Show Thread Enhancements - [1e2] Gravatar as Default Avatar for users without image: auto generate random avatar

With this very sipmple plugin you can display a Gravatar icon as default avatar for users that don't have any avatar saved or selected. But if an user has its own avatar, this one will be used instead of Gravatar. So you can continue to use your forum's avatar system, and this plugin will be used only when an avatar is not present.

The Gravatar is unique and automatically genereted based on registration email address choosen by the user. And the avatar created is used in every other website that use this method, like Wordpress blogs.

Users that are registered to gravatar.com can upload their avatar image so that every website that uses Gravatar will display the uploaded personal image! So you can save your personal avatar one time and have it spreaded everywhere Gravatar system is used.

Images are hosted on gravatar.com website, so you don't have any increase to your server load or bandwidth.

In this way every user (old users and new users) will have an avatar image, and to recognize the author of a post will be simplier for all because unique images are assigned to each one.
Your forum will be more userfriendly and nice looking!

Demo Link
Demo Link for Gravatar in Sidebar

How To

1- Go to Plugins & Products -> Manage Products -> [Add/Import Product], then select the xml file downloaded, click Yes for Allow Overwrite and click Import button

2- Go to Settings->Options->User Picture Options and you will find three new option at the end of the page (see screenshot) where you can:

* Choose the Gravatar Type (choose between different Gravatar icon):

• 404: do not load any image if none is associated with the email hash, instead return an HTTP 404 (File Not Found) response. But if an user has its own avatar saved on gravatar.com, that image is displayed.
• mm: (mystery-man) a simple, cartoon-style silhouetted outline of a person (does not vary by email hash). But if an user has its own avatar saved on gravatar.com, that image is displayed.
• identicon: a geometric pattern based on an email hash. But if an user has its own avatar saved on gravatar.com, that image is displayed.
• monsterid: a generated 'monster' with different colors, faces, etc. But if an user has its own avatar saved on gravatar.com, that image is displayed.
• wavatar: generated faces with differing features and backgrounds. But if an user has its own avatar saved on gravatar.com, that image is displayed.
• retro: awesome generated, 8-bit arcade-style pixelated faces. But if an user has its own avatar saved on gravatar.com, that image is displayed.

* Choose the Gravatar Dimension from 1 to 512 pixel square (default is 80) accordingly to your theme. You must write only numbers without characters or punctuation (so for example 120 and not 120px nor 120,5).

* Choose the Gravatar Dimension for your Sidebar from 1 to 512 pixel square (default is 30) accordingly to your theme. You must write only numbers without characters or punctuation (so for example 120 and not 120px nor 120,5).

*- Choose the Gravatar Ratings. All images are rated default as "g":

• g: suitable for display on all websites with any audience type.
• pg: may contain rude gestures, provocatively dressed individuals, the lesser swear words, or mild violence.
• r: may contain such things as harsh profanity, intense violence, nudity, or hard drug use.
• x: may contain hardcore sexual imagery or extremely disturbing violence.

Note: uninstall Geekydesigns default avatar hack to make work.

A manual edit for 4 files is needed if you want gravatar also in Blog and in ForumHome Sidebar. It's a simple search and replace, you can do it in 1 minute.

As soon as I have time, I will make automatic the manual edit and I will add gravatar support also for CMS.

The plugin adds a footer link to author website as copyright mark, but I don't require you to keep it. To remove the copyright info just disable the plugin for footer link:
go to Plugins & Products->Plugin Manager and search the plugins for Gravatar as Default Avatar and delete or disable the one named "Profile Hooks". Consider a donation if you do so.

Remember to Marsk as Installed
and to Nominate as Mod Of Month

vBulletin 3.8 version, please, download HERE

Changelog:
v 1.0 Initial release
v 1.0.1 corrected a bug that makes the gravatar all the same in user profile
v 1.1.0 Added a rudimental menu option to choose gravatar type, dimension and ratings
v 1.1.1 Improvements in option menu to prevent errors and make it easier
v 1.1.2:

• Added option to choose dimensio for gravatar in sidebar.
• Added a file called "gravatar in sidebar and blog.txt" with instruction to manual edit 4 file in order to have gravatar also in Sidebar blocks and in Blog.

v 1.1.2p1 updated manual edits for VB 4.1.4 and 4.1.5
v 1.1.2p2 update for VB 4.1.8 and added HTTPS version
v 1.1.2p3 updated for VB 4.1.10

[galerio]

I can't understand you. You mean an option to let users to disable gravatars so that their avatar will be choosen from your custom images in your avatar directory?
So, for example, I didn't select an avatar on your board, so the avatar is choosen randomly from a directory of your images on your server. Is this what you are asking for?
If so, this is not possible with my mod.

[postcd]

That is a bullshit, everything is possible when you want, this would substantially improve the mod. Better to say you dont want to make it, rather than saying bullshit like that you dont understand and its not possible in this mod.

[galerio]

Originally Posted by postcd

That is a bullshit, everything is possible when you want, this would substantially improve the mod. Better to say you dont want to make it, rather than saying bullshit like that you dont understand and its not possible in this mod.

Ahah! So I've understood well what you mean, right?
Definitly, what you are asking for is a complete different mod. I haven't the skill to do it. So, take some book about php, sql and html, learn it, and then do it by yourself. And don't waste my time offending me. Ok guy? I've made this mod for free, I don't want to use all my time to make just you happy. So don't pretend what you can't.

[postcd]

Im not pretending, maybe You do. It is your thing, im just saying that what im wanting is making the script pick random avatar image from my vb forum folder and that many members would welcome this possibility. I just dont like saying "it is not possible in my Mod", you should say that you dont have time or you think it is not good idea. :-)

[ru55ian]

did anyone notice it stopped working as of today for some reason. I mean yesterday it was working and today instead of gravatar, just link shows up to the member's page.

[galerio]

On my forum it is still working.
Sorry, I'm very busy and I haven't installed 4.2 yet, so if the problem is related to the latest version of VB I need to do tests, but I can't do it now. Please, be patient.

Thanks

[ru55ian]

gravatar.com was down.... now it's back up and plugin started working again :-)

[arrarrgee]

Thanks Galerio. Works like a charm on 4.2.2

[arrarrgee]

Could someone please tell me the names of php to be edited to replicate the same changes for avatars in the main forum page and list of threads in a forum as well..
Thx
arr

[arrarrgee]

anyone...help pls.....