vBadvanced Dynamics <-- your thoughts ?

**Brandon Sheley** · 08-08-2007, 11:48 PM

Designed with versatility in mind, vBadvanced Dynamics is a highly configurable, multi-purpose product that can be used to catalog and display a database of just about anything*. From articles, file sharing, user blogs, a simple categorized list of recipes, and just about everything in between. Features include an advanced module system, unlimited categories, attachment uploads, ratings, custom fields, over 50 usergroup permissions, user favorites, e-mail subscriptions, SEO friendly URLs, and much more with over 225 configuration settings. Have more than one use in mind? It's optional and unique "Multiple Instance" licensing option makes it easy to install multiple copies on the same web site that are completely independent from one another.

vBadvanced - vBadvanced Dynamics

Key Features

vBulletin Integration - Of course, vBadvanced Dynamics is completely integrated with and built around vBulletin.
Settings - With over 225 settings, just about every aspect of the software is easy to customize to fit your needs. Also includes settings to easily change key words such as "category" and "entry" throughout the program for seamless integration for your needs.
Advanced Module System - Includes a complete module system, similar to vBadvanced CMPS. There are also optional features to allow your members to customize the modules active on their pages and even add their own BB Code modules. Most CMPS modules will also be compatible.

Included Default Modules:
- About Me - A module that can be enabled when browsing a members' category or when viewing an entry that shows more information about the owner of the category or author of the entry.
- Calendar - A small AJAX calendar with links to the days in which entries have been submitted.
- Category Listing - A condensed version of your categories allowing your users to easily view and quickly browse different categories.
- Featured Entries - A listing of any entries that have been marked as a "Featured" entry.
- Generic List - A simple "list" module allowing your users to display a list of their favorite movies, car enhancements, baseball players, or anything you can think of.
- Guest Book - A simple guest book that can be enabled on your members' pages, allowing other members to leave a comment for them.
- My Buddies - Allow your members to publicly display who's on their buddy list.
- My Categories - A module that can be enabled when browsing a members' category or when viewing an entry that shows a list of all custom categories that belong to the owner of the category or author of the entry.
- My Favorites - A module that can be enabled when browsing a member's category or when viewing an entry that shows what entries have been marked as a "favorite" by the author.
- My Links - Allow your members to enter a list of their favorite links to be displayed with their entries or within their categories.
- Quick Moderation - A condensed list letting you know if there are any entries, categories, attachments, or posts awaiting moderation.
- Quick Navigation - An expanded navigation module, allowing your users to quickly and easily find different areas of vBadvanced Dynamics.
- Random Entries - Displays entries picked at random.
- Search - An advanced search module allowing your users to quickly and easily search for keywords.
- What's New - Displays a list of the newest entries that have been submitted.
Members' Categories - Make any of your categories a "Members' Category" in which any entries submitted will automatically be placed in a sub-category named after that user. Also included is an option to display a main Members' Category on your index page with a category-type display of all members who have submitted an entry, linking to a page displaying all entries submitted by that user.
User Categories - Allow your users to create their own categories and, if you'd like, give them the ability to enable/disable viewing, ratings, replies, and new entries from other members. Also includes options allowing the user to password protect the category and, if desired, give them moderator abilities for that category.
Attachments - Allow users to attach files with their entries, similarly to the vBulletin attachment system. Includes thumbnail generation for image files, permissions on a per-extension/per-usergroup basis, and other permissions settings allowing you to control what your members are allowed to upload. Also includes a "My Attachments" section allowing your users to mass manage their own attachments using vBulletin's inline moderation tools.
Usergroup Permissions - Over 50 different permissions settings that can be set on a per-usergroup basis, giving you control of what each usergroup is allowed to do. Most of these permissions settings can also be changed on a per-category basis as well.
Custom Fields - Different types of custom fields (textarea, text input, radio, select, and checkbox choices) may be added to collect and display additional information about entries.
Search Engine Optimization - Careful attention has gone into SEO for this product. In addition to strategically placed 'rel="nofollow"' tags to help direct search engines, the product also offers spider friendly URL's using mod rewrite. By changing a setting and uploading a .htaccess file from the download package, you can easily change your links from looking like this:
http://yoursite.com/blog/browseentries.php?c=2
http://yoursite.com/blog/showentry.php?e=1

To this:
http://yoursite.com/blog/main-category-2/
http://yoursite.com/blog/main-catego...est-entry.html
AJAX Technology - AJAX technology used throughout including the mini calendar module, quick reply (with no page refresh), ratings, and inline moderation.
Inline Moderation - Similar to vBulletin's inline moderation system, members with moderator abilities can mass manage entries and posts while browsing through the user side of the program. Abilities include deleting, opening, closing, un-/sticking, un-approving, and moving entries, as well as deleting, moving, and un-approving replies to entries.
Private Entries - Allow users to mark their entries as private, meaning only that user and members on their buddy list will be able to view the entry.
Drafts - Allow users to save their entries as drafts, meaning that the entry will not be visible to the public until published. The entry will still be accessible via the "My Drafts" link under the "My Stuff" menu.
Moderation - Ability to moderate new entries, categories, and posts submitted by users on a per-usergroup basis.
Unlimited categories, sub-categories, entries, posts, and etc.
Sticky Entries.
Options to allow for multiple page entries.
Delayed Publishing - Allow your users to submit their entry as a draft, and pick a specific date and time for the entry to automatically be updated and published for public view.
RSS Feeds.
Allow users to comment on entries.
Allow users to enter "Tags" (keywords) with their entries
Allow users to rate entries.
User favorites.
User subscriptions.
Advanced searching features.
Shows the number of views, posts, last person to reply to entries, and etc for each entry.
Advanced sorting options in each category.
Allow users to send a link to an entry to their friends.
Allow users to report problematic entries.
Image verification for guests for searching, submitting, reporting, replying, and sending entries to friends to help prevent spam bots.

I thought it sounded like a good program but then I read this

"Multiple Instance" Licenses Do you have more than one use in mind for vBadvanced Dynamics? No problem! We also offer an additional license option called a "Multiple Instance" License. A Multiple Instance License will grant you the right to run as many instances of vBadvanced Dynamics as you would like, though they must be limited to the same web site or domain name (If you have multiple web sites that you would like to use vBa Dynamics on, a separate license is still required for each web site). Each secondary instance will have it's own templates, phrases, database tables, and etc so it will be just like running a completely separate and independent product.

* - Due to legal restrictions, this Software may not be used primarily as a photo-posting type software. See the 'Usage' heading in the Terms & Conditions on the ordering page.

I don't understand why I would have to buy a "multiple" license if it's all running on one domain name ??

**MaestroX** · 08-09-2007, 02:12 AM

As you said it looked interesting until I read the multiple instance thing. Its a silly policy which only adds confusion. My guess is they are trying to rake in a bit more cash from it. You wouldn't expect to pay twice if you used GARS for both a reviews and a articles forum.

And whats this all about:

Quote:

* - Due to legal restrictions, this Software may not be used primarily as a photo-posting type software. See the 'Usage' heading in the Terms & Conditions on the ordering page.

What exactly are the legal restrictions? Is it enforced by them or someone else. Most likely they want you to use their gallery software, again another reason to get in more cash.

**Brandon Sheley** · 08-09-2007, 09:25 AM

seems awfully greedy to me

**eric** · 08-09-2007, 09:58 AM

honestly, what purpose ???? messy to me and similar to the portal system with extra's . Or did I miss main purpose of this script .... or is this another attempt to counter vbclubs ???

Got the impression that since vb has been sold, everyone wants to make this software all round with extra's, bells, lights .....

To me we're loosing the basics. It's a forum software... not a 'I can do all you want script'....

**Brandon Sheley** · 08-09-2007, 10:00 AM

I'll be interested to see what whitemike things when he see's the "recipe" option. He's been working for a while and has released his recipe mod at his site.

**MaestroX** · 08-09-2007, 10:22 AM

Quote:

To me we're loosing the basics. It's a forum software... not a 'I can do all you want script'....

I can agree with you there but I think third part developers are fine, it just bugs me when jelsoft do it. They are going ahead with plans for a blog and their project tools. vBulletin is far from perfect why take on another project when one isn't finished (so to speak).

After checking out vBadvanced Dynamics I failed to see what it actually did for a while and yes I agree the aesthetics are a bit off...

**Big Dan** · 08-09-2007, 11:12 AM

Well, this is VBA's counterpart to vB's new paid addons. vBA simply wants to cash in on the impending profits Jelsoft is going to make with their various paid addons. I won't get started on the nickel and dime scheme Jelsoft is starting with paid addons..

I wouldn't buy it, ever.. Due to the support that VBA (portal system) receives. You're better off going to a 3rd party forum for VBA support. I've had my questions on their forums, as well as many others from the looks of it, go unanswered for months. Thank god for places like this which provide support. In every install I've done of VBA, I've had to overcome problems by manually editing the code because it doesn't work "out of the box." The code is old even their newest version 3, has been in beta for a long while.

On the photo gallery part: It's a CYA move, they probably infringed upon photo post's copyright somewhere along the line, and you while you can use it as a photo gallery, they won't support it.

**eJM** · 08-10-2007, 12:54 AM

Maybe some of you are missing the concept of this particular add-on. It began as a blogging application, but developed into a product that could be used for a variety of different and distinct functions.

Unlike most other add-on products for vB, this one can be installed separately any number of times, given different names and locations so that you can use it for blogging, articles, file sharing and other specialized applications. Each instance will have its own database tables and adminCP configuration module.

There are a number of paid add-ons for vBulletin that range in price from 20 - 150 bucks or more. A single instance of vBa Dynamics goes for just under 50.00. If you have a need for multiple instances - any number of additional installations - you pay an extra 25.00. That's just less than 75.00 for 2 or more instances of a very versatile product.

How many working blog applications are there for vBulletin? The one made by Jelsoft hasn't been released yet and so far doesn't seem very full featured. It has potential and we haven't seen anything of the Social Networking aspects of it, but it's still in beta.

vBlogetin used to have great potential, but unfortunately, the developer has lost his enthusiasm and focus. It is a general release in beta version, but there are some serious issues that may never be resolved. It is just a blog. It sells for 50 bucks too.

Now there is a released version of vBa Dynamics. It's a blogging application with a lot of potential and customizable options, fully templated so you can make it look and function just as you like, all for 50 bucks. But then if you also want an article system that looks and functions very differently than the blog app, then for another 25.00, you can install a separate instance of Dyna. If you want to do file sharing, a limited kind of directory, a news repository or any other kind of application limited only by your imagination, then for that same 25 bucks, you can do all of them.

I hear what you're saying about the support issues. I've experienced them myself and had to deal with some exasperation in that area. But the fact remains that CMPS is a great product. It has allowed me to turn a simple forum into a full-fledged, database driven, quality website that has lots of room for growth. Support at vBadvanced has improved in the last 9 months or so. There are quite a number of experienced users and coders who pitch in where they can and, just like this site and several others support vBulletin issues, other sites are able to offer support for vBa issues too.

As for the disclaimer concerning using it for a gallery type product; it appears that PhotoPost sees the great potential Dyna has for a gallery type use. You won't likely find any hacks or modifications at vBa that will transform Dyna into a gallery, but I bet this is just one of the many ways this product can be customized. You'll prob'ly find a few mods at different places, in time, that will help make this an impressive, uh, photo sharing product. But the legal agreements between vBa and PP prohibit Brian from supporting or encouraging such modifications.

I've been anxious for this product. My purchase may have been one of the first, I don't know. I very rarely buy a brand new product out of the gate. But I feel this is not only a viable alternative to the vBlogetin application I already bought and see as a sad failure, but a product that has uses I haven't even considered.

It's my personal opinion that a website that has only a forum and nothing more, is not a site I spend very much time in. It doesn't have the value I place in a resource I use in my life or my work. vBulletin is the blood coursing throughout my website. Applications like CMPS, a gallery, blog and directory give it body. My members are the heart of my website. I see my little corner of the ether taking on a life of its own and growing very quickly in the niche we exist in. All of these products, add-ons, plug-ins and modifications help make it the place my members and visitors spend a lot of time in. I see them as an investment - and the cost of it all is very reasonable, given the returns.

R'gards,

Jim

**Michael Biddle** · 08-10-2007, 01:34 AM

@brandon, I'm not to worried about the recipe system they are releasing. My system goes along with vbulletin greatly in my opinion. It uses the existing forum and usergroup permissions and can be enabled in as many forums wanted. Also its easy to install, and doesn't bloat vb with unessery things. Although I do find it funny how once I released my pro version, a new recipe system came out.

@jim, good reply, I see where you are coming from, but the whole extra 25 usd to use it more then once seems a little outrageous.

**sagar** · 09-04-2007, 09:42 PM

Considering what happened to vblogetin and GARS (recent development) VBA has a better history. while support may have been rocky at times, they at least have been around all the time and so far shown consistency in developing the products.