|
How To Install a vbulletin Hack: Guide to Newbies.
by
28 May 2002
If you are new to vbulletin hacks, dont know how to apply a hack, instructions of the Author does not suffice to you or you still have difficulties and questions while applying a hack, I hope this "general guide" can help you a bit: Let's begin with CRUCIAL tips, shall we? BEFORE HACKING: 1- Before applying a hack do not forget to backup! This is the most important part of a hacking experience. If you backup properly, you dont need to worry about the consequences of applying any hack. Even if you do something wrong or the hack is buggy or conflicts with your board, you wont lose anything by trying it out. Doesnt it work? Just revert to your backed up board and you are safe. You need to back up 2 things:
WHILE HACKING 1- Follow the hack author's instructions carefully. When it comes to coding, it REALLY matters if you miss or add an extra "dot" or even single "space" character. Therefore it's important to apply the hack verbatim, very carefully and without rush. 2- If the hack instruction asks you to edit a vbulletin file, use a TEXT EDITOR program to edit. Old "Notepad" will be your best friend when it comes to hacking. Do NOT use HTML programs such as Frontpage, DreamWeaver or Word Processing Programs such as MS Word, StarOffice to edit your files. If you know what to do, these programs can manage hack editing too, but if the settings of the programs are not properly configured, they can make unwanted modifications in the file you edit which results in errors (usually parse errors). However you will ALWAYS be safe with your Notepad, so try to use it whenever possible while applying the hacks. 3- If the author asked you to find a line in the code, use "Find" feature of your editor (You are using NotePad, dont you?)  So http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38618 the entire text manually.4- If you find the part which requires editing via "FIND", do not immediately apply the hack. Click [F3] (In NotePad) to extend your search and make sure there is only 1 occurence of the searched text in the file you edit. For example, if the author asked you to find the code $array=$b; there can be 2 or more of the same line and modifying the wrong one will cause unwanted results. Although it's Hack Author's responsibility to double check this, it will not hurt if you make sure that given line is unique in the code. 5- After you find the place you will modify, be very careful about Author's command: Does he want you to
 6- If the author asked you to add a code AFTER or BEFORE a certain line, this means that you need to add this new code AS A NEW LINE (if not told otherwise). Let me demonstrate on an example: If author asked you to find the code: PHP Code:
// value of a
PHP Code:
$b=12;
PHP Code:
// value of a
So this is right: PHP Code:
// value of a
7- Try to copy paste from the hack text to your vbulletin code, instead of writing the code manually. This is the best method of applying a hack in most cases. However if you got "PARSE ERRORS" after installing your hack, this is sometimes because of COPY/PASTE process (especially if you are using OPERA as a browser and you copied from your browser window). In this case revert to your back up file and reapply the hack but this time by typing the code by hand (applies to small hacks only). Needless to say be very careful about what you typed and double check you didnt write even 1 character wrong. 8- After you made the necessary changes in the file, you need to upload it to your server. While uploading it via a FTP program make sure it's uploaded as an ASCII file, not a BIN file. (Applies files with .php extensions, ie all vbulletin scripts) 9- I have been asked many times so I'll give this tip here: If you need to modify the hack code to insert a "usergroup id" and if you dont know how to find it, here is how: Admin CP/User Groups/Modify will list all existing usergroups in your board. To learn the id for one of them, choose edit, RIGHT MOUSE click/Open in new browser Window then check your address bar, you'll see it at the end of line as usergroupid=X. That's the id you are looking for. Same tip works for finding forum ids, user ids etc. Just find the "edit" page of the info you need to learn its id, and open it in a new browser window. 10- Sometimes a hack may require you run a SQL command. Before running SQL queries in your MYSQL database make sure you backed up your database. To run SQL queries you have 3 options:
AFTER HACKING: YOU INSTALLED THE HACK AND IT DOESNT WORK: Ok dont panic! We'll get you out of trouble:
YOU INSTALLED THE HACK AND IT WORKS: Ok so you are done, right? No you are not! 1- Archive the hack you applied. If its instruction is an attached file, save it somewhere in case you need it in the future. 2- Post in hack's thread and say hack works for you without any problems and mention about your vbulletin version. Do this especially if you are one of the first to try this hack or if anyone else havent mentioned that hack works with the version of vbulletin you use. So you will help others using the same version understand they can also apply the hack safely. 3- Click INSTALL button in the hack's thread. This is not same by subscribing to that thread and you will not get any new message notifications by clicking install. By clicking it, you will be notified if hack author corrected a bug, released a new version of this hack. Besides you will help the author to get how many people find it useful and will motivate him to enchance the hack. You will also help other members evaluate the usefulness of the hack since many users check number of installations for a hack before deciding to use. Same applies rating hack's thread as well.. 4- If you have ideas to make the hack better, new release requests etc, post them away. This can shed a light to author to enhance his hack or someone else get make improvements you requested. 5- A thank you message to hack author will not hurt anybody either. That's it.. I hope this information can enhance your hacking experience as a newbie. Regards, Logician \\=^)) (To Mods: If you think this thread is more useful in an other forum, you can move it there) |