Shrink Old Posts in Thread

Hi all,

This is a brand new addition to my own BB, so I don't even know how my own users will react to it, let alone how you guys would

Hack Description:

• Posts you have already read in a thread, will show up with their header only (a row that includes the username, post subject and date only). New posts only will appear in full.
• This is user selectable via the 'Edit Options' page: each user can decide if he wants this option on or not. (By default all existing and new users will have this turned Off).
• A link at the top of the thread offers to "expand all" posts or "contact all" posts.
• by clicking on the + sign on a shruk post, it will expand without the page reloading. By clicking on the - sign on an expanded post, it will shrink without the page reloading.
• [high]this option is available for your IE users only! Netscape users will see no difference and will not be affected anyway at all by the change[/high]

How to install:

• Please download the attached zipfile.
• Upload plus.gif and minus.gif to your images directory
• Upload install_contractposts.php to your admin directory and run that script.

Note: there are quite a few changes to make (primarily additions, not replacements) to the vb scripts and templates. The process should take you several minutes, so I recommend you close your Bulletin Board while installing the hack.

Demo:

You are welcome to visit my Bulletin Board, at http://www.atlasf1.com , to see what the additions look like. To test it in full (ie, the option of old posts being shrunk by default), you will have to register and modify your options after you have received your password.

Cheers,

Bira

[Frank]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by inetd

extended and new users

[inetd]

yes, existing

[bira]

inetd,

you'll have to run an query: UPDATE user SET hideposts='1'. That will switch it to 'yes' for all existing users.



Frank,

I don't know how FireFly did it, he may have an easier way than me.

I used my Post Counter hack for it.

If you installed it (it's a VERY easy hack to install), you can do the following to make sure the 1st post is always expanded:

In showthread.php, find this code:

  $post[postcount] = ++$postcount;
  $postbits .= getpostbit($post);

Change it to (addition marked in "high"):

  $post[postcount] = ++$postcount;
[high]  if ($post[postcount]=="1") {
	$thispost = "1";
  } else {
	$thispost = "";
  }[/high]
  $postbits .= getpostbit($post);

Open admin/functions.php, find:

	global $display, $HTTP_USER_AGENT;

	if ($post[dateline]>$bbuserinfo[lastvisit]) {

change it to (additions marked in high):

// Contract Old Posts in Thread (v1.0)
	global $display, [high]$thispost,[/high] $HTTP_USER_AGENT;

	if ($post[dateline]>$bbuserinfo[lastvisit][high] || $thispost=="1"[/high]) {

That's it.

Again, like I said, maybe there's a way of doing it that I'm ignoring and FireFly can help, but I just used my count posts hack for it and it works. *shrug*

[FWC]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by bira

Open admin/functions.php, find:

	global $display, $HTTP_USER_AGENT;

	if ($post[dateline]>$bbuserinfo[lastvisit]) {

change it to (additions marked in high):

// Contract Old Posts in Thread (v1.0)
	global $display, [high]$thispost,[/high] $HTTP_USER_AGENT;

	if ($post[dateline]>$bbuserinfo[lastvisit][high] || $thispost=="1"[/high]) {

That's it.

Again, like I said, maybe there's a way of doing it that I'm ignoring and FireFly can help, but I just used my count posts hack for it and it works. *shrug*

[bira]

hrmmm... I think I tried it and it didn't work for me, because $post[countpost] was not global

[Frank]

Ah excellent that works now, cheers Bira

[bira]

by the way,

I have a very important warning for those of you who want to turn it on for all existing users: DON'T DO THAT!

If you switch it on for ALL users, people logging on your Bulletin Board with Netscape WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EXPAND THE POSTS.

They will be stuck with entire threads contracted, and with absolutely no way to expand any post at all.

So don't turn it ON by default for all users. Let them make the choice.

[FWC]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by bira
hrmmm... I think I tried it and it didn't work for me, because $post[countpost] was not global

[bira]

hrmmm... maybe I was drunk the night I tried it

I'll try again now

[bira]

yup, you're right FWC. Thanks