New Posting Features - [Ajax] Check for similar thread before posting a new one

You love the 'similar threads' function and you are sick of duplicate threads just because your users don't use the search function?

Why not just combine them?

This Add-on will grab the thread title the user typed in and it will load a small box (using Ajax magic ) with 5 similar threads just like the 'similar threads' function that you can normally find under an already posted thread.

The box also tells the user to search through the similar threads first BEFORE starting a new one.


Features:
- no edits whatsoever needed, just import the product file, enable the Add-on and it works (well, it should )
- you can turn it off for certain forums or
- you can turn it off completely without leaving any code that messes your templates/files
- it can be translated
- don't like it anymore? Remove the product and you'll never see that Add-on again


Known issues:
- none


Things to consider:
It uses jQuery to get the information from ajax.php. jQuery is great and you can do many great things with it and unlike the vBulletin method it's quite easy to understand.
The jQuery file is compressed and only 20kb large.
To download the file, visit the homepage at http://jquery.com/
The link to download the file is on the right hand side.

Here's the version I use: http://code.google.com/p/jqueryjs/do....1.3.1.pack.js

Just download it and put it into the 'clientscript' folder without renaming the file.


Installation:
Download jQuery as described above.
Import the attached file using the Product Manager. Go to your vBulletin settings and search for 'Check for similar threads?'. Enable it.


Important:
It adds 2 new templates, it changes 1 template and it edits 2 files. I highly doubt that it will break you vBulletin but do a back-up and be on the safe side.



Version history:
1. initial release
2. current release
*** fixed some browser issues. The attached file is up to date.





How to fix the Opera problems in the first release:
The first release of this Add-on didn't work on Opera. To fix the problems, please follow these steps:
Open the template 'mrnasesimilarthreadcheck_header' and REPLACE the content with this code:

    <script type="text/javascript" src="clientscript/jquery-1.1.3.1.pack.js"></script>
    <script type="text/javascript">
        $(function(){
            $("#inputthreadtitle").bind("blur", function(){
                var value =$(this).val(); 
                $('td#similarthreadcheckcontent').html('<img src="$stylevar[imgdir_misc]/13x13progress.gif" />');
                $.ajax({
                    type: "GET",
                    url: "ajax.php",
                    data: "do=getsimilarthreads&title="+value,
                    success: function(msg){
                        $('td#similarthreadcheckcontent').html(msg);
                         }
                });
            });
        });
    </script>

The attached file is up to date.


Support will only given to those who have clicked 'install'.

[Jaxel]

This script doesnt work for me.. NEVER finds similar threads.

[skippybosco]

For the folks having issues with not getting any results back:

1. Are you using full text or VBulletin as your search engine? If you are using full text, does it work if you switch to VBulletin

2. Have you tried rebuilding your search index?

I had the problem of not returning any results on my sandbox installation, switched to VBulletin and rebuilt the search index and all worked well after that.

Let me know if it works for you!

[Jaxel]

What is this "full text" search thing people keep talking about?

And yes, I have rebuilt my search index, hasn't changed anything.

[skippybosco]

Inside of your admin console under VBulletin Options (on the left) there is a menu item called Search Type (which links to http://yoursite.com/admincp/options.php?do=searchtype)

It will tell you the type of search option you have selected. I, for example, am using the VBulletin Search Engine so mine reads:

"Your forum is currently using the vBulletin search engine.

To enable the MySQL Fulltext search, we will issue the following two queries. If for some reason this process is unsuccessful, you will need to perform these queries manually. Please be patient as this can take from 10 seconds to an hour depending on the number of posts on your forum. "

I had the problem of no results. I switched to vBulletin search and then rebuilt my search index (http://yoursite.com/admincp/misc.php?do=chooser) and everything is working great now.

Hope this helps!

[Jaxel]

WOOT! That fixed it! Thanks man!

[behcet]

tnx. Very nice product.

[nyunyu]

Is this hack can be use with 3.5.4? Anyone?
Thanks.

[MrNase]

It should be compatible with 3.5.4

[BoredOutOfMyMin]

Originally Posted by Mecho

installed but i can not see anything in vboption .

* i used this link : http://www.yoursite.com/admincp/inde...buildbitfields
* uninstalled and installed again !

but still nothing in vboption ... any idea ?

thanks in advance

Originally Posted by Smoothie

look under message posting options.

The directions need to be updated.

I had to hunt for this myself.

Looks like an excellent addon.

Thank you!

[veyissen]

Thanks it works on www.bilgipasaji.com/forum