Forum Home Enhancements - [AJAX] Tabbed Forum Home

Tabbed Forum Home version 1.01

[AJAX] Tabbed Forum Home version 1.5.0 (BETA)

NOTE: Works with both 3.7x and 3.6x

Description: This MOD is for creating a "Tabbed" Forum Home Page to have Categories displayed within Tab containers (similar to what the new Profile System looks like on vb3.7). Please do not confuse this with the Tab Menu System here at vbulletin.org. They are totally different systems. These Tabs actually switch the content without leaving the main forums page.

I wrote the initial Non AJAX version based on reading many requests from members asking about how namepros created their custom tabbed forum home page. The first implementation I did was a request by bbwforums.net (which you can visit to see a working example). I have shared this version with many members already and decided to release it since it seems to be something that a lot of members are interested in.

UPDATE: I have released a BETA [AJAX] version for those that what something a little more robust and easier to install/configure. This Beta version will never go into production tho as version 2.0 will utilize the YUI AJAX Tabview Toolset. It IS stable tho and is currently running on a few live sites.

NOTE: Keep in mind, I wrote this with the assumption that you are fairly well versed and comfortable with editing files/templates and following the flow of things. If there is something you don't understand, PLEASE let me know so that I can help you understand it. This IS NOT a product that a novice can just plug and play and it takes a little bit of time to setup, but its well worth it in the end (if you want a custom unique look to your forum home page)... the next version (Don't ask when, cause its just on the drawing board) will be a product with ACP controls for easy setup

The attached Zip File(s) contain the Files and Instructions necessary to install each version.

DEMO: www.bbwforums.net or www.namepros.com
[Moderator Edit: The first URL has been un-linked as there has been reported malware on that domain. The mod author may edit this notice once the situation has been cleaned.]

Screen Shots: None, visit one or both of the above links as seeing them in action is better than some static image(s)..

Bobster

Change Log

version 1.01 -
tabcontent.js ver 2.2 to support remote links
updated install instructions (both in txt and rtf format)

version 1.5.0 -
BETA [AJAX] version

July 8, 2008 - Added xml file for WOL
Sep 2, 2008 - Updated xml file for WOL

[iBaker]

That xml worked for me - thanks Bobster

On another matter, I have installed a few mods and 3rd party apps recently and I just noticed that I don't get the (x viewing) text next to forums any more so I was just wondering whether this mod was the cause of it or not - could be wrong - do others who installed this mod get the # viewing anymore?

[bobster65]

Originally Posted by iBaker

That xml worked for me - thanks Bobster

On another matter, I have installed a few mods and 3rd party apps recently and I just noticed that I don't get the (x viewing) text next to forums any more so I was just wondering whether this mod was the cause of it or not - could be wrong - do others who installed this mod get the # viewing anymore?

Cool Beans on the xml ... was a simple issue of looking for the wrong file name (had the version 2.0 filename instead of the 1.5)

The x view is indeed a "bug" and has been logged in Project Tools as a bug.

[Megatr0n]

Originally Posted by bobster65

unfortunately, with this initial version, parts of it, yes.. you can make it easy on yourself and save the templates and then wen you revert, you can just cut and past the changes back in. If you use the NON AJAX Version, you will have to do the same with the index.php file.

We are going to try our hardest to make the next version a product that won't be effected by upgrades..



try using -1 as the Cat ID .. that should create the full list of Cats/Forums ..

Has this been corrected?

[King Kovifor]

Originally Posted by Megatr0n

Has this been corrected?

Yes and no. There is a product but it is still in development.

[Ziki]

What if the user disabled JavaScript

[craiovaforum]

Originally Posted by Ziki

What if the user disabled JavaScript

That is exactly what I was planning to ask
I saw the reply a few pages back about the untouched crawlability.
But what do we do about the users with no javascript? I looked on both demo sites with javascript disabled and I got no content whatsoever.
Why don't you display a normal forumhome page in case no js is detected?

[bobster65]

Originally Posted by Ziki

What if the user disabled JavaScript

I've answered this before.... what I do is create a child style for the Tabbed Layout so that users can choose whether they want the Tabbed layout or normal default vB layout.

One of the items that we are looking into also is auto detection of JS disabled.

[i156]

I just changed over IP addresses on my domain today and now my tabs aren't showing up. All I see is a bullet list of my forums. Any ideas what is causing this???

http://www.usacarry.com/forums/

[iBaker]

i156
This would be directly related to the css file and the tabs finding it. It should be listed at the top of the forumhome template and looks something like:

<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="clientscript/tabs/ajaxtabs.css" />

Just in my opinion I would start looking from there also it may (just guessing) have something to do with cache but then I am only a back yarder in coding but it may help to get you started till the big boys offer something

[i156]

Yea, seems to have been a cache or propagation thing. I am seeing the tabs now.