Add-On Releases - vBISpy - AJAX real-time feed of new posts/threads

After seeing the http://www.digg.com/spy application; I wondered if this could be done for vBulletin as well. I came across this webpage which had a "how to" on how they built a similiar application to do the same thing. Taking a page from their book (i.e. the code), I modified it for use with vBulletin.

During development, I also came across this post here on vBulletin.Org where the very subject had already been discussed.

So I put this together; a simple ZIP file with a single PHP script, three javascript files and 4 images.

Installation

. UNZIP the file into your forums directory
. That's it!

Virtually all the code to customize the page is in the vaispy.php script; there are no plugins, no templates and no phrases. You do not need to do anything further; this should work right out of the box.

In your browser, open the URL:

http://www.yourforum.com/forum/vaispy.php

You can see examples of this at:

http://www.viperalley.com/forum/vaispy.php
http://www.extremefitness.com/forum/vaispy.php

Note: I claim no ownership of this code except for the file vaispy.php - the rest of the files were using 'freely distributable' sources. As such, you may use these files as you wish, but please do not remove the copyrights.

This modification is for vBulletin 3.6 only, if you are running vBulletin 3.5 you will need to see this thread.

JOIN THE vBIspy Network!
Once you have this mod installed, you can join the vBIspy network to have your threads appear on this site; the vBIspy Network is a great way for people to see what's going on in various vBulletin communities and for forum owners to promote their sites and generate new traffic.

Optional add-ons

Who's Online mod for this: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=126209

vBAdvanced Module: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=126421

UPDATES
1.0.4
Added buro9's code from here

1.0.5 - 9.9.06
Modified some JavaScript in va_spy.js to remove split strings

1.0.6 - 9.10.06
Added date cuffoff code from here and changed init() to spyinit() - changed vaispy.php and va_spy.js files.

1.0.7 - 9.12.06
va_spy.js: Added a forum url variable to allow for integration with portals or other products outside the forum directory
va_spy.js: Added xmldelay variable at top of script for easier configuration or repolling
Updated files: vaispy.php, vb_spy.js

1.0.8 - 9.13.06
vaispy.php - changed code for checking for forum permissions to include password protected forums, added javascript tag for script code

1.0.9 - 9.16.06
vaispy.php
va_spy.js
va_effects.js
- modified to allow for proper display in Opera browsers and moved more html into vaispy.php to allow for stylevars, trimmed va_effects.js to remove unused code (ForumDog's suggestions, except not using templates yet), changed way threads are parsed (removes html as well)

1.0.10 - 9.17.06
va_prototype.js - removed 20kb of unused code

1.1.11 - 9.25.2006
vaispy.php
va_spy.js
- added SirAdrian's mods for thread status icons and alternating row colors
- added code to prepopulate the first 10 rows with existing threads allowing for 5 new ones to be added in scrolling mode (versus scrolling starting from the first thread).
- added option to display subscribed threads only

1.1.12 - 9.26.2006
vaispy.php
- added code to add empty rows if initial pull has less than 20 rows.

[buro9]

Originally Posted by voteforbird

What line would I change to slow down how quick the posts display? I don't mean the database check time, but rather the time that each update is fed downwards.

Change the pushtime value from 1000 (1 second) to 2000 (2 seconds) or whatever you want. Note that there is an instance of a hard-coded 1000 lower down in the code within a settimeout call... change that one too.

[buro9]

Originally Posted by bashy

Hi m8 is there away to change the amount of posts show please?

Perhaps to something like 30, or would this cause a lot more server load?

In the PHP file I noticed a line that had this:

PHP Code:

spymax = 25; 


See what happens when you change it

[buro9]

And MPDev... fantastic hack

Don't mind me helping support it... I know from experience it can be a chore answering hack support questions, and I like this one a lot so I've already delved through most of the code and figured out a few tweaks here and there. I'll stick to sharing tips though

One thing that did come to mind... a way of caching according to usergroups. I haven't yet opened this up to guests as I'm wary of additional database load, but if I put in a per usergroup cache mechanism based on a users primary usergroup... then this would solve any potential load issue on large boards

[MPDev]

Are you kidding? I don't mind at all, in fact it's why I put it out here so that (hopefully) we could all enjoy it and improve it.

vBIspy.com is nearing ready for launch; once it's ready it'll be a fun way to see what people are talking about and promote our websites. (You just register your vbispy.php and vBIspy.com grabs a few threads on a polling cycle to promote your site).

[jcr]

Holy crap! This works great Mine is here

[jcr]

BTW.. Could it be possible to add a external version to this one? A include version that I could post on an external website or the main portal page? ( non-vb-portal )

[G_Man]

Originally Posted by MPDev

Are you kidding? I don't mind at all, in fact it's why I put it out here so that (hopefully) we could all enjoy it and improve it.

vBIspy.com is nearing ready for launch; once it's ready it'll be a fun way to see what people are talking about and promote our websites. (You just register your vbispy.php and vBIspy.com grabs a few threads on a polling cycle to promote your site).

Right on!!!

I hope to get this up and running today... Darn Real World and Work!!



****edit - that was too easy!! Works a trick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers Mate!

[hotwheels]

This is a great mod. I installed it on my site and set it up with a link under the actual post.
This way after someone replies to a post, all they need to do is click on "Realtime New Posts" and they are brought right back to the ajax page, which make's this very functional on my site.

Thanks hotwheels of insanemustangs.com

See the pic for my example:

[Freesteyelz]

Sweet mod. Thanks again, MPDev. *Clicked Install*

[ZGeek]

This is a really awesome hack and I'd love to see it developed further. (like a module for vbadvanced hehehehe)

Is there anything that can be done for the whos online page? When its viewed and people are on that page they are reported like this:

Unknown Location
/forum/vaispy.php?do=xml&last=993718&r=0.4711818012095664 3&_=