Forum Display Enhancements - Alternate Last Post Display

Alternate Last Post Display
By: Idan B.

1. Description & Usage:
Alternate Last Post hack will allow the forum admin to make the "Last Post" column on forum look different (have another/better layout):
Hack will make it with user avatar picture & instead of showing post date, it will show "time diff" since the post (for example: 4 Hours, 5 Minutes ago") - See pictures in attachment for better understanding. :up:
This Hack can be enabled on both Forum Home & forum Display or Forum Display Only.
The hack was develop for request of Theater (request was made here: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=214212 )
I assumed this request might be "handy" to other users of community, so developed it to be a fully working modification.

2. Installation:
Please click Mark as Installed.
Installation is pretty easy - just download & install:

• Extract zip for product xml & no-avatar picture.
• Goto: AdminCP->Plugin System->Manage Products : Choose "Add/Import Product" and import this product xml (product-alt_last_post.xml)
• Upload the "anonymous_avatar.gif" file onto /images/avatars/ directory. If testing it on your develop board, be sure to upload there as well.

3. Upgrade From Older Version:
1. uninstall previous version
2. Download new version xml & install as instructed in previous section.

4. Configuration:
Once installed, the "Vbulletin Options" under admincp will have extra section:
Section name: "Alternate Last Post Display"

• Enabled ? - Yes/No (default YES)
• Enable on Forum Home ? - Yes/No (default NO)
• Enable on Forum Display ? - Yes/No (default YES)
• Use "Last Post" text as title ? - Yes/No (default YES)
• Show differential time ? - Yes/No (default YES)
• Align "Never" to LEFT ? - Yes/No (default YES)
• Use profile picture instead of avatar ? - Yes/No (default NO)
• Picture width - INT (default: 40)
• Picture height - INT (default: 40)
  

5. Known Bugs:

• Forum Tabbbed modification has known competability with this mod - result it is not showing on forumhome. Currently debugging this one to allow fix on next version.
• v1.1.4 released. Since v.1.1.0 code was re-writeen completely from "scratch" and now it should support multi-languages (other than english) ! Note: Cyrillic & Latin chars reported to have some issues, still under check)
• See changelog below for full description of stuff fixed.

6. TO-DO's LIST (Next Versions):

• Allow thread view option on admincp.
• Other mods (such as Forum Tabbed Modification) conflict fixes - under checking !.
• [S]Admincp option to set avatar width/height.[/S] added in v.1.1.4
• [S]Admincp option to select between profile and avatar picture.[/S] added in v.1.1.4

NOTE: Currently supported format chars for date/time (v1.1.4) are :
Date: "j","d", "m", "n", "F", "M", "Y", "y","S"
Time: "h", "H", "g", "G", "i", "s", "a", "A".
Any other chars will result with Post Time: N/A displayed !

NOTE: i've left v1.1.3 and added in addition the v1.1.4, just in case anyone has problem, he can download old version & rollback.

Enjoy hack & dont forget to click Mark as Installed

[hotwheels]

Okay, right now it isn't working in forumdisplay in its default mode. When i set the second setting to no so the product will show on forumhome, it works, but i have this error all over the place "Warning: mktime() expects parameter 1 to be long, string given in [path]/includes/functions_forumlist.php(393) : eval()'d code on line 387"

Great idea though

[IdanB]

Originally Posted by hotwheels

Okay, right now it isn't working in forumdisplay in its default mode. When i set the second setting to no so the product will show on forumhome, it works, but i have this error all over the place "Warning: mktime() expects parameter 1 to be long, string given in [path]/includes/functions_forumlist.php(393) : eval()'d code on line 387"

Great idea though

o.O

ok, investigating it it now.
Changed mod status to beta till this matter resolved.
Expect revision update to fix this within next hour.

[hotwheels]

Awesome........thanks.

[IdanB]

version 1.0.2 uploaded.
Please report any problems.
The vbSEO should now be fully fixed, inlcuding links fix.

Once i'll get feedback this is working properly, i'll remove the beta status.

Extra Notes:
should any user see "Post Time NA", please be sure to check this plugin on default skin too before posting feedback & mention if this fails on both of the skins.
Since this plugin uses regular expression to fetch certain information (post time & link of last post) it is possible that someone has way-custom skin installed, a skin that not using "default" format for the "last post" (most custom skins are ok, so this should be rare case, but it's possible)

[Hasann]

without vBSEO not working for me.

[IdanB]

Originally Posted by Hasann

without vBSEO not working for me.

version 1.0.2 ?
Can you give more information as to what not working ?
Errors showing on page ? empty links ?

EDIT: also, have you checked it with default skin ?
I will gladly debug this to support other unforseen factors, but i'll need as much information as possible.
Could you please add screenshot that shows problem ?

[Hasann]

sure I've installed version 1.0.2 on default skin and if I select turkish language it shows nothing.

[IdanB]

I see.
Well few things:
1. minor: align to left, it's minor issue - will be fixed on next rev.
2. i see it detects avatar & nicks correctly, with exceptions of 2 users. Can you please paste their nicks, so i'll see what chars the regexp not catching. Is it English / Arab chars ?
3. As to the "Post Time: N/A" is it using non mm-dd-yyyy format on forum ? non english numbers ?

Any chance you can paste the html as seen on your forum, while mod is disabled ? (specific the html block inside the last post cell)
i want to match the regular expression in mod to ones you have, and understand what's different between what you have & what i have in mine.

EDIT2: As long as i can find in html some anchor in english (some html char / tag) that can be used to grabbing, this issue can be fixed in a common way to all languages. About fact turkish language showing nothing - this is due to regular expression. if we fail to find some common tags to use as refrence to fetch fields, this might require version specific code, as i'm not sure it's possible to make turkish & english regexp code that cover all cases...

[Hasann]

Originally Posted by IdanB

I see.
Well few things:
1. minor: align to left, it's minor issue - will be fixed on next rev.
2. i see it detects avatar & nicks correctly, with exceptions of 2 users. Can you please paste their nicks, so i'll see what chars the regexp not catching. Is it English / Arab chars ?
3. As to the "Post Time: N/A" is it using non mm-dd-yyyy format on forum ? non english numbers ?

Any chance you can paste the html as seen on your forum, while mod is disabled ? (specific the html block inside the last post cell)
i want to match the regular expression in mod to ones you have, and understand what's different between what you have & what i have in mine.

2. no it is Turkish chars.
3. Im using tr_TR on Linux with %d %B %Y format on my forum

here is the html block inside the last post cell while mod is disabled.

<td class="alt2" width="36%">
<div class="smallfont" align="left">
	<div>
		<span style="white-space:nowrap">
		<img class="inlineimg" src="http://www.vbulletin-turkey.com/forum/images/icons/document.png" alt="" border="0" />
		
		<a href="showthread.php?goto=newpost&amp;t=4240" style="white-space:nowrap" title=" 'Css dosyası' Konusundaki birinci okunmamış Mesaja git"><strong>Css dosyası</strong></a></span>
	</div>
	<div style="white-space:nowrap; float:left">
		G?nderen: <a href="member.php?find=lastposter&amp;f=9" rel="nofollow">Hasann</a>
	</div>
	<div align="right" style="white-space:nowrap">
		29 Mayıs 2009 <span class="time">17:26</span>
		<a href="showthread.php?p=30473#post30473"><img class="inlineimg" src="images/turkce/buttons/lastpost.gif" alt="son yazılan Mesajı g?ster" border="0" /></a>
	</div>
</div>
</td>

[IdanB]

about different non-default date - it's a "pitfall" i've indeed neglected - that will be fixed on next rev.
About turkish chars, lemme investiage this for some "work-around" solution, i might need your help too. I've sent yu a pm - if you have msn, that would help.

I'll update on any progress.