GARS RC2 Release Discussion

[The Geek]

I was hoping to skip RC2 and go for gold, however I need to go out of town until Saturday at which time I then have to prepare for a massive party here for Sunday. Basically, my coding time is skimped until next week. Therefore I thought I would post an interim release before we go gold. This fixes many issues brought up since RC1, continues the phrasing process, however leaves us still with no documentation yet!

Please note I was in middle of adding support to make a rating item n/a. And didn't finish yet! Basically, a feature request was made so that if an item didn't fit the standard rating, it could be marked as n/a.
A good example is a gaming review forum which has multi player as a rating attribute however the game being reviewed doesn't offer it!
Well, I think I got it plugged in - the only thing remaining is to prevent members from still giving it a rating when it has been marked n/a by the author! Yes, its minor - but still needs to be done.

Speaking of ratings, I have now moved the HTML into their own templates so you guys that have tweaked them - look in the templates section now.

The rest are primarily minor bug fixes and display issues. I know not EVERYTHING has been done yet however I think its safe to say 99% has been done.

Aside from those things I think that there is a couple places in templates for phrasing and the admincp needs to be phrased.
Improve support for some non English languages
Document it!

Anyhooo. Ill leave RC1 up in Geeker just in case some showstopper appears while I'm out of town so make sure you download the right package! You should all be up to speed on the upgrade process now:

Download latest package
Upload contents of the upload/forums folder to your forums (overwrite previous files)
Import the product-gars.xml file into your product manager (overwrite previous install).
Revert changed templates.

To enable the n/a option for a rating, you need to edit the rating and tick the 'na' box. Otherwise it wont appear as an option.

nJoy everyone. Im off to play with my new friend for a few. -> http://www.thevbgeek.com/hi.html

[romow]

sorry for stupid questions.
how can i know which version i installed?
how can i upgrade it to rc2? shall i just overwrite everything?

[The Geek]

Check the bottom of a gars page for which version - to upgrade, yes, overwrite all files with new ones and imprt the product-gars.xml file into your product manager (overwriting existing install).

HTH's

[The Geek]

A couple of quick points:

1- I havent sorted the support ticket system yet (hell, it wont let ME in there!)
2- Feel free to post bugs in a new thread in the troubleshoot forum.
3- A user emailed me saying they were getting a DB error with RC2. THis was a result of their settings getting reset after the upgrade. Though technically it shouldnt reset from an RC1 upgrade, if it DOES happen, make sure you double check your settings and double check your module settings. The error in question was from a missing setting in one of the modules.

Just thought I would post in case anyone else runs into something similar.

nJoy... Anyone asked the geek anything yet ;) ?

[The Geek]

Package updated to RC2b to fix a ratings issue. If you have upgraded to RC2, you only need to replace your geek\gars\includes\gars_class_core.php file.

Thanks!

[Mirzone]

Warning: Division by zero in /includes/functions.php(4300) : eval()'d code on line 10


Error i now get on all articles:

http://www.rpg-centre.com/forum/showthread.php?t=182

[The Geek]

See above message ;)

Think I uploaded RC2b as you downloaded RC2 :)

[Mirzone]

No change but havnt reverted templates (which i need to do?)

[The Geek]

You will need to though that shouldnt affect anything.

My only concern is that the error you mentioned relates to GAL. No global_complete hooks are used in GARS?!?

As a temporary measure, can you set your GAL persist throttle to 1?

[Mirzone]

You will need to though that shouldnt affect anything.

My only concern is that the error you mentioned relates to GAL. No global_complete hooks are used in GARS?!?

As a temporary measure, can you set your GAL persist throttle to 1?

I dont have GAL :eek:

[The Geek]

geh?

Can you PM me an admin account?!?

[Mirzone]

geh?

Can you PM me an admin account?!?

Sure..lol :o

[The Geek]

I think the problem is with your Realtime template compression hack. If I disable it or comment out line 10, the error goes away (but leaves a blank page).

Actually - just got a brainstorm and sorted it.

Basically, your template set still had GARS_showthread in the SHOWTHREAD value. This may have been due to a system reset when you upgraded (though I thought I got rid of that!). SInce there is no longer a GARS_showthread template, basically the output was nothing which was causing your template compressor to error out.

Removing the GARS_showthread setting from your template set did the trick though.

Make sure you go back through and adjust your settings.

HTHs

[cclaerhout]

Could you try for next release to avoid the settings delete... after an upgrade ?

[The Geek]

Thought I had :)

[cclaerhout]

Other problem already pointed by a german user.

In gars_class_core.php you used this tip to integrate GARS
$this->vbphrase = preg_replace(array("#\b(Forums)\b#", "#\b(forums)\b#", "#\b(Forum)\b#", "#\b(forum)\b#"),array("Categories", "categories", "Category","category"),$this->vbphrase);

But there is a problem in French (and German too).

[Threads in] Category -> [Articles dans] cette rubrique
Category [Tools] -> [Outils] de rubrique
[Search this] Category -> [Recherche dans] la rubrique

Before the name we have to add different "article" (don't know the word in english). "Le, la, les" in French ; "Der, die, das" in German.

You already use special templates... can't you use a special page to configure phrases ?

[FRAiD]

How long for the full meal deal? I'm waiting until then. What day of next weekd? Wednesday or later or wha?

Lol, my new site is at the mercy of your limited time

[The Geek]

Yes, international language support will be improved for next release which should be out before GARS version 3.6 :D

[Neutral Singh]

Inline moderation does not work in GARS rendered forums. I tried to move two threads from one forum to another, it states: Invalid Action Specified.

[The Geek]

From forumdisplay or showthread?

[Mirzone]

Much apprechiated Geek :)

[Neutral Singh]

Ignore Last Message Reported

[Neutral Singh]

Sorry, it was my fault. Please ignore my last message. Thanks

[The Geek]

no problem :)

[kall]

Thought I had :)
Nope, but all in all, GARS is looking very very sweet! :)

[Lizard King]

the only problen i faced is installation reset my types. everything else worked fine. thanks geek

[Brad]

I applied the default types to the forums, and when I click on the forums it's giving me a database error. Worked fine in RC1.

All my settings were also deleted. :(

Database error in vBulletin 3.5.1:

Invalid SQL:
SELECT t.threadid, t.title, u.username, t.forumid FROM vb3_thread t
INNER JOIN vb3_user u ON t.postuserid = u.userid
WHERE t.forumid in (-1,19) AND t.threadid IN (-1,1360,1352) ORDER BY RAND() LIMIT 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 '' at line 3
Error Number : 1064

[Lizard King]

Did you check your module settings ? It might be because your module settings are not correct like featured articles 0 or top 0. check them if they are zero give them a value and you'll be ready to go.

[Brad]

Did you check your module settings ? It might be because your module settings are not correct like featured articles 0 or top 0. check them if they are zero give them a value and you'll be ready to go.

Editing the types solved the forumdisplay database error, but when I click on a thread I get a blank white page.

I'll have to play around with it more, everything was wiped out by the upgrade.

[Lizard King]

Check your template sets and if you have GARS_Showthread just comment it out and save your template set after it will work fine ;)

[Blackbeard]

Is there away to allow articles to be displayed in the order of date not form A to Z???

[Blackbeard]

I have just uploaded inported etc and inputed url backinto boxes and now screen come up white when i try to view my articles etc

Help

[Lizard King]

Is there away to allow articles to be displayed in the order of date not form A to Z???
In your types you can assign the articles show A to Z check your types.

For your second problem check your templates and comment out GARS_showthread it will solve your second problem.

And i have an advice for you before posting your questions or installing any hack please read the installation guide or read me or the topic so you can find some of your answers ;)

[Blackbeard]

And i have an advice for you before posting your questions or installing any hack please read the installation guide or read me or the topic so you can find some of your answers

Sorry, and thanks for the answers to both problems

[Fleabag]

D'oH! It deleted all my settings too. I guess that's why they say you should make a backup before installing. ;)

[FRAiD]

What day before full release? Before or after thanksgiving (which is in 3 days)?

[The Geek]

Post Turkey Day :)

[zoomforce]

ah i just purchased and it looks like i got RC1.. should I just wait a couple days till 2 comes out before i install, or is it gonna be an easy upgrade?

[eko]

you can dl RC2 its on the dl page you just have to select it for dl

[tormodg]

Installing GARS tomorrow, geek. Hope it works fine...can@t wait any longer plus we're finally going for vb 3.5 :)

[The Geek]

Excellent ;)

Next release should be this weekend however its proving to be a difficult one. I have had to go back to the drawing board with the terminology function to better support international languages.

[Fleabag]

Finally got around to tweaking this latest edition last night... Have to admit I'm growing to like this system more and more with each incarnation. Unfortunitely though, I don't use panels and some of the tables don't look too great with the way my site is styled. I'll have a fiddle though, and post the results. :)

[tormodg]

Sorry if I'm being a dimwit...but I have two questions.

1) How can I force my news category to show the latest articles from each of the sub categories? Do I need to create a new template...?

This section is set to show "Articles" in GARS settings but I simply get the standard forum display:

http://www.scienceforums.com/science-news.html

2) How can I get the cool sidebar features show here:
http://www.scienceforums.com/general-science-news.html

...to surround a single article?

Regards,
Tormod

[tormodg]

2) How can I get the cool sidebar features show here:
http://www.scienceforums.com/general-science-news.html

...to surround a single article?

Solved this one myself...it is of course the Modules and module placements.

[nexia]

Hi Geek, i have a suggestion of new category type: Lyrics

see:

Lyrics

content:

title
name of artist
album
year
author/writer
lyrics
rating
comments
lyric-wiki (anybody can edit the wiki of that song, so if the member made an error, anybody can correct it, but the original is intact until the member correct its post.)

songs from same artist
albums from same artist

[The Geek]

You mean a new type? It can be done, but I wouldnt do it for a default install.

[nexia]

i'd like a new feature or a modification for a better template management here...

i don't know if it is very possible, it would mean some code changes...

when we edit the templates, we have to choose a new template for FORUMDISPLAY etc...

would it be cool to have something different?!... the verif would be something like:if($this->temps['prefix']) {
$this->vb->templatecache['FORUMDISPLAY'] = $this->vb->templatecache[$this->temps['prefix'].'FORUMDISPLAY'];
}
... my point is that i need to edit more templates than the default one you added to the system (threadbit, postbit etc..) and i actually can't because it would mean modifying a lot of code to make it so...

example, i have the "forumdisplay_quickstats" from the hack "Forum Display Stats Cache Serialized" ... i need a different version for my Reviews or Blogs... and i actually can't from your script because it is very difficult to detect your GARS outside itself...

if i have something like the prefix thing, we can have this:
GARS_FORUMDISPLAY << actually there!
BLOG_FORUMDISPLAY
BLOG_forumdisplay_quickstats
BLOG_forumdisplay_announcement

... just by setting the prefix as BLOG_ ... so it would be easy for us to add more verifs in prep_threadbit and elsewhere...

do i make sense ??
(ok, i'll do it handly for myself then.. lol) -i've attached the modif i've done myself ... but it would be great to have this globally!
--- PLEASE DON'T DOWNLOAD THIS ATTACHEMENT.,.. this is NOT a addon!

[Lizard King]

You can easliy do that by adding any template you want. I used different forumdisplay templates in different forums. The only thing is you have to define to each type what templates do you want to use.

[nexia]

You can easliy do that by adding any template you want. I used different forumdisplay templates in different forums. The only thing is you have to define to each type what templates do you want to use.
i was not refering to the FORUMDISPLAY template, but to others that are not used there...

this is more for hacks of others than the usual vB... but some are not modifyed in this script though, like the "forumhome_forumbit_level..." ... in my templates (and some new skins) there are a lot of changes in the design, and using them in all situations would not be relevent... and also, merging the default templates from GARS to these changes make the display to be absolute chaos...

[Lizard King]

i was not refering to the FORUMDISPLAY template, but to others that are not used there...

this is more for hacks of others than the usual vB... but some are not modifyed in this script though, like the "forumhome_forumbit_level..." ... in my templates (and some new skins) there are a lot of changes in the design, and using them in all situations would not be relevent... and also, merging the default templates from GARS to these changes make the display to be absolute chaos...
You are missing the whole point. This system is putting a new dimension to vBulletin which change the look. And you cannot ask Geek to support the other modifications and etc. I have nearly 10 running style on my board and they are lal customized and GARS never caused me a problem. If you want to return to classic vBulletin look with Gars for example in forumdisplay you can do it.
Of cource this hack will modify the templates otherwise nobody will need this hack.

[The Geek]

If you need more templates, add a new template set and change accordingly. Or are you saying that you need more template swaps then GARS accomidates? The other templates will still work in GARS templates. Im not sure why you would need GARS specific ones?

[nexia]

The other templates will still work in GARS templates. Im not sure why you would need GARS specific ones?
Bah, forget it, i found the best solution, i built a module for each part of these pages... so i can select to display the "Display Options", "Currently Active Users", "Moderators", "Forum Tools", and so on... as Blocks inside the system, so i was able to drop all these details from the original templates and activate them in GARS...

with this possibility, i would rename the GARS to be the Forum Constructor... because we can rebuild about any kind of forum with it.. ;)

[Lizard King]

Bah, forget it, i found the best solution, i built a module for each part of these pages... so i can select to display the "Display Options", "Currently Active Users", "Moderators", "Forum Tools", and so on... as Blocks inside the system, so i was able to drop all these details from the original templates and activate them in GARS...

with this possibility, i would rename the GARS to be the Forum Constructor... because we can rebuild about any kind of forum with it.. ;)
Can you share those new modules with us also

[nexia]

Can you share those new modules with us also
hum, not sure.. lol

i'll try to make them work before making any move... actually, it's a bit confusing on who the modules are working...

EDIT:

i include here two mods, i think i will not add more, these two were very easy to manage...

Active Users for forumdisplay and showthread... so it would be possible to drop them from the templates and just activate them as modules... that's what i've done.

took me less than 3 minutes per mod to make, so i suppose anybody can do it...

[Walim]

Very nice
and i hope that u dont forget my reguest :)
http://www.thevbgeek.com/showthread.php?t=221&page=2

[The Geek]

what one? This one: http://www.thevbgeek.com/showthread.php?t=718

[Walim]

Hmmm i'm not sure if this is what i have reguest or not

but from what i see after upload image .. we can add link to anther page etc.. this is also anther nice feature :)

my other reguest was to have anther options then the upload image .. so we can just add link to the cover

Example

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000B8QEZG/ref%3Damb%5Fcenter-8%5F124786001%5F8/104-4511287-7660747

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000B8QEZG.01._PE29_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000B8QEZG.01._PE29_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg

this is example from Amazon maybe i use al ink from any other free image hosting etc..

so i dont need to host them in my server .. so just link to image .. and maybe there is image Resize .... i hope this feature will be add ;)

i hope you understand what i mean :)