vBadvanced CMPS Readme File

vBadvanced CMPS (Content Management & Portal System)

Introduction

vBadvanced CMPS (Content Management & Portal System) is an advanced portal / content management system that will allow you to easily include different options from your vBulletin message board on your site's homepage. It also allows you to easily create and manage new pages in which you can set different settings other than the default. It's module system also makes it very easy to add custom modules without hacking any of the files, plus it is very easy to integrate with other vBulletin pages and hacks. Everything is also template based and completely integrated with vBulletin, so it is very easy to customize and change everything through your Admin CP.

Features:

Easily create and manage your site's content and new pages through your vBulletin Admin CP.
Easily add new modules without hacking any vBulletin or vBadvanced files.
Ability to set a different value for each module's settings on a per-page basis.
Easily enable/disable modules on a per-page basis.
Set and change all options via the Admin CP.
Everything is completely template based so it is very easy to customize.
Install file that will make all database queries and templates for you in seconds.
Un-installs in seconds.
Tested and stable with vBulletin 3.01, 3.00, RC1, RC2, RC3.
100% validated XHTML 1.0 compliance
And Much more!

Included Modules:

Welcome Block - Creates a login box for members to log into your site on the homepage, or shows logged in users their avatar, last visit, and new PMs (all of which may be enabled/disabled).

News - Post News in a forum you specify and have it appear on your page. Additional options to show attachments, icons, images, HTML, and more in your news posts.

News Archive - A condensed version of older news posts. Includes options to control the number of archived posts to show.

Latest Topics - Show the latest threads started in your forum. Additional options to set the number of threads to display, show a preview of the first post, icons, and last post info.

Current Poll - Show a poll and allow users to vote and see the results on your homepage.

Buddy List - Show the user's buddy list for members who are logged in.

Online Users - Shows a list of active users, including the stats for your 'most users ever online'.

Stats - Shows statistics such as total members, threads, posts, top poster, newest member, and today's birthday's.

Mini Calendar - Shows a mini calendar with links to days with scheduled events.

Search - Search box to allow users to quickly search your forums.

Quick Moderation - Shows the number of posts, threads, users, attachments, and calendar events awaiting moderation for users that have permission to moderate these items.

Custom Page Content - Allows you to easily specify a template to include the content from on a page.

More modules available in the Addon Modules, Hacks, & Modifications forum at vbadvanced.com.

Help & Support

Before asking for support Please read the F.A.Q below!
If you have any problems or questions that are not covered in the F.A.Q. please post them at vbadvanced.com in the appropriate forum. We will be more than happy to help in any way we can if the request for help is made there. Anyone trying to contact a staff member via e-mail, private message, or any other means will be ignored.

This script is NOT to be re-distributed in any way or placed on a web site for download.

All copyright notes in the script itself must remain unchanged unless you have purchased a Branding Free license.

Installation Instructions

Step 1 - File Modifications

In your /forum/global.php file: (3 Changes)

Find:

define('VB_AREA', 'Forum');

Below that Add:

if (defined('VBA_PORTAL'))
{
	require_once('./includes/vba_cmps_include_template.php');
}

Find:

// #############################################################################
// ######################## START TEMPLATES & STYLES ###########################
// #############################################################################

Above that Add:

if (defined('VBA_PORTAL'))
{
	require_once('./includes/vba_cmps_include_top.php');
}

Find:

// #############################################################################
// ######################### END TEMPLATES & STYLES ############################
// #############################################################################

Above that Add:

if (defined('VBA_PORTAL'))
{
	require_once('./includes/vba_cmps_include_bottom.php');
}

In your cmps_index.php file:

Now open your cmps_index.php file in this folder and find:
chdir('/home/yoursite/public_html/forum');

Replace the path within the chdir() function with the full path to your forum on your server.
Not sure what this means?

Note: If you are installing this script in the same directory as your forums then you may simply comment out this line.

Step 2 - Optional File Modifications

The modifications in this section are strictly optional. They simply add a little more convience and organization, but it is up to you if you would like to add them.

This modification will add your CMPS options to your regular vBulletin Admin CP. If this change is not made then you will be able to access a separate control panel for the CMPS by clicking on the 'Admin CP' link in the footer of your CMPS page.

In your /forum/admincp/index.php file:

Find:

	$printhr = false;
	if (can_administer('canadmincalendars'))

Above that Add:

	// *************************************************
	construct_nav_option($vbphrase['default_settings'], 'vba_cmps_admin.php?do=modifysettings');
	construct_nav_option($vbphrase['edit_modules'], 'vba_cmps_admin.php?do=listmodules');
	construct_nav_option($vbphrase['add_module'], 'vba_cmps_admin.php?do=newmodule');
	construct_nav_option($vbphrase['edit_pages'], 'vba_cmps_admin.php?do=listpages');
	construct_nav_option($vbphrase['add_page'], 'vba_cmps_admin.php?do=newpage');
	construct_nav_option($vbphrase['download_upload_module'], 'vba_cmps_admin.php?do=download');
	construct_nav_option($vbphrase['quick_permissions_editor'], 'vba_cmps_admin.php?do=permissions');
	construct_nav_group($vbphrase['vba_cmps']);

	construct_nav_spacer();

This modification will add a new group to your Style Manager for your new vBadvanced CMPS templates. Otherwise they will be displayed with your custom templates.

In your /forum/includes/adminfunctions_template.php file:

Find:

	'aaa' => 'AAA Old Backup'

Above that Add:

	'adv_portal' => 'vBadvanced CMPS',

Step 3 - Upload Files

Upload the new vBadvanced CMPS files and your modified vBulletin files to the directories listed below.

root folder - cmps_index.php (you will probably rename this file to index.php once everything is set up)

root/forums - global.php

root/forums/admincp - index.php (if modified), vbacmps_install.php, vba_cmps_admin.php

root/forums/cpstyles - vba_cp_logo.gif

root/forums/includes - adminfunctions_template.php (if modified), adminfunctions_vba_cmps.php, vba_cmps_include_top.php, vba_cmps_include_bottom.php, vba_cmps_include_template.php

root/forums/images/misc - noavatar.gif

root/forums/modules - Upload this folder and all of it's contents

Note: Be sure to upload the /forums/images and /forum/cpstyles folders and their contents in Binary mode and the other files in ASCII mode.

Now you will need to chmod the /forums/modules folder to 777:

Step 4 - Run the Install Script

Now you're almost done! Run the install script from your browser by going to http://yoursite.com/forum/admincp/vbacmps_install.php.
This script will make all necessary changes to your database and install the templates, phrases, settings, and etc for you. Once the script is done go to your Admin CP and you will see a new group of options called "vBadvanced CMPS". That is where you will modify the settings, add/edit modules, and add/edit new pages.

For more information on how to use your new script, please see the User's Manual available at vbadvanced.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm not sure how to find the path to my forums.

I get an error like this when I first try to install the script:

Warning: chdir() [function.chdir]: No such file or directory (errno 2) in /home/yoursite/html/cmps_index.php on line 8

The path to your forums directory is set incorrectly. Create a file called info.php with the following content:

<? phpinfo(); ?>

Then upload that file into your forums directory on your server and go to the file in your browser. You will see a list of options that were set by your host. One of them is called:

_SERVER["PATH_TRANSLATED"]

Find that, copy that path, and paste it over what you currently have for your path in the cmps_index.php file. Re-upload your cmps_index.php file.

Q.	Now that I've installed this script I'm having problems logging in or out of my forum.
A.	Try clearing your cookies. If you're still having problems afterwards, edit your 'Cookie Domain' setting (Under Cookies and HTTP Header Options in your vBulletin options section) and change that to ".yoursite.com" (note the two dots!). Also make sure that the 'Path to Save Cookies' setting right above is set to '/'.

Some of my images are broken on my vBadvanced pages.

If it is your smilies and/or icons that are broken, upload the install file to your /forum/admincp directory and go to the file in your browser. Once there, you will see a link that says 'Click here to update your image paths'. Click that link and it will attempt to update your image paths. If it cannot, you will need to change the URL to each of your smilies and icons through the Admin CP.

If your buttons and other images are broken, follow the instructions here.

Q.	I've just upgraded my vBulletin and now my page appears to be broken!
A.	Upload the vbacmps_install.php file to your admincp directory and go to it in your browser. Once there, select the option to install only the templates.

Help & Support

Before asking for support Please read the F.A.Q above!
If you have any problems or questions that are not covered in the F.A.Q. please post them at vbadvanced.com in the appropriate forum. We will be more than happy to help in any way we can if the request for help is made there. Anyone trying to contact a staff member via e-mail, private message, or any other means will be ignored.

Upgrading

Upgrading From v2.0 RC1 & RC2:

To upgrade from v2.0 RC1 or v2.0 RC2, simply upload all of the new files that you downloaded (except the cmps_index.php). Then go to the admincp/vbacmps_install.php file in your browser and select the option to upgrade.

Upgrading From v1.x

Important Note:
If you have added any new 3rd party modules, it is strongly recommended that you run the upgrade script on a test forum first. While we have made every attempt to make sure that the upgrade from v1.x to v2.0 will go as smoothly as possible, we cannot guarantee that all third party modules will work with v2.0. We also cannot guarantee that we will be able to provide support in helping to get 3rd party modules to work with the new version.

Any customized default CMPS templates will be removed! Due to the number of changes with 2.0 of the CMPS, most of the templates for the default modules will not work properly, and for this reason, will be removed. If you have customized any of the default templates for the CMPS it is recommended that you download a copy of that style so that you may reapply the changes to the new version. Please note that this only affects default CMPS templates. Any templates that have been added for custom or 3rd party modules will not be removed.

1). In your forum/global.php file:

Find:

if (defined('VBA_PORTAL'))
{
	$phrasegroups = array_merge($phrasegroups, 
		array(
			'calendar', 
			'adv_portal',
			'postbit'
		)
	);

	$specialtemplates = array_merge($specialtemplates, 
		array(
			'adv_modules',
			'adv_portal_opts',
			'attachmentcache',
			'bbcodecache',
			'birthdaycache',
			'eventcache',
			'iconcache',
			'maxloggedin',
			'smiliecache',
			'userstats'
		)
	);
	
	$globaltemplates = array_merge($globaltemplates,
		array(
			'adv_portal',
			'adv_portal_footer'
		)
	);
}

Replace With:

if (defined('VBA_PORTAL'))
{
	require_once('./includes/vba_cmps_include_template.php');
}

2). In your forum/admincp/index.php file:

Find:

	construct_nav_option($vbphrase['default_settings'], 'vba_cmps_admin.php?do=modifysettings');
	construct_nav_option($vbphrase['edit_modules'], 'vba_cmps_admin.php?do=listmodules');
	construct_nav_option($vbphrase['add_module'], 'vba_cmps_admin.php?do=newmodule');
	construct_nav_option($vbphrase['edit_pages'], 'vba_cmps_admin.php?do=listpages');
	construct_nav_option($vbphrase['add_page'], 'vba_cmps_admin.php?do=addpage');
	construct_nav_group($vbphrase['vba_cmps']);

Replace With:

	construct_nav_option($vbphrase['default_settings'], 'vba_cmps_admin.php?do=modifysettings');
	construct_nav_option($vbphrase['edit_modules'], 'vba_cmps_admin.php?do=listmodules');
	construct_nav_option($vbphrase['add_module'], 'vba_cmps_admin.php?do=newmodule');
	construct_nav_option($vbphrase['edit_pages'], 'vba_cmps_admin.php?do=listpages');
	construct_nav_option($vbphrase['add_page'], 'vba_cmps_admin.php?do=newpage');
	construct_nav_option($vbphrase['download_upload_module'], 'vba_cmps_admin.php?do=download');
	construct_nav_option($vbphrase['quick_permissions_editor'], 'vba_cmps_admin.php?do=permissions');
	construct_nav_group($vbphrase['vba_cmps']);

3). Now upload all of the new vBadvanced CMPS files over your existing ones as well as the 2 vBulletin files you just modified.

4). Chmod your /forums/modules folder to 777.

5). Last, go to the install file in your browser by going to http://yoursite.com/forum/admincp/vbacmps_install.php. Once there, select the option to upgrade.