Fork Threads

Boring Preamble
Sometimes a thread gets really long or some posts generate interesting but off topic conversation. I wanted to test the new cool product manager system and thought of this very simple mod to add Fork Thread functionality to the end user.

What it does
Allows the end user to divert off-topic tangents into a new thread, while automatically quoting the original thread.

Specs
Plugin: Included

Phrases added automatically: 2
fork_prefix and fork_this_post

Templates added automatically: 1
newpost_fork

Templates to edit: 1
postbit or postbit_legacy

Images to upload: 1 (optional)
fork.gif

How to Install

This is a full blown plugin. Follow the usual instructions for a plugin. Then you have to edit the postbit or postbit_legacy template.

For the graphical version you have to insert these lines where you want the link to appear:

PHP Code:

<a href="newthread.php?fork=1&do=newthread&p=$post[postid]"><img src="$stylevar[imgdir_button]/fork.gif" alt="$vbphrase[fork_this_post]" border="0" /></a> 


For the text version use this code:

PHP Code:

<a href="newthread.php?fork=1&do=newthread&p=$post[postid]">$vbphrase[fork_this_post]</a> 


You may want to place it in an "if" conditional so that only users who can post New Threads will see the image. Just use the same code as what's embedded in the "quote" image.

Updated to version 1.0.1 on 08/18/2005

*Modified to use the phrase manager.
*Fixed minor bug when "Automatically Quote Post / Thread Title" was set to "no".
*Fixed minor bug where after processing the title I pointed to the wrong variable

Preview and Live Demo

Preview attached. Or you can Register and try to fork the posts in the fork me thread.

Graphics help solicited

The quickie image I put together of a fork sucks
If someone comes up with an edited image of the .psd file vb comes with I will edit this post.

Wishlist for this mod

1. I doubt I will have the time to put this together, but it would be nice if there was a dropdown with forums the user has permission to post in so that the user can fork the thread to a different forum.
2. Adding a post to the original thread stating it had been forked and a link to the new thread

Final note

Oblivion Knight donated an image you can use of a fork (Thanks). It is attached to this post.

[jesus likes pie]

QUESTION:

I don't know if this is possible, but, I've noticed that when you fork a post, it will end up in the wrong forum considering the topic. E.G:

In my welcome forum, some new guy starts a thread saying hi, so then we slowly start going off topic, say someone decides to fork a post so that we can discuss the off-topic-stuff in a new thread, it will go to the same forum it was forked from, in my case, introdouction forum.

Is there a way that you can ask the person who forked the post where he/she thinks the thread should be put in? I don't know if this might require moving permissions though.

It's not a bug, because it's working as designed, but it is a suggestion.

Do you think you can do that?

[Alien]

Originally Posted by illusions

I want to know where in postbit would be the best place to add this coding ??

This is great, thanks so much for your work on it.

I look forward to your next update with the forum selection ability!

[silurius]

Hey Gilbert - any updates on the next release? My membership is going to grow pretty soon and it'd be great to let people control the forking destinations.

[piXelatedEmpire]

Originally Posted by jesus likes pie

Is there a way that you can ask the person who forked the post where he/she thinks the thread should be put in? I don't know if this might require moving permissions though.

It's not a bug, because it's working as designed, but it is a suggestion.

Do you think you can do that?

YES! That would be fantastic! :nervous:

[ambumann]

Would also very much like to see the user-selectable-posting-forum ability!

[El Barto]

This one is great, thank you!

[Strat]

How about a way to restrict "forking" to the admin?

[arcadian_girl]

just installed it-i'm loving it and so are my members. thanks so much

ps-for the next version, choosing fork destination would be great

[ambumann]

Any updates on the extended version?

[fulviods]

no updates? i would love also to see the user-selectable-posting-forum ability!... it would be really good