Recycle Bin & Moderator Log

THIS IS A REAL BETA HACK, DO NOT INSTALL ON A LIVE BOARD

Ok, I brought up the idea over in this thread .

Here is a BETA hack for a recycle bin and mod logging system I've been working on.

It logs all mod activity for editing/deleting posts, moving threads etc. all admin selectable to log or not.
It creates a Forum (preferably hidden) to hold all the deleted threads - the logging function takes care of where they are from and who put them there.

It also dumps a copy of all user or mod (and admin) posts into an edited posts thread, also all deleted posts are dumped into a deleted posts thread.

Most of the logging is sorted, and configurable, I've probably forgotten something somewhere - which is why this is beta

The log info in the admin display is functional but still needs some work. I think the actual recycle logging functions themselves are up to scratch.

More (short ) notes in the readme.

I repeat do not install this hack on a live board

On the installer, this is probably more beta then the actual hack, thanks to firefly (Chen) for letting me borrow some of his hack installer code.

The installer works with a vanilla install of 2.2.9 but i have no idea what it will do with a hacked board, or different versions.

Also the hack itself is only tested on 2.2.9

The installer will (if you let it) install all of the forums, threads, templates and even do the file mod's. There is also a FTP function to ftp locally if you don't have chmod 777 set, failing direct file access or ftp, you can choose to download the hacked file without having to do all the edits by hand. (damn that took me some working)

The installer is still a little raw, I'll work on it more with some feed back.

Now what the hack actually does.

On the straight logging side.
How much and what is logged is selectable via the script in the admin CP
Code has been added to make an entry in the logdata table each time, a mod or user edits, deletes, opens, closes, sticks - basically everything.. a thread or a post.
(I think I have it logging all relevant information, but I may have missed something.)
You are then able to view the log history in the admin CP, also in the admin CP you can clear the logs, view stats, track down actions by a specific user.
I am working on a function to allow you to rebuild the thread and show edits/deletes as they happened in the timeline, but this part is not a high priority atm for me.

On the Recycle bin side.
-Uses the logging functions to keep track of the threads/posts.
The installer set up the recycle bin forum as a Posts do not count forum.
Most of the larger code inserts keep track of the posts/threads and provide undelete/full delete functions.
the main index.php has a small code insert to hide how many posts/threads are in the recycle bin forum from showing on the main page.
When a post/thread is deleted, the post count is still reduced form the users file, and the posts are unindexed from the search index.
If a thread/post is undeleted, the post counts are increased and the posts are re added to the search index.
If you 'return' an original post after editing, nothing changes with post counts etc.
The code also protects the Edited posts header post, and the Deleted posts header post. so while in the recycle bin, if you choose to 'full delete' either thread the main post and thread remains intact.

See this post for pics

I will try to dig up some older versions of vBB to check the installer with them..


Bugs....

Probably lots, but nothing really worrying that i can see

Todo
Better install instructions
Fix up the admin cp script so its pretty.
Make the Install script a little more stable.
Add anything that you think would be good, and won't take me another 10 solid days to program (I think the wife is going to leave me :speechless: )

Fixed:
Fixed - hopefully - the forum and post creation section on hacked forums

I'm looking forward to feed back etc

This hack is free, but I won't say no to paypal donations for a damn big beer

Dan

Edit, uploaded a new zip file due to a bug in the alternate download section of the installer.

[N9ne]

Thanks for beta releasing this, I will be sure to test it out once my server is setup .

[Sasq]

Well, being honest I have the actual hack itself running in production.. - I'm more scared about the installe

[Dean C]

Well i'll give it a try locally if i get a chance and let you know how i get on

It won't be til this weeekend at least though

Thanks for releasing the hack btw

Regards

- miSt

[DannyITR]

Please explain what you mean by not installing on a live board. Where else would the hack go? Do mean just turn it off while you install the hack? And what does Beta mean?

I really want to install the hack but I don't know what the warmings mean.

[NTLDR]

Originally posted by DannyITR
[B]Please explain what you mean by not installing on a live board. Where else would the hack go?

A test board.

And what does Beta mean?

This means that its unfinished and may not be suitable for a production site (IE your live forums with real visitiors). However it should be reasonably stable without too many bugs.

[Sasq]

Another thing on my todo list is write a better intro...

Basically the hack itself works, and while it does add any new columns to any of the vBB tables - it uses two of its own. It does require 39 ~ 40 small file inserts to handle the logging, and keep the recycle bin function behaving. Also it uses about 9 templates I'll add more info as to what goes on in the first post in a bit.

At this stage, if you have an un hacked 2.2.9 board, it *should* install without *any* problems. It it goes fubar, just copy those files that it altered back, drop the recycle bin forum it creates and the extra templates. And all *should* be well.

BUT at this point I'm not willing to say that all WILL be well. I do have to try to dig up some older versions of vBB to see how the hack responds to them.

I'll also try to make some screen shots and post them up in a bit.

Dan

[Sasq]

Ok, here are some pics showing you what the hack looks like.

Like I Said the actual log viewer, needs to be made a little prettier but most of the needed functionality is there.

Dan

[bitbender]

/me will try it on a 2.2.6 "moderately hacked" test board *clicks* download

[Sasq]

My main problem with testing previous versions... I'm not the main licence holder, just the code moneky for my forum.
I used to have 2.2.4 and 2.2.5 but i lost it in a hard drive crash..

Must check if I can get my hands on older versions.

Dan