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

[karlm]

Originally Posted by bobster65

This is simple (and is explained in post #2) You can wrap a specific TAB <li> tag with a template conditional where the numbers after userinfo are the User Group IDs that you want to display the Tab too.

So for example if you wanted to hide one for Staff Only it would look like this (See the code in RED)

<div id="ajaxTFH" class="TFHmenu2">
	<ul>
		<li class="selected"><a href="tabforumhome.php?tabcat[]=1" rel="ajaxTFHcontentarea">TAB 1 NAME</a></li>
		<li><a href="tabforumhome.php?tabcat[]=1&tabcat[]=2" rel="ajaxTFHcontentarea">TAB 2 NAME</a></li>
		
                <if condition="is_member_of($vbulletin->userinfo, 5,6)">
                     <li><a href="tabforumhome.php?tabcat[]=100" rel="ajaxTFHcontentarea">STAFF</a></li>
                </if>

	</ul>
</div>

Thanks - I had intended to ask whether a conditional would work... but just forgot to mention.

[King Kovifor]

Originally Posted by bobster65

No. Getting closer to Beta Testing tho. Knocked out over 10 bugs last night alone by finding a new YUI Tab Component that works great with inline/external JS... Just hanf tight.. its a heck of a lot closer today than it was 12 hrs ago lol



Ya, I mentioned that it was not the ideal solution (rather ugly lol)..btw, not sure if the JS script that KK has on the Dev server is yours or not, but if it is, Its working fine on my own Server with version 2.0 running

And yes, thank you :up:

Yes it is, but I am seeming to have problems. But other than that all I had to say was "WOW". LOL. It is getting much closer and it looks amazing.

[aggiefan]

Originally Posted by ShawnV

Great news, waiting on 2.0 also, thanks for the update.

_V

i am as well.... been watching this but it seems at this point it will be easier to just wait for 2.0 vs trying to make it work in its current form. i tried for about 5 mins a few days ago to make it work but never could so i removed it for now.

[King Kovifor]

OK we have one major major thing to do that will alleviate tons of work and make it more 'seamlessly' integrated into vBulletin, but it's something that I haven't seen done before through modifications. It may have but I haven't found it. So we most likely have to 'reinvent' the wheel on this one.

[illithid]

Originally Posted by King Kovifor

OK we have one major major thing to do that will alleviate tons of work and make it more 'seamlessly' integrated into vBulletin, but it's something that I haven't seen done before through modifications. It may have but I haven't found it. So we most likely have to 'reinvent' the wheel on this one.

Don't keep us in suspense as to what this "major major thing to do" is. BTW, I am willing to assist in any way possible with this mod....assuming you could use the assistance. I am not much good with javascript or ajax, however, I can code php quite well. My point is, instead of re-invent the wheel, let us know what it is that needs to be done, perhaps I, or somebody else has a solution.

[King Kovifor]

Originally Posted by illithid

Don't keep us in suspense as to what this "major major thing to do" is. BTW, I am willing to assist in any way possible with this mod....assuming you could use the assistance. I am not much good with javascript or ajax, however, I can code php quite well. My point is, instead of re-invent the wheel, let us know what it is that needs to be done, perhaps I, or somebody else has a solution.

IT has to do with the style.

[aggiefan]

just so i know but will this mod when the 2.0 version comes will it be able to mimick what vbulletin.org has with its tabs in the header next to the logo. because thats how i was planning on using it. also as i understand it currently it only will work with forum categories (is that correct)? if so will it be possible to link to other sections using this in the 2.0 version? (specifically i would like to link to some of our addons... arcade, pickem contest we coded, etc)

[illithid]

Originally Posted by aggiefan

just so i know but will this mod when the 2.0 version comes will it be able to mimick what vbulletin.org has with its tabs in the header next to the logo. because thats how i was planning on using it. also as i understand it currently it only will work with forum categories (is that correct)? if so will it be possible to link to other sections using this in the 2.0 version? (specifically i would like to link to some of our addons... arcade, pickem contest we coded, etc)

I can not speak on v2 of this mod as it is not released yet, but I can tell you about the current release. I have it installed and am using it like it was intended to be used...ie on the forum to switch between forum categories. The way it works is like vBulleting.org -> each tab is linked to the categories you assign to them and only that category will be displayed on the page for the tab that is selected.

In addition to the standard use of these tabs, I have implemented them on my website (not used on the forum) to pull external content. So essentially, you could use the tabs in other places besides on your forum. I will say this though, as I have found so far, the pages you plan to include these tabs on, will have to be tied into the vBulletin forum. My website consists of custom pages that use the vBulletin API, which allow me to tie into the vBulletin forum. This is how I am able to use the tabs externally from the forum.

As for your addons, arcade, etc. as long as the tabs are tied into your forum, you will be able to link to mostly anything. The only problem so far is pulling javascript into the ajax tab view...ajax and javascript don't play well with each other....to my understanding, v2 fixes that issue.

I can tell you this, this mod is wonderful now. When v2 is released, it will be better without a doubt. Again, I have found uses for this mod external from the forum and only 1 limitation thus far.

[bobster65]

Originally Posted by illithid

Don't keep us in suspense as to what this "major major thing to do" is. BTW, I am willing to assist in any way possible with this mod....assuming you could use the assistance. I am not much good with javascript or ajax, however, I can code php quite well. My point is, instead of re-invent the wheel, let us know what it is that needs to be done, perhaps I, or somebody else has a solution.

Nothing is in suspense, its an additional feature that really has nothing to do with "functionality" and will not hold up beta testing or the beta release. He gave you a hint, it has something to do with Styles. Not going to get into details, because we are not sure which way we want to approach it since it has not been done yet (that I know of).. but rest assured, its NOT going to hold up the beta testing or the beta release...

[bobster65]

Originally Posted by aggiefan

just so i know but will this mod when the 2.0 version comes will it be able to mimick what vbulletin.org has with its tabs in the header next to the logo. because thats how i was planning on using it. also as i understand it currently it only will work with forum categories (is that correct)? if so will it be possible to link to other sections using this in the 2.0 version? (specifically i would like to link to some of our addons... arcade, pickem contest we coded, etc)

It "could" but it would require some major customization. This wasn't designed to mimic that. The functionality of the two are totally different. Using this to do what they did would be OVERKILL lol..

No, ver2 will work with more than just categories, there is a "modules" plug in that you enter the URI to the external file and it will be included as content for that tab.. (you can use any of the "content" files that I have released with my CMPS AJAX Tabs Mod as well .. recent threads, blogs, news, links, photos etc.. custom content will be pretty easy to add to this. Hell, you could knock out a simple static HTML file, upload it to your server and then with the Module part in the ACP, just enter the file name, give it a tab name and you have a custom tab with your content.. or you can write a complex php file and do the same thing...