Hacks and plug-ins

[Davey_lad]

Hi, i need a bit of help i am curious of how the plug-ins and hacks work for the plugins, what im looking for is things like miserable user and arcade, can anyone shed any light on this for me????

Thanks Dave

[feldon23]

Hacks (modifying the original PHP code) are obsolete in favor of Plug-ins.

I am not sure your question? There are, in fact, a Miserable Users plugin as well as two Arcade plugins which are very easy to install and do not impede/complicate updates of vBulletin.

[chewbacca]

If you're wondering how they're installed, it's done very simply through the Admin CP.

Usually you just download the plug-in package/file and upload the XML (which probably contains the code or installation queries for the plug-in) through your browser when you install it from the Admin CP. If there are extra files to upload, you'll have to do that separately, but the majority of minor "hacks" and add-ons don't require you to do so.

Disabling and uninstalling plug-ins is even easier. You can just untick the checkbox that marks them as active, or you can choose to completely remove it. Once again, these actions are done through the Admin CP.

One word of caution, though: don't get too plug-in-happy. Installing an excessive amount will noticeably hinder the performance of your bulletin board.

[Davey_lad]

i was told by a mate that the hacks are used to activate the plug-in's and especially the miserable user! so is this not the case??? i would love to get the most info possible!

[Colin F]

No, hacks or code modifications are rarely needed anymore.

[Davey_lad]

Although you're not required to have the forum itself you still have to hack the templates so to speak, so there is a lot of code changing to be done. At least this was still the case last time I installed some add ins. I will have to have a look in more detail at the new stuff that has been developed with the later versions of vB.

this is what my mate said and is that still the case????

[Colin F]

That depends on the hack.
If the hack displays something on the forum then chances are big that you'll have to modify the templates, so that it actually does display.

[Davey_lad]

so things like arcade and things like that have to use hacks or need the template edited to be able to show the link to the arcade alont the top of the forum where you have the user cp and new posts etc!???

[Colin F]

Yes, the link to the Arcade would require a small edit in the navbar template. I'm not sure why you'd need to edit anything in the usercp or new posts though.

[Davey_lad]

im not saying anything needs to be done with the user cp i was just useing those as examples of where i ment! thanx for the info! :D,

[feldon23]

this is what my mate said and is that still the case????
Time to get a new mate. Just kidding! vBulletin has improved a lot since 3.0.

You might still have to make some template modifications, but Plugins can add themselves to the Admin panel, User CP, and many other places without hacking.