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

[troll2]

Originally Posted by IdanB

Can you please post the time string you see on one of the forums under Last Post ?
(exact text as appears on your forum ##/##/## ##:##AM or any other pattern you have)

About the forum home, once we get this debbuged with this mod, i'll release fix for it.

The time string is; May 6th, 2009 20:18 when set to "NO" and shows "Post Time N/A" when set to "YES".

Thanks for adding the fix (support) for "tabbed Forum home" to your list.

[IdanB]

Originally Posted by troll2

The time string is; May 6th, 2009 20:18 when set to "NO" and shows "Post Time N/A" when set to "YES".

Thanks for adding the fix (support) for "tabbed Forum home" to your list.

Please note the "S" format char currently not supported (not showing on supported char list i've written)
Currently supported format chars for date/time are : "d", "m", "n", "F", "M", "Y", "y", "h", "H", "g", "G", "i", "s", "a", "A"

I'll try to add support for it on next version as well.
Meanwhile, you can try to remove "S" char from the "Format For Date" string on admincp, and you'll see time show correctly.

[IdanB]

Originally Posted by goxy63

Well none of characters mentioned above are not working with latest version
šđčćž
as well
Б б, Г г, Д д, Ђ ђ, Ж ж, З з, И и, Л л, Љ љ, Њ њ, П п, Ћ ћ, У у, Ф ф, Ц ц, Ч ч, Џ џ, Ш ш

If you need acces to my test forums let me know, I would be glad to help in this way

Cheers

Do you have msn ?
If so, please add me to there, i'll debug this on your test board next weekend.

[IdanB]

Originally Posted by dancue

Nope. Cleared my cache on FF and it still does not show.

Can you check if you have phrase called "alt_lp_by" showing on the phrase manager (on admincp) ?

[g0dfather1984]

Works like a charm, grazie.

[dancue]

ah...you know what it was?

It was vbOptimise.

I had to flush the cache from the options they provide.

Thanks man. Everything looks great. Hopefully you can add the option to allow the user to select the size (h and w) of the image, including allowing them to insert "0" for unlimited.

[IdanB]

Originally Posted by dancue

ah...you know what it was?

It was vbOptimise.

I had to flush the cache from the options they provide.

Thanks man. Everything looks great. Hopefully you can add the option to allow the user to select the size (h and w) of the image, including allowing them to insert "0" for unlimited.

sure, wouldnt be too hard to do .
Expect it as feature on next version.

* feature added to TO-DO's list.

[RedeemedWarrior]

any chance you can make it work so it will show last posts in subforum on forumhome?

currently only last post in a master forum shows

[troll2]

Removing "S" from the date / time string in ACP did not have any effect, I`ll wait for your update

[IdanB]

Originally Posted by troll2

Removing "S" from the date / time string in ACP did not have any effect, I`ll wait for your update

ok. I'll debug that code section again, maybe it's something minor i overlooked.
Next revision expected to be released next Friday. I' hope v1.1.4 will eliminate all the bugs left