Latest Blog Feed in Postbit using Carp RSS

I just posted this over at vbWebmaster Forums. I'm all excited because this is my first plugin and I know pretty much nothing about vbulletin. I got the idea from Shawn's forum at Digital Point

I just put this together for 3.5 using carp.

Step 1) Add a custom profile field for the RSS link. In my setup it was field5.
Step 2) Edit your postbit template as follows:

PHP Code:

<if condition="$post['field5']">
<div class="smallfont">Recent Blog: $blogentry</div>
        </if> 


Step 3) Create a new plugin. I named mine: Carp Configuration. Attach it to the "global_start" hook location.
Here is the code:

PHP Code:

require_once '/path/to/carp/carp.php';
CarpConf('cacheinterval',120);
/** You may want to set a cachepath specifically for your forum **/
CarpConf('cachepath','/where/you/want/your/cache/files/');
CarpConf('cacherelative',0);
/** You can omit the above two lines without a problem **/
CarpConf('cborder','');
CarpConf('poweredby','');
CarpConf('maxitems',1);
CarpConf('iorder','link'); 


Step 4) One more plugin. This one I called: Get Users Blog Entry
Attach this to hook location: postbit_display_start

PHP Code:

ob_start();
CarpCacheShow($post[field5]);
$blogentry = ob_get_contents();
ob_end_clean(); 


That's it... away you go. If you don't have carp, you can check it out at: http://www.geckotribe.com/rss/carp/
I'm not sure if this will work with the free version, as I have the paid version.

I'm thinking about using grouper to set it up so I can parse atom files, but I don't know how important that will be.

Note: carp allows you to enter local paths and http paths for rss feeds. I've tried entering both in my user profile field successfully. You may want to disallow users from entering a local path just to be on the safe side. I don't have any code for that right now, but I'm sure there are some examples for field validation out there.

Carp has an option to store it's output in a variable ($carpoutput), but it didn't seem to work for me. That's why I used the ob_start and end_clean functions. If anybody has any feedback as to how this may be improved, I'm willing to listen.

[jamestl2]

Thanks nevetS,

The characters look correct now, I suppose I'll repost here if I notice any other output changes it may have had.

[romanticyao]

this is very useful

[auctionguy]

Anyone tried this with 3.7 Gold yet?

Looks like an awesome hack!

[nevetS]

I use it with 3.7 gold myself. I keep meaning to put out a cleaner update, but it works for me right now so other things keep taking priority.

(cleaner meaning easier install, inherent support for UTF-8 feeds, and atom support)

[pmkb]

Originally Posted by nevetS

... and atom support...

Can this be done with the free version of CaRP? I tried to build a solution using MagPie precisely because this solution can't handle atom feeds. Unfortunately, there appears to be some conflict with MagPie and vB's AJAX code.

[nevetS]

Actually dual magpie/carp support is on my todo list. I know with the paid version of carp (which I have), there's now atom support. I paid for it ages ago and they keep sending me updates.

As far as the MagPie conflict goes - I haven't experienced it myself just yet, but I'll see what happens when I get into it. I'm sure there's something out there that will support atom.

I'll get going on this this week. I'm kind of stumped on my other project right now , so this might provide enough of a break to get my brain working properly again.

[pmkb]

In that case, you might want to take a look here (around post #21):

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=156372

[masterweb]

Just a stupid question: it works with Vbulletin 3.7.2?, if yes must i follow the same instructions on the first main post or there is any update about installing it?...Thanks a lot.

[djbaxter]

Yes. It works with 3.72.

[Piccante]

Can't get this working in 3.7.2 (I previously had it working in 3.5).

Getting errors about a call to undefined function for CarpCacheShow, even though it is defined afaics.