Rich text editor (like VB!)

[Lostshootingstar]

I'm sure this has been brought up before, but i searched and didn't find anything worth while.

I'm trying to shift my pligg site "business model" from a link aggregation site, to a more "unique content" site.

One thing that really makes this difficult is the lack of formating options for the story text. HTML is kind of a sloppy way for users to generate unique content.

I would really love to implement something like Vbulletin has.

90% of my traffic comes from automotive forums, and everyone is familiar with BB code and how to format text, insert images, etc, so i'd like to proivde them with the same kind of interface.

Any tips on where to start with this? any PHP frameworks available for this kind of thing? should i just look at PHPbb or Vbulletin code and figure it out myself?

Also, does anyone know how VB stores this "rich text" in the sql database? does it parse the [ BBcode ] tags at submission time, or at display time?

Any information would be appreciated!

-Eric

[Lostshootingstar]

For anyone looking to do this:

I found a great, really SIMPLE bbcode parser here:
Simple BB Code Parser - Web Tech 101

Its really easy to use.

1. copy the simple_bb_code.php file to the libs/ folder

2. Add the following to link.php

 
/* Add this code at the top of link.php, BEFORE the class link { .. } declaration */
require_once('simple_bb_code.php');


/* Find this code */
if($type == "full"){
    $smarty->assign('story_content', $this->content );
}

/* replace it with this */
$bb = new Simple_BB_Code();

if($type == "full"){
    $smarty->assign('story_content', $bb->parse($this->content) );
} 
  

Thats it! I know have fully functional BBcode parsing.

I'm now working on an attractive text editor for the submission process.

[Lostshootingstar]

Here is a screen shot. Its not LIVE yet (there are still a bunch of things i need to work out). but it works!

Things to do:
figure what to do with summary: The BBcode is being truncated at 150 characters, which causes problems (obviously). not sure how i want to handle this yet.

[Lostshootingstar]

Finished product: screenshot attached.

[seriestv]

But did you achieved to the last product?

What are all the steps?

[catchpen]

But did you achieved to the last product?

What are all the steps?

http://forums.pligg.com/pligg-mods/5...-step-2-a.html

nicedit is a good one too no overkill

http://forums.pligg.com/pligg-mods/5...html#post56217

[Jessemn]

Have you thought about adding this sort of thing to the comments (ie. adding it to the story page)?

I would enjoy having a comment system that was closer to that of a forum, using bbcode rather than its html equivalent.

This seems like it shouldn't bee too difficult to implement... hmmm... I'll try to take a look at this over the weekend. Unless any of you have any other thoughts.

[pxlpshr]

For anyone looking to do this:

I found a great, really SIMPLE bbcode parser here:
Simple BB Code Parser - Web Tech 101

Its really easy to use.

1. copy the simple_bb_code.php file to the libs/ folder

2. Add the following to link.php

how do I add in support so that it filters properly in the link summary? the story page looks fine, but the story summary displays the BBCode.

[plug]

Thanks for the snippet bud.