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

[IdanB]

Update:
Till next version uploaded, i've updated "Known Bugs" sections - please be aware of them:
1. This mod supports english chars only.
2. The date format currently supported is only "m-d-Y".
3. vbSEO has problem with some of the nicks - sometimes shows as '' & link to profile with "a".
4. Time Diff sometimes shows incorrect negative value - still under check to locate cause.

EDIT:
Bug #1 - is under work but will take rather time to resolve (as this affect regular expressins) & every different language might have different "symptoms-bugs" . (a fix that will support all languages might be matter of days/weeks)
Bug #2 - is under work, i hope a fix is hours/days away.
Bugs #3 & #4 - currently being investigated.

Seems alot of factors that users has control of inside admincp can cause conflicts/pitfalls thats needs consideration in code.
Since i want as frequent updates as possible (but not too much, not to trouble you to keep re-download it), i'll release next revision when i have several bugs fixed.

[IdanB]

version 1.0.3 was uploaded.
See changelog for complete bugs fixed.
I've also uploaded recent screenshot showing how it looks.

The most critical issue currently fixed in this version is the date / time string - now supporting any format input by user on admincp. The chars supported are : "d", "m", "n", "D", "F", "M", "Y", "y", "h", "H", "g", "G", "i", "s", "a", "A".

About vbSEO, i know few people with it, so i'll closely debug this with them, hoping that next version should be vbSEO bugs free (should any of those bugs in there still exists)

[ArnyVee]

Very cool hack

Going to wait until most of the vBSEO bugs are fixed, but definitely installing this one :up:

[goxy63]

Cool mod but as I can see not supporting other languages but english

Cant wait that other languages will be supported

Rated

[IdanB]

EDIT2:

I have the solution !!! i dont understand why i didnt see it earlier
Expect v1.1.0 in next 30 minutes

EDIT3: will be uploaded tomorrow night, need to sleep. Waking to work in 5h.

[dancue]

I'm not seeing any time data under the user info.

Before and after images attached.

[whitetigergrowl]

'Last Post' doesn't tell the members anything about what the post is about. Any way to better fix that?

[IdanB]

Originally Posted by whitetigergrowl

'Last Post' doesn't tell the members anything about what the post is about. Any way to better fix that?

Original request for mod was it be without full title so didnt add it.
Indeed fair point - i'll add it on as feature into admincp so this can be controlled.
I'm Currently at work, when i'll get back home tonight i'll upload v.1.1.0 (including this feature).

[IdanB]

Originally Posted by dancue

I'm not seeing any time data under the user info.

Before and after images attached.

The fixed version that will be uploaded tonight will resolve all of these, as i'm gonna to re-code entire mod in a different approach that has zero possible errors.

[dancue]

sounds good. can't wait!