Topic: A list of attached files...

[Biology Forums]

Could someone reexplain what this mod does?

[vbgamer45]

Shows a list of attachments

[diegolyanky]

It's supposed will provide a list of attached files on a forum.
With the functionallity of can search trought filenames of attached files.

But it's still on developing... Can you help? 

[Arantor]

What does that offer that 2.0’s admin panel doesn’t?

[vbgamer45]

He is looking for a way for normal membergroups to view the information.

[Arantor]

Like https://live627.com/livemods.net/index.php?action=mods#59 maybe?

[diegolyanky]

[Biology Forums]

@arantor, I don't think that mod has a search feature

I think what you should do instead is create a checkbox in the search template that specifies you want to search the table that houses the attachments only -- that is if your members actually give their uploads meaningful names and titles. Then, create a function within search.php that only searches that table and presents the results normally. Of course this is just an idea, not a blueprint but that's how i'd approach it rather than creating dedicated template files, etc.

[shawnb61]

Wouldn't there be permissions issues?  Attachments should honor board permissions, correct?  If you don't have permission to see the board, you shouldn't see the board's attachments.

[Arantor]

I continue to be amazed at how “just add a checkbox” conveniently ignores the rest of the actual complexity, and I don’t think solves the problem either.

[shawnb61]

For some types of  forums, I think the ability to navigate attachments would be extremely helpful. 

This is how I approached it on my forum.  Far from perfect, but functional:
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=24401.0

A nightly batch job updates this post & also puts out a .csv with the same content who want the additional ability to search/navigate in Excel. 

This only works for my forum because the permissions are flat (it's either public or not, & I filter out attachments for "backstage" boards) and because the # of attachments that meet my search criteria (patches) is relatively small (<4000).   

Speaking of big posts, that's a big post... 

[Biology Forums]

I mentioned it's NOT a blueprint. Obviously there would be a boat load of coding front and backend. The checkbox idea would be a miniscule template modification.

[Arantor]

Yes, with the intent of “reducing work” when in reality it would be better all round (and less work) to not try to modify the search code.

[diegolyanky]

This is how I approached it on my forum.  Far from perfect, but functional:
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=24401.0

 

I would like to have that on my site. Where can I get it? 

[shawnb61]

I've been thinking about this.

Limitations:
 - No documentation, as I only really use it internally at the moment. 
 - The install package I've created only works for 2.0.x. 
 - I haven't put licensing info in it, as I wasn't sure I'd distribute it.  It's more a toolbox than a mod. 
 - As noted earlier, "flat" board permissions.
 - As noted earlier, < 4000 attachments suggested.   

If you're OK with these limitations, I'll put it up on Github.  If there is more interest, I'll add documentation.