

I noticed you asked the same thing in the links directory thread. This hack was based on it, so the code is pretty much the same. Here is the snippet of code to search for:

PHP Code:

// #################### Add Article ####################
if ($action=="addarticle") {
  if ($bbuserinfo[usergroupid]=="1" or $bbuserinfo[usergroupid]=="3" or $bbuserinfo[usergroupid]=="4" or $bbuserinfo[usergroupid]=="0") {
      eval("dooutput(\"".gettemplate('vbArticles_error1')."\");");
      }else{ 


Follow the same concept I posted in the links directory thread on how to exclude usergroups.

I'm not a coding expert, but adding ratings to this hack seems like it would be rather difficult. Maybe someone more experienced will be able to help you out. For the time being, I'll look into it, as that seems like a cool feature.

[AuthorZone.Com]

How does the Validate Articles/Links system work?
How do I know when I have to validate them?
How do I know when there are new articles/links submitted?

Thanks

Max

[cinq]

Yesterday at 11:09 PM 97cobracpe said this in Post #78
At first, I got this error too. I found 2 typo's in the vbArticles_install.php file. On line 269 and 291 there is no \ in front of an '.

Thanks 97cobracpe, have updated the download.

[cinq]

Today at 01:15 AM 97cobracpe said this in Post #79

Two php commands:
addslashes() and htmlspecialchars() were not used correctly with the intent of this hack. I noticed the same thing in the vbLink hack as well (which this was based off of).

I figured I help you out by posting my findings.

97cobracpe, thanks once again
Dont worry about stepping on my toes or anything, in fact I feel glad that some of you have stepped forward to help me along. I am very new to php and vb in general, nosedived into this hack purely cos i need something on this on my site and could not find any avail here yet.

For myself I too have removed all user submission code in my own installation at my site.
I prefer to have my own editorial team send me the stuff and i will load it up via admincp myself.
But personal preference I guess, at least this hack allows for more flexibility for those who prefer automated user submissions ( and via validation process )

[cinq]

Today at 08:24 AM AuthorZone.Com said this in Post #81
Also, can you fix it so READERS can rate the articles/reviews please?

Kars10 is working on the ratings bit. Got to wait out for it in future versions.

Today at 11:31 AM AuthorZone.Com said this in Post #83
How does the Validate Articles/Links system work?
How do I know when I have to validate them?
How do I know when there are new articles/links submitted?

You either enable or disable this option in your AdminCP under vbulletin options.
When a user submits an article, if enabled, will require your validation b4 it is displayed in your articles section.
To validate, click on the 'Validate new articles' link in your admin cp.
You have to check regularly if you have enabled the validation option as currently the hack does not inform you of any new user submissions.

If any one can help do an add-on to the existing code such that it will email admin ( like notification ) on any new user submissions, i will be most grateful.

[Braindg]

how would one go about adding permissions to this? as per normal forums? i would like to deny non-members to the articles section..

[AuthorZone.Com]

PROBLEM!

Ok I tried to validate 3 articles and it sent the server into a tail spin.

The server load overloaded and it will not come down....

Me thinks this hack need alot of fixing...

[cinq]

Braindg, here's what you can do:

In articles.php :
Find

PHP Code:

if ($action=="viewarticle") { 


After that, add the following

PHP Code:

if ($bbuserinfo[usergroupid]=="1" or $bbuserinfo[usergroupid]=="3" or $bbuserinfo[usergroupid]=="4" or $bbuserinfo[usergroupid]=="0") {
      eval("dooutput(\"".gettemplate('vbArticles_error3')."\");");
      }else{ 


In the same articles.php file , Find

PHP Code:

eval("dooutput(\"".gettemplate('vbArticles_articleview')."\");"); 


After that, add the following

PHP Code:

} 


Next, add the following attached template.

All done, viewing of articles is now nonviewable by those awaiting confirmation, Coppa users and Unregistered/Not logged in users.
( those usergroup ids - 1 , 3 , 4 )
If you wish to add more usergroups to deny them viewing of articles, simply add in their usergroup ids accordingly.

[cinq]

Yesterday at 10:51 PM AuthorZone.Com said this in Post #88

Ok I tried to validate 3 articles and it sent the server into a tail spin.
The server load overloaded and it will not come down....
Me thinks this hack need alot of fixing...

Me thinks it may not be the hack as I cannot replicate this error.
Anyone else facing this problem ?