Download Version 1.0.4 - Last updated 3/18/2012
What does it do?
It attempts to link any Pokemon cards mentioned in your vBulletin forum posts to the PkmnCards database. When the links are clicked, it will show a reference scan as a convenience for your community, along with the card’s rating, pricing, and discussion.
Why should you use it?
If you run a Pokemon TCG forum, some of your members might not be familiar with cards that others mention, so providing a reference scan is a huge favor for them. Using it helps legitimize your site and can help retain readership.
Plus it requires almost no effort on your part… the linker does all the heavy lifting and it’s easy to install.
Where can I see it in action?
These sites currently use the plugin:
You can also see screenshots from the WordPress version here.
Ok… I’m drooling. Where can I download it?
There is a download link at the top of this page, or you can just click here.
It’s hosted directly on this site, rather than vBulletin.org because I don’t like their add-on system and I’d rather just maintain it myself, since it’s such a niche add-on anyway.
What versions of vBulletin will it work with?
I’ve tested and it works with versions 3.8.x, 4.0.x, and 4.1.x. The installation process is slightly more intensive for 3.8.x, but it does work!
I’ve downloaded it. Now how do I install it?
vB 3.8.x Users
1. Unzip the file and upload the contents of the ‘upload’ folder to the root of your vBulletin installation.
2. Import the product file ‘product-pkmn_card_linker.xml’ from the ‘vb3′ folder. If you are unfamiliar with how to do that, here’s where you need to go:
vBulletin Admin Control Panel > Plugins & Products > Manage Products > Add/Import Product > upload the XML file from your computer > Choose file > product-pkmn_card_linker.xml > Allow Overwrite: Yes > Click Import
3. Append the contents of ‘Append to footer template.txt’ from the ‘vb3′ folder to the end of your footer template (Admin Control Panel > Styles & Templates > Style Manager > Edit Templates > footer)
4. Append the contents of ‘Append to headinclude template.txt’ from the ‘vb3′ folder to the end of your headinclude template (Admin Control Panel > Styles & Templates > Style Manager > Edit Templates > headinclude)
5. That’s it!
You should repeat this same process whenever you upgrade the add-on as well (upload and overwrite everything).
vB 4.0.x and 4.1.x Users
1. Unzip the file and upload the contents of the ‘upload’ folder to the root of your vBulletin installation.
2. Import the product file ‘product-pkmn_card_linker.xml’ from the ‘vb4′ folder. If you are unfamiliar with how to do that, here’s where you need to go:
vBulletin Admin Control Panel > Plugins & Products > Manage Products > Add/Import Product > upload the XML file from your computer > Choose file > product-pkmn_card_linker.xml > Allow Overwrite: Yes > Click Import
3. That’s it!
You should repeat this same process whenever you upgrade the add-on as well (upload and overwrite everything).
The linker should be live at this point. Let me explain to you its two main components:
1. Spell Check
This will check your content for commonly misspelled Pokemon TCG terms and correct them. This helps the add-on better link your cards (because if they’re misspelled, it won’t link them). Here is a partial list of the terms the Spell Check corrects:
- Ninetails > Ninetales
- Thunderus > Thundurus
- Landurus > Landorus
- Tyrouge > Tyrogue
- Eelectrik > Eelektrik
- Plus Power > PlusPower
- Sky Arrow Bridge > Skyarrow Bridge
- Lv. X > LV.X
- Poke Power > Poke-Power
- Poke Body > Poke-Body
More terms may be added in the future if there are requests.
2. Standard Linker
This links a card the first time it’s mentioned within each forum post (subsequent mentions within that post will remain unlinked).
I’ve installed and activated the add-on, but some of my cards aren’t linking. What gives?
Your members probably aren’t using the correct naming structure. The add-on isn’t clairvoyant… you need to match the text strings saved in the add-on’s database in order for it to work. If requested, we can make adjustments to the saved strings, but for the most part, your community will need to become comfortable with our naming system.
Using our naming system also helps standardize the way Pokemon card names are typed out across the web, making it easier for Pokemon TCG enthusiasts to understand which cards are being discussed.
Gotcha. What’s the naming system?
In general, this is structure you will use:
[Card Name] [Set Abbreviation] [Card Number]
And capitalization is important! We use the card name exactly as it’s written on the card. If you don’t capitalize, then the cards won’t link (and people will think your community has poor grammar skills).
But let me go over Pokemon and Trainers/Energy individually, since they work a little differently.
Pokemon
You only need to include the card number if there are two Pokemon with the same name in the set. If there is only one Pokemon with that name in the set, exclude the card number.
For example…
Durant NVI
There is only 1 Durant in Noble Victories, so that’s all you need to type and it will link. But if you talking about Tynamo from Noble Victories, you’d need to put the card number since there are 2 Tynamos in the set:
Tynamo NVI 38
Tynamo NVI 39
If you didn’t put a card number, it wouldn’t link since the plugin has no way to differentiate the two.
Trainers/Energy
Just put the name of the card; no set abbreviation or card number needed. Examples:
Professor Juniper
Double Colorless Energy
Those are perfectly formatted and will link.
What are the set abbreviations?
Please visit our sets page for the set abbreviations (in parentheses).
Which sets are included with the plugin?
We have almost all cards from Power Keepers through Next Destinies inputted. At some point we may expand to include older cards.
Any other caveats?
We’ve inputted some card abbreviations into the plugin database as well, so these terms like these will also link:
- DCE > Double Colorless Energy
- RDL > Rayquaza & Deoxys LEGEND
- PONT > Professor Oak’s New Theory
- PETM > Professor Elm’s Training Method
Can I change the way the links look?
Yes! The appearance of the links is controlled by the ‘scan-link’ CSS class. Here is example CSS for the way the links are styled on SixPrizes:
.scan-link { color: #222; border-bottom: 1px dashed #222; text-decoration: none }
.scan-link:hover { color: #01BCB5; border-bottom-color: #01BCB5; text-decoration: none; cursor: -webkit-zoom-in; cursor: -moz-zoom-in }
You can obviously customize the colors to match your site.
Where is the options page?
There is no options page since there isn’t any real major need for one. However, feel free to edit the plugin or upload files if you are itching for customization.
For example, if you want to disable the Spell Check, go to vBulletin Admin Control Panel > Plugins & Products > Plugin Manager, look for ‘Pokemon Card Scan Linker – Spell Check’ and disable it.
If you want the Standard Linker to link cards more than just the first time they’re mentioned, edit the /pkmn-linker/includes/linker-standard.php file. Look for this line at the very end:
$this->post['message'] = preg_replace( $search, $replace, $this->post['message'], 1 );
Change the number ’1′ to the number of replacements you desire. To replace every instance, change it to ‘-1′.
If you want to limit the plugin to only replace link cards on only certain forums, then you’ll need to wrap conditional code like this around template edits:
vB4: <vb:if condition=”in_array( $foruminfo['forumid'], array( 1, 2, 3 ) )”> … </vb:if>
vB3: <if condition=”in_array( $forumid, array( 1, 2, 3 ) )”> … </if>
And then wrap conditional code like this around php and plugin files:
vB4: if ( in_array( $foruminfo['forumid'], array( 1, 2, 3 ) ) ) { … }
vB3: if ( in_array( $forumid, array( 1, 2, 3 ) ) ) { … }
Where 1, 2, and 3 are your forum IDs you want the code to execute.
If you want to do anything more advanced than that… you’re on your own.
How can I make sure to get the latest updates?
vBulletin by default will not notify you if the add-on has been updated, but you could install something like this to receive notification.
Otherwise periodically check this page, or ask to be put on our updates e-mail list.
What if I come across any bugs or have suggestions?
E-mail them to adam@pkmncards.com.
How can I support the add-on?
Just use it… some of the pricing links are affiliate links, which help keep PkmnCards and the development of this add-on chugging along.