Thread Links / Redirect Thread to URL
 

Info

Enables thread linking to external locations
Similar to "Forum Link" option

Features

- Point thread titles to external URLs
- Allow users to manage their thread links
- Enable globally or for selected forums
- Assign Usergroup based permissions (New!)
- Set up direct linking or thread redirects
- Set the link target property
- Choose between two threadbit display styles (New!)
- View screenshots for more details

Installation

Import [phpdesk.com]-product-threadurl.xml via AdminCP > Plugin System > Manage Products > [Add/Import Product]

Settings

Go to: AdminCP > vBulletin Options > Thread Link Options

Mod Support

- Do not forget to mark as installed to qualify for further assistance
- A small donation would always be welcome to support further development of this hack (Support Developer)
- I'll do my best to listen to your comments and suggestions as long as time permits

Ghangelog

1.0.0 | 2010-09-22
- First Release
1.0.1 | 2010-09-23
- New: Usergroup Permissions filter
- New: Alternative threadbit style
1.0.2 | Planned
- Include a compatibility fix for Separate Sticky from Normal Threads hack
- Enable for selected users only
- Feel free to post your suggestions

Enjoy :)

Please be patient, I'll upload the files in the morning.
If you have any suggestions in the meantime, feel free to post them here.

This looks good, thanks.

Given it's a custom threadbit, it may be good if you could include the contents of the first post, within the threadbit as a description. Hiovering the mouse of teh title gives you a truncated version - this is probably enough ({vb:raw thread.preview}).

tagged for future use

Thanks for the suggestion, dartho. I've been thinking of a possible way to include this into the next release. What I could do, perhaps, is add an extra admin option to allow selection between a few available threadbit display styles, such as:

- Forum Style
- Directory Style

The Directory Style would contain the first post preview as a thread / listing description.

awesome phpdesk I LUB U :)

Is this still so that only the Admin can do these links? otherwise users could use it to spam and send ppl to malicious urls!

Edit:
Direct link should open in a new window too, and redirect should not show the redirect url (hope you can do these options)

after installation, "Normal Threads" and "Sticky Threads" area is no more seperate. i mean the seperate bar. i dont understand why you want to do that?

Can you confirm that this will work with the existing data that we had for the same type of mod in vb 3.8?

Or would we need re-link the old threads?

I will try this out and let you know today or tomorrow.

THANK YOU!!!!!

Please be aware, this is Not an update to the Redirect Thread to URL mod from h2ojunkie that you must be referring to, unfortunately. So it doesn't specifically reproduce any feature from there other than the idea alone of a thread that acts as an external link.

And no, currently there is no usergroup permission control over the usage of this option, I will however consider it for the next version release, thanks for the suggestion.

You can choose to open custom thread links in a new window regardless if they are redirects or directly linking to external URLs.

Not too sure I know what you mean. vBulletin 4.0 does not have a separation bar between featured and regular threads. Are you perhaps using a mod to add that feature?

It won't work, but no need to panic, all you probably need to do is take a look at the "thread" table and rename the field containing thread url's to "link". Let me know if you need assistance with that, I'll give you a hand.

In the next release can you make it so usergroups that can ca edit other peoples posts can only add links?

It is how h20junkie's was done. Makes it safe for everyone.

I'm actually developing a more flexible option to control who is given permission to use the custom thread linking option and prevent possible security issues related to that. (see the attached screenshot).

awesome can't wait!

Hey all,

New hack version is out,
It includes all the additional features discussed since previous release.

Changelog:

- New: Usergroup Permissions filter
- New: Alternative threadbit style

Enjoy :)

no, i mean "Sticky Threads" and "Normal Threads" are disappeared after enable your mod. when i disable your mod. it appear again. i think your mod should just add thread url function, and shouldnt also change style or display of forum.

please check the image

If you could tell me the name of the mod you're using to add the separation bar between sticky and normal threads, I could possibly help you overcome the compatibility issues. This is the price you have to pay for the automatic template changes applied by my hack as opposed to manual template changes that not everyone can handle.

oh i use this https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...Normal+Threads

Check this fix for the Separate Sticky and Normal Threads hack that you're using:
[phpdesk.com]-product-threadurl-eparate-fix.xml

Import via AdminCP: Plugin System > Download / Upload Plugins > Import Plugin Definitions XML File

great, it works, thank you very much :)

I'm glad it does, quachvu.
Do not forget to mark the mod as installed :)

Goog job,thank you very much.

You're welcome, shuangddr.

Installed on 4.04pl1 ... thank you ... :)

Seems to work well in initial testing and was something we were looking for after transferring a lot of threads from forums to articles under v4 vbCMS .... :up:

We wanted all the old thread references to get redirected to the vbCMS replacement articles when people clicked on them in posts, instead of having to even think about goinf through every post and changing them.

Question: Under the option to select just specific forums, if I choose a category forum ID that has a series of sub forums under it, will all those sub forums inherit this capability automatically?

It sure would save me a lot of time if they would ... :D

Regards,
Badger

Unfortunately, currently sub forums aren't included automatically if you add a parent forum ID to the list.

Thanks .. :)

If I leave it blank so that ALL forums have the link option, but restrict the usergroup to Admin ONLY, then Admin status usergroups only will be able to see that option... correct?

Finally, see attached pic ...

I notice that when I redirect a thread with the mod, that it now appears as a forum thread with a sticky indicator on it, but it's not actually a stick thread (no separator). Is that the way it's designed?

By the way, I use this custom mod to separate stickies from normal threads, although I'm not sure it makes any difference to my last question, I thought I'd mention it.

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=249677

I use this one because it doesn't generate any in-line errors like Atakan KOC's mod mentioned earlier.

Regards,
Badger

drat, if i turn off member cannot see thread content in forum permissions, they can still be redirected!

i was going to use this for vip members links

Hey, is the Thread Link Type set to Direct Link or a Redirect on your site? If I have it set to first option then thread is directly pointing to the external location. If I have it set as a redirect, and switch off Can View Thread Content then redirection is stopped with a vBulletin alert message.

Which one is your case?

That's right, only selected usergroups are allowed to point new threads to external links. All the others continue to submit new threads the usual way.

I wanted to highlight the custom threads somehow by adding some sort of an icon next to their titles. I used the same one as for sticky threads but you can always customize that further in the template directly. Redirected threads aren't moved to the top like the sticky ones, (unless you also mark them as sticky) so no need for additional separators.

That's a nice mod suggestion, I tried it and apparently it works fine with my mod with no extra fixes required.

Thanks Alex ... :)

Again, great mod and will significantly help us re-structure how we handle our on-line member libraries that have been forum based, moving them to vbCMS article based, doing so transparently .... :up:

Regards,
Badger

ps: Sent PayPal donation ....

its ok now, ive fixed it! :) yep needed to be on redirect and not direct - my bad

I'm glad it worked out for you,
and really appreciate the donation, thanks!

If anything else, just let me know :)

Thanks ... :)

Will send you a PM shortly ...

Regards,
Badger

Tagged for future use. I can see this coming in handy for a sponsors link forum section. :up:

Haven't thought about that before but sounds like a good idea. Will probably consider it myself, too.
Sharing mods for free has got its own advantages :)

P.S. Feel free post more suggestions you might have and I'll look forward to the possibility of implementing them into this hack.

Big thanks for this! I was looking for this exact addon! :)

You're most welcome, Samson.

not working with Version 4.0.8

working now :max:

Good! This reminds me to drag everyone's attention to the fact that once the mod is installed, you should not forget to check the admin options to enable thread redirects.

Hi phpdesk,

is this working now with 4.0.8 and the seperate normal /sticky threads stuff?
When do you think you release v 1.0.2?

As far as I'm aware yes, It should work with 4.0.8.
Yes, should also work with the separate normal from sticky threads mods (see for the fix if you're using the "eparate" product).

As far as the new release is concerned, I am not planning to launch new versions regularly for the sake of doing it. If a new feature is introduced or a bug is fixed, then a new release is ok to come out, otherwise enjoy using the current 1.0.1 version of this mod :)

Merry Christmas to you all, and a Happy New Year!