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

[BrettJC]

Couldn't wait, installed this evening works great.

Just trying to make a specific tab load as default.

[Antonio Pereira]

Originally Posted by bobster65

**UPDATE**

Getting close to needing a few Beta Testers for version 2 (which is AJAX) ..

I have it running live on a few sites right now... check out http://www.teryxhq.com/forums/ to see it in action..

Hi bobster65, i have your version installed without Ajax and is 5*****, but i have a question to that new one(Ajax).

Wen i click in one tab the Ajax refresh the all forums, but my question is wen i click in one tab all home is refreshed ?

Because if i click in a Tab and this call /forum/index.php (home) in background this is very complicated , because you now the Home is that in one forum consume more CPU.

Or just refresh that forum is recalled by the Tab , and dont load all home ?

[OsideRida06]

I would love to request a feature which I think everyone would love.

Can you make it so that the tabs are always in there position? For instance, say you click on the second tab inline. Then you click on one of the forums in that second tab. Once you do that the tabs disappear. So can we get it so they stay there? That way they can go to another tab from inside a forum?

This is the main thing people have complained about with the tabs on my forum. They always have to back all the way out and start over after they enter a forum. I see on this new one it atleast goes to the tab that you were on when you click back. But it would be great to just have the tabs there at the top, so you can click the one you want to go to.

What do you think?

[mokonzi]

I think it'd be a great addition, as it's a pain navigating.

It'd have to be a seperate template, and positioned around the navbar.

Maybe even modifying the navbar might do it.

[King Kovifor]

Originally Posted by mokonzi

I think it'd be a great addition, as it's a pain navigating.

It'd have to be a seperate template, and positioned around the navbar.

Maybe even modifying the navbar might do it.

2.0 includes a much easier way of creating and managing tabs.

[OsideRida06]

Yes but do they show on all pages, like I suggested? People love the tabs but they are a pain to navigate through, when you have to go all the way back and start over each time you enter a forum.

[bobster65]

Originally Posted by OsideRida06

Yes but do they show on all pages, like I suggested? People love the tabs but they are a pain to navigate through, when you have to go all the way back and start over each time you enter a forum.

One thing people need to remember is that Tabs are not a navigation (from page to page) system.. they are a container system to display content imbedded within a single page (In this case Forum Home).

You COULD however Emulate the "LOOK" of the Tabs on subsequent pages by using a Tab Menu System (Similar to the one here on vborg), but still, you are going to have to be taken back to the index.php page for the Tab Container functionality to work. I have link back tabs on my forumdisplay.php and showthread.php pages that you click on that take you back to forum home and open the tab that you clicked on.... maybe that would work for you?

I know what you want.. you want the index.php (Forum Home), forumdisplay and showthread all combined into one so that it can all be AJAX Tabbed on a single page .. That would take some SERIOUS rewriting of the Core vbulletin system to combine all of those into a single system ..

[carubmun]

bobster, your tab system is awesome, we are using it over at http://dailysportspages.com/forums/index.php and we cant wait for the next installment.
When you need guinea pigs... err beta testers, just let us know.

[OsideRida06]

Originally Posted by bobster65

You COULD however Emulate the "LOOK" of the Tabs on subsequent pages by using a Tab Menu System (Similar to the one here on vborg), but still, you are going to have to be taken back to the index.php page for the Tab Container functionality to work. I have link back tabs on my forumdisplay.php and showthread.php pages that you click on that take you back to forum home and open the tab that you clicked on.... maybe that would work for you?

It sounds like this would work just great for my needs. But how would we do it? With the new version that is? I am not even going to bother to do it with the one I am using now.

Is there a link where we can help beta test the new version? To help get this working?

[King Kovifor]

Originally Posted by OsideRida06

It sounds like this would work just great for my needs. But how would we do it? With the new version that is? I am not even going to bother to do it with the one I am using now.

Is there a link where we can help beta test the new version? To help get this working?

As it stands, v2.0 has a far way to go before a beta test is even possible.