New Look for Code Modifications

[Xenon]

Well, you might remeber a discussion about Changing the first Post of Modificationthreads, to get a little more the feeling of our Hacks Database we used to have in during vB2 times.

After a long time of coding i've now added something like that.
Take a look at a Modthread, and you will see what i mean if you look at the top of the thread, over the first post.

You'll see that there are a lot of informations you can see within one moment now.
I'd like to ask our Coders to edit their releases and change the settings to fill in the fields correctly.

Of course i have tested this with a lot of possibilities, but it's still considered as Gamma version.

So if you have ideas, about something to change, please feel free to post here :)

Enjoy!

[Dean C]

Wow you implemented that quickly ;) Good job pal

[Link14716]

Nice job. :)

Can you add things like "Username has installed this mod." to Co-Authors/Supporters as well?

[Xenon]

Yep, that's planned Matthew, as well as allowing coauthors upload bugfixes aso to the original post.

:)

[Link14716]

Yep, that's planned Matthew, as well as allowing coauthors upload bugfixes aso to the original post.

:)
That'll help me quite a bit.

Thanks. :D

[Xenon]

You and Zak were a main reason why i thought about something like that ;)

[Dean C]

You and Zak were a main reason why i thought about something like that ;)

Talk about favorites ;) I'll have to start giving the cookies more often no :p

[Xenon]

They were just the reason that i got the idea, nothing else :p

[Hialls]

wow nice :D

[Link14716]

Heh.

Just one question: since the Hack DB-like first post is there and seems to cover everything (except maybe user info, though I don't see much point for that on a hack release anyways), does the first post really need to be repeated on the normal postbit? :)

[nexialys]

hey, i first thought it was a glinch on my display... GOOD content... will have to see if i can handle that...

can we see that code released somewhere ??? (or at least for friends like me ?? ;) )

[Xenon]

@Matthew: i'll remove the first postbit, but i want to make sure everything works perfectly, that's why i kept it in, right now :)

@nexial: hmm, well, we'll see ;)

[Revan]

I want to comment on it, but starting a new thread for it seems to be too early:
I would like to see the first post (which is copied onto the new code header style) truncated, and a link to the original post (either single view or just start of thread).
Reason? Looking at my rpg thread, the header is WAAAYYYY too long IMHO ;) It is a problem with mods with huge first posts. :p

Other than that, I got a "WTBF happened to by thread!?" feeling when I saw it, but once I actually looked, it was really nice ;)


//peace

[HiDeo]

Nice job xenon

/me clicks install looooooooool

[Xenon]

@Revan:see my answer to Matthew regarding the first post :)

[Link14716]

@Matthew: i'll remove the first postbit, but i want to make sure everything works perfectly, that's why i kept it in, right now :)

Makes sense. :)

Once again, nice work. I love it. :p

[Brad]

Looking good! :)

[AnhTuanCool]

I would suggest remove the firstpost show on the firstpage because there's the firstpost with most info already ;)

[peterska2]

YUCK!

Sorry guys, I know a lot of hard work has gone into it but I hate it.

[AN-net]

great work and idea but i dont like the look of it though

[Guest190829]

I like it, nice job!

[AnhTuanCool]

Users without avatar don't show up properly though.

[SnowBot]

WOW, i thought at first....okkkk whats broke...hehe Then i read this.. :) nice job and i do have to say it looks better now, more proffesional :)

[Boofo]

Looks good, Stefan! ;)

[AN-net]

maybe make the checkboxes disabled so users cant uncheck them;)

[andrew67]

Yep looks good, was going to say maybe grey the boxes out to everyone but the coder of the hack.

Looks nice though.

[Link14716]

You can't edit it from that page anyways, so what good would keeping it enabled for the coder do? :p

[Johnny]

i love the way its set...
this is especially good for those that dont like reading first posts and now people can post new updates to the firstpost and people will notice better and easier

[Natch]

Excellent work: such a useful modification, and so well implemented... I (FWIW) have only two suggestions:You can't edit it [the hack settings.. Ed.] from that page anyways, so what good would keeping it enabled for the coder do? :pI think perhaps have the checkboxes type="hidden", but have images change on the fly with the DOM based on the settings of the checkboxes?

Secondly, the "minimise" setting for the hack info at the top of each thread should retain the user's open/closed setting on a per thread basis: works for forums on forumhome, should be extendable to the hackthreads ;)

Other than that, awesome: *thumbs like way up dood*

[Link14716]

I think perhaps have the checkboxes type="hidden", but have images change on the fly with the DOM based on the settings of the checkboxes?
Why not just use if conditions in that case?

Either way, I would say disabled checkboxes (or hell, enabled is still fine) is the way to go.

[Natch]

Why not just use if conditions in that case?'cos the DOM is so much cooler ;)Either way, I would say disabled checkboxes (or hell, enabled is still fine) is the way to go.I reckon even potentially confusing the new members is not the way to go, but hey, we don't have to agree on everything :D

[Link14716]

Well, of course it can say Yes or No instead of checkboxes. You could use an image, but why? ;)

[Natch]

My reasoning of either Text or Images, over Checkboxes, is that one doesn't think one can change a text value or an image by clicking it, where a checkbox makes me think I can make an alteration...

[Logikos]

My reasoning of either Text or Images, over Checkboxes, is that one doesn't think one can change a text value or an image by clicking it, where a checkbox makes me think I can make an alteration...
Yes, at first i checked my hack and saw the changes and check boxes, and though they where for the thread starter to easily change settings, then i got confused when i looked at someone eles's hack and still saw that. Great work Stefan, you out did yourself this time. But i agree with natch, use an image or text, cause even i got kinda confused at first.

[beano33]

Yep, that's planned Matthew, as well as allowing coauthors upload bugfixes aso to the original post.

:)

I may have spoken too soon in the site feedback forum. It should be very useful when the rest of it's implemented.

Would it be possible to have a "view THIS users posts in THIS thread" option? Quite often we find ourselves interacting with 1 or 2 users on modifying hacks and it would be quite useful if it were possible to view just that users posts in the thread.

[PixelFx]

I like it, can ya please release it as a hack, I have a lot of downloads for custom architecture on my site and it would be perfect as a hack ;P

[nexialys]

on my side, i'd be very happy to have that hack to transform it, add custom fields, and make it versatile like a bookstore, product reviews, recipes book... please please , guys... give it to me.. ;)

[Mephisteus]

Looks neat :) Nice job :D

[MrNase]

Very nice, I like it very much :)

[Ocean]

I have two comments to make on this new style...


1. I don't like the fact that the file attachments no longer show how many times they were downloaded.

2. I REALLY think it would be a good idea if the first posts indicated when each file attachment was uploaded (or last updated). Otherwise, there's no way of knowing if the "Last Update" field was tripped only by an edit of the post itself, or whether it was because there is a new version of one or all of the files available.

[Chris M]

Good Idea Ocean - I think that would be great, as currently we aren't sure if the file has been updated or just the post :)

Most people put something like: NEW FILE ATTACHED or something in their posts, but a "attachment last updated" field would be good :)

Satan

[nexialys]

what i would like to see is a constant download count, so if we re-upload the same file updated, the count is not reset... because many times i've seen "58 installs/3 downloads" ... or some kind of log that display what was added and when.

[Princeton]

I like the new direction this is going. :up:

Suggestions:
The checkboxes gives a false impression that the viewer has a choice in clicking them. I recommend removing the checkboxes.

I find myself scrolling left/right all the time now .... The additional column stretches the site; especially, if mod author inserts php/html/sql code in the first post. Another problem arises when zip file has a long name. I recommend leaving the 'content area' 1 column.

It's not clear what "Install this Modification" is ... this is an option that should be a button-image/etc. It should be clear, visible, and not confusing.

[Xenon]

Soo much text to read ^^
Ok, first of all, thx for the all in all mainly positive feedback, and of course thanks for your konstructive critiques.

But i agree with natch, use an image or text, cause even i got kinda confused at first.
Yep, i think so myself, i just didn't know which images would look good on all styles, so i just let the checkboxes i used for testing right now.
feel free to make image suggestions which will fit in all styles :)

Would it be possible to have a "view THIS users posts in THIS thread" option? Quite often we find ourselves interacting with 1 or 2 users on modifying hacks and it would be quite useful if it were possible to view just that users posts in the thread.
sorry, i'm a bit confused, what you mean here?


what i would like to see is a constant download count, so if we re-upload the same file updated, the count is not reset...
Hmm, not that easy to do. Unfortunatelly i think that's a problem which should be changed in vb in general, we jsut use the built in attachmentfeature

2. I REALLY think it would be a good idea if the first posts indicated when each file attachment was uploaded (or last updated). Otherwise, there's no way of knowing if the "Last Update" field was tripped only by an edit of the post itself, or whether it was because there is a new version of one or all of the files available.
Hmm, good idea, i'll think about what i can do here :)

And now to answer the big question about releasing this hack.
Well, it's not easy, as it relies on a changed DB structure on vb.org Parts of it are integrated into the thread table (still from the times we used vb2...) others are in a joinable hack table (supporters/addoninfos...)
I may think about it.
Maybe when i finished my other changes which are planned regarding the supporter/coauthorsystem i may try to write the things up into one big hack to release, but don't bet on it :)

[HiDeo]

Good news xenon ;)

[peterska2]

OK just a bit of feedback (trying to be constructive despite the fact that I really really really don't like it one bit)

Take a gander across to this thread (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?p=569005#post569005) and have yourself a gawk at it.

Now as it stands at this second in time, there are no posts in that thread at all. How you can have a thread with no posts in is beyond me. [insert scratching head smilie here] [insert dunce smilie here]

Now looking at it impartially I see potential for it. However as discussed previously in this thread, the fact that I can tick and untick the boxes at will is very disconcerting. The tabular layout is simply too big for my screen. I'm still running on 800x600 which isn't a popualr resolution so perhaps you haven't noticed this.

I notice that some changes have been made since yesterday. These are positive.

As a suggestion about this, why not make it a link below the thread title labelled description or such like and then have that bringing up the thingy in a pop-up window? The thingy muct be shown on the first page, however, IMO A first post should also be made.

IMO the box thingy (I can't get a decent desriptive word into my worn out brain at the moment) should only have a very basic overview.

An example could be something like


Kerry-Anne's Pretend Hack

This hack installs a link that pretends to open a new window on site A but instead bomards you with p0rn popups from site B

Templates to edit = 3
New Templates = 6
Files to edit = 1
Files to upload = 93
Queries to run = 4

Installer included = No
HTL Version Available = Yes
Support Given = No

Download link = linky to here (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=71322&page=3&pp=15)
Screenshots = linky to there (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=71322&page=3&pp=15)
Live demo = linky to demo (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=71322&page=3&pp=15)


History

1.0.0 - released 04/11/04 @ 2300 GMT
1.0.1 - bug fix to override popup blockers 04/11/04 @ 2315 GMT
1.0.2 - added HTL version 04/11/04 @ 2330 GMT
1.1.0 - changed code to be less server intensive 04/11/04 @ 2350 GMT


Upgrade to latest version - Highly Recommended


Obviously this would be tabular. All the additional information would then go into post #1 of the thread leaving the thingy (sorry again) to just have the essential details in and so will not be 3 miles long.

IMO there should be a 500 character limit on the hack description in the thingy to prevent the length becoming overpowering and also to make it easier to see in a nutshell what it is all about.



If one of the site staff can edit all instances of thingy in this post to the correct term for the thingy then I would appreciate it. I just don't know what to call it. I think it needs a one word name. Anyone agree with George? :p ;)

[FWF]

it looks great :D

[beano33]

sorry, i'm a bit confused, what you mean here?


For example, I might only be interested in reading your posts in the display forums in columns hack thread or those of someone whose mods to it I'm following. It would be helpful if it were possible to display all of single users posts from one thread. That would save the time of sorting through the posts from other users are interested in other issues. Basically I'm talking about a filter for hack threads that would remove all the posts in a single thread except from those of the user selected.

[Natch]

A tick/ image that would suit all styles: maybe just the Photoshop standard shapes in black? But I guess you could just use the online/offline images for the particular style?

[Xenon]

@Natch: the online offline images could confuse some people, especially those who are using DB.

@beano: hmm, interesting idea.
would have to need a bit of rewrite in showthread, but should be possible as another hack, we'll think about this.

@Kerry-Anne: i'm sorry that you don't really like it, but as you can see, you're a minority right here, and that means i have to act for the better of the majority of course.
I'll think of a way to make it look better for smaller screen resolutions, but i wonder, as it looks ok in DB, i thought it should work on 800x600 as well.
Ok, i might have been wrong there, so i'll check it out within the next days.
The no post in thread syndrom is what most of the users here wanted, you remember the comments about removing the first post of a thread completely?
Just think about it as a real thread with comments/support but the actual release is different.
As said the checkboxes will disappear once i have a good replacement for them :)

Unfortunatelly it's impossible to make every user happy, you should know that yourself as an Admin, so i assume you will understand what i should/could do and what not.
But i'm sure, once we add several things to it (that's just the basic version working, adding thins now will be very easy) you'll get used to it, and don't want it beeing away ever :)

[Michael Morris]

Is it possible for me to get a look at this hack? I'd like to try to reverse engineer it for another application entirely. (PM me and I'll explain)

[Xenon]

so much are intrested in my codings? nice ^^

but this time it's not we phone you, but you phone us ;)

[Michael Morris]

Telephone (er, PM) for Mr. Xenon.

[HiDeo]

I want the code too :p

[SaN-DeeP]

honestly, for some reason i dont like the look of this new modification :(
It seems to have excellent information compiled alongwith but the look needs to be improved

Regards,

[Cap'n Steve]

Did anyone else notice that this hack makes the install button look like it's attached to the second post instead of the first?

[Oblivion Knight]

I have rather mixed feelings about it to be honest with you..

Like with the list of supported users or co-authors, if you provide support for the hack (checking the box), shouldn't the author's name be automatically listed? Some people have checked the box and added their name, others have just checked the box.. It's somewhat confusing I guess.

Also, if you are the author of an add-on, there should be some kind of feature where you can add your mod as an add-on to a hack. Like with the Arcade modification by John, I noticed some add-ons are listed - but not all.

I hope these points are taken in to consideration.. :)

[Dean C]

Just a note to the people who suggested using an image instead of the checkboxes. Personally I'd just use different colored text.

[Xenon]

Like with the list of supported users or co-authors, if you provide support for the hack (checking the box), shouldn't the author's name be automatically listed?

I don't think so, a thread can be supported by someone else as well, if the author isn't here anymore...

Also, if you are the author of an add-on, there should be some kind of feature where you can add your mod as an add-on to a hack. Like with the Arcade modification by John, I noticed some add-ons are listed - but not all.

There is already ;)
edit one of your hacks, and you will see that you can enter a threadid of the hack yours is an Addon to.
once that's filled in, the Other hack's infos are updated.
The Arcadehack has them already, as i used it as a test and eddited most of it's addon hacks myself ;)

@Dean: Ermm, so you mean a green Yes and red no instead of the checkboxes, did i understand you correctly?

[Dean C]

Yes something along those lines Stefan :) Just use high perhaps?

[Xenon]

for both, or, just for yes, or no? ^^

[Oblivion Knight]

There is already ;)
edit one of your hacks, and you will see that you can enter a threadid of the hack yours is an Addon to.
once that's filled in, the Other hack's infos are updated.
The Arcadehack has them already, as i used it as a test and eddited most of it's addon hacks myself ;)I must be going blind.. :speechless:

I completely missed that option, sorry.!

[Xenon]

no prob :)

everyone has to get used to it at first ;)

[bradsears]

I really like it as well. I hope it gets released in some form, maybe to celebrate 10,000 posts.

Come on 10,000 posts Xenon!

[Xenon]

definitelly not that early ^^

i still want to do some optimizations in the back, as well as finishing some of the other plans.

[HiDeo]

Good luck Xenon !

[Paul M]

Well after a few days of this, it's really beginning to bug me that each time I click on a page number in a thread (to move from page to page), I get the same bloody first post presented to me again and again, it's starting to become very irritating - can we have a profile option to turn this off ?

[Erwin]

It's so beautiful...

[sabret00the]

just noticed this nice work, however the "users browsing" thing needs to be moved either to the top or bottom of the page :)

[BarHopper]

Excellant work, looks brilliant.

[Link14716]

just noticed this nice work, however the "users browsing" thing needs to be moved either to the top or bottom of the page :)
Add page navigation to that list and I'll agree. Not sure how it'd look then, though.

[DrkFusion]

It is in deed beautiful. Keep it up buddy!

[Xenon]

moved the browsing users to the top again.

the pagination looked crappy if it's on the top as well.

[TheRealFragger]

the avatars seem to be messed up (when the person doesnt have one) with the first post plus on the first post after the hack has the install button

[Xenon]

The avatar looks fine here, if someone doesn't have one, it's just not displayed, what's messed up then?
*confused*

[AN-net]

also whats up with vbulletin.org being so slow lately....

[ManagerJosh]

also whats up with vbulletin.org being so slow lately....
its fast on this end...

[Xenon]

also whats up with vbulletin.org being so slow lately....
within the last two days there were server problems AFAIK, but today it's fast as ever

[peterska2]

OK, This new look is gradually growing on me. :)

It's still too wide for my ikkle 800x600 though so I have to side to side scroll to read everything. :(

[Erwin]

The avatar looks fine here, if someone doesn't have one, it's just not displayed, what's messed up then?
*confused*
I get a broken image actually. :)

[rebelsrock06]

I get a broken image actually. :)
WOW that looks great :) Kudos to you for this addition :)

[Toneboy]

Really like the design of this. Threw me a bit at first, but it is handy to have the original post available on every page to refer to. Excellent implementation, nice job!

[Floris]

good job stefan

[corsacrazy]

i get broken image for some avatars aswell, and can someone point me in the direction of the basis of this hack or is it custom ? cheers

[Xenon]

I get a broken image actually.
Very wierd, as i don't get an image if anyone hasn't choosen an avatar ^^

*investigating*

@wayne: well it's not that hard, just a seperate table in the db having some additional infos as for example the serialized list of addons/supporters

and then just functions to build the design correctly :)
the harder part is to do the bug fixing if some fields aren't filled but should be ^^

[Catch-22|BL]

I think it is a good addition. :)

[Azhrialilu]

I like it :)

[Paul M]

You cannot report a first post anymore .......

[Xenon]

Damn, you're right ^^

i will add that function immediatelly :)

[Ryan Ashbrook]

NIce look i like it. :)

[Gio~Logist]

umm care to share that hack with us? lol

[ManagerJosh]

umm care to share that hack with us? lol
Dropdown's don't appear to be working for a user. (profile, webpage, etc.)

[Xenon]

yep, i know, didn't want to add them for now :)