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Archives
September 2008: Arobase Skin
August 2008: Aqua Essence v1.0.2
July 2008: ipbWiki v2.0.4
June 2008: (FSY23) Universal Mod Installer v2.6
Featured Resource Of The Month: June 2008
(FSY23) Universal Mod Installer v2.6
Resource Info
- Resource Name:
- (FSY23) Universal Mod Installer
- Version:
- v2.6.0
- Author:
- Michael McCune
- IP.Board Version:
- v2.2.x and v.2.3.x
- Downloads*
- 7009
- Views*
- 21259
The Universal Mod Installer gives mod authors a common format to use to create their installers: these are the files that have to be executed to make the database changes necessary to make the mod work. By sticking to a common format, mod authors spend less time making unique installer files and more time making mods. Forum owners using this tool can use it to install and uninstall any compatible mod with minimal effort. They can also use it to track whether the mod they have installed is the latest version of that mod (if the author provides the means for checking this).
What is it?
The Universal Mod Installer is a script designed to let you quickly and easily install or uninstall any mods that are designed to be compatible with it. Using this script, you can have one secure place to perform (nearly) all of the steps involved in adding or removing modifications to your v2.2.x or v2.3.x Invision Power Board.
What can it do?
The script reads the XML file that will come with the mods you want to install and use this information to build a task list of steps that it must perform. This task list will be dynamically generated based on the content of the XML, and it will use that same info to construct a list of uninstallation tasks if you ever want to uninstall a mod using the script. The following is a list of what things the script is capable of doing/creating:
- ACP Setting Groups
- ACP Settings
- Components
- Language Strings
- Skin Templates
- Tasks
- Help Files
- ACP Help Entries
- Database Tables
- Database Columns
- Database Rows
- Database Updates
- Custom Scripts (mod makers can write PHP files with custom mod installation instructions not covered above)
- Rebuild IPB Caches (Rebuilds the Components, Forums, Groups & Settings caches)
- Rebuild Skin Caches
What are the benefits of using it?
Security
This script is now fully integrated into the IPB Admin CP, meaning that someone would have to find a way to log in to your Admin CP before they could access this script; it adds no additional security risk to your board.
Convenience
There's no need to remember or bookmark any URL to an installer script anymore, as long as you can reach your Admin CP you can install, uninstall, or upgrade any compatible mods. No more worrying about whether or not you typed in the correct URL to the installer, and no more asking the mod maker for uninstallation instructions.
Thoroughness
The feature set of this mod is second to none, it can perform a wide variety of different tasks, and the ability to add custom PHP scripts into it just increases the flexibility of potential uses of this script.
Staying up to date
The Admin CP menu for this component will keep you updated of new versions for the mods you have installed using this script, as well as keeping you updated on the script itself.
Screenshots
Interview with Michael McCune
Please could you describe your modification, highlighting what it does?
The Universal Mod Installer gives mod authors a common format to use to create their installers: these are the files that have to be executed to make the database changes necessary to make the mod work. By sticking to a common format, mod authors spend less time making unique installer files and more time making mods. Forum owners using this tool can use it to install and uninstall any compatible mod with minimal effort. They can also use it to track whether the mod they have installed is the latest version of that mod (if the author provides the means for checking this).
Please explain why you decided to come up with this modification, and why you think it has benefited the modification community. Also, please share a few examples of how it could be used?
I came up with this because I had seen so many varying formats of installer files, and thought that it would be better if there was a common framework for all of these, considering each installer is basically just doing one or more of a distinct set of installation steps (creating a component, adding skin templates, creating new database tables, etc.). The big benefit of this is that mod authors now just have to create an XML file in a standard format, as opposed to a full PHP script that may take a lot of time to get looking and working just how they want it to; that time could be better spent doing other things.
Please give us a few details about yourself, and why you decided to start writing modifications for IP.Board
My name is Michael, in case my Display Name didn't make that clear, but most real life people call me Mike. I'm a 31 year old IT professional, currently working at the Ohio State University. I've been writing software for about half of my professional life, so when I got asked on one of my first forums to go find some cool mods they could install, I found that working with mods and the IP.Board code came naturally to me. In my spare time I'd help others with their mods, then finally decided to start making my own. I now have dozens of freely available mods for several different IP.Board versions, as well as many mods available for purchase at my site.
Have you any tips for people that are interested in coding for IP.Board, but don't know where to start?
The best advice I have is to just ask questions, and do it at various sites until you find one you are comfortable with. Some places will have knowledgeable members who can answer your questions, some will have more beginners like yourself who may be better able to explain things at your level. Just try things, see if they work, and if they don't, try to find someone who can help explain why.
