Brian
05-18-2007, 12:05 PM
vBadvanced is proud to announce the release of vBadvanced CMPS v3.0 RC1. The newest version has been in the works for quite a while and we feel that it addresses most of the problems or limitations from previous versions. Below is a complete list of what's new in v3.0.
Key Changes
Modules can now be freely placed and moved around on a per-page basis. As a result of this, the "Column" and "Display Order" settings for modules have been removed as they are no longer necessary.
Options to copy the module layout from another page when adding or editing pages, along with a section to allow you to copy the layout from one page to multiple pages.
Adding new columns or "locations" for modules is now as easy as changing a setting and adding a variable to the 'adv_portal' template to determine where the modules for that location will be displayed.
Integration with other vBulletin files and hacks can now be done through the Admin CP with no file modifications required.
Options to allow you to quickly add a specific module to multiple pages.
Modules
Mini Calendar
Option to include birthdays with events.
Option to cache events and other calendar data, preventing 4-5 queries this module can use to gather event data.
News
Better handling of stripping HTML tags from news posts preventing the possibility of HTML tags being cut off pre-maturely.
The "Show Avatars" User CP option will now be taken into account and hide avatars for users who do not have that option enabled.
The "Show Images (including attached images and images in [IMG] code)" User CP option will now be taken into account and hide images and attachments for users who do not have that option enabled.
Option to show the attachment "paperclip" image if the thread includes attachments.
Option to enable the [ATTACH] tag within news posts.
News Archive
Option to enable/disable the number of views (previously could not be disabled within the settings).
Option to enable/disable the number of replies (previously could not be disabled within the settings).
Option to show the user who started the thread (previously could not be disabled within the settings).
Option to show the date and time the thread was started (previously could not be disabled within the settings).
Option to show the threads rating (previously based on the News module's setting).
Option to show the threads icon (previously based on the News module's setting).
Option to show the "subscribed" icon if the user is subscribed to the thread (previously based on the News module's setting).
Option to show the "sticky" icon with threads that have been stickied.
Option to show links to multiple pages if the thread spans more than one page.
Option to show the attachment "paperclip" image if the thread includes attachments.
Recent Threads
Database thread marking system now works better to display new threads in bold.
Option to enable/disable the number of views (previously could not be disabled within the settings).
Option to enable/disable the number of replies (previously could not be disabled within the settings).
Option to show the user who started the thread (previously could not be disabled within the settings).
Option to show the date and time the thread was started (previously could not be disabled within the settings).
Option to show the "sticky" icon with threads that have been stickied.
Option to show links to multiple pages if the thread spans more than one page.
Option to show the attachment "paperclip" image if the thread includes attachments.
Site Navigation
The page you are currently viewing now appears in bold text.
Links added in the "Additional Links" setting will now accept PHP code and variables (useful to allow you to prefix forum links with {$vbulletin->options[bburl]}, or any other variables).
"Additional Pages" setting now has an "Add More" link using javascript to easily allow you to add more inputs without having to save the page.
Welcome Block
Option in the Welcome Block module to enter your own URL to the noavatar.gif. Also accepts PHP variables allowing you to use the same image for multiple styles, or use a style folder variable.
The "Show Avatars" User CP option will now be taken into account and hide the avatar in this module for users who do not have that option enabled.
Better handling of the new posts count, making sure that this count is reset when forums are marked as read.
Admin CP
The main "Edit Modules" page has been changed to list each module in a new row showing the module's title, active status, controls (copy, delete, add/remove from pages), type, and the page(s) it is active on.
"Default Settings" page now shows a list of setting groups and module's that have settings (more like the vBulletin Options link), making it easier to navigate to the settings you wish to edit.
Javascript "check-all" boxes throughout for the permissions settings.
Preview option for BB Code modules and pages.
Footer rows with "Save" buttons added to pages that may contain a lot of settings, allowing you to easily save the page without scrolling or using your keyboard.
The "Advanced Options" section when editing a page now shows a list of setting groups and modules with a + image next to the title allowing you to expand the settings for that group or module. This prevents the page from getting extremely long when there are a lot of settings, and makes it easier to find the exact group or module you are looking for.
More obvious messages with settings descriptions reminding you that the setting has been customized within specific pages if applicable.
New option within the "Module Wrapper Template" (formerly Module Shell Template) options to collapse modules by default.
New option to allow you to specify a different "Module Wapper Template" on a per-module basis.
More options to handle duplicate filenames and templates when uploading modules.
Over 50 hook locations making things even easier to customize for developers.
"Templates Used" setting for PHP file modules changed to separate template names with a carriage return (new line) instead of a comma, making it a little easier to view the templates listed.
New PHP file module options to initialize the BB code parser, forum permissions, moderator cache, and ignored/tachy'd users. This helps to improve performance on CMPS pages that may not use one or all of these.
Options within the Welcome Block, Recent Threads, and News Archive modules allowing you to change between a "lean" and "expanded" version of the templates, or have the CMPS dynamically select the best template to use based on the size of the column the module is placed in.
Back-end / Miscellaneous Changes
'adv_portal_shell' template has been renamed to 'adv_portal_wrapper'.
latesttopics.php has been renamed to recentthreads.php.
New "serialized" column added to the 'adv_settings' table, allowing you to automatically serialize the setting in the database. Also automatically unserializes the setting in the settings cache, preventing the function from having to be called within the files.
The default CMPS homepage data is now cached and processed in the datastore table to prevent a query to gather this data.
Permissions and template lists are pre-formatted when the module cache is updated, saving processing power on the front-end of the program.
BB Code module options (the 'options' column in the 'adv_modules' table) now stored as an integer instead of a serialized array. Also used to store the new PHP file module options. Related to this, the 'cleanoutput' column has been removed and is now included in the bitfields with this column.
adminfunctions_vba_cmps.php file has been renamed to vba_cmps_adminfunctions.php in order to keep the same prefix for all CMPS files in this folder.
Download v3.0
As usual, current members will find the new version on the CMPS download page in the Members' Area here.
Download (http://www.vbadvanced.com/products.php?do=listallorder&catid=0&productid=4)
Upgrading from v2.x
For those upgrading from vBa CMPS v2.x, please be sure to follow the upgrade instructions found at the bottom of the readme_vba_cmps.html file that comes wtih the download package.
Problems / Questions
If you have any problems or questions regarding the release or installation, please create a new thread in the CMPS 3.0 support forums (http://www.vbadvanced.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=136).
Key Changes
Modules can now be freely placed and moved around on a per-page basis. As a result of this, the "Column" and "Display Order" settings for modules have been removed as they are no longer necessary.
Options to copy the module layout from another page when adding or editing pages, along with a section to allow you to copy the layout from one page to multiple pages.
Adding new columns or "locations" for modules is now as easy as changing a setting and adding a variable to the 'adv_portal' template to determine where the modules for that location will be displayed.
Integration with other vBulletin files and hacks can now be done through the Admin CP with no file modifications required.
Options to allow you to quickly add a specific module to multiple pages.
Modules
Mini Calendar
Option to include birthdays with events.
Option to cache events and other calendar data, preventing 4-5 queries this module can use to gather event data.
News
Better handling of stripping HTML tags from news posts preventing the possibility of HTML tags being cut off pre-maturely.
The "Show Avatars" User CP option will now be taken into account and hide avatars for users who do not have that option enabled.
The "Show Images (including attached images and images in [IMG] code)" User CP option will now be taken into account and hide images and attachments for users who do not have that option enabled.
Option to show the attachment "paperclip" image if the thread includes attachments.
Option to enable the [ATTACH] tag within news posts.
News Archive
Option to enable/disable the number of views (previously could not be disabled within the settings).
Option to enable/disable the number of replies (previously could not be disabled within the settings).
Option to show the user who started the thread (previously could not be disabled within the settings).
Option to show the date and time the thread was started (previously could not be disabled within the settings).
Option to show the threads rating (previously based on the News module's setting).
Option to show the threads icon (previously based on the News module's setting).
Option to show the "subscribed" icon if the user is subscribed to the thread (previously based on the News module's setting).
Option to show the "sticky" icon with threads that have been stickied.
Option to show links to multiple pages if the thread spans more than one page.
Option to show the attachment "paperclip" image if the thread includes attachments.
Recent Threads
Database thread marking system now works better to display new threads in bold.
Option to enable/disable the number of views (previously could not be disabled within the settings).
Option to enable/disable the number of replies (previously could not be disabled within the settings).
Option to show the user who started the thread (previously could not be disabled within the settings).
Option to show the date and time the thread was started (previously could not be disabled within the settings).
Option to show the "sticky" icon with threads that have been stickied.
Option to show links to multiple pages if the thread spans more than one page.
Option to show the attachment "paperclip" image if the thread includes attachments.
Site Navigation
The page you are currently viewing now appears in bold text.
Links added in the "Additional Links" setting will now accept PHP code and variables (useful to allow you to prefix forum links with {$vbulletin->options[bburl]}, or any other variables).
"Additional Pages" setting now has an "Add More" link using javascript to easily allow you to add more inputs without having to save the page.
Welcome Block
Option in the Welcome Block module to enter your own URL to the noavatar.gif. Also accepts PHP variables allowing you to use the same image for multiple styles, or use a style folder variable.
The "Show Avatars" User CP option will now be taken into account and hide the avatar in this module for users who do not have that option enabled.
Better handling of the new posts count, making sure that this count is reset when forums are marked as read.
Admin CP
The main "Edit Modules" page has been changed to list each module in a new row showing the module's title, active status, controls (copy, delete, add/remove from pages), type, and the page(s) it is active on.
"Default Settings" page now shows a list of setting groups and module's that have settings (more like the vBulletin Options link), making it easier to navigate to the settings you wish to edit.
Javascript "check-all" boxes throughout for the permissions settings.
Preview option for BB Code modules and pages.
Footer rows with "Save" buttons added to pages that may contain a lot of settings, allowing you to easily save the page without scrolling or using your keyboard.
The "Advanced Options" section when editing a page now shows a list of setting groups and modules with a + image next to the title allowing you to expand the settings for that group or module. This prevents the page from getting extremely long when there are a lot of settings, and makes it easier to find the exact group or module you are looking for.
More obvious messages with settings descriptions reminding you that the setting has been customized within specific pages if applicable.
New option within the "Module Wrapper Template" (formerly Module Shell Template) options to collapse modules by default.
New option to allow you to specify a different "Module Wapper Template" on a per-module basis.
More options to handle duplicate filenames and templates when uploading modules.
Over 50 hook locations making things even easier to customize for developers.
"Templates Used" setting for PHP file modules changed to separate template names with a carriage return (new line) instead of a comma, making it a little easier to view the templates listed.
New PHP file module options to initialize the BB code parser, forum permissions, moderator cache, and ignored/tachy'd users. This helps to improve performance on CMPS pages that may not use one or all of these.
Options within the Welcome Block, Recent Threads, and News Archive modules allowing you to change between a "lean" and "expanded" version of the templates, or have the CMPS dynamically select the best template to use based on the size of the column the module is placed in.
Back-end / Miscellaneous Changes
'adv_portal_shell' template has been renamed to 'adv_portal_wrapper'.
latesttopics.php has been renamed to recentthreads.php.
New "serialized" column added to the 'adv_settings' table, allowing you to automatically serialize the setting in the database. Also automatically unserializes the setting in the settings cache, preventing the function from having to be called within the files.
The default CMPS homepage data is now cached and processed in the datastore table to prevent a query to gather this data.
Permissions and template lists are pre-formatted when the module cache is updated, saving processing power on the front-end of the program.
BB Code module options (the 'options' column in the 'adv_modules' table) now stored as an integer instead of a serialized array. Also used to store the new PHP file module options. Related to this, the 'cleanoutput' column has been removed and is now included in the bitfields with this column.
adminfunctions_vba_cmps.php file has been renamed to vba_cmps_adminfunctions.php in order to keep the same prefix for all CMPS files in this folder.
Download v3.0
As usual, current members will find the new version on the CMPS download page in the Members' Area here.
Download (http://www.vbadvanced.com/products.php?do=listallorder&catid=0&productid=4)
Upgrading from v2.x
For those upgrading from vBa CMPS v2.x, please be sure to follow the upgrade instructions found at the bottom of the readme_vba_cmps.html file that comes wtih the download package.
Problems / Questions
If you have any problems or questions regarding the release or installation, please create a new thread in the CMPS 3.0 support forums (http://www.vbadvanced.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=136).