Download Forum Thread To Your Computer (vB 4.x)
 

Here is the vb 4.x version of my Download Forum Thread To Your Computer hack. This hacks allows you to download a forum thread into your computer (desktop etc.) as a text file with one click. (vb 3.5.x version here)

The hack adds a "DOWNLOAD THREAD" link inside Thread Tools pop-up and when clicked entire thread is downloaded to your computer. (See Screenshot)

It's useful when:
a) You want to archive and save the thread,
b) Want to read it offline,
c) It's a long thread and you want to browse it faster as a text file, use better searching features of your text editor.

The hack is tested with vB4.0.0 GOLD and should work with all newer versions as well. (for vb 3.5.x, 3.0.x and 2.x versions see my profile.)

It is very easy to install. You can install it to your board without modifying any vb files.

If you install it, please click INSTALL, thank you.

Enjoy the hack,
Logician

Hack FAQ:

1- Can it be used for non-english boards?

The hack is coded and tested with boards with English language and it should work with many boards whose language is similiar to English (ie using letters from English alphabet) like German, French, Spanish, Turkish etc.

However if the language (especially language syntax and structure) is dramatically different (eg. Russian, Chineese, Japanese, Arabic etc.), I can't be sure if it works fine with your threads. Testing wouldn't hurt though so you can't just give it a try. Also see this post from 3.5.x version for a fix about Russian language)

2- Does it work with very long threads?

It should be. In this version, I tested with a thread with 1500 posts which produced a 500 Kb. text output and it went fine.

Hack users previously reported it worked fine even with threads with 40.000 posts in it.

3- How can I allow only certain usergroups to use the hack?

By default hack inherits your forum permissions. So a user will be able to download the thread only if his usergroup allows him to view the thread. This should be fine for most boards but if you still want to restrict the hack for certain usergroups, edit dt.php file, find line:





and replace it as




Change 1 with usergroupid which can't access the script. Eg.
$unallowed_downloaders = array(1); means guests can't download threads.
$unallowed_downloaders = array(1, 2); means guests AND registered users can NOT download threads.

Hi,

I was looking for Download as PDF with text formatting and Avators extra..

can you do it ?

Thanks,,

Thanks for the release and good to see you around :)

That would be awesome.
:up:

and so add ? letter for spanish users

This is awesome! My users are going to love this since we are a tutorial based site!

Thanks

Installed

Logician,

Thanks for the mod
Please, find in attachment the french translation
You can find the french topic for this mod here: http://forum.vbulletin-fr.org/modifi...mod&modid=1081

Man I LOVE this ! Just what My new tutorial site needed. :)

Had to restrict unregistered though...lol

Thanks,

Reserved.

no reply? no new news? :(

Thank you!

Thank you

This is awsome...Thank you so much!!!

-SB

+1 absolutely!

I don't see this on 4.0.1 working. It worked fine on 4.0.0. I'm going to try uploading the files again and trying again but we'll see.

Just kidding, i figured it out because i had to revert some templates. LOL Sorry! <3 this app

Works great, thanks :D

thank you!

Happy to report this plugin/hack still works with vB4.0.2

Thanks,

How can we save it as pdf file?

Not sure why you would want .pdf as not everyone has a .pdf reader. .txt is way more universal.
This gets me thinking though,it would be really neat if you could save the thread,avatars,sigs and everything as a .pdf that looked just like the actual thread.

Thats why I was asking for. :)

Fantastic mod; PDF would have been a nice touch though. Nevertheless, thanks for the mod!

Can you tell me what the difference is between the "Show Printable Version" function and this?

Will this download images as well? I'm assuming not since it's only .txt

PDF would be cool, or at least the choice to go PDF or TXT

Glad to see you back, my friend. ;)

For everyone wanting a PDF version, I suggest the following:

1./ Install CutePDF Writer (free PDF printer)
2./ On vB use "Show printable version"
3./ PRINT to CutePDF Writer, save the .pdf file

HOWEVER, vB 4.x has no PRINT_THIS_POST, which is IMO an unforgivable omission. I often want to print just one post, not a whole thread!

Unfortunately that doesn't work well, for anything longer than the default page length; i.e. if the thread is 800 posts long, this mod will save it as ONE text file - that's what we need as a PDF also.
Your solution, although neat for short threads, will require MULTIPLE print-to-pdfs, which is time consuming and not very ideal.

This mod simply lacks some formatting, as quoted text within a post appears as only from ONE person, which is quite confusing.

I am surprised that there is no better solution available...

installed on 4.1.0 - working fine

Yes, formatting text i.e. having output exactly like we see the forum would bi excellent.

Maybe in HTML, if not in pdf, that may be easier to code?

Downloaded, installed, and appreciated.
Thank you!

Thanks for you work.

Does not work on vB4.1.1. Do not see the link in the tools of the Thread.

Sorry for my english.
Regards

this is nice, its anyway can you make it download file as .prc extension?

1) merci a l'auteur :up:

2) merci au traducteur ;)

Works fine on my 4.1.1. :)

me also want pdf. coder any update please...?

I would be happier if the hack makes it possible to download all my threads through my Profile page, are there a hack to do so? if not, please, give that a concern, we like sometimes to read our old threads easier offline as .txt files, because opening it one by one and online is very annoying and takes time.
Thanks for the hack.

Hmm, this does not appear to work in version 4.1.5 for me - anyone have any suggestions?

Exactly what kind of problem (error message?) you get?