Forum Home Enhancements - [AJAX] Tabbed Forum Home

Tabbed Forum Home version 1.01

[AJAX] Tabbed Forum Home version 1.5.0 (BETA)

NOTE: Works with both 3.7x and 3.6x

Description: This MOD is for creating a "Tabbed" Forum Home Page to have Categories displayed within Tab containers (similar to what the new Profile System looks like on vb3.7). Please do not confuse this with the Tab Menu System here at vbulletin.org. They are totally different systems. These Tabs actually switch the content without leaving the main forums page.

I wrote the initial Non AJAX version based on reading many requests from members asking about how namepros created their custom tabbed forum home page. The first implementation I did was a request by bbwforums.net (which you can visit to see a working example). I have shared this version with many members already and decided to release it since it seems to be something that a lot of members are interested in.

UPDATE: I have released a BETA [AJAX] version for those that what something a little more robust and easier to install/configure. This Beta version will never go into production tho as version 2.0 will utilize the YUI AJAX Tabview Toolset. It IS stable tho and is currently running on a few live sites.

NOTE: Keep in mind, I wrote this with the assumption that you are fairly well versed and comfortable with editing files/templates and following the flow of things. If there is something you don't understand, PLEASE let me know so that I can help you understand it. This IS NOT a product that a novice can just plug and play and it takes a little bit of time to setup, but its well worth it in the end (if you want a custom unique look to your forum home page)... the next version (Don't ask when, cause its just on the drawing board) will be a product with ACP controls for easy setup

The attached Zip File(s) contain the Files and Instructions necessary to install each version.

DEMO: www.bbwforums.net or www.namepros.com
[Moderator Edit: The first URL has been un-linked as there has been reported malware on that domain. The mod author may edit this notice once the situation has been cleaned.]

Screen Shots: None, visit one or both of the above links as seeing them in action is better than some static image(s)..

Bobster

Change Log

version 1.01 -
tabcontent.js ver 2.2 to support remote links
updated install instructions (both in txt and rtf format)

version 1.5.0 -
BETA [AJAX] version

July 8, 2008 - Added xml file for WOL
Sep 2, 2008 - Updated xml file for WOL

[King Kovifor]

Originally Posted by iBaker

Hi
I have installed the non-Ajax version of this mod due to:
1. The current Ajax version will never go out of Beta as version 2 is being developed
2. Having tried both now I feel the Ajax version is slower then the non-ajax version
3. I don't like the way the forums drop and the getting forums line and graphic is displayed

So, I have the non ajax version working great, very fast, displaying multiple categories on each page - I have a generic category that is displayed in all tabs and a tab specific category.

A couple of things though:
1. The tabs don't display a focus when manually selected - the first tab always displays the having the focus - how can I fix this?
2. I need about 12 tabs - this is going to make the Forum Home template extremely large - is there a more efficient way?
3. I use the "How To Put A Space Between Each Forum Category" tip at vBulletin (http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=156783) and unfortunately I no longer have that space between the categories any more - any suggestions?
4. As I have a generic category that contains about 10 forums displayed on each tabbed page can anyone suggest how I can have the tabs below that generic category and when each tab is selected the screen doesn't go to the top of the page?

Please see attached images

As for number three of not liking the AJAX version, the new version removes this little 'feature' and it now an invisible action and looks like it is just updating data (but in reality is reloading the page).

As for the comments:
1. I don't understand.
2. v2 will fix the need for editing your template as I have coded the entire ACP back end.
3. I will look into this.
4. Not sure.

[iBaker]

Thanks King Kovifor - I have just installed the Ajax version and I will have to wait to get the "Requesting content" and image removed in the next version unless you want to PM me with the solution.

So with the Ajax version and my 4 requests:
1. Is no longer a problem and works properly
2. Is also no longer a problem as all I need to do is just add 1 extra line item per tab
3. This is also fixed and interesting to note is that the Ajax version accepts the space between categories mod without any imapcts
4. This is the only thing I need help with:
As I have a generic category that contains about 10 forums displayed on each tabbed page can anyone suggest how I can have the tabs below that generic category and when each tab is selected the screen doesn't go to the top of the page?

Thanks!

[iBaker]

Oh, one more thing...can I make a suggestion to be included in the next release?

Have it so a user can select in their control panel which tab they want selected as their default - thanks!

[ArchangelX]

Will this mod work on a 3.5.x version of vBulletin. It looks brilliant...

[King Kovifor]

Originally Posted by iBaker

Thanks King Kovifor - I have just installed the Ajax version and I will have to wait to get the "Requesting content" and image removed in the next version unless you want to PM me with the solution.

So with the Ajax version and my 4 requests:
1. Is no longer a problem and works properly
2. Is also no longer a problem as all I need to do is just add 1 extra line item per tab
3. This is also fixed and interesting to note is that the Ajax version accepts the space between categories mod without any imapcts
4. This is the only thing I need help with:
As I have a generic category that contains about 10 forums displayed on each tabbed page can anyone suggest how I can have the tabs below that generic category and when each tab is selected the screen doesn't go to the top of the page?

Thanks!

I am not sure , but maybe Bob can help?

Originally Posted by iBaker

Oh, one more thing...can I make a suggestion to be included in the next release?

Have it so a user can select in their control panel which tab they want selected as their default - thanks!

Of course you can suggest! I have added this to our tracker, but cannot guarantee that it will be in the next version.

Originally Posted by ArchangelX

Will this mod work on a 3.5.x version of vBulletin. It looks brilliant...

This is untested.

[TheInsaneManiac]

Originally Posted by iBaker

Oh, one more thing...can I make a suggestion to be included in the next release?

Have it so a user can select in their control panel which tab they want selected as their default - thanks!

That's exactly what I asked a few posts back lol. Here's the response:

Originally Posted by King Kovifor

I will add it to our internal tracker, but I won't guarantee it for 2.0.0, but I know admin set defaults are already coded into v2.

[King Kovifor]

Originally Posted by TheInsaneManiac

That's exactly what I asked a few posts back lol. Here's the response:

I gave the exact response to him, but I guess I somehow forgot to add it to the tracker. *blush*.

[iBaker]

Oh well, if we are asking for things perhaps it would be good, and make it more of a professional integration, if the search, advance search, new posts etc only displayed items that were specific to the tab that you are on.

If for example you have 150 forums spread across 10 tabs and the user is only interested in the forums contained within one of those tabs (i.e. forum categories) then it would make a more pleasant user experience if the search was only the forums in the tab they are interested in, or new posts only displayed the new ones in those forums and not every new post spread across all 150 forums.

Just a thought - and asked by my forum users

[King Kovifor]

Originally Posted by iBaker

Oh well, if we are asking for things perhaps it would be good, and make it more of a professional integration, if the search, advance search, new posts etc only displayed items that were specific to the tab that you are on.

If for example you have 150 forums spread across 10 tabs and the user is only interested in the forums contained within one of those tabs (i.e. forum categories) then it would make a more pleasant user experience if the search was only the forums in the tab they are interested in, or new posts only displayed the new ones in those forums and not every new post spread across all 150 forums.

Just a thought - and asked by my forum users

For me, this seems unfeasible. As switching between tabs would make us have to use AJAX to change the quick search query after extracting the category ids and allowing sub-forums in the search. I will add it to our tracker, but most likely won't see it for a long time.

[TheInsaneManiac]

Originally Posted by King Kovifor

For me, this seems unfeasible. As switching between tabs would make us have to use AJAX to change the quick search query after extracting the category ids and allowing sub-forums in the search. I will add it to our tracker, but most likely won't see it for a long time.

This really isn't necessary? Considering advanced search lists all forums and you can select any that you want to search in.