Improved Thread Preview Hack
 

The idea for this hack was originally that of Parker Clack, a regular here on vBulletin.org.

What this hack does:
Basically, this hack pops up a little box/window when the mouse is run over a thread title that shows the first three hundred characters of the first post in the thread (that is, the post that started the thread).

Improvements to Parker Clack's hack:

• Far, far less code... ;)
• Easier installation (one file edit, one template edit)... ;)
• Less space usage...the beginning of the first post in each thread is not stored twice - only once now!... ;)

Versions:
3.0: Overgrow's search page thread preview instructions.
2.1: Added some necessary instructions.
2.0 Reduced MySQL queries significantly.
1.0 Initial release.

Comments appreciated... :)

A version for vbHacker is available here - note: some files may need fixing afterward if they present parse errors!

How to Censor Previews (by nakkid)
See page seven of this thread.

A very important security fix is available here - I have not updated the ZIP, so install it after you install the hack

HEY that is really nice. I like it, flawless installation and very simple code.

I don't like that it adds a query on the post table for each thread listed.. that's an extra 40 or 50 queries with each forumdisplay. Is it possible to compile a list of all threads that will be displayed on the page and then run one query and pull all the post info at once?

Right now I have it only operating for admins since I don't want to add so much extra load. Thanks, nice work.

as far as i know, the choices are a) store the same data twice for every single thread or b) run a few extra queries! :)

maybe someone can prove me wrong or i can ponder it for awhile

yeah...looking at it, i'm almost positive the only way is to run extra queries

Nope, a join will do it. I've got it re-written..

old way: mysql things 1.10 seconds
new way: mysql things 0.09 seconds

Only problem is it joins the post table again which won't work if you have dotqueries turned on. It will take a little more re-writing to get it to work with dotqueries.

Then reference thread[pagetext] down below instead of running the query each time. Works like a charm without the extra db overhead, but like I said, will take a little tweaking to get it to go with dotqueries.

You want to finish it up? :D

okay...thanks...i'll test that out and issue an update

well....i got a database error. i must have done something wrong.

Database error in vBulletin 2.2.2:

Invalid SQL:
SELECT DISTINCT post.userid, post.pagetext as pagetext, icon.title as icontitle,icon.iconpath,
thread.threadid,thread.title,lastpost, forumid,pollid,open,replycount,postusername,postus erid,
lastposter,thread.dateline,views,thread.iconid,
notes,thread.visible,sticky,votetotal,attach
FROM thread
LEFT JOIN icon ON (icon.iconid = thread.iconid)
LEFT JOIN post ON (thread.threadid = post.threadid AND post.userid = '1') LEFT JOIN post ON (thread.firstpostid = post.postid)
WHERE thread.threadid IN (0,13,16)
ORDER BY sticky DESC, lastpost DESC

mysql error: Not unique table/alias: 'post'

mysql error number: 1066

Date: Sunday 03rd of March 2002 03:08:13 AM
Script: http://www.60schevytrucks.com/forums...p?s=&forumid=6
Referer: http://www.60schevytrucks.com/forums...s=&threadid=13

Yup, you have dotqueries turned on. Go to your admin Cpanel and turn off "Use dot icons" -- I did point that out as a problem in my previous post :) It is trying to join the post table twice. You'll have to write an exception to check if dotqueries is turned on and if it is, change the join again.

I don't use the dots since I didn't think the join was worth it.. but for me, the join is worth it for the preview.