Onovia
Display a phpBB3 Avatar on a Custom Page
by Mat Collins on Nov.26, 2007, under Onovia, hardware, programming
In your php file, you will need to run a database query, for example:
FROM ' . USERS_TABLE . "
WHERE user_id = " . $user->data['user_id'];
$result = $db->sql_query($sql);
$row = $db->sql_fetchrow($result)
Now that you have the required data, you can use the [url=http://area51.phpbb.com/docs/code/phpBB3/_includes---functions_display.php.html#functionget_user_avatar]get_user_avatar[/url] function that’s in includes/functions_display.php
Assign $avatar to a template variable.
And finally, add {USERS_AVATAR} into the template page, where you want it to show.
{USER_AVATAR}
<!-- ELSE -->
{USER_AVATAR_NONE}
<!-- ENDIF -->
Running Two Archlord Clients
by Mat Collins on Oct.18, 2007, under Onovia
Running two Archlord clients may be simpler than you think! Create a new account, and a simple hex edit of the window title enables the game client to run side by side. Here, I provide directions to get your dual clients running.
As with any files you download from the internet, you should virus scan if it makes you feel more comfortable. Please note that as of this posting there is no anti-cheat built into Archlord. So, hacking this file SHOULD NOT get you banned, but I take no responsibility for what happens.
First, you will need to download a hex editor. This allows you to edit the window title that’s displayed on the client. I used one called WinHex, but any editor will do. You can google the term Free Hex Editor and there are several results.
So, here we go…
Open into the program directory (Usually C:\Program Files\Codemasters\Archlord). Copy the original client alefclient.exe and paste it in the same directory. By default, it’s called Copy of alefclient.exe. Rename the client to alefclient2.exe. Open your hex editor. With the hex editor, open the new client you just created.
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Don’t be alarmed at the gibberish text that you see. We are just looking for one text string. Open the search feature, and run a text string search on the term Archlord. Most searches are case sensitive. Pay attention to that. If possible, specify that you want it to be case sensitive, as the string we are looking to change only exists in the program one time.
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Add a 2 after the string so it will read Archlord2.
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Save the work, and you are done.
The best method for running two clients has been to run the first as you usually would; with the Launcher program. After you are loaded and logged in, run the new client you created.
I hope you have success with this. It’s made my Archlord experience MUCH easier. Post any questions you might have in the comments, and I’ll reply when I can.
Ventrilo Connection Spammers
by Mat Collins on Sep.21, 2007, under Onovia
I’ve been maintaining a Ventrilo server for sever for quite some time now. Lately, there’s been a ton of “connection spammers”. These people will use an annoying phonetic and connect to the server over and over again causing tts (Text to Speach) to speak over and over again. Surely you could just set a password on the server to avoid this, however I like to allow anyone into my Ventrilo server. This is really a shitty thing for someone to do. Not only does it lag the server out, but also causes some clients to lock up and error out. There’s no connection throttle built into the Ventrilo server, but fear not, there IS a solution.
Ventrilo allows you to create a channel, and move each connecting person into that channel automatically. Go ahead and create a “Welcome” channel. Call it what you want. Open the admin interface, and set the ‘Default Channel’ option (Circled in red in the image bellow) to the channel you just created. This will force all connecting users into this channel automatically. Next, you will need to set a channel spam filter. Click the ‘Channel’ button (Circled in blue in the image bellow) in the Spam filters section in the admin panel. Set the Action to ban, Interval to 2000, and the Times to 3.
What this means is that if a client changes channel more than 3 times within 2 seconds (2000ms), the user will automatically be banned. This ban will show in the ban list, and be listed as an auto ban. I hope that this solution is a quick fix to your problems. It’s been active on my server for a month now, and I’ve already got 9 bans.
Annoying onclick in tables
by Mat Collins on Aug.05, 2007, under Onovia
It seems like onclick attributes attached to table cells are becoming more and more popular in forums. I dont know about you, but it annoys the shit out of me. So, I created my first Grease Monkey script that removes all onclick occurrences inside of a table.
Click to install:Â unonclick.user.js
Microsoft Vista Aero vs. Linux Ubuntu Beryl
by Mat Collins on Apr.26, 2007, under Onovia
Announced on July 22nd, 2005 Released on January 30, 200, Microsoft Vista’s “Aero” has most high end computers looking quite fancy. It’s quite the eye candy.
So, I wanted to install Vista on my computer. Here’s a brief description of this past Monday:
- Backup needed files from C: to D:
- Pop in Vista Ultimate
- Install for 50 minutes, sometimes looking locked up
- Get all Windows updates and drivers installed.
- Find out that my video drivers are just plain shitty.
- Spend 45 Minutes installing Windows XP
- Spend 2+Hours running Windows Updates
- Restore all software again.
In all, once the annoyances on Vista are disabled, Vista with Aero is hot.
After watching that video I think to myself: “I spend all that money on Windows Vista Ultimate; A product in development for almost 2 years… and then something 100x better comes up from nowhere… free and opensource.”
In closing, I must say that Beryl takes the cake here. What do you think?
Second Life Update Today
by Mat Collins on Apr.25, 2007, under Onovia
For those that don’t know what second life is, I’ll sum it all up in three words. A second life. Yes, it is literally a virtual life that you live out online. The developer of Second Life, Linden Labs defines second life on their website
Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by a total of 5,853,742 people from around the globe.
So you ask, why are you writing about this on here? The answer isn’t all that easy to give. While the grid is down for maintenance, Linden Labs has created a “Free For All” blog entry, where people are able to post what they want in the comment section. Over the next few hours that the grid is down, I’ll be adding “Stupid” or “Idiotic” posts to my blog, so that you might get a good laugh.
So, here we go!
blah Says: cant you’s please work in american late time(when im sleeping) sometime its not fair when i have to wait SIX hours :((((
Yes, Linden Labs will schedule their massive grid update around your sleepy time… Get real! If you are satisfied that means that bleh or blih woud be pissy like you are now! Anytime is a bad time, so just cope with it!
Kiki Masala Says: I need rehab during down time ![]()
You need rehab because of the downtime, or because of the crazy shit that you do in SL?
blah Says: I’m not asking for it all the time but every single time it effects Europeans take it in turns
Linden Labs is not going to have their full staff come in at wee hours of the AM and pay them time and a half to install updates for 6 hours. Nice try.
sterling Whitcroft Says: Can you fix that Blog Thingee on the bottom left column? Its clearly not proper LSL code.
Bend over, I’ll fix the thingee.
kellie babii Says: COME ONNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IM BORED :p
I couldn’t guess. I’m glad that you occupied some of your down time by holding down the fucking exclamation key!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Blastar Seymour Says: I hope they also fix my account because my account have been disablen two days now WITH NO REASON !!. ans I haven no respond since then. I AM DEAD WITH NO REASON !!!. D**n it !. I wonder what the support center is doing..???
Clearly the support center is kicked back in their easy chairs lauging at Blastar Seymour being dead. I know I am!
rush gastel Says: is it ready yet
… Yes. If you can’t login, try reformatting windows.
Ziffle Babblebrobs Says: i have a fever and the only thing thats going to cure it is more cowbell.
LOL! That’s a good one right there!
I’m sure I’ll be adding more as the day goes on… There’s so many idiots! I love it!
What I’ve been up to…
by Mat Collins on Apr.22, 2007, under Onovia
I’ve been hard at work on getting this Gungame AMXX server online for UFIGaming.net. The forums will display statistics from the game server. Sends and receives data from the game server every 3 hours. The possibilities with this are really open.
- UFI Forums and CS Game Server integrated to sync Steam ID’s
- CS Game Server gives special abilities depending on forum groups
This could become a large project.
How To Avoid Fake Files on E-Mule
by Mat Collins on Apr.02, 2007, under Onovia
These days the eMule network is under attack by companies that want to ruin it The RIAA, MPAA, and virus spreaders are among the people that want to ruin your P2P experience. Keeping your server list up to date, and free of fake servers is the best method for you to avoid these fake files.
Luckily eMule has the tools built in for you to avoid these rogue servers!
1. Load eMule. Make sure that you are not connected to any servers or the Kad network. Go to the servers screen, click on one, press control+a to select them all. Hit the delete key to remove all of the servers.
2. Click options and go to the server options page. Uncheck the “Update server list when connecting to a server” and “Update server list when a client connects” boxes. Set the number of failed retries to 10 and enable the “Auto-update server list at start up” option, click the “List…” button and in the text file that opens paste this link: http://ocbmaurice.no-ip.org/pl/slist.pl/server.met?download/server-best.met. Save the text file and close it.
3. eMule has a built in IP filter it just needs the user to supply the list of IP’s to block. Go to the “Security” section in the options screen, in the “IP Filter” enable the “Filter servers too” option and paste this link in the “Update from URL” box: http://emulepawcio.sourceforge.net/ipfilter.zip Then click on the “Load” button and let eMule download the updated IP address list. Try to remember to manually update the ipfilter weekly.
4. Restart eMule.
Following those steps you can avoid fake servers and files.
