Integrating DCForum and DCIndex

By David S. Choi
DCScripts.com

Introduction

In this tutorial we describe how you can integrate DCForum and DCIndex so that they share common user database. This tutorial is intended for users who already have DCForum installed and up and running on their websites. If you don't already have DCForum running on your site, please first install it and then use this tutorial.

Setting up directories

The default setting for DCForum is as follows:

/cgi-bin
    |---dcforum
           |---Lib
           |---User_info (777)
/htdocs
    |---dcforum (777)
           |---Images
           |---forum directories (777)
		

Please note that "/htdocs" is meant to show your root HTML directory, which is accessible by the URL "http://www.yourdomain.com". You may or may not actually have a directory named "/htdocs".

In order for DCIndex to use same user database, we need to install DCD cgi programs in the /cgi-bin/dcforum directory. The DCD HTML directory, however, should be at the same level as the /dcforum directory. Hence, create new directories as shown below:

/cgi-bin
    |---dcforum
           |---Lib
           |---User_info (777)
           |---DCDLib
/htdocs
    |---dcforum (777)
           |---Images
           |---forum directories (777)
    |---dcd (777)
           |---Images
		

Follow the DCIndex installation procedure as described in readme.txt and install_unix.txt (install_nt.txt if your web server is NT or Win2000 based). In step 3 of install_unix.txt (Edit setup parameters in dcsetup.pm), you must also make the following changes:

 $setup{'datadir'} - This variable now should be "$setup{'cgidir'}/User_info"
 $setup{'cgilib'} - This variable now should be "$setup{'cgidir'}/DCDLib"
 $setup{'cookie_name'} - Take a look at dcforum.setup.  Look for $cookie_name.
    $setup{'cookie_name'} name should be same as $cookie_name.
 By default, the user authentication fields for DCF includes Firstname, 
    Lastname, and EMail.   If your current DCF setup uses additional fields, 
    you must modify $setup{'login_fields'} and  $setup{'field_form_type'} 
    in dcsetup.pm. Otherwise, no need to edit it.
 Make sure $setup{'password_file'} in dcsetup.pm and $password_file
    in dcforum.setup is same.
		

Continue the installation process as outlined in install_unix.txt until you are finished.

Modify DCForum Login Process

DCIndex program uses static HTML files for category index pages. One of the administrative features we wanted to add was the ability to remove or edit links directly from these static pages. At the same time, we wanted these links to appear only if you are logged on as administrator. DCD uses cookie named "DCDUserStatus" and javascript to accomplish this. You must add similar code to DCForum in order for this to work when you login thru DCForum. To add this feature:

1. Edit auth_login.pl (in /cgi-bin/dcforum/Lib).  Look for:

         if ($r_in->{'remember'}) {
            $session = '%%' . $session;
            send_cookie($cookie_name,$session,
                  $expires,$domain);
         }
         else {
            send_cookie($cookie_name,$session,
            '',$domain);
         }

After this line add,

         if ($r_local->{'login_info'}->{'Group'} eq 'admin') {
           #If user is admin, then set admin cookie
           send_cookie('DCDUserStatus',$r_local->{'login_info'}->{'Group'},'','');
         }

2. Edit login.pl (in /cgi-bin/dcforum/lib).  Look for:

   if ($session and -e "$sessiondir/$session.session") {
      send_cookie($cookie_name,'','Thur, 31-Dec-98 12:00:00 GMT','/');
      unlink("$sessiondir/$session.session");
      $session = '';
   }

After this line add,

   $session = get_cookie('DCDUserStatus');
   if ($session) {
      # delete session cookie
      send_cookie('DCDUserStatus','','Thur, 31-Dec-98 12:00:00 GMT','/');
      $session = '';
   }

Upload these files to your /cgi-bin/dcforum/Lib directory.

Test your result

To see if indeed everything is working ok, login as admin from DCForum and then from DCIndex. In either case, you should have full admin access to both programs. You may also want to log in as non-admin "just to make sure" that normal users do not have admin access. If you have any questions or problems, please use our support forum.