Description of thread hack

[Scott MacVicar]

This was requested today and I already had something like this implemented so i done a quick vbhacker file, it was done on 2.2.6 but you don't need to worry about that ;)

It works with 2.2.0 and above.

Scott

[ForKmaN]

Thanks :D

How do I make it work?
What do I do with this file? I'm used to txt version with instalation instructions...

[ForKmaN]

Ok I installed it, and it said it installed perfectly and all..but its not showing up on my forums ...

That could be a problem ..

Any Ideas?

[Scott MacVicar]

Did you apply it to all template sets?
You'll need to apply it to all of them or make sure it made all the changes.

and a text file

[ForKmaN]

I get this:

http://www.gb-mod.net/forkman/error001.jpg

now I know that cant be right...

[ExcErr]

some screenshots?

[FleaBag]

For some reason vBhacker couldn't make the two template changes for me [I only use 1 style - the default one], even though the HTML was exactly as it required, but apart from that it all went smoothly. Running on 2.2.5, looking great! :) Thanks PPN, I always loved this feature on Ikonboard!

[Scott MacVicar]

ForKMan did you put in a description other than test?

[Bald Bouncer]

works well mate good job, was going to do this myself but you beat me too it :D

would be nicer with it in the edit post too ;)

[FleaBag]

That would mean you'd have to amend every existing thread's MySql table wouldn't it?

[Admin]

I could've sworn this was done before... :dead:

[Dean C]

still its a great hack...

[Velocd]

Originally posted by FireFly
I could've sworn this was done before... :dead:

This has been done before, a similar version where when your mouse is over the topic name it gives a short description of the first post in the ALT area. I find this one alittle bit more useful though ^_^

[ForKmaN]

Originally posted by PPN
ForKMan did you put in a description other than test?
ah-huh!

But it comes up like that screenshot .. and the link to the posters user id thing is gone ...

[Dade]

This is also a built in feature of phpBB or something like that. OpenBB maybe.

[Scott MacVicar]

Check your forumdisplaybit template something has went wrong there.

[ForKmaN]

Ikonboard ...

But Its still not working for me :(

[Neo]

This is useful. Is there a option to turn it off in the admin cp?

[ZiRu$]

sounds great but i dont have/want vbhacker.....can you generate a txt file and post it?

[Velocd]

Originally posted by Hot Dogg
sounds great but i dont have/want vbhacker.....can you generate a txt file and post it?

Hot Dogg check post #4 for PPN's txt version.

------------

I just installed it and I must say this is awesome! Its completely different from what I initially thought it would be, which is a hack that takes the first few words from the first post and sticks it under the thread title. This though, which I didn't note before, lets you create a description! sweeeeeeett :D You have my install on this one!

Here are some pictures:

http://www.diffusion4.com/forums/images/ex1.gif
http://www.diffusion4.com/forums/images/ex2.gif (j/k on the beer :p)

[Scott MacVicar]

Also when you select edit thread from the admin options at the bottom of the thread you can edit the description.

Turning it on and off?
Are you talking a board wide basis or per forum?

[ForKmaN]

I still cant get it to work ...

When i hack the files, some of the stuff that should be there isnt :o

Could this be from other hacks? Also alot of spacing is generated in teh text file ..as in spacing that I dont think should be there, that might cause a problem right?

[Scott MacVicar]

Are you running 2.2.5?
I done this in 2.2.6 but there was no really drastic changes between the two versions. You need to try simply uninstalling this hack and doing it manually from the text file in post 4.
The only thing you wont need to do is run the database query.

[ForKmaN]

Ok I did it ...

But one thing, when you edit it, the box for the subject aint showing, whicn meand only moderators and admins can edit the subject...which aint that bad but yeah, does work for me now.

It took alot of playing around to get it working but it works now and I'm never using vbhacker again :p

It kinda stuffed things up.

BTW Velocd, what font are you using for your forums?

[Scott MacVicar]

Well users can't edit thread title so they shouldn't be able to edit thread description.

Before anyone says they can edit the thread title, it is only within a certain amount of time that they can do this after they haved posted the thread.

[ForKmaN]

ok :)

do you know what font hes using? it looks nice and soft edged. I want it!

[Velocd]

Its a very rare, highly sophisticated, and technologically advance font known as…arial.

[TECK]

Originally posted by FireFly
I could've sworn this was done before... :dead: it was done in a different way. it shows the first 100chars of the first post, as a preview. i implement it on my board as a text description, not preview.

[PET]

I ++++ed by forum !

Warning: SAFE MODE Restriction in effect. The script whose uid is 48 is not allowed to access ./global.php owned by uid 546 in /home/virtual/site26/fst/var/www/html/forum/forumdisplay.php on line 28

Know why ? Please...i am dispered !

[CeleronXL]

What's the URL to your site? Just upload the backed up version of forumdisplay.php.... You did tell it to make backups, right?

[PET]

I tried this with the bak created by vbhacker. But....i fount a old forundisplay.php on Recycly Bin. :)

[N!ck]

this is a cool idea, but, unfortunately, like parker clack's thread preview hack, it uses lots of space :p

[johnr]

Working fine here :D - My users will love you for this ;)

[Scott MacVicar]

A hack like this won't use alot of space, mysql compression is exceptionally high and at most its another 100 characters it might even be blank.
If your worried about an extra few kb of space used then you've got a problem.

[Boofo]

Scott,

Is there a way to add this to the editpost.php so when you are editing the thread message that you can also edit it in there? I know it is in the admin options, but it might be good to have it there too. :)

Originally posted by PPN
Also when you select edit thread from the admin options at the bottom of the thread you can edit the description.

Turning it on and off?
Are you talking a board wide basis or per forum?

[Slynderdale]

nice hack, i installed it and it works fine, i also edit editpost so if its the first post of the thread they can edit the description if the edit post time limit lets them, if it isnt the first post of the thread, the description box wont show up.

[Boofo]

Could you share what you did? That sounds like a good idea. :)

Originally posted by Slynderdale
nice hack, i installed it and it works fine, i also edit editpost so if its the first post of the thread they can edit the description if the edit post time limit lets them, if it isnt the first post of the thread, the description box wont show up.

[Slynderdale]

First make a backup of editpost.php before you continue

Created a template called: editpost_description
Add this to it:
(Note: remove the spaces in { secondaltcolor })

<tr bgcolor="{ secondaltcolor }">
<td bgcolor="{ secondaltcolor }"><normalfont><b>Description:</b></normalfont></td>
<td bgcolor="{ secondaltcolor }"><normalfont><input type="text" class="bginput" name="description" value="$description" size="40" maxlength="85" tabindex="1"></normalfont></td>
</tr>


Save editpost_description.

Open editpost.php

Find:

if ($getpost[postid]==$postid) {
$isfirst=1;
} else {
$isfirst=0;
}
if ($isfirst and $postinfo[title]=="" and $postinfo[dateline]+$editthreadtitlelimit*60>time()) {
$postinfo[title]=$threadinfo[title];
}


Replace it with:

$description="";
$descriptionbit="";
if ($getpost[postid]==$postid) {
$isfirst=1;
$description=$threadinfo[description];
eval("\$descriptionbit = \"".gettemplate("editpost_description")."\";");
} else {
$isfirst=0;
}
if ($isfirst and $postinfo[title]=="" and $postinfo[dateline]+$editthreadtitlelimit*60>time()) {
$postinfo[title]=$threadinfo[title];
}


Find:

if ($isfirst and $title!="" and $postinfo[dateline]+$editthreadtitlelimit*60>time()) {
$DB_site->query("UPDATE thread SET title='".addslashes(htmlspecialchars($title))."' WHERE threadid=$threadinfo[threadid]");
//$title="";
}


Replace it with:

if ($isfirst and $postinfo[dateline]+$editthreadtitlelimit*60>time()) {

$DB_site->query("UPDATE thread SET description='".addslashes(htmlspecialchars($description))."' WHERE threadid=$threadinfo[threadid]");

if ($title!="") {
$DB_site->query("UPDATE thread SET title='".addslashes(htmlspecialchars($title))."' WHERE threadid=$threadinfo[threadid]");
//$title="";
}

}


Save and close

Open the template: editpost

Find:
(Note: there are spaces in { secondaltcolor })

<tr>
<td bgcolor="{ secondaltcolor }" nowrap><normalfont><b>Subject:</b></normalfont></td>
<td bgcolor="{ secondaltcolor }"><normalfont><input type="text" class="bginput" name="title" value="$postinfo[title]" size="40" maxlength="85" tabindex="1"></normalfont></td>
</tr>


Under it add:

$descriptionbit

Save the template and upload editpost.php

When your done it should like the attachment below, enjoy :)

[Boofo]

This is what I have for the second code set in editpost.php. What do I need to do to make it work with what you have for the second code?

if ($isfirst and $title!="" and $postinfo[dateline]+$editthreadtitlelimit*60>time()) {
$DB_site->query("UPDATE thread SET title='".addslashes(htmlspecialchars($title))."' WHERE threadid=$threadinfo[threadid]");
$lastpost=$DB_site->query_first("SELECT * FROM forum WHERE forumid=$threadinfo[forumid]");
if($lastpost["lastpost"]==$threadinfo["dateline"]) {
$DB_site->query("UPDATE forum SET lasttitle='".addslashes(htmlspecialchars($title))."' WHERE forumid=$threadinfo[forumid]");
}
//$title="";
}


Originally posted by Slynderdale
First make a backup of editpost.php before you continue

Created a template called: editpost_description
Add this to it:
(Note: remove the spaces in { secondaltcolor })

<tr bgcolor="{ secondaltcolor }">
<td bgcolor="{ secondaltcolor }"><normalfont><b>Description:</b></normalfont></td>
<td bgcolor="{ secondaltcolor }"><normalfont><input type="text" class="bginput" name="description" value="$description" size="40" maxlength="85" tabindex="1"></normalfont></td>
</tr>


Save editpost_description.

Open editpost.php

Find:

if ($getpost[postid]==$postid) {
$isfirst=1;
} else {
$isfirst=0;
}
if ($isfirst and $postinfo[title]=="" and $postinfo[dateline]+$editthreadtitlelimit*60>time()) {
$postinfo[title]=$threadinfo[title];
}


Replace it with:

$description="";
$descriptionbit="";
if ($getpost[postid]==$postid) {
$isfirst=1;
$description=$threadinfo[description];
eval("\$descriptionbit = \"".gettemplate("editpost_description")."\";");
} else {
$isfirst=0;
}
if ($isfirst and $postinfo[title]=="" and $postinfo[dateline]+$editthreadtitlelimit*60>time()) {
$postinfo[title]=$threadinfo[title];
}


Find:

if ($isfirst and $title!="" and $postinfo[dateline]+$editthreadtitlelimit*60>time()) {
$DB_site->query("UPDATE thread SET title='".addslashes(htmlspecialchars($title))."' WHERE threadid=$threadinfo[threadid]");
//$title="";
}


Replace it with:

if ($isfirst and $postinfo[dateline]+$editthreadtitlelimit*60>time()) {

$DB_site->query("UPDATE thread SET description='".addslashes(htmlspecialchars($description))."' WHERE threadid=$threadinfo[threadid]");

if ($title!="") {
$DB_site->query("UPDATE thread SET title='".addslashes(htmlspecialchars($title))."' WHERE threadid=$threadinfo[threadid]");
//$title="";
}

}


Save and close

Open the template: editpost

Find:
(Note: there are spaces in { secondaltcolor })

<tr>
<td bgcolor="{ secondaltcolor }" nowrap><normalfont><b>Subject:</b></normalfont></td>
<td bgcolor="{ secondaltcolor }"><normalfont><input type="text" class="bginput" name="title" value="$postinfo[title]" size="40" maxlength="85" tabindex="1"></normalfont></td>
</tr>


Under it add:

$descriptionbit

Save the template and upload editpost.php

When your done it should like the attachment below, enjoy :)

[Slynderdale]

add after that

if ($isfirst and $postinfo[dateline]+$editthreadtitlelimit*60>time()) {
$DB_site->query("UPDATE thread SET description='".addslashes(htmlspecialchars($description))."' WHERE threadid=$threadinfo[threadid]");
}

[Boofo]

So I don't use the second code you gave me at all? I just add this after what I already have there, right? And do the rest of it like you said? The first code and the template edits? I just want to be sure. :)

Originally posted by Slynderdale
add after that

if ($isfirst and $postinfo[dateline]+$editthreadtitlelimit*60>time()) {
$DB_site->query("UPDATE thread SET description='".addslashes(htmlspecialchars($description))."' WHERE threadid=$threadinfo[threadid]");
}

[Slynderdale]

yea, im using 2.2.3 and im slowly converting every thing over to 2.2.6, skip the second part and add that after it, it should work, it checks to see if its the first post and the edit post time isnt up and updates the description

[Boofo]

Will the description box ALWAYS show up for the Admin then? Because I saw it on the first post of a message that is over a week old. :)

[Slynderdale]

if you want the admin to always edit it change it to this


if ($isfirst and ($postinfo[dateline]+$editthreadtitlelimit*60>time() or $bbuserinfo[usergroupid]==6)) {
$DB_site->query("UPDATE thread SET description='".addslashes(htmlspecialchars($description))."' WHERE threadid=$threadinfo[threadid]");
}

[Slynderdale]

If you want the description box to not show when the edit time is up but only show for an admin, change this:

$description="";
$descriptionbit="";
if ($getpost[postid]==$postid) {
$isfirst=1;
$description=$threadinfo[description];
eval("\$descriptionbit = \"".gettemplate("editpost_description")."\";");
} else {
$isfirst=0;
}
if ($isfirst and $postinfo[title]=="" and $postinfo[dateline]+$editthreadtitlelimit*60>time()) {
$postinfo[title]=$threadinfo[title];
}


to this:

$description="";
$descriptionbit="";
if ($getpost[postid]==$postid) {
$isfirst=1;
if ($postinfo[dateline]+$editthreadtitlelimit*60>time() or $bbuserinfo[usergroupid]==6) {
$description=$threadinfo[description];
eval("\$descriptionbit = \"".gettemplate("editpost_description")."\";");
}
} else {
$isfirst=0;
}
if ($isfirst and $postinfo[title]=="" and $postinfo[dateline]+$editthreadtitlelimit*60>time()) {
$postinfo[title]=$threadinfo[title];
}

[Boofo]

Thank you very much. You were about 2 steps ahead of me on all of this. I was about to ask you each time for what you put in the next message before I finished the last message. :) That's what I call reading someone's mind. :) Thanks again for all of the help with this. It works great! :)

[Slynderdale]

Originally posted by Boofo
Thank you very much. You were about 2 steps ahead of me on all of this. I was about to ask you each time for what you put in the next message before I finished the last message. :) That's what I call reading someone's mind. :) Thanks again for all of the help with this. It works great! :)

No problem :)

[X-Fan]

Very handy for a news-centric site like mine. Now I can go through and add descriptions to past news articles as well as current ones!

Thanks for a great hack, and to slynderdale for the terrific editpost addition!

Works like an absolute charm!

http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=2

Thanks all!

[X-Fan]

Couple of quick questions:

Is it possible to have the description come up under the title of a thread on the thread's first page?

Also, how would it be possible to have the descriptions show up on a vbPortals front page?

[Slynderdale]

Originally posted by X-Fan
Couple of quick questions:

Is it possible to have the description come up under the title of a thread on the thread's first page?

Also, how would it be possible to have the descriptions show up on a vbPortals front page?

in showthread just add:
$thread[description]
where ever you want the thread description to be showed, hmm, i dont have vbportal but if they use like $thread[title] and stuff, just add $thread[description] where you want it and see if that works, if it doesnt, pm me and ill help you out

[X-Fan]

Actually I'd want to be editing postbit, wouldn't I? Seeing as I want the description to come under the thread title (which doubles as the title of the first post in the thread).

Is that possible?

[Boofo]

No, Slynderdale's right, you would do that in the Showthread template. That is where I have mine. :)

Originally posted by X-Fan
Actually I'd want to be editing postbit, wouldn't I? Seeing as I want the description to come under the thread title (which doubles as the title of the first post in the thread).

Is that possible?

[FleaBag]

OK I've upgraded to 2.2.6, everything seems to be working except the changes I make to threads_editthread don't seem to be taking effect - nobody can edit their thread descriptions. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks!

[FleaBag]

*Bump*

[Slynderdale]

Originally posted by GamerForums
OK I've upgraded to 2.2.6, everything seems to be working except the changes I make to threads_editthread don't seem to be taking effect - nobody can edit their thread descriptions. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks!

make sure you have the query that updates the description, if you dont have it, it wont update

[FleaBag]

This doesn't work with 2.2.6 - nothing shows in editpost and nothing shows on forumdisplay. I have tried on 3 seperate board installs, none of them work. Anyone have any input?

[Slynderdale]

Originally posted by GamerForums
This doesn't work with 2.2.6 - nothing shows in editpost and nothing shows on forumdisplay. I have tried on 3 seperate board installs, none of them work. Anyone have any input?

pm me, ill help you out

[FleaBag]

Thank you sir, very generous of you.

[FleaBag]

This still doesn't work for me on 2.2.6. Anyone else having any problems?

[FleaBag]

Still not working, anyone else having this problem?!

[ZiRu$]

dope man I just installed it

[FleaBag]

Ahhh man I don't understand what I'm doing wrong. All the file edits, queries and the template edits are there. :(

[NeRilkA]

i did the edit addon by Slynderdale, and i have the same problem that GameForums seems to have...

I did all the changes correctly, i try to edit a post and and add a description on it, seems to go ok but there is no description on forumdisplay..

I try to make a new test subject with despcription and it works fine !

i have 2.2.6 and didn't have to skip the second code etc.. i found

if ($getpost[postid]==$postid) {
$isfirst=1;
} else {
$isfirst=0;
}
if ($isfirst and $postinfo[title]=="" and $postinfo[dateline]+$editthreadtitlelimit*60>time()) {
$postinfo[title]=$threadinfo[title];
}


so i don't understand either i'm doing wrong, please help us

thanks :p

[FleaBag]

*Bump*

Anyone able to help, please? I'd love this feature to be working as it used to.

[ULTIMATESSJ]

This has to be one of my fav hacks, nice work, i liked it so much i even made a template mod for it, which is based on the big thread one

http://www.vbulletintemplates.com/mods/showthread.php?s=&threadid=971

[kikosho]

Installed!

Great hack! ^_^

[FleaBag]

The lack of working-ness is most annoying. :(

[FleaBag]

For some strange reason I upgraded to 2.2.7, and it now all works great. Cheers. :D

[M.C.]

hallo. it`s great hack! thanx! I have only one problem - when someone post new thread and DON`T insert DESCRIPTION in the field then hack take a bit from $message text and put into $decription field. Can i fix it so if NO decription inserted - that`s mean NO description at all??? Or where can i configure numbers of symbols inserted from $message?

I hope you understand my ****ing english (sorry for that). If you already discuss it before just give me a link, please (i have not much time to serash all pages)

thanx a lot!

Good Luck

[Mr. X]

Nice hack, my members gotta vote if they want to have it yet, but I personally dig it. Have it running fine and ran into no problems on my local vb instance (2.2.9)

Btw, I wonder if it is possible to have an option for a user to NOT view the descriptions, via an option set in the UserCP etc? Would that be feasable or require a lot of change?

[LOD-squa]

It doesn't work for me >.< and I would like to see an addon like the one above.

[LOD-squa]

I get this error:

Database error in vBulletin 2.2.9:

Invalid SQL:
INSERT INTO thread
(threadid,title,lastpost,forumid,open,replycount,p ostusername,postuserid,lastposter,dateline,iconid, visible,attach,helpoption,sticky,description)
VALUES
(NULL,'s','1043706789','95','1','0','LOD-squa','1','LOD-squa','1043706789','0','1','0','','0,'s')
mysql error: You have an error in your SQL syntax near 's')' at line 5

mysql error number: 1064

Date: Monday 27th of January 2003 05:33:09 PM
Script: http://forum.lod-squared.com/newthread.php
Referer: http://forum.lod-squared.com/newthread.php?s=&action=newthread&forumid=95

[ULTIMATESSJ]

is there anyway i can get descriptions to be available only in certain forums

[Xyphen]

nice, i am going to install it!!

[Xyphen]

Works perfectly fine on vB2.3.0, thanks for such a great hack!!!

[PurpleCow]

can somegive me a screen shot of forum display for this hack ??

Thanks

[PurpleCow]

hello, i did this althogh the hack is working fine...when applied to the edit post template and .php file,

I am still not able to edit the sub title ?? the changes doesn't reflect at all.

Kindly help me here with the edit post thingy ??
I am running on ver 2.3.0 !
Thanks much

06-13-02 at 06:00 AM Slynderdale said this in Post #40 (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?postid=260885#post260885)
add after that

if ($isfirst and $postinfo[dateline]+$editthreadtitlelimit*60>time()) {
$DB_site->query("UPDATE thread SET description='".addslashes(htmlspecialchars($description))."' WHERE threadid=$threadinfo[threadid]");
}

[Austin Dea]

Uninstall and do it over, it's worked perfect for me since the hack came out. I'm running vB2.3.0 also.

Add-on - This'll add thread descriptions to your search results like for 'Get new posts' etc.

[PurpleCow]

Hello,

I just mixed up the suggestions by 3 hackers here ( Scott MacVicar, Austin Dea, Slynderdale ) and installed it on my forums. Its working very fine without any problems on stable release of vB 2.3.0 .

Thank you very much for the hack to all 3 of you.

I just have a small question, rather a minor change, which i am not sure, how to do it. I hope to get some help on this issue :

When a Thread description ( i call it sub title ) is given for a particular thread, the actual Height of the cell in the forumdisplaybit increases, which makes the threads with description look bigger. Isn't it possible to retain the same height as that of threads with No description for the threads with description also ??
Infact, I just tried to remove the <BR> in forumdisplaybit template, but then again, if the title is small, the description starts off from where the main thread title ends, which shouldn't be the case.
The description should always be below the main thread title and now, i want it to have the same height as that of threads with no description.

I have also attached an image along with post which clearly indicates the difference in height.
Referring to that image : What i am looking at is the Second Posting with description should have the same height as that of the Sample Posting, which has no description. How can i do that, if it is possible ??

Thank you for any help here.

Cheers

[GXON.matt]

Is this the hack that when you mouseover it shows teh person's last update?

[klaattu]

Great Hack, now the problems...

Installed it on Clioclub.com.mx and It works flawlessly.....SUPER
the forum is 10 days old with very few posts etc etc....
It never shows the previews on Sarari on MAC OSX, but perfect on Explorer and Netscape so I dont care.

BUT i Installed it on my othr forum auto-mania.com.mx and its a bigger one with 2000 posts and lots of info and it doesnt show up, the same 2.3.0 VB the same hack , the same everything and it doesn t show...???

Does it take time for it to make fill the description field on the new table? or why it doent show up.
The only thing different is that the forums are on fifferent service hoesting providers but both are Unix (linux) etc etc...
any hints or ideas?

[Tradjick]

Is a similar hack awailable for V 3.0.0 too?

[M.C.]

yes! ;)

[Tradjick]

how is it called? I couldn´t find such one.

[novelidea]

Is there something like this for 3.03?

[AnhTuanCool]

Is there something like this for 3.03?

vB Thread Description for 3.0.3 (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=69905) ;)