vBa Links Directory 2.0 Beta 2 Now Available!

[Brian]

vBadvanced Links Directory 2.0 Beta 2 is now available for current customers in the Members' Area here. Quite a bit of work has gone into the new version to add new features and optimize things for better performance.

What's New
"What's New" section changed to allow users to find links from the past X days.
"Link to Us" page updated to allow you to upload your own banners with ease.
New category management options which will allow your users to create and manage their own categories. Additional options allow you to decide how much control (if any) users should have over the categories they create including giving the users moderator abilities for their categories, the ability to set passwords, and more.
Status reports that will help you to verify the integrity of your links and help to find broken or otherwise problematic links. This option stemmed from the old "Verify Links" option under the "Maintenance" section, but should be much easier to use and more effective now.
Category permissions which allow you to change almost every default permission setting on a per-category basis. Note that the "Private category" option has been done away with as the new category permissions section makes this option unnecessary.
New Options to enable/disable custom fields on a per-category basis.
New reciprocal link checking options.
Last link and last post now shown with category bits.
New option to close just the links directory (similar to the option to close your forums with vBulletin).
New option to exclude specific categories from appearing in the "What's New" and "Random Links" sections on the main links directory homepage.
Random links are now generated once an hour via a cron job to save on server resources.
New option to specify the minimum number of votes a link must have to appear as a top rated link in the "What's Popular" section.
New options to specify the depth for categories on your main index page, as well as sub-categories.
New option to enable/disable stats on the homepage.
More sorting options to allow you to control what order links are displayed in when browsing links.
New option to limit the number of characters displayed for link descriptions when browsing links.
New option to allow you to order categories alphabetically.
New option to display a smaller version of sub-categories beneath the main category in the categorybits.
New option to enable/disable the on/off indicators with the categorybits.
New option to limit the number of characters of the URL to display to prevent long URL's from stretching out the page.
New auto-fill option that will automatically grab the meta data (title, description, and keywords) and pre-populate the fields with this info from a web site that is being submitted.
Image verification for guests who are submitting links to prevent automated bots from submitting links.
Image verification for guest posting to prevent automated bots from posting.
New options to password protect categories.
New options to allow HTML, BB Code, smilies, [img] and [url] tags in links descriptions on a per-category basis.
New options to set categories as "inactive" so they will not appear in the category listing, but can still be accessed if the URL is known.
New options to enable/disable ratings on a per-category basis.
New options to add "rel=nofollow" to links on a per-category basis.
New option to automatically parse links in custom fields on a per-category basis.
New "Mass Manage Links" section in the Admin CP which will allow you to quickly delete/suspend/move links.
New Admin/Mod CP option to validate user submitted categories.
Subscribed categories are now displayed in the "My Subscriptions" section.
Moderation sections (links, posts, and categories) are now paginated.
Custom fields that are left blank are no longer shown on the "showlink.php" page.
Much work has gone into optimizing many areas so the script should run smoothly with just a few links/categories, or a few hundred thousand.
The "Update Image Paths" section of the install file is now capable of updating background URL's in your CSS to save users from having to do this part manually.

Though certainly not a complete list, the above should cover most of the bigger additions and changes.

Upgrading
Current customers may download 2.0 from the Members' Area here. Upgrade instructions are nearly the same as always, and may be found in the readme file that comes with the download package.

[GamingVidz.com]

Looks good, do you have any plans for when it will be out of beta stage? (I tend to error on the side of caution and not install betas).

[Brian]

Hopefully not long. I almost labeled it as "RC1" instead of a 2nd beta, but I too tend to error on the side of caution and decided to label it as a beta just to be safe. ;)

[Lionel]

I had hacked my old version of 1.0 and I hoped to see them in there

1-send email to link email (using the contact form) in addition to send email to link owner, as the link email is not necesseraily the same as the one who posted the link. Your way displays the email, good source for harvesters

2-Images upload, allowing people to put a logo next to their links in link detail page.

[Raze]

Any chance to add a pain option where paying members links appear higher than non paying members? And if they don't renew after a year their link drops to normal level?

Could be tied in the way paid subscriptions work now? If member of paid subscription > priority link etc

Not sure it it has custom fields yet and whether we can sort/search by them - if not that would be welcomed too.

Looks like you have been working hard on this, well done.

[CSS59]

anyone have a live demo? I gave up on my v1 long ago. Hope v2 is a lot better

[Brian]

http://www.vbadvanced.com/links
http://www.vbadvanced.com/forum/demo/?script=links

[Pixelate]

Looks good.

Is there an option to have featured sites or sponsored sites, rather than just alphabetically listed sites?

[AVC]

How about an option to keep non members from submitting links to cut out spammers :confused:

[WhatChaMissin]

will this be available for 3.5.x?

[Ramses]

Thanks for that, there's a typo in the readme, saying going to http://yoursite.com/forum/admincp/vblinks_install.php but should be vbalinks_install.php, and maybe you could make the "If you have not already, ensure that you are running vBulletin 3.6+." in red color and bold for stupid people as I am not trying to install it on 3.54 :p

[Freesteyelz]

Cool. I'll test it soon. :)

How about an option to keep non members from submitting links to cut out spammers :confused:

I haven't tested it yet but I think you can set it in the Usergroup permissions. Take a look at the Admin CP demo.

[Brian]

Looks good.

Is there an option to have featured sites or sponsored sites, rather than just alphabetically listed sites?
Currently you can change the display order to sort them by title, rating, views, replies, and a couple of other things. You can also stick links, pretty much the same as you can stick threads in vBulletin.

How about an option to keep non members from submitting links to cut out spammers :confused:
You could control what groups could submit links in v1.0. There are more usergroup permissions now though, along with category permissions and image verification options.

will this be available for 3.5.x?
Probably not. If there is enough of a demand from vB 3.5 customers we may release a compatable version, but currently I'm not sure it's worth it to try and keep a separate version for each.

Thanks for that, there's a typo in the readme, saying going to http://yoursite.com/forum/admincp/vblinks_install.php but should be vbalinks_install.php, and maybe you could make the "If you have not already, ensure that you are running vBulletin 3.6+." in red color and bold for stupid people as I am not trying to install it on 3.54 :p
Thanks, and I'll change that text to be bold. ;)

[AVC]

Can you explain how to keep non forum members out for us new users Brian :confused:

[Brian]

Admin CP => vBa Links Directory => Usergroup Permissions

Once there, select "Unregistered / Not Logged In", and then make sure the "Can Add Links" option is set to "No".

[ang2el]

Thanks Brian.

I upgrade my version couldn't get any error. Hope to see its final version.

[Neutral Singh]

Thanks Brian Thats an awesome update... Everything seems to be back in order...

[ang2el]

New category management options which will allow your users to create and manage their own categories. Additional options allow you to decide how much control (if any) users should have over the categories they create including giving the users moderator abilities for their categories, the ability to set passwords, and more.


I enable for the usergroup and then allowed in the main stettin for user to create their category but when tried to create a category "Parent Category" option show nothing and when try to "add category" the following vbulletin message appears

You must choose a parent category in which your new category will appear under.

Can anyone help me please?

[Brian]

Did you edit any of your categories and change the "Allow users to create sub-categories"?

[ang2el]

Thanks Brain for prompt response.

In the "User Category Options" I have checked "Yes (User does NOT own the category)"

But I didn't realized that I had to edit each category and check the "Allow Users to Create Sub-Categories"

Its OK now, I got it.

Could you please explain the following

Random links are now generated once an hour via a cron job to save on server resources.
New options to add "rel=nofollow" to links on a per-category basis.

Thanks

[ncangler]

I am in the process of upgrading from 1.01 and I get this message:
The following phrases have been found, but are not from the current version of vBa Links Directory. If you have added any phrases for hacks or any other reason, please un-check the box next to any phrases you wish to keep. Otherwise, click the "Save" button to remove the selected phrases. There are about 30 phrases and I"m concerned that some are not related to vbalinks. Is this normal and should I delete all?

[Neutral Singh]

I entered a link in the main category but its information is not showing up in link home page.

http://www.sikhbusiness.net/links/

[ncangler]

I've been doing this long enough to know not to try an upgrade or install when you're dead tired. :p Just realized I uploaded all the /forums/ files but not the new /links/ files. :)

I am in the process of upgrading from 1.01 and I get this message:
There are about 30 phrases and I"m concerned that some are not related to vbalinks. Is this normal and should I delete all?

[DSMrSinister]

what are the minimum system requirements to run this script?

[Freesteyelz]

To run vBa Links Directory 2.0 you will need vB 3.6.0 or higher.


vBulletin 3.0.0 or higher. MySQL 3.23 or higher is recommended.

Current Version: 1.0.1 Last Updated: 08-14-2006 03:17 PM


@Brian: I think you need to update the information on the homepage when you have the chance. The current version is still pointing at 1.0.1 which was updated 8/14/06.

[Neutral Singh]

Hi, I am unable to create a new category. Therez a syntax error.

Missing argument 2 for fetch_query_sql() in /includes/functions.php on line 822


Invalid SQL:

### INSERT QUERY GENERATED BY fetch_query_sql() ###
INSERT INTO
(`title`, `description`, `displayorder`, `parent`, `newlinkemail`, `newpostemail`, `haslinks`, `valid`, `active`, `allowusercats`, `password`, `catuserid`, `options`, `useroptions`)
VALUES
('Websites on Sikhism', 'Website Dedicated to Sikh Religion and Philosophy.', '2', '1', 'admin@sikhphilosophy.net', 'admin@sikhphilosophy.net', '1', '1', '1', '0', '', '', '46811', '0');

MySQL Error : You have an error in your SQL syntax. Check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near '(`title`, `description`, `displayorder`, `parent`, `newlinkemai
Error Number : 1064

[Brian]

Freesteyelz - Thanks for pointing that out. Just updated it to show the correct date. ;)

Neutral Singh - Just posted a fix for that in the bugs forum. ;)
http://www.vbadvanced.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18061

[swa]

awesome update! I love the autofill!

[cheesegrits]

Could you please explain the following
Random links are now generated once an hour via a cron job to save on server resources.
New options to add "rel=nofollow" to links on a per-category basis.Thanks

Brian is probably kind of busy getting the Beta whipped into shape, so I'll have a stab at answering these.

1) If you are showing random links on a page, the links to be shown can be generated in one of two ways. One way is by hitting the database every time the page with the random links display is loaded. Not a problem on a smaller site, but on a very busy site this can put a heavy load on the server.

So an alternative way to do it is to run a 'cron job' (a scheduled task), which runs once an hour (or any interval you care to set it to), grabs the random links from the database, and stores the results in a temporary file on disk. Then the random links display just has to read that file when the page loads, instead of consulting the database. This is much easier on the server (it probably won't even have to read the disk itself on a busy server, as the file will most likely stay in the disk or file system memory cache).

2) The "rel=nofollow" tag is a special attribute you can put in a link to tell search engines (like Google, Yahoo, etc) not to count the link in their "page ranking" for the site being linked to. It is typically used in links added to a site by "guests", and is intended to discourage spammers from adding links to their sites in things like blogs, forum postings and link libraries.

If you don't put this tag in a link, then the search engines will count that occurence of the link towards a sites page ranking, hence bumping it up the search engines listing. You would typically set this option to "yes" if you, as the webmaster / owner of the site, do not want your Links entries to affect page rankings on search engines, and hence discourage spammers from adding their trash to your site. There are other reasons (mostly editorial in nature), but discouraging link spamming is the most common reason.

[NOTE - some people will tell you that the 'nofollow' tag tells search engines not to "follow" the link for indexing purposes. This is not the case. Nobody quite knows why they called it nofollow, which is a misleading name, but there ya go.]

-- hugh

[phifou2]

The 3.5.x version will be really welcome

[ang2el]

Brian is probably kind of busy getting the Beta whipped into shape, so I'll have a stab at answering these.



Thanks cheesegrits for your time.

[KW802]

[NOTE - some people will tell you that the 'nofollow' tag tells search engines not to "follow" the link for indexing purposes. This is not the case. Nobody quite knows why they called it nofollow, which is a misleading name, but there ya go.]The nofollow tag is a Google recognized tag. Google, at least, will not follow the link; don't know about the others (MSN, Yahoo, etc.).

EDIT: Some reference links...

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2005/01/preventing-comment-spam.html

http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/050118-204728

[beduino]

Hello Brian and Kevin!
I'm owner 2 licences of vb-links, but his use is lower in the 2 sites. IMHO the reason is a lack in vBa modules.
I don't find a module in vBa for exibition a 'new links' and/or 'better rated' or a summary.
You think in work a module to connect vBa and vblinks?
All the best
beduino

[Skaterscafe.com]

Probably not. If there is enough of a demand from vB 3.5 customers we may release a compatable version, but currently I'm not sure it's worth it to try and keep a separate version for each.

Not sure how you will measure demand but I have 3.5 also and would be interested.

[AVC]

Why not just upgrade your forum to 3.6 :confused:

[KW802]

Why not just upgrade your forum to 3.6 :confused:A lot of people that may be running hacks & other non-stock additions find it easier to just maintain the current version. Plus custom styles would have to be updated.

I can understand why some people choose to keep running an older version of vBulletin but they also have to understand that not everything will be made available for older versions of vBulletin.

[AVC]

Do you guys keep pace with the vB updates with all your products so they are always compatible with the latest version of vB :confused:

[KW802]

Do you guys keep pace with the vB updates with all your products so they are always compatible with the latest version of vB :confused:Yes. :) Generally as soon as a vBulletin 'Gold' release is issued then the vBadvanced products are updated to the public shortly after.

[AVC]

Thanks old boy, that is sure good to know! :)

[Skaterscafe.com]

Why not just upgrade your forum to 3.6 :confused:

Money, time, etc..

My board has alot of stuff added and the time and cost to upgrade yet again is not worth it for now.

[AVC]

We are still running the old version of vB, 3.5 and the old link directory and they both seem to be working fine!

I am moving the forum to 3.6 and just ordered this new link directory today though!

[cheesegrits]

The nofollow tag is a Google recognized tag. Google, at least, will not follow the link; don't know about the others (MSN, Yahoo, etc.).

EDIT: Some reference links...

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2005/01/preventing-comment-spam.html

http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/050118-204728

There's a lot of conflicting documentation out there. For instance:

http://microformats.org/wiki/relnofollow

-- hugh

[Mythotical]

Awesome can't wait to check it out.

[KW802]

There's a lot of conflicting documentation out there. For instance:

http://microformats.org/wiki/relnofollow

-- hughThat Wiki just suggests that people aren't happy with the naming convention of it but the purpose is still the same...

RelNoFollow is an elemental microformat (http://microformats.org/wiki/elemental-microformat), one of several microformat (http://microformats.org/wiki/microformats) open standards. By adding rel="nofollow" to a hyperlink, a page indicates that the destination of that hyperlink SHOULD NOT be afforded any additional weight or ranking by user agents which perform link analysis upon web pages (e.g. search engines). Typical use cases include links created by 3rd party commenters on blogs, or links the author wishes to point to, but avoid endorsing. For more specific endorsement (or lack thereof) semantics, see VoteLinks. Based upon some of the stuff in that Wiki, though, my guess is that the Technocrati guys, who are that pages editors, have their own agenda.

[cheesegrits]

That Wiki just suggests that people aren't happy with the naming convention of it but the purpose is still the same...

Based upon some of the stuff in that Wiki, though, my guess is that the Technocrati guys, who are that pages editors, have their own agenda.

Well, I'm also basing my opinion on stuff published by Matt Cutts from Google, who states in his blog (http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/text-links-and-pagerank/):

I wanted it to be a general way to abstain from voting with links. It’s true that nofollow got a lot of initial traction because of blog comment spam, but I think of it as a nice and really general mechanism to abstain from voting with a link. So I do think it’s fine to use nofollow on paid links.
The key there being "a general way to abstain from voting with links", rather than a way to prevent indexing. Which is typically handled with a robots.txt file.

This is one of those subjects which is the subject of endless discussion, and much speculation. At the end of the day, it's obviously down to the SE's themselves how they handle it, and right now IMHO that just isn't clear. There is just too much conflicting opinion, and not enough hard data.

So of course I'm just contributing my $0.02, based on purely subjective experience and my reading of what the originators of the tag meant. But I may be totally wrong!

-- hugh

[rodentx]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but it is inregards to VBA Links Directory 2.0 Beta 2.

I've had this installed on my site since it was announced and up to now it seemed to be running okay... recently I upgraded to vBulletin 3.6.1 and then a few days ago 3.6.2. I just started getting Database Error reports in my email and all of them point to VBA Links Directory... Here's a copy of the error report I got this morning...

Database error in vBulletin 3.6.2:

Invalid SQL:

SELECT linkid, name, links.catid, userid, username, dateline,
links.lastpostdateline, title
FROM vb_adv_links AS links
LEFT JOIN vb_adv_links_categories AS categories USING (catid)
WHERE links.dateline > 1160287205 AND suspended = 0 AND valid = 1;

MySQL Error : Column 'valid' in where clause is ambiguous
Error Number : 1052
Date : Monday, October 9th 2006 @ 05:01:05 AM
Script : http://www.siteaddy.com/vb/cron.php?&rand=871701
Referrer : http://www.siteaddy.com/vb/showthread.php?t=436
IP Address : x.x.x.x
Username : Unregistered
Classname : vb_database

Any suggestions? All the errors I receive reference the same Script, Referrer, Username and Classname.

Site Stats:
PHP 4.4.4
MySQL 4.1.21-standard-log
Apache 1.3.37 (Unix)
vBulletin 3.6.2
vBadvanced CMPS v2.2.0
vBadvanced Links Directory v2.0 Beta2
Skin/Theme: eXtremepixels iSkin_Black

[Brian]

http://www.vbadvanced.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18061 ;)

[rodentx]

http://www.vbadvanced.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18061 ;)

Thanks, I will redownload the latest Beta release again and reupload the files.

[Nuguru]

Hello,

Yes! Could you be please make this vBa Links Directory 2.0 new release compatible with vb3.5.4, 3.5.5, so that myself and I am sure so many other vbulletin owners can use this updated product? It's just that this release offers the ability to choose the depth that makes it so useful and is really needed.

Upgrading to vb 3.6.2 maybe something I could do in the future, but way to much time and money has already been spent on getting my board the way I want it and to go in and have to make all thoses changes would be very risky.

Thank You,

Nuguru :)