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

[cbiweb]

Originally Posted by cbiweb

...would like to have a default tab selected when the page loads. I see instructions for v1.01, is there way to do the same thing in 1.5.0?

Originally Posted by bobster65

ya, use the "selected" calls on the specific li tag

Originally Posted by cbiweb

...doesn't seem to be working... I've made sure that only the tab I want selected has the call. Here's the code from my template:

<div id="ajaxTFH" class="TFHmenu2">
    <ul>
        <li><a href="/tabforumhome.php?tabcat[]=12" rel="ajaxTFHcontentarea">THE LOBBY</a></li>
        <li class="selected"><a href="/tabforumhome.php?tabcat[]=60" rel="ajaxTFHcontentarea">TECH SUPPORT</a></li>
        <li><a href="/tabforumhome.php?tabcat[]=117&tabcat[]=33&tabcat[]=93&tabcat[]=56" rel="ajaxTFHcontentarea">TECH TALK</a></li>
        <li><a href="/tabforumhome.php?tabcat[]=4&tabcat[]=146" rel="ajaxTFHcontentarea">GENERAL DISCUSSION</a></li>
        <li><a href="/tabforumhome.php?tabcat[]=7&tabcat[]=8&tabcat[]=10" rel="ajaxTFHcontentarea">STAFF</a></li>
    </ul>
</div>

I want the Tech Support tab to be default on page load, but it's not, it just stays on whatever tab was last used.

Originally Posted by bobster65

That looks correct .. did you try and flip flop the 2 li lines (lobby and Tech support) so that the selected is the first tab (just to make sure that is working)

Originally Posted by cbiweb

Just tried flip flopping the tabs, and they changed places as expected, but the "selected" didn't do its thing.

Originally Posted by bobster65

That's weird... I'll have to dig into it and see if I can replicate the problem and then recommend a solution..

Did you find anything on this? It still does not work for me.

[bobster65]

Originally Posted by cbiweb

Did you find anything on this? It still does not work for me.

to be honest, no, I have not.. I've been concentrating on v2 and prepping a version for vB4

[writerkimba]

I've just installed this and think it's a great idea! However, when I worked out my tabs, I have these white spaces between each category. How do I get rid of them? Thanks in advance.

[ChopSuey]

Thats probably from the modification, seperate forum categories. Might want to disable it if you have tabs

[writerkimba]

Err ... disable what exactly?

If someone can point me in the right direction of getting rid of the whitespace, it'll be greatly appreciated!

[writerkimba]

Nevermind. I've worked it out!

I have one question though. Is it at all possible to set it so that different tabs can only be seen by certain usergroups?

[cbiweb]

The second post in this thread explains how to do that.

[purrtypaws]

Hi there, I havent read the whole thread so I'm not sure if this problem has been covered... my problem...

not sure what Ive done wrong, any help would be most appreciated

error2 is the forum home, error3 is when i press 'rural' link.

[cbiweb]

Remove the forward slashes in the FORUMHOME template that I've highlighted in red below:

<!-- Tabbed Forum Home Header Code -->    
    <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/clientscript/tabs/ajaxtabs.css" /> 
    <script type="text/javascript" src="/clientscript/tabs/ajaxtabs.js"> </script>
<!-- /Tabbed Forum Home Header Code -->

That should do the trick.


Also, you will need to go to clientscript > tabs > ajaxtab.js , and remove the forward slash in this section of code:

var ddajaxtabssettings={}
ddajaxtabssettings.bustcachevar=1  //bust potential caching of external pages after initial request? (1=yes, 0=no)
ddajaxtabssettings.loadstatustext="<img src='/clientscript/tabs/loading.gif' /> Requesting content..."

This will make the animated loading image appear when you click a tab.

[purrtypaws]

thank you cbi, you're a star!

is it possible to show the forums too or just the catagories?