Forum Display Enhancements - Thread Thumbnails

Thread Thumbnails
Created By: Null Parameter

The Thread Thumbnails mod allows users of a forum to specify, in several possible ways, a thumbnail for their thread to be displayed on Forumdisplay thread list.

I had created the mod for vB 3.8, but people we're crying out for a ported version to vB4, and, thanks to help from several of the members, here it is!


Description of Features

Thumbnails are displayed on the Forumdisplay next to the threadicon.
In the ACP Options, assuming you are using the Auto-Template Edits, you can choose which side of the icon to display it on.

Forum Display Screenshot


When submitting a new thread or editing the first post of a thread, a thumbnail can be specified directly if the User Entered URL option is chosen in the ACP. Another option is to Require the thumbnail. If the thumbnail isn't required, it may be left blank by the user, and it can either not be shown at all on forumdisplay or be replaced by a default thumbnail image specified in the ACP.

New Thread Screenshot

Edit Post Screenshot


All available options in the ACP include...

• Turn Off/On Thumbnails
• Turn Off/On Auto-Template Edits
• Which forums to use thumbnails in
• Turn Off/On thumbnails on sticky threads
• Require thumbnails (doesn't work with attachment option)
• Choose to retrieve thumbnails from one of the following
  • User Entered URL
  • First Attachment
  • First Image in Post
• Choose where thumbnail is displayed in threadbit (relies on Auto-Template Edits)
• Thumbnail CSS Style
• Specify No Thumbnail Replacement Image

ACP Options Screenshot


This version is also now using phrases, so it can more easily be translated!


Installation

Install the product XML file. That's it!

If you have a highly customized style, there is a chance that the auto-template edits will not work. In that case, you will need to make the template edits manually. See the included README for more details.


Thumbnail Style

The style for thumbnails is specified in the ACP. It is used to choose exactly how thumbnails will be displayed, including width, height, margins, borders and many other attributes.

The style is specified in CSS, and is applied directly to the HTML img tag.

Here are some examples of possible thumbnail styles, along with a description of what they will do. If you don't know much about CSS, you can learn more here.

• Every thumbnail will have a width of 100 pixels, but be constrained to being a maximum of 150 pixels in height
  • width:100px;max-height:150px;

• Every thumbnail will have a width of 120 pixels and have a margin of 3 pixels around the thumbnail, so that it doesn't touch any of the other elements in the threadbit
  • width:120px;margin:3px;

• Thumbnails aren't allowed to exceed 150 pixels in either dimension, and are also mildly transparent
  • max-width:150px;max-height:150px;opacity:0.8;filter:alpha(opacity=80);

Note: Using CSS positioning attributes (i.e. position, float, clear, etc.) could mess up the threadbit structure, so beware.


FAQs

The version of this mod for vB 3.8 showed thumbnails in the search results. Where did they go?

The search system between vB 3.x and vB4 changed significantly. I didn't have the time to figure out the complexity of it, and was unable to find any examples of other mods that integrated into the search results.

If you know how this is done, feel free to contact me and we can work to get this feature back in!

Does this mod work for RTL Languages, such as Arabic?

There is a separate product XML file available for download that has the appropriate changes to support RTL languages.

When I choose the First Image in Post option, no thumbnails show up in my current threads. Why?

Thumbnails are only updated when a new thread is created or when the first post is edited. Parsing through every forum/thread whenever the options are changed could be disastrous for performance.

Luckily, a user of this mod, megamoose, created a script that you can use to help this out. I want this method to be known, but because I didn't write this, I make no promises that it will work.

Originally Posted by megamoose

This should enable batch processing. I have tested it.
Change the $STEP_AMOUNT at the top to something lower if you still get errors
Remember this is for vB version 3.8
Always backup your data before running scripts like these

TO THOSE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN FOLLOWING THE CONVERSATION:
This script will go through all your existing posts and give them thumbnails, based on the First IMG in post option.

<?php $STEP_AMOUNT = 600; ?>

<input type="button" id="btnNext" value="Process Next Results" onClick="window.location='?start='+(<?php echo $_GET["start"]; ?>+<?php echo $STEP_AMOUNT;?>)" disabled=true><br>
The button above should enable once this batch is complete!<br>
<br>

<?php
error_reporting(E_ALL & ~E_NOTICE & ~8192);

// #################### DEFINE IMPORTANT CONSTANTS #######################
define('SKIP_SESSIONCREATE', 1);
define('NOCOOKIES', 1);
define('THIS_SCRIPT', 'xupdate');
define('CSRF_PROTECTION', true);

// #################### PRE-CACHE TEMPLATES AND DATA ######################
// get special phrase groups
$phrasegroups = array();

// get special data templates from the datastore
$specialtemplates = array();

// pre-cache templates used by all actions
$globaltemplates = array();

// pre-cache templates used by specific actions
$actiontemplates = array();

// ######################### REQUIRE BACK-END ############################
require_once('./global.php');

if (!$_GET["start"]) { $_GET["start"] = 0; }


        $threads = $db->query_read_slave("
        SELECT *
        FROM " . TABLE_PREFIX . "thread
        LIMIT ".$db->escape_string($_GET["start"]).",". $db->escape_string($_GET["start"]+$STEP_AMOUNT));

while ($thread = $db->fetch_array($threads)){
    echo "<b>Thread:</b> ".$thread["title"]."<br>";

    $posts = $db->query_read_slave("SELECT * FROM `" . TABLE_PREFIX . "post` WHERE `postid` = '".$thread["firstpostid"]."'");
    $post = $db->fetch_array($posts);
    echo "&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          <b>First Post:</b> ".$post["title"]."<br>";
preg_match('/\[img\](.*?)\[\/img\]/i',$post["pagetext"],$matches);
$query = "UPDATE `" . TABLE_PREFIX . "thread` set `thumbnailurl` = '".$db->escape_string($matches[1])."' WHERE threadid = " . $thread["threadid"];
echo "&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      <b>SQL:</b>".$query."<br><br>";
$db->query_write($query);

}
?>

<script> document.getElementById("btnNext").disabled = false; </script>

Translations

Arabic

Versions

v3.1

• Fix for Required Thumbnails
• New feature to automatically use ALL Forums

v3.0

• Support for vB4!
• Use Phrases
• Option to make Thumbnails Required
• Option to select where to show the thumbnail on Forumdisplay
• Option to specify the CSS Style of thumbnail images

Mod Support

I am fully willing to support this mod and continue to add new feature to it when they are desired enough to make them applicable to the product as a whole. The issue is that I do not have access to a vB4 installation, and therefore cannot develop.

Several people were gracious enough to offer up a test installation for me to use, and that is how this mod exists today. If any new features/fixes are wanted, other people will need to be just as gracious.

Also, since I don't own a vB4 instance, I'm supporting this strictly out of the kindness of my heart. So, if you wish to Support me as a developer, it would be much appreciated.

Enjoy!

[midnz]

Originally Posted by rolfw1

I went from 4.0.4 and doesn't show.

Which version are you using?

Originally Posted by fxwoody

Well midnz, you need to YouTube how you made it work because some of us are in the doodoo with it

Had nothing but bad results with it!!!

I upgraded from 3.6.8 to 3.8.6 to 4.0.5 and it stopped working and so I did a fresh install of Thread Thumbnails 3.1.0 and that worked on 4.0.5. I upgraded 4.0.5 to 4.0.6 and it still works fine. I'm not sure what else to tell you. I don't think I did anything special.
Just in case it matters:
Web Server: Apache v2.2.15 (cgi-fcgi)
PHP: 5.3.2
MySQL: 5.1.48

[CrystaStarLight]

Originally Posted by rolfw1

Just went into threadbit template and manually added

{vb:raw thread.thumbnail}

after

<!--  status icon block -->

Works now.

I tried that too but no luck for me. I did notice that if I set the options to use the "first attachment" for the thumbnail and make it "before the threadicon", then the thumbnails will show when I make a new thread, but only if I select those options. If I make it "after the threadicon", or use the "first [img] tag" it will not work.

My users are not using attachments though, it would take up too much server space.

I did a clean new install on 4.0.6, I didn't upgrade.

I know your not the developer, just leaving this here for the developer to look at, or anyone that thinks they can help. Thank you!

[baboo]

Plz some one solve this problem for ous, and make it work for 4.0.6.

[rolfw1]

Originally Posted by CrystaStarLight

I tried that too but no luck for me. I did notice that if I set the options to use the "first attachment" for the thumbnail and make it "before the threadicon", then the thumbnails will show when I make a new thread, but only if I select those options. If I make it "after the threadicon", or use the "first [img] tag" it will not work.

I agree, it's not an ideal solution, but for someone who had it working before an upgrade tp 4.0.6, this should at least get the thumbnails showing again.

Strange thing is, that if I set the thumbnail for after the post icon, it shows two thumbnail, so the other code which is embedded obviously works to a degree.

[fxwoody]

Ok i managed to make it work lol tho, it does not come up automatically when making a new thread!?!? Only when editing the post


Now, from the instructions, i didn't added the "{vb:raw thread.thumbnail}" in the threadbit as it was posting 2 thumbnails. Even with all the required info and mods in the templates, the darned thumbnail doesn't show like it is suppose to.

As for the options, everything is set to "YES" and we can only use the "User Entered URL" since the other options don't work

This one is turning out to be a major challenge in V4 lolll
Ain't there a brain that could resolve this puzzle???

I'll keep posting if i find other info......unless Null Parameter come up with a new update????

[Globe]

it would be work is is there any new update... a few weeks ago i tried the old version and it worked perfectly but i dint have the old version

[rolfw1]

Originally Posted by fxwoody

Ok i managed to make it work lol tho, it does not come up automatically when making a new thread!?!? Only when editing the post


Now, from the instructions, i didn't added the "{vb:raw thread.thumbnail}" in the threadbit as it was posting 2 thumbnails. Even with all the required info and mods in the templates, the darned thumbnail doesn't show like it is suppose to.

As for the options, everything is set to "YES" and we can only use the "User Entered URL" since the other options don't work

This one is turning out to be a major challenge in V4 lolll
Ain't there a brain that could resolve this puzzle???

I'll keep posting if i find other info......unless Null Parameter come up with a new update????

There is a script in the first post to add thumbnails from existing posts, although I didn't need that, as I've had previous versions running. To prevent the two thumbnails showing, I selected thumbnail before threadicon.
http://www.thamesvalleybirds.co.uk/bird-photos-general/ Shows a page with it working.

[fxwoody]

Tks rolfw1 for the input my friend but even tho, the only way it can show...from my site... it when i edit the post! As for the script, i'm in total darkness as to how i have to run it and from where! Some advise could help here

Tks

[rolfw1]

See this thread for getting the thumbnails to show https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=154 , not sure about running the script, as I didn't need to do it, but replying in that thread may get you the answer.

[fxwoody]

Lollllll are you kidding me! hihihi 2 thumbs up bro!!! That made it work A1!!

So, looks like our old 3.8 is still alive in the 4.0.6 after all

Thanks 1st image in post work all by it self now, just have to figure out how to have that script to work now

Cheers