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!

[fxwoody]

Originally Posted by dr.tawy

i tried adding the template but didn't work for me

i really appreciate any help as i am trying to set thread thumbnails for more than 8.000 threads and all with a small thumbnail (specific image) and cannot be the first image nor attachment so any help would me very much appreciated

sorry for being pushy.

Let me get you here! Are the Thumbnail showing in the threadlist???
If so, you can use megamoose's Script to get the first images of every posts!

here:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=2145120&postcount=200

[Mikevet1984]

A lot of bugs really...

The instructions included in the mod's folder do not work....

Follow fxwoody and dirk2103 tutorial which works 100%. It is on page 15 posts 211 and 212.

I think a moderator should ad these html script tutorials in the first post so the user's to get help without needed to read 17 pages of posts.

[fxwoody]

Tks Mikevet1984

I think it should mandatory for mods that are not supported anymore to be replaced or like you said UPDATED !
We have been working on this to make it work for looooong time without Null P. and ........well we'll see what future is reserved

Cheers Mike!

[Mikevet1984]

Dear fxwoody!

I have seen some mods here in the vbulletin.org which did not got updated by the coders and and as a result some other coder took the responsibility to post a new thread with the same mod updated by themselves.

I think this is the solution to the problem with all these abandoned mods. In terms of this mod sb should change the plug-inscripts with working ones, plus making html script to be added automatically in the templates (in the user defined url) and release this mod as a new one making reference of course as source to this one.

[dr.tawy]

Originally Posted by fxwoody

Let me get you here! Are the Thumbnail showing in the threadlist???
If so, you can use megamoose's Script to get the first images of every posts!

here:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=2145120&postcount=200

Yes the thumbnails are showing in the threadlist, Mod is working and everything is fine

the problem is that i am following the "User Entered URL" option as i am making a thumbnail image for each thread

i now have about 8.000 threads that i am willing to edit to put a thumbnail image in them (threads are already made)

all what i want is a field on the quick edit mode to enter the url of the thumbnail instead of going to advanced edit mode

it would save a lot of time for me

Thanks,
I really appreciate your help

[fxwoody]

Doc! There is no other way for now to import those images with out Megamoose's script
I'm not qualified enough to make those changes inside the scripts, tho, i can tell you from experience that his script works with out a flaw when importing first image from post !
I had the same situation and use URL too, if you have a test site you can try it there first in case of, but, i pretty confident that the script will work fine!
Only trouble is the image itself! If the first one of every posts or so, is a banner or other then the cover page, it will be attach to the thumbnail
Tho you can after, edit the ones that are no good for the post display.

Hope it helps

[dr.tawy]

Originally Posted by fxwoody

Doc! There is no other way for now to import those images with out Megamoose's script
I'm not qualified enough to make those changes inside the scripts, tho, i can tell you from experience that his script works with out a flaw when importing first image from post !
I had the same situation and use URL too, if you have a test site you can try it there first in case of, but, i pretty confident that the script will work fine!
Only trouble is the image itself! If the first one of every posts or so, is a banner or other then the cover page, it will be attach to the thumbnail
Tho you can after, edit the ones that are no good for the post display.

Hope it helps

i see , my only problem is that the first image in post is large in dimension and size so in the end the forumdisplay page loads very slowly as i have it set to show 30 threads per page

i decided to create a thumbnail image with less dimensions and size

anyway i really appreciate your time and i hope you keep supporting this mod as it the best.

[GONUMBER6]

Originally Posted by megamoose

Going to repost this as it works the exact some for this version as the old:

Thanks that worked perfectly :up:

[downloadfound]

Originally Posted by megamoose

Null, thanks for this mod. It is perfect.

The thumbnail generator I created in the previous version had a bug in it which would cause a great server load. This new version should run a lot quicker and more efficient. Remember if it does hang on your server decrease the STEP_AMOUNT variable.

Create a file on your server called threadthumbupdate.php with the following in the file and open it in your browser.

PHP Code:

<?php $STEP_AMOUNT = 20000; ?>

<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"]).",". $db->escape_string($STEP_AMOUNT));

while ($thread = $db->fetch_array($threads)){


    $posts = $db->query_read_slave("SELECT * FROM `" . TABLE_PREFIX . "post` WHERE `postid` = '".$thread["firstpostid"]."'");
    $post = $db->fetch_array($posts);

preg_match('/\[img\](.*?)\[\/img\]/i',$post["pagetext"],$matches);
$query = "UPDATE `" . TABLE_PREFIX . "thread` set `thumbnailurl` = '".$db->escape_string($matches[1])."' WHERE threadid = " . $thread["threadid"];

$db->query_write($query);

}
?>

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

</script>

I want to give a big shout out to everyone who's helped make this script happen. It is GREAT!!!!! I hope it continues to work through-out VBs update.

[ahmedipa]

nice thank you