Basic QR Intergraton (2D Barcodes) for VB Threads (QR Pages by BOP5) VB4

[BirdOPrey5]

Brought to you by BirdOPrey5 / Qapla.com (http://www.qapla.com)

Note: Updated to version 1.5- added QR codes for attachments and profiles as well as threads.

This isn't a polished mod, its purpose is to bring 2D Barcode (QR Code) integration to vBulletin. I will be marking it unsupported as I do not recommend users without some basic HTML or coding experience attempt to use the mod. I will NOT be answering basic setup questions. Instructions for the manual template edits are included in the zip. you may use them if you wish but I strongly suggest you work on a custom solution.

Live Demo: Qapla.com Thread (http://www.qapla.com/mods/showthread.php/104-Basic-QR-Intergraton-(2D-Barcodes)-for-VB-Threads-(QR-Pages-by-BOP5)?p=217#post217)

This mod will allow a uniqe QR Code to be generated and displayed for every thread on your forum.

Users with Android, iPhone, and other advanced phones can easily scan these QR Codes and share links with friends via email, text, and other social networking platforms.

The QR generation is handled by a free open-source project called phpqrcode (http://phpqrcode.sourceforge.net/) which has its own GNU Lesser General Public License.

I have created the vBulletin interface needed to generate codes for individal threads, attachments, and/or profile pages.

The mod will check if the QR Code has already be generated for a thread (or profile, or attachment) and if so will simply display the png file previously created. If this is the first time someone has viewed the thread (since installing this mod) it will generate and save the QR Code for future use.

All QR Codes are stored in .png format in a new folder called /images/qr/ which you must create and must be writable. (chmd 755 is usually sufficient but if you have problems go to 777).

A utility included in the Admin CP settings will allow you to delete all these images if necessary.

Other Admin CP settings include the ability to set the size, quality, and border size around the QR Code.

What isn't finished is the best way to intergrate this onto your SHOWTHREAD pages and attachment template. I have instructions for a manual template edits that will give you a basic "box" that you can mouse-over and get the full image to pop-up over the rest of your page.

I am aware this isn't an ideal setup but I am more of a coder than a designer. If anyone has some suggestions (with code) for a better implementation I am open to suggestions.

This mod could be expanded to show QR Codes on all pages, not just threads, but until a better way is found to display the code on the page I didn't bother.

Server Load- In general the mod only generates a code on the first view of the thread- this will usually be when a new thread is first submitted so in the long run I don't anticipate any major server load by this mod. However if you have a very large and very busy forum you can expect a temporary increased load after installation as members visit hundreds of threads which have never had a QR Code generated before. This increased load should decrease after the surge of new generations end.

Disk Usage - The smaller the QR Code you generate the smaller the file size per image. In my experience the average size of each QR code png file was 600 bytes. This would mean about 586 KB per 1,000 threads or 58 Megabytes for 100,000 threads. You can extrapolate from there.

Please Mark as Installed if you use this. :)

[BirdOPrey5]

Reserved.

[Taurus1]

Thanks for this! Works great, and using your template edit looks great too. I just moved it to the right, O, and thanks for giving the option to change the background color too.

[sulasno]

tagged and thanks

[ewebdesigner]

I can't get the mod to show for some reason.

I uploaded everything and uploaded the XML file and activated everything in the ACP setting options but still doesn't show up. I also noticed that for every thread that I view that a new image is formed in my File manger under images/qr but the image still does not show for some reason.

Can you please tell me what I have done wrong and what I can do to fix this?

Thanks in advance, it is a great mod.

[trophyrider]

I can't get the mod to show for some reason.

I uploaded everything and uploaded the XML file and activated everything in the ACP setting options but still doesn't show up. I also noticed that for every thread that I view that a new image is formed in my File manger under images/qr but the image still does not show for some reason.

Can you please tell me what I have done wrong and what I can do to fix this?

Thanks in advance, it is a great mod.
Did you make the manual template edit in the showthread template? I haven't downloaded this yet, but I bet they are included in the mods zip file.

[ProFifaLeagues]

Works superb on 4.1.3 thank you

[BirdOPrey5]

I can't get the mod to show for some reason.

I uploaded everything and uploaded the XML file and activated everything in the ACP setting options but still doesn't show up. I also noticed that for every thread that I view that a new image is formed in my File manger under images/qr but the image still does not show for some reason.

Can you please tell me what I have done wrong and what I can do to fix this?

Thanks in advance, it is a great mod.

As was asked, you need to make the manual template edit to your SHOWTHREAD template.

The edit is in the .txt file in the zip.

To make a template edit go to Admin CP -> Style Manager -> (Select your Style) -> Choose "Edit Templates" from the drop down box, and find/open the SHOWTHREAD template.

--

Thanks everyone for the kind remarks. :up:

[ewebdesigner]

oh sorry I did not read all of the .txt file and forgot to do that. Worked great, thanks!

[BirdOPrey5]

oh sorry I did not read all of the .txt file and forgot to do that. Worked great, thanks!

Cool. Please "Mark as Installed" :)

[puertoblack2003]

Hello,

can you add a feature for attachment file download using this mod. ?

thanks

[BirdOPrey5]

Just to clarify- next to each attachment you want a QR code with the URL of the download? It's something I can look into.

[puertoblack2003]

Just to clarify- next to each attachment you want a QR code with the URL of the download? It's something I can look into.


yes, a better look here > qrcode attachment sample (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=16042980&postcount=1)



134171

134172

[nhawk]

Nice Add-on! :)

If you aren't using the first post ad location, that's a great place to put this..

Edit the QR Code plugin and put this code at the end BEFORE the }..

$template_hook['share_this_thread'] = $threadinfo['qr'];

Also, change the hook from showthread_complete to showthread_postbit_create

Then in ACP->Advertising, click Add New Ad, select 'Thread' and click on First Post Content.

Title: Share This Thread

Ad HTML:
<div align="center">Share This Thread<br />
{vb:raw template_hook.share_this_thread}</div>

Active: Yes

Click Save and you're all set.

You may need to edit ad_margin, ad_padding and ad_maxWidth in stylevars for it to display properly.

[Sunka]

Good temwork BirdOPrey5 & nhawk

Installed!

[Videx]

Users with Android, iPhone, and other advanced phones can easily scan these QR Codes and share links with friends via email, text, and other social networking platforms.When I'm reading the forum on my Android smartphone, how do I scan a QR code? And is this easier than clicking a link?

[BirdOPrey5]

You don't use this if you are reading the forum on your smartphone... This is for when you are browsing the forum on a real computer or laptop, you can then scan the image with your smartphone and quickly get the link on your phone to share or use how you want.

[OldSchoolDSL]

Nice Add-on! :)

If you aren't using the first post ad location, that's a great place to put this..

Edit the QR Code plugin and put this code at the end BEFORE the }..

$template_hook['share_this_thread'] = $threadinfo['qr'];

Also, change the hook from showthread_complete to showthread_postbit_create

Then in ACP->Advertising, click Add New Ad, select 'Thread' and click on First Post Content.

Title: Share This Thread

Ad HTML:
<div align="center">Share This Thread<br />
{vb:raw template_hook.share_this_thread}</div>

Active: Yes

Click Save and you're all set.

You may need to edit ad_margin, ad_padding and ad_maxWidth in stylevars for it to display properly.

For those of you who dislike editing templates or files, but want to use the above alternative

This file will do it for you and you will not need to edit anything. ;)

[Alan_SP]

Excellent mod, but I have problems with deleting images. For some reason it doesn't delete images.

[Alan_SP]

About positioning of QR code, I use this:

<vb:if condition="$post['isfirstshown']">
<div align="right"><b>Share thread with your friends:</b><br />
{vb:raw thread.qr}
</div>
</vb:if>


Condition is that QR code is shown only in first posts, you can place this code wherever you like it in your postbit (legacy) template. I placed it after signature (but outside of signature conditionals so it's shown even if user don't uses signature).

To use it you need to change plugin hook location as nhawk suggested, from showthread_complete to showthread_postbit_create. But, new template hook that nhawk suggested ({vb:raw template_hook.share_this_thread}) doesn't work, so you don't need to add it at the end of plugin code:

$template_hook['share_this_thread'] = $threadinfo['qr'];

It works without it, just use {vb:raw thread.qr} instead.

Important note: If you use it in ad templates, then you need to create this template hook and use it as nhawk suggested. This information is only if you want to manually place QR code somewhere in your postbit (legacy) templates.

[BirdOPrey5]

Excellent mod, but I have problems with deleting images. For some reason it doesn't delete images.

Any error message?

[Alan_SP]

No, I don't see any error messages, it looks like it just hangs there, white screen (with text "Delete QR Images"), nothing happens, no images are deleted. I can manually delete them, but this is just workaround.

[Jman423]

I'm trying to figure out what the change in order to get these to show up in the VBCMS pages. We have a lot of automotive how-to articles that, with the help of this, people would be able to quickly load it up on their phone or tablet to view it on the go.

Is it as simple as copying the plugin and changing some code, or is it a whole lot more complicated?

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

I did get it working properly in threads. I was having trouble with the photos getting deleted too, even set to 777, so I just deleted them via FTP. No error message here either, just a blank screen.

[BirdOPrey5]

I think for CMS articles it will be a little more complicated then threads or attachments. Threads and attachments have a numeric ID so it was easy to change just a couple lines and get it working on a new hook.

CMS articles don't have IDs (best I can tell) but there must be some way of getting the URL. I don't think it is impossible but I don't have any ideas on how at the moment.

[Alan_SP]

Could you make this to work with users profiles? Users profiles have numeric ID, so it could be made that every user has QR code for his profile. And that could be very useful for certain types of communities, enabling users to use this QR code in their business cards or something similar as their internet location. And of course, in this way our forums get advertised also. :)

And as locations for putting QR code in profile, either in About me tab somewhere at the end, or completely new tab in profile.

Anyway, I thing that this would be very useful to more than one type of community.

[BirdOPrey5]

Profiles seem like a good idea Alan, will try.

[OldSchoolDSL]

For those of you who dislike editing templates or files, but want to use the above alternative

This file will do it for you and you will not need to edit anything. ;)

I'm a little puzzled as to why this seems not to be working in 4.1.10 Alpha 2

I know there were a lot of style templates that were renamed, moved, or deleted in this version. And I'm honestly losing track of which one is which any more.

Any idea on this?

[Papa Bear]

I'm a little puzzled as to why this seems not to be working in 4.1.10 Alpha 2

I know there were a lot of style templates that were renamed, moved, or deleted in this version. And I'm honestly losing track of which one is which any more.

Any idea on this?

works for me.you can go to my site and see it..4.1.10 alpha 2 .I used the xml you provided Then manually went in and added the info into the ACP->Advertising section..

[OldSchoolDSL]

works for me.you can go to my site and see it..4.1.10 alpha 2 .I used the xml you provided Then manually went in and added the info into the ACP->Advertising section..

Resolved.

It was all there, but I found re-installing this modification and re-confirming the advertising, fixed the issue. No idea why. But it worked.

[Seductor]

Hi @BirdOPrey5. Do people really use QR codes? I mean, I have asked my friends and they know it, but they don't use it very often.

[BirdOPrey5]

Seductor,

Good question... I don't, but I don't watch American Idol or listen to Lady Gaga either, so I really am a bad person to ask what most people do... it would seem from the responses I've gotten some people find QR codes very important.

[Boofo]

Any error message?

Here is the error message I just received when I clicked on "Delete All Images":
Fatal error: Cannot redeclare print_cp_login() (previously declared in /home/xxxxx/public_html/forums/includes/adminfunctions.php:26) in /home/xxxxx/public_html/forums/includes/adminfunctions.php on line 246

Here is what I did to fix it. In the file "bop5qrcode.php", I changed this:

//if ($vbulletin->userinfo['usergroupid'] == 6)
{
//If User is an admin, delete the files
require(DIR . '/includes/adminfunctions.php');


To this:

//if ($vbulletin->userinfo['usergroupid'] == 6)
{
//If User is an admin, delete the files
//require(DIR . '/includes/adminfunctions.php');


You already had adminfunctions.php declared above in "REQUIRE BACK-END" with require_once.

Excellent mod, Joe. You are to be commended. ;)

[Alan_SP]

Just to report it, Boofo found bug and solved it. Now everything works and QR images are deleted.

Thank you. :up:

[Alan_SP]

Do people really use QR codes? I mean, I have asked my friends and they know it, but they don't use it very often.

Yes, I don't use it, I only heard for it, remember I saw it here and there, but not too often. On the other hand, people will use it more and more and they are good bridge between classical print and "new print" i.e. Internet.

I see this more as investment in future and a way to advertise my forum...

[Boofo]

I agree. The QR codes are becoming more popular for cell phones now. I used my first one just a few weeks back and it worked pretty slick. It was for a local grocery store that has an Android app available and it made it real easy to just scan the code and the app pops up from the App store in a flash. Searching will almost become obsolete in time. ;)

[BirdOPrey5]

Awesome, thanks Boofo... I will include in the next update.

The next update will include options for attachments and profile pages. Hopefully this weekend.

[Boofo]

Instead of using require, use require_once as you won't run into problems like this then. And, you're welcome, sir. ;)

[BirdOPrey5]

Updated to version 1.5.

You don't need to re-upload the phpqrcode directory but you should re-upload and overwrite the rest.

[puertoblack2003]

good job BirdOPrey5 on the attachment qrcode, :up: one last thing how can i make it so it'll be a mouse over effect?

thanks

[Alan_SP]

QR code in profiles works excellent. :up:

I used your suggestion for placement and also added it in MEMBERINFO template.

Find:

<vb:if condition="$show['viewblog']">
<li><a href="{vb:raw $vboptions.vbblog_url}{vb:if "$vboptions['vbblog_url']", '/', ''}blog.php?{vb:raw session.sessionurl}u={vb:raw userinfo.userid}" rel='nofollow'><img src="{vb:stylevar imgdir_siteicons}/blog.png" class="inlineimg" alt="" /> {vb:rawphrase view_blog_entries}</a></li>
</vb:if>


Below that add:

<vb:if condition="$vboptions[bop5qr_en] AND $vboptions[bop5qr_enprofiles]">
<br />
<li>{vb:raw userinfo.qr}</li>
</vb:if>

It makes QR code visible on every profile page. :)

[Boofo]

QR code in profiles works excellent. :up:

I used your suggestion for placement and also added it in MEMBERINFO template.

Find:

<vb:if condition="$show['viewblog']">
<li><a href="{vb:raw $vboptions.vbblog_url}{vb:if "$vboptions['vbblog_url']", '/', ''}blog.php?{vb:raw session.sessionurl}u={vb:raw userinfo.userid}" rel='nofollow'><img src="{vb:stylevar imgdir_siteicons}/blog.png" class="inlineimg" alt="" /> {vb:rawphrase view_blog_entries}</a></li>
</vb:if>


Below that add:

<vb:if condition="$vboptions[bop5qr_en] AND $vboptions[bop5qr_enprofiles]">
<br />
<li>{vb:raw userinfo.qr}</li>
</vb:if>

It makes QR code visible on every profile page. :)

Can you post a pic of what it looks like with your changes?

Also, you could just use the profile_sidebar_first template hook and save the manual editing. ;)

Tyhe li tags will give you a W3C Markup Validation error, by the way.

[BirdOPrey5]

good job BirdOPrey5 on the attachment qrcode, :up: one last thing how can i make it so it'll be a mouse over effect?

thanks

It should be a mouse over effect. If you look at the screenshot there were 2 attachments, one was hidden and the one visible was only visible because the mouse was over it.

[Boofo]

Here's a pic of my profile with the QR code added via the profile_sidebar_first template hook.

[Alan_SP]

Can you post a pic of what it looks like with your changes?

Also, you could just use the profile_sidebar_first template hook and save the manual editing. ;)

Tyhe li tags will give you a W3C Markup Validation error, by the way.

Here's image:

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/9402/image001u.png

What I should add to use profile_sidebar_first template hook?

li tags are used by vBulletin in MEMBERINFO template, that's why I used them. But, I'm open for suggestions. :)

[puertoblack2003]

It should be a mouse over effect. If you look at the screenshot there were 2 attachments, one was hidden and the one visible was only visible because the mouse was over it.

yea its was my fault i had moved the css to additional so i reverted back in template.I have to figure out where to put it at, when i get some free time.. thanks

[OldSchoolDSL]

Updated code for 1.5

This is a modified version of QR concept from nhawk
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=2263270&postcount=14

To which I made more simple for those who dislike edit code and originally released here
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=2269414&postcount=18

Rights complete reserved to BirdOPrey5 (author) and to nhawk (concept)
All I did was pre-add the tweak for version 1.5

Installed and working 4.1.10 Alpha 1, 2, 3, and Beta 1 .... Assume to work on final version.

[Mr_Running]

A quick thought..

Any way to have it work with first post ad location and still have the ad?
vB default google adsense shows the ad to guest but when a user is logged in
the ad is not displayed.

It would be great to have the QR share this viewable to logged in users
in the first post ad location.

[Boofo]

A quick thought..

Any way to have it work with first post ad location and still have the ad?
vB default google adsense shows the ad to guest but when a user is logged in
the ad is not displayed.

It would be great to have the QR share this viewable to logged in users
in the first post ad location.

I suppose you could do a template find/replace to add it either above or below the ad.

[Alan_SP]

Any way to have it work with first post ad location and still have the ad?
vB default google adsense shows the ad to guest but when a user is logged in
the ad is not displayed.

Not really sure what you mean?

I tried first ad location and when I used it (as nhawk suggested) QR code was visible with ad beside if you're unlogged (or guest). Also, when you're logged in, you see only QR code. Ad is not visible as this ad is visible only for unlogged users.

If you want this ad visible, you need to change code used for ad display. It could be done, of course, but by default ad isn't visible for logged in users.

[Mr_Running]

Not really sure what you mean?
I tried first ad location and when I used it (as nhawk suggested) QR code was visible with ad beside if you're unlogged (or guest). Also, when you're logged in, you see only QR code. Ad is not visible as this ad is visible only for unlogged users.

What I mean is...
QR code only showing when logged in within the ad space.
and the ad only showing when unlogged (guest)


Thanks Alan_SP, It's better than I thought...I was wondering if would work with the ad.
Edit: Yes it work because...Display this ad if...User does not belong to usergroup

I'll give it go. :)

[Mr_Running]

Here's a pic of my profile with the QR code added via the profile_sidebar_first template hook.

I can't seem to find this hook?

Hey Boofo would you mind sharing what you did?

Cheers,

[Alan_SP]

What I mean is...
QR code only showing when logged in within the ad space.
and the ad only showing when unlogged (guest)

You add QR code to appear beside ad code, not inside ad code, making them work independently.

[Mr_Running]

Yes, I have the ad / QR all set up. Thanks

Now working on which set up?
Here's a pic of my profile with the QR code added via the profile_sidebar_first template hook.
profile_sidebar_first (which I can not find...?)
vs
MEMBERINFO


Oops, I think I just figured out what I need to do...manually change product to use the {vb:raw template_hook.profile_sidebar_first} is this correct?

[Boofo]

Yes, sir. And make sure to make the template with the code needed there.

[Alan_SP]

Ok, just understood what Boofo suggests. :)

You need to edit plugin QR Profiles and add at the very end (but before }, it should be last):

$template_hook['profile_sidebar_first'] = '<center>'.$userinfo['qr'].'</center>';

You could also go without centering QR code, in that case just use this code:

$template_hook['profile_sidebar_first'] = $userinfo['qr'];

I started using this, as this is one manual template edit less. :) Thanks Boofo for idea. :up:

[Boofo]

No, I made a template with the code and rendered it in that hook.

[Alan_SP]

Ok, but this way works too, you could check it also.

But yes, I understand why making complete template could be practical. Would you share here your template?

[Boofo]

Just the same code that was suggested in the readme file, with a div added:

Template Name: memberinfo_bop5qr_profiles

Template Code:

<vb:if condition="$vboptions[bop5qr_en] AND $vboptions[bop5qr_enprofiles]">
<div style="text-align: center;">{vb:raw userinfo.qr}</div>
</vb:if>


In the member_execute_start hook add this at the bottom (right before the closing } )

$templater = vB_Template::create('memberinfo_bop5qr_profiles');
$templater->register('userinfo', $userinfo);
$tab_html = $templater->render();
$template_hook['profile_sidebar_first'] .= $tab_html;

[Alan_SP]

Thanks for sharing how to make template. :up:

[Mr_Running]

Yes, I still feel like a beginner, what are the steps...
by the way I like OldSchoolDSL xml
now if Boofo's part was added...that would be awesome.

[Alan_SP]

You could use my suggestion, it produces same effect and it's easier to apply. Post #55 (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=2286275&postcount=55)

[Boofo]

Yes, I still feel like a beginner, what are the steps...
by the way I like OldSchoolDSL xml
now if Boofo's part was added...that would be awesome.

Well, there's only one way to learn. ;)

[Mr_Running]

Well, there's only one way to learn. ;)

I am Laughing. :)

[Taurus1]

I did the template edits to show in profile, and set it to yes under the mods settings, yet it is not showing up in the profile page. Anyone can help me with why that would be please? Thanks.

EDIT: Blah....disregard above. I added the code in the wrong place.....now it is working.

[OldSchoolDSL]

Is there away to change the path where this writes its new image files? Or is the default hard coded?

[BirdOPrey5]

It's hard coded by this line in each plugin:

$qrfile = 'images/qr/t'.$qrid.'.png';
"t" is for thread, that varies for the different QR types, like a = attachment.

except the delete plugin is this line:

$dir = DIR .'/images/qr';

[OldSchoolDSL]

It's hard coded by this line in each plugin:

$qrfile = 'images/qr/t'.$qrid.'.png';
"t" is for thread, that varies for the different QR types, like a = attachment.

except the delete plugin is this line:

$dir = DIR .'/images/qr';

I'm trying to get it to work with my CDN, which is on the same server.

Not sure if that's something I can get it to do. Tried using a url and also tried the direct server path. No joy.

I'll play with this a little more and see what I can (if anything) come up with

[Ricsca]

Thanks

[tareqbd]

i installed everything as instructed. but qr not shows on the page. I am using 4.1.3 PL2 with completevb forum style and Mobile style by dartho for mobiles

[M.C.]

great! may be you can add this too: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?p=2415287#post2415287

[BirdOPrey5]

Sorry, I don't foresee adding an option to generate a QR code avatar based on profile information.