Upgrading “module interfaced applications” such as PunBB

[davidL]

There are several modules that interfaces stand alone applications into cmsms, such as  FCKeditorX, PunBB/protected pages, GalleryS etc. If I would like to upgrade any of these external applications can this be done without destroying the “interfacing”? I assume its not possible, or different from case to case. I’m asking because the punBB version that comes with the punBB/protected pages module is of an old version. Can I simply download the latest PunBB and install on top of the old one or will that mess up the integration?

If not possible, is the PunBB module terminated from further development? I understand this forum once was punBB but changed to smf due to problems with keeping the punBB updated.

[sjg]

If the PunBB module had been written more cleverly, it would indeed be possible to just upgrade the PunBB install. Unfortunately, that turns out to be very, very complex, so I didn't do it that way (basically, PunBB and CMS Made Simple have namespace clashes and other redundancies, so instead of writing a bridge, I wrapped PunBB into a CMS Module.)

Along with the module, there is a script that can be used to update a new version of PunBB to work in this context. What it does is renames a bunch of variables and other attributes within a PunBB distribution, as well as maps its configuration to use the CMS Made Simple configuration. While I haven't tried using it on the latest PunBB, it may work.

This script is called updatePunBBFunctionNames.bash. You untar the PunBB distribution into the same directory as the PunBB module, and run this script. It requires perl to be available. You can purge all of the backup files, and all of the initial install stuff (like the PunBB.config) it generates by running the cleanupAndPackage.bash script.

That being said, I haven't actually done any work on this module for a while, so even if the script still works, the module may not be fully compatible with the latest module API.

Once CMS 0.12 is released and I finish the initial release of FormBuilder, I'll revisit this. Ideally, it should integrate Front-end Users with PunBB. That'll be an interesting challenge. It's not my highest priority at the moment, since I have some paid projects that need to get done first. Sorry about that...

___Samuel___

[Russ]

I just copied the upgrade PunBB file across and ran the appropriate upgrade. Installed a pile of modules as well. Seems pretty good. I'm not sure of the integration with CMS, although I do have code to view forum information directly on a CMS web page. See:

http://www.cms.shoesforindustry.net/cmstests/punbbtest.html

Use the 'Go to the PunBB test forum...' link to go to the actual forum which is currently the start of a beta for my son's WoW Guild

I think the module is pretty cool.

Russ

[davidL]

Thank you for your response Samuel, and for a good module. I will give it a try to upgrade the punBB, but I think I’ll wait and solve some more urgent tasks with the site I’m working on. Ill post the results later. I like punBB for its clean layout and simplicity so I would like to stick with it.

Russ. Cool site you have there. How did you integrate the “latest threads” on your cmsms page? Would you mind publishing the code here and give a short description of how to do it? I’m sure I’m not the only one curious of this.

/David

[cyberman]

How did you integrate the “latest threads” on your cmsms page?

Follow the links - I got only 404 errors  ...

[Russ]

cyberman:

Follow the links - I got only 404 errors

Sorry cyberman, it is a test site and we are playing the links work again now.

davidL:

How did you integrate the “latest threads” on your cmsms page? Would you mind publishing the code here and give a short description of how to do it? I’m sure I’m not the only one curious of this.

I just used some user tags, but give me a little it of time and I'll create a plugin for them Would this be preferable?


Russ

[Russ]

PunBBInfo plugin
Please find attached the first beta of the PunBBInfo plugin (function.PunBBInfo.php) which allows you to display stuff from your PunBB forum on your CMS website, including RSS feeds. It assumes you have already installed the PunBB CMS Module:
from: http://dev.cmsmadesimple.org/projects/punbb

Some test examples are here (and extensive help in file)
http://www.cms.shoesforindustry.net/cms ... btest.html

For more information see the help sections at the end of this file.

As ususal download the file and rename it to .php and copy it to your plugin directory. As it's a beta I would appreciate some feedback I've also included some sample CSS.

Enjoy
Russ

[attachment deleted by admin]

[davidL]

Russ that was fast. I saw your post during the afternoon at work and before I got home to answer your post you had posted the plugin  . I tried it last night but I could not get it to work. The page where I placed the plugin loaded in 13sec and there were no post shown. Unfortunately I did not have time to try to figure out what was wrong or to do much testing. I still use the 1.2.06 version of the forum so I guess the first I have to do is to install the upgrade and se if that helps. I will probably try that tonight. Before I attempt that I would just like to have clarified the upgrade process. Sjgs post is quite clear but I anyway got some questions.

1.Download the latest version and unpack in punBB directory.
Question: I can either download a package of the entire PunBB distribution or a package of the latest upgraded files only. Does it matter what I do? If I download and install the “latest files only” I have to do that in 4 steps since there are 4 upgrades between 1.2.06 to 1.2.10, so I prefer if I can download everything at once and just let it overwrite the old files.

2.Runt the upgrade,punbb.bash script
Question1: Should I first run the normal punBB upgrade script and then later run the upgrade.bash?
Question2: Just how do I run this script? Should it be renamed to PHP

3.Run the cleanup script.

Russ or Samuel I would be happy if you could give a short answer to the above questions.

Thanks
/David

[Russ]

Hi dadvidL, thanks for your kind comments but it's not that difficult . The basis for the code to get this information (and even more options) are in the 'extern.php' in the root of your PunBB directory. I then wrapped them in a 'CMS plugin' function so we could get at them. To be honest I did simplify the options to make it easier for people to use, but if people need everything, I guess I can have another look. However it works for me so...

1. I can't quite remember what I did with the the upgrade??? First I installed the CMS module etc.
I think I downloaded the latest PunBB version, expanded it and copied the contenst of the new folder over the current module/PunBB contents. (I may have then un-installed an re-installed the CMS module at this point - I can't remember) If you e-mail me privately I can send you a zip of the PunBB folder I'm using for testing, I only ask you delete the WoW template I'm working on for my son..mmm that might not work however as I've got a few modules installed some of which might alter the database?- but you could give it a go.

2. I think I then ran the upgrade.php script and that was it. Don't think I got into bash or anything? But I could be worng. Sorry David this does not seem to be turning into too much help at all!

If you can create a test site - why not try it on that? Keep a list of what you do and let me know for the next upgrade!!!

Russ

[davidL]

Hi Russ.

I have not yet been able to do any more testing. I currently don’t have time for web work, but will get back to it in a week or two. I will post the result when I have any.

Is there any smart way to use the “latest post” linking from the first page while having the forum included in cmsms using the embed tag?

/David

[Russ]

Not sure what you mean by 'smart way', you can include any latest number of posts (1-50)? As in the first of the examples on:

http://www.cms.shoesforindustry.net/cms ... btest.html

Is there something specific you are after? Good luck with your testing let me know if I can be anymore help.

Russ

[davidL]

I think you misunderstood me. Sorry for a poor explanation. I meant that if I use your tag to display the “latest post” links on my first page in cmsms the links will go to the forum topics directly. Ie the links will go to the forum as a stand alone page outside of cmsms. If I want to have the forum included into cmsms with an iframe then I wonder if there would be a way to make the linked topics show up in the  iframed forum page.

I’m not sure this is much of a better explanation? Since this is a bit off topic a made another post about it. Se the general help forum "linking to embedded forum".

It seems to me as if it not possible to make it work like that, but then again I know very little.

David

[Russ]

davidL - sorry for the misunderstanding. I guess iFrames are not out of the question but I think it could end up being a mess? The are two possible other solutions....

1. Make your PunBB install look like your web site design. (You can change the way PunBB works with CSS and altering the templates.) And then put a link to the PunBB index file in your web site. I've done something (although not an exact web site copy!) for the http://www.emeraldhand.net. I'm sure you could make it look much more exact.

2. Aother option I have not explored is the use of the 'puntal' plugin for PunBB - which apparently adds a portal front page which you also maybe able to embed or include or link to in CMS?

Hope this helps
Russ

[Russ]

I should also point out that PunBBInfo does not seem to work on my hosted version of PHP5. This maybe because it is probably running as a CGI (you can specify PHP4/5 in your .htaccess and the only way I know how to do this is to have PHP5 running as a CGI.) This maybe something to do with my host / the way they do it / I havn't really got time to test on a 'proper PHP5' install - but if anyone has, could you let me know.

Russ

[loosefast]

PunBBInfo plugin
Please find attached the first beta of the PunBBInfo plugin (function.PunBBInfo.php) which allows you to display stuff from your PunBB forum on your CMS website, including RSS feeds. It assumes you have already installed the PunBB CMS Module:
from: http://dev.cmsmadesimple.org/projects/punbb

Some test examples are here (and extensive help in file)
http://www.cms.shoesforindustry.net/punbbtest.html

For more information see the help sections at the end of this file.

As ususal download the file and rename it to .php and copy it to your plugin directory. As it's a beta I would appreciate some feedback I've also included some sample CSS.

Enjoy
Russ

Russ,

Thanks for posting this. it works fine!