poll hack - need suggestions

backed by the Prof. PHP Book, I will take a hack at a Poll feature (if no one else is). I just need suggestions on what you want.

There are 2 options - vB code or post poll icon. The vB Code is a bigger strain on the server. Also harder to program.

The main benefit here is that there is no need to use cookies or ip's to remember who voted, as each poll will have a list of userids who have voted (unless someone thinks up of a better way).

I think the best way is to allow a Message to be composed, and the poll right after it.

Any other ideas?

I have seen the way it works in CoolBoard and I think it is quite good. In that the poll is actually just another message (albeit a special type of message) and will have the title e.g. POLL : How rubbish is NASCAR?

Then when someone clicks on it they will be given a short explaination text and a place to cast their votes.

In extension to this I think it would be good to allow users to leave their own comments.

In short my idea of the best implementation would be to have another options besides New Thread like New Poll. This creates something which is just like a thread except the first 'post' is actually a poll, once the user has voted they are taken back to the same page this time with the current results of the poll displayed. They should also be able to post replies in exactly the same way as a normal thread, and it should be displayed on the message list in the same way as a normal thread.

When it is decided that the poll is over the administrator or moderator should be able to 'declare' the result and close the poll, it will then only show the final results and not allow new votes, and possibly also close the thread.

Ok, thats what I would like to see, I don't think it would be easy to program - have fun :D

[Edited by Mark Hewitt on 06-29-2000 at 05:11 AM]

I have some thoughts on this which I will post when I have a bit more time. However, you may want to check out ESPN's implementation which seems OK and is certainly popular. Check out http://boards.espn.go.com/cgi/espn/request.dll?LIST&room=mlb_nym for an example.

I had been working on integeating a poll into vB. I ended up integrating it into a PHP based slasdot-like forum, which I am now working on integrating into vB. :) If anyone is interested I'll extract the poll features and post it.

Originally posted by customcpu
I had been working on integeating a poll into vB. I ended up integrating it into a PHP based slasdot-like forum, which I am now working on integrating into vB. :) If anyone is interested I'll extract the poll features and post it.

I am interested, customcpu!
Also, doron, would your poll be for messages only, or would it be something that moderators/administrators could start at will?
--- I just finished Prof. PHP Progr. book through the mySQL section - I've been learning alot, but I don't think I'm quite ready to code something of this nature, yet.

I'd like to see something like a polls feature that only a moderator/admin could start - then any registered user could vote.

Thanks for everyone's help - I promise to contribute something worthwhile soon!

the idea is, in the forum display, to have a post thread and a new post poll icon. Clicking that calls a new template, which is pretty much the same like the current new topic, but has a additional row where you can choose the question and the possible answers.

mysql is here the least of the problems. Permission setting would not be hard too. You could put the link in the "admin options" mini menu.