Sorious' In-game Forums

[Jeff]

Greeting,

Well for a long time now I have worked as a scripter on a server and have made many many many unique things and never really wanted to release them as they were there to make that server unique. Lately I have been working on things that I wanted to release to the public as more of a "here is my contribution" sort of thing. When I first started thinking about it, I wanting to release something that had not been done before or at least if it had been done, something very advanced of what had been done. After many attempts and frustrations I gave up and couldnt think of anything or had I thought of something after coding 50-70% of it I realized I didn't like it and wouldnt want to support it once it had been done. Well, the other day I had the idea that staff really needed a way to talk to each other ingame on my server(like a messege system of some sort). So I thought about it and basically thought, well I hate having to pause Uo to check something on the Forums, or leave a message for someone on the Forums, SO..... Why not create a Forum In-Game. Anyway thats what I did and here it is...

Update 1.3.6
-Fixed a null related crash bug.

Update 1.3.5
-Fixed a null related crash bug.

Update 1.3.4
-When someone adds to a thread it sorts to the top of the list like the forums here do.
-Some other small adjustments

Update 1.3.3
-Fixed a bug in the account management section.
-Added a Close button to the Thread Gump.
-Some other minor fixes

Update 1.3.2
-Fixed some potential crash bugs.

Update 1.3.1
-Fixed a crash bug.

Update 1.3.0
You will need to delete all data in /Data/Forums to use this version on. Sorry but i did state this was not ready for release on anything but a test server.
-Revamped alot of code, mostly to save memory, diskspace, and IO time. Everything is now saved in /Data/Forums/forumdata.sig. I will be implementing a system to backup/restore and export individual threads.
-Added a long post feature to the Post Gump. To use this simply enter a subject(if its a new post) click Long Post and start follow the directions.
-Added a player statistics tracking system. Thus far it includes post count and join date. Also coded in but not working as of yet is a rank system and the ability to add a signature.

Update 1.2.1
-Added ForumBulletinBoard. Just use [add ForumBulletinBoard to add this.

Update 1.2.0
-Custom UI for the administration stone. ( im tired of making gumps, you'll see why )
-Moderators added. They can only Lock and Delete threads at the moment.

Update 1.1.0
-Added a ForumAdminStone with serveral controls such as
-LockAccess: This sets the access level for locking threads
-DeleteAccess: This sets the access level for deleting threads
-MaxPostCharactersCount: This sets the max amount of characters in a post
-MinPostCharactersCount: This sets the min amount of characters in a post
-AutoCleanupDays: Amount of days needed to delete a inactive thread
-AutoCleanup: Active or inactive
-Added a ForumBook, will also make a ForumBoard in the future but its late right now
-You may now add Stickies, Announcements and the combination of those 2 with Staff messages.

Update 1.0.3
-Found out how to break line in html, no need for credits.txt now.

Update 1.0.2
-Added scrolling feature to the Threadview gump.
-Fixed a bug that could cause a crash.

Update 1.0.1
-Posts now resort to the top of the list after a new post has been added like a real forum
-Locked threads now show as a [X] icon on the post.
-If a thread is locked and a admin clicks it the Lock button will say Unlock.

Installation:
The installation is very simple.

1. Unzip the package, and extract it to somewhere in your Scripts folder.
2. Reboot server
3. Add the administration stone. Command - [add ForumAdminStone
3. Type [viewforums and your off.

Known Bugs:
Warning!! If you upgrade from versions 1.0.3 or less to versions 1.1.0 or higher all your posts will become stickies, You will need to delete them or wait till I can come up with a way to change them back. Sorry for the inconvinience.

Things to know:
I intend to add lots of things to it to make it as comperable to a real forum system you would see on the web. As of now you may post and all the administration properties such as Locking or Deleting thread is all managed based on your access level. If you are a staff member and you want to post to staff only, click new post and at the bottom right of the posting gump there will be a checkbox for staff only. If this is checked the thread will only show to staff members. This is great for new updates, change in rules and things of the sort.

The save directory for this is in /Data/Forums, if this directory does not exist it will create it, The save file for the threads is put here and each post is put in a folder by the characters name( if you get a few posts check /Data/Forums and you will understand ).

Planned Improvments:
1. Craftable Personal Forums
2. Ability to Ban/Unban accounts
3. Ability to unset stickies and announcements
4. More ideas please.

This package requires zero modifications to your distro of RunUO.

[Seven]

Very Nice. I will plan on using this

[Joeku]

Great idea! You've earned a hug!

*hugs Sorious*

[Jeff]

your lucky this is online, i dont like to be touched!!!!

[DraconisDesBois]

Very! Very! Good work, I WILL be using this.

[Seven]

I updated my first post (below his) and added a screen shot.. but ill post it down here too for those who want to have a ss.

[Jeff]

cool thanks man, i didnt even think about putting a screeny gg

[Seven]

Originally Posted by Sorious

cool thanks man, i didnt even think about putting a screeny gg

Your welcome.

[Nam01]

Thank you for sharing


Nam

[kmwill23]

Woohoo! Something I can take off my todo list =) I don't like competing with other peoples' systems, so I won't add forums to my next Chat release.

What I will do is draft up my design doc for them and forward it to you for ideas =)

[Johabius]

Very very cool idea...don't worry I won't touch you Thanks for the neat submission...will give this one a whirl this weekend.

[orpheus]

now all you have to do is have it sync up to my phpbb mysql db and pull the categories/topics. :P

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by kmwill23

Woohoo! Something I can take off my todo list =) I don't like competing with other peoples' systems, so I won't add forums to my next Chat release.

What I will do is draft up my design doc for them and forward it to you for ideas =)

That sounds great, i need some ideas

[Seven]

Originally Posted by Sorious

That sounds great, i need some ideas

What would be nice if it would sort it by the last post's date so that if you reply to a thread it will go back to the top of the list. Like an actuall message board.

[Pyro-Tech]

very good....now if you can just browse the web from within UO


hehe...but seriously good job. would be nice for the most recent topic on top thing though

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by Seven

What would be nice if it would sort it by the last post's date so that if you reply to a thread it will go back to the top of the list. Like an actuall message board.

ah ya, ill get right on that

[Seven]

Originally Posted by Sorious

ah ya, ill get right on that

Maby another idea... :P

When you lock a thread it would be a good idea to replace the icon on the main forum page with the gump button with the "X" in it so that people know they can't reply to it.

Just a very small suggestion

[Jeff]

done, and uploaded thanks guys

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by orpheus

now all you have to do is have it sync up to my phpbb mysql db and pull the categories/topics. :P

I had thought about this, then i thought, I would rather make it more user friendly

[Seven]

I think I found a problem. Posts don't show if there isn't anymore room for them to display :x

I had a thread with 5 replies and the 5th reply won't show because there is no more room in the "box".

edit - not sure if this was fixed in your new upload

[Pyro-Tech]

had a crash for no apparent reason...well....to me anyways

Server Crash Report
===================

RunUO Version 1.0.0, Build 36918
Operating System: Microsoft Windows NT 5.1.2600.0
.NET Framework: 1.1.4322.2032
Time: 1/12/2006 1:46:05 AM
Mobiles: 13801
Items: 133887
Clients:
- Count: 0

Exception:
System.Exception: World Save event threw an exception.  Save failed! ---> System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException: Could not find a part of the path "D:\Run UO Server\Data\Forums\forumdata.sig".
   at System.IO.__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String str)
   at System.IO.FileStream..ctor(String path, FileMode mode, FileAccess access, FileShare share, Int32 bufferSize, Boolean useAsync, String msgPath, Boolean bFromProxy)
   at System.IO.FileStream..ctor(String path, FileMode mode, FileAccess access, FileShare share)
   at Server.BinaryFileWriter..ctor(String filename, Boolean prefixStr)
   at Server.Forums.ForumCore.EventSink_WorldSave(WorldSaveEventArgs e) in d:\Run UO Server\Scripts\Custom\New Scripts\Systems\Forums\ForumCore.cs:line 113
   at Server.WorldSaveEventHandler.Invoke(WorldSaveEventArgs e)
   at Server.World.Save(Boolean message)
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at Server.World.Save(Boolean message)
   at Server.Misc.AutoSave.Save() in d:\Run UO Server\Scripts\Custom\Distro\Misc\AutoSave.cs:line 95
   at Server.DelayCallTimer.OnTick()
   at Server.Timer.Slice()
   at Server.Core.Main(String[] args)

[Nam01]

Download credits.txt, put it in /Data/Forum

change it to credits.SIG worked for me


Nam

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by Pyro-Tech

had a crash for no apparent reason...well....to me anyways

Server Crash Report
===================

RunUO Version 1.0.0, Build 36918
Operating System: Microsoft Windows NT 5.1.2600.0
.NET Framework: 1.1.4322.2032
Time: 1/12/2006 1:46:05 AM
Mobiles: 13801
Items: 133887
Clients:
- Count: 0

Exception:
System.Exception: World Save event threw an exception.  Save failed! ---> System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException: Could not find a part of the path "D:\Run UO Server\Data\Forums\forumdata.sig".
   at System.IO.__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String str)
   at System.IO.FileStream..ctor(String path, FileMode mode, FileAccess access, FileShare share, Int32 bufferSize, Boolean useAsync, String msgPath, Boolean bFromProxy)
   at System.IO.FileStream..ctor(String path, FileMode mode, FileAccess access, FileShare share)
   at Server.BinaryFileWriter..ctor(String filename, Boolean prefixStr)
   at Server.Forums.ForumCore.EventSink_WorldSave(WorldSaveEventArgs e) in d:\Run UO Server\Scripts\Custom\New Scripts\Systems\Forums\ForumCore.cs:line 113
   at Server.WorldSaveEventHandler.Invoke(WorldSaveEventArgs e)
   at Server.World.Save(Boolean message)
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at Server.World.Save(Boolean message)
   at Server.Misc.AutoSave.Save() in d:\Run UO Server\Scripts\Custom\Distro\Misc\AutoSave.cs:line 95
   at Server.DelayCallTimer.OnTick()
   at Server.Timer.Slice()
   at Server.Core.Main(String[] args)

Ok try the newest version, I think i ixed this, thanks for the -debug report too man, much easier to fix this issue

As far as the post on changing credits.txt to credits.SIG that wont solve anything, at no point in time to i look for credits.SIG in the scripts.

[Nam01]

worked for me havnt crashed since i did it

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by Nam01

worked for me havnt crashed since i did it

you should update, the problem was i didnt check for the path /data/forum and see if it existed, now it does and creates it if it doesnt exist, so you creating it and putting credits.sig fixed the problem by making the path, but credits.sig needs to be .txt or the credits page doesnt show the complete credits