"Random Post Icon" possible?

[Dorign]

When posting a new topic and/or replying to a topic, you have the option of selecting an icon. By default, "No Icon" is selected.

I was wondering if there was a simple way to have the "No Icon" renamed to "Random Icon" and have the thread automatically select a random post icon from the posticon folder.

My reasoning is almost none of my users will pick an icon, and if I remove the "No Icon" button, then all the post icons will look the same. It looks ugly on the forum.

Here's an example.

http://www.ev0lnetwork.net/sigs/temp/ewexample.jpg

The only one using post icons is me, so there's only one selected in the image.

Is this possible? How would I go about doing this?

[Dorign]

Bump

[Dismounted]

Possible. You'll have to override the setting in newreply and choose an id at random.

[GameWizard]

Wouldn't it make more sense to just apply a default icon? As if you have a random one selected, it would turn into a mish mash of random colors and shit all over which will look worse than no icons.

[Dorign]

Wouldn't it make more sense to just apply a default icon? As if you have a random one selected, it would turn into a mish mash of random colors and shit all over which will look worse than no icons.

I disagree. Being as the entire site is monochrome green in the first place, a tiny mesh of 16x16 colorful icons in one column would add enough to capture the eye. I know a lot about colors and how they're used to capture the eye because I majored in Art. Sadly, I didn't major in coding and I have no idea how to get done what I want. :o

[GameWizard]

Well then it looks like were in the same preticament. Although I am slightly more proficient in coding, but also have a good eye for design. In your case, you'll need a pretty unique script as I have never seen such a thing anywhere else, best of luck. Maybe consider requesting it in the Paid section if you're willing to dish out some cash for it.

[sunilvarma]

Here's a way to do this. As this involves editing newthread.php, not everyone may like this solution.

Anyways, here's what to do:

(UPDATED) In newthread.php, FIND:
$newpost['iconid'] =& $vbulletin->GPC['iconid'];

REPLACE WITH:
if($vbulletin->GPC['iconid'] != 0){
$newpost['iconid'] =& $vbulletin->GPC['iconid'];
}
else{
$icons_list = array();
$iconids = $db->query_read("SELECT iconid FROM icon");
while($row=mysql_fetch_assoc($iconids)){
array_push($icons_list, $row);
}
$newpost['iconid'] = array_rand($icons_list) + 1;
}

That should do it.

If you want to change the "No icon" text to "Random Icon" just edit the posticons template:

FIND:
$vbphrase[no_icon]

REPLACE WITH:
Random Icon

If anyone can implement this with a plugin, please show me how. And also let me know if the code is efficient.

[Dismounted]

You can hook a plugin further down the code to overwrite the variable. You also don't really need a query, just do a random number between 1-10 or something.

[sunilvarma]

if a posticon is deleted its ID is no longer valid right? so i used a query to get all the IDs in the table instead of generating a random number directly.

could you explain a little about hooking a plugin?

[Dismounted]

Well, you could always make a setting that lets the admin list ids that they want for the random icon. As for the plugin, find a plugin before the post is submitted, but after the varuable has been initialised.

[Dorign]

Hmm, maybe I did something wrong, but..

Database error in vBulletin 3.6.8:

Invalid SQL:
SELECT iconid FROM icon;

MySQL Error : Table doesn't exist
Error Number : 1146


EDIT: Oh, I got that because I'm a n00b and didn't even read the code. :P Fixed it, and it's working great! Thanks a ton, sunilvarma!

What would be the benefits of waiting for a code that doesn't use a query? A better load time of .002 seconds, or better than that? I don't really notice any slow down, but my server is kinda slow anyway.

--------------- Added 1205449134 at 1205449134 ---------------

Ah, crap, found a bug.

ALL the icons are random. Even if I pick one, it still is a random icon.

[sunilvarma]

Sorry Dorign, was in a hurry and couldn't really test it.

Now I fixed it and it should work. Just use the updated code in my first post.

Let me know if you have any issues.

[Dorign]

Worked like a charm. I don't know how many people would use this, but I'd click "Install" if you made it a release. :D

Thank you a million times over!

[sunilvarma]

I am looking at how to turn this into a plugin and if it materializes I would definitely release it! :)

[Dismounted]

Just hook into a newthread hook and change the values dynamically.