AJAX Spy
 

Introduction:
This script (addon) was developed to give your forums a new nice feature by allowing readers/contributors to have a live spy monitor they can use to watch latest forums activity. This script is supposed to be much faster and more reliable than those variants that place database hooks to watch for changes. The script works without even needing to connect to any database and relies totally on your RSS feeds already generated by the forums.

Please be gentle, our first module. Should work with all versions of vBulletin that provide RSS feeds, which I think is all of them :)

Installation:
Please follow all instructions carefully and back up and files modified.
1- Uploading Files
Within the folder this document is contained, a folder named "Upload" should be present Open this folder and upload the following files to the corresponding locations. Please notice that no files will be replaced.

The /tmp folder included MUST be CHMODed to 755 OR 777 because the spy script needs to write data into that folder. The data there is auto deleted so there is actually nothing you need to worry about. For your information, the data store3d there is a copy of the latest RSS feeds and is used as a simple caching system to lower the loads on the server when 10K users for example have the spy script open and monitoring.

2- Setting System Environment
In your browser (Internet Explorer/Mozilla etc..)
Go to this url: http://YOURSITE.COM/admincp/install_vbspy.php
[You will need to change the capitals within this url to meet your site's domain and forum location]

Follow the file through each step, if step 1 was configured correctly no errors should occur when running this file. Once finished you will be prompted to delete 2 specific file's, YOU MUST DO THIS.

3- Integrating The System
In your forums admin cp, go to the following destination:
Styles & Templates -> Style Manager -> Edit Templates -> Expand All

Templates:
Find the template 'navbar'
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++
FIND:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++
<td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="calendar.php?$session[sessionurl]">$vbphrase[calendar]</a></td>
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++
UNDERNEATH ADD:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++
<td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="vbSpy.php?$session[sessionurl]">vbSPY</a></td>
::: Save Template 'navbar'

Author Notices:
While i have been coding for long, this is still my first product dedicated to the vBulleting community. If you are familiar with vBulletin codes and think you know a better way to perform some task, please let me know by leaving a comment at the codeMoxie website available at www.codeMoxie.net

Official Support:
This product is fully supported by CodeMoxie, please visit our newly released forums for more info http://www.codemoxie.net/forum

Demo
http://www.prousers.net/vBSpy.php

Release History
Version 1.21b RC1 - September 19, Initial release on vBulletin
Version 1.21b RC1 - September 22, several bug fixes.

Examples:
http://www.codemoxie.net/system/files/ajax_loader.jpg http://www.codemoxie.net/system/file...ntegration.jpg http://www.codemoxie.net/system/files/navbit_menus.jpg http://www.codemoxie.net/system/files/thread_bits.jpg http://www.codemoxie.net/system/files/thread_list.jpg

!#================================================ #!
Enjoy!
Keep checking http://www.codeMoxie.net for more cool products
!#================================================ #!

A variation of vBIspy?

Do you have an example link?

Not exactly a variation, we had actually planned on this several weeks ago and it's been in development since. It's different in that it relies on the rss feeds rather than pulling from the database directly so it can be ported into literally any rss feed setup. Example to come.

how much time it takes to refresh? Because the rss feed has a 30min limit...

The refresh rate can be changed within the configuration.

yes but a server most of the times has a limit for 30min for the feeds. Is this true?

Not sure I get the question.

Saying you don't use any queries to generate a "live" feed is misleading if it requires you to set your RSS feeds to very short regeneration times; the RSS capability isn't meant to be run with such frequency (in other words, you are trying to use a part of vB in a way that it wasn't designed).

I saw one variation that appeared to use hooks, but that doesn't necessarily make it less intensive than what you have designed here; you've simply offloaded the processing requirement to another script.

What I m saying is that most servers are configured to ban you if you refresh the feed in less than 30 minutes. Im not 100 percent sure and thats why I'm asking this.

The script applies to your own feed so I am not sure that being banned is a factor ;)

In terms of interaction, the RSS feeds from vbulletin or fully supported and tested by vBulletin and the community rather than having a separate script entirely with all new db access which can be vulnerable to db problems. If it were me, I would try not to use external code that interacts with the db directly short of it having a long history of testing and support from the community, leaves a user too open to breaks into the db. Also, by relying on the RSS feeds, they stay pretty constant whereas a db interaction would require updates as does the vbulletin code and design changes.

Finally, the script works with any RSS feed so could be incorporated to use any type rather than limiting someone to just their own forum.

Thank you for the answer. I will test it in action :)

Thanks for this! :)

File name is wrong in the instructions. Should read "vBSpy.php" to match the file provided in the ZIP.

Each variation of the Digg Spy has it's advantages. The feed-pulling one obviously is nice and simple and will work across a broad range of feeds with no work necessary, plus the reasonable amount of future-proofing against upgrades. On the other hand, the database one can easily be taken above and beyond a feed's fairly limited capbilities to pull more information from your forum should you want it to.

Win win, just pick the one that suits you best. :)

Fixed :) Thank you.

Just to clarify, external.php calls global.php and cache or no-cache there is a pratical limit to just how many clients any solution can handle. It is virtually impossible for any server to support 10,000 clients calling external.php repeatedly.

Additionally, the script wouldn't work without a database connection on the backend; it would just sit there and never display anything.

No doubt about it; but let's at least be hoenst about how we represent each solution. Overblown and unsupported claims of security issues or performance advantages are a disservice to the members here and other developers.

MPDev - aren't you the creator of the other digg style tool? Seems a poor way to interact with the community by bashing competing scripts.

I'm not bashing your script; I'm taking exception to the claims you have made that disparage other solutions. Just be honest and drop the overblown and unsupported claims regarding other solutions.

From post 1 you have been bashing this script and others see it. There are no 'claims' as you mention, this script pulls from the RSS feed, period. People know the advantages and disadvantages to that. For you to start off with bashing it is a very poor way of handling yourself. Certainly that's not something I or any professional would do with your script and you have made your dislike clear so why do you continue to bash the script and show yourself like this? I wouldn't do that to your script. The script uses RSS feeds, that's what it is and developers here are smart enough to understand the advantages and disadvantages to that.

Take from it what you will; my points are still valid. Technically I wasn't bashing your script (having neither downloaded it or seen an example link); I was taking exception to your unsupported and generic statements regarding "other solutions" and the "benefits" of your system which are inaccurate.

MPDev - so, let me see, you haven't installed the script, you haven't seen the code and you haven't seen it work and any positive comment about the script was met with your negative comment and you have remained here from the moment it was posted to ensure that all people could see is your negative comments from post 1. Well, if that is not bashing someone's script, it's at the very least unprofessional, which includes your flagrant promotion of your script in thread one. Not sure about the rest of you but that's not the type of person I would want to work with.

You certainly have a flare for the dramatic.

Maybe you could actually address my concerns instead of making this a personal issue; all I've done is take exception to some of your claims and misrepresentations of other scripts.

You are new to the community; it's great to see new people posting their modifications, I'd only want to encourage more of that. It's fairly obvious that you are new to vBulletin and my intent is only to keep you honest. ;)

Sure, that's your intent MPDev. I think your unprofessional side has made itself very clear already so please don't try to make nice, your actions here have spoken louder than words. FYI, I am not new to vBulletin, been using it for many years, we created this account for script development purposes. You on the other hand are in fact new to business or at least professionalism and to which you need someone to keep you honest so please don't try to make that the issue.

The script pulls the RSS feed, that's been made clear and we've never hidden that fact so if you want to play on the disadvantages of that as a means of promoting your own script, then this is not the place for you. Please stop trolling this thread and maybe focus on your own script development. If you have a question about the script as an honest user, I will be glad to address them but I refuse to address issues from a competitor who just clearly wants to promote their own scripts in an unprofessional manner, I am just surprised you didn't try to do that under another name based on your actions here.

MPDev, this is a support thread for the mod, if you have a question relating to your installation of this mod then feel free to post it, otherwise please please use the PM system to take up your concerns with the Author, not clutter up this thread for those that wish to use it for support.

Thank you Paul, I never for a second thought that this thread would be under such an unprofessional attack by competitors just in an effort to promote their own script but hey, it takes all kinds. Thanks again.

Very nice!

Thanks everyone for the great PM's, I know :) Looking forward to more feedback for another release!

I'd advise for you to get a grip here, you were the one acting immature. He's criticizing your script in a CONSTRUCTIVE function. You got personal and things turned ugly.

Ne'way, I'll install this on my localhost tonight and see how it is. :) Thanks.

Let's move forward, that was yesterday's trade. Looking forward to your comments as a user Cole2026, thanks for the install.

So has a demo link been given yet?

im on the authors side on this one and i think it was wrong to come over here and bash a thread of a competiting script. i would like to see a demo if possible and please this thread is for support, everyone here is an admin somewhere. lets act like it!

Thanks AR for the support. I was just hoping to put that behind us. I have appreciated all the comments and feedback by PM but that's yesterdays news. I am sorry that is the way this had to start but whatever. We have bigger and better things to do.

In regards to a the demo, we'll have something up tomorrow.

We have a series of new vBulletin codes coming out so looking forward to being able to provide vBulletin users a great set of tools. Thanks again all.

Let's have no more reference to previous arguments please - instead focus on the hack - any more off topic stuff is liable to be removed.

Is the demo done?

I would like to check it out as soon as I can :)

Thats what I get! Where can I configure the script?

I am also looking for a demo ?

Doesnt work! any tips? ...

lexx27 - please make sure RSS is enabled. This script works off of your RSS feed. Please also ensure that the tmp file is set at permissions 777.

Demo coming shorlty. Thanks all.

Rss is on and tmp chmod. Nothing changed.

http://www.webz.gr/forum/external.php?type=RSS2

I'm a little confused as to exactly what this does. I'm assuming it is basically a (well written) live monitor of your sites rss feed? If so, then thats kinda cool.

I have installed it, and followed all steps, and go to the spy page, but it has no data in it. I do see the vBSpy table and I do see the ajax updating thing from time to time, but there isn't any content at all.

My forums are in a /forum directory, and not in the root, could this be why? I've made sure my RSS is up and running, it is, and I can manually verify it no problem.

My vBSpy page: http://racketradio.com/forum/vBSpy.php
My RSS2 feed: http://racketradio.com/forum/external.php?type=RSS2

Overall, I rate it as an interesting hack, I'd love to see it in action.. thanks in advance for any help.