Chat Modifications - MGC Chatbox (with AJAX)

Last version - MGC Chatbox Evo available : here

Description

When I had left the vBulletin world, I was in the past the co-author of a little chatbox (shoutbox), very well known in the vBulletin world.
This chatbox had been developed by Svaliotti (known as Poseidon on vb.org) for vB2 in the past and I had made the porterage (with is authorisation as we were both members of the same french non-official support forum) and the improvement for vB3.

It is thus normal that in my return in the vBulletin world, I begin by getting down to this hack. Even if several versions of chatbox are already present in the vBulletin world, I said to myself that it would be a good thing to make a made in France.

Naturally, I don't deal with a "copy" version of the other chatbox, I have any coded at the beginning (it was preferable because the front code wasn't so clean any more), and I integrated a good quantity of very interesting features.

New version features

The new version contains all the features from the previous version. Description of these versions can be found in Sofia's post hereabove (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=1257510&postcount=3).

Modifications from previous version are the following :

• 1.5 :
  • Fixed bugs :
    • Chatbox is shown two times in full page mode when the Display on all pages under the navbar option is selected.
    • "Fermer" is not in a sentence.
    • Overflow problem with Netscape.
    • Uppercase transformed to lowercase in the PM channel.
    • The ban cron debans user indefinitly banned.
    • Chatbox continuously loading on some forums.
    • Inactivity and guests problem.
    • Team icon blinking is not working properly.
    • Coma error in the who is online.
    • 2 spaces instead of one between the date and the time.
  • New functionnalities :
    • Option to deactivate the random smilies.
    • Option to deactivate the automatic PM sending when banning a user.
    • New permission to allow or not the downloading of shouts.
    • Option to specify the name under which unregistered users shouts appear.
    • Syntax change for the /ban, /ignore, /del, /pm commands : Possibility to use them with the username or the userid (For more information about the new syntax, check the help button in the chatbox).
  • Removed functionnalities :
    • vBAdvanced integration [TEMPORARLY] => See this for integration with this version https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=163628

This hack is very light in term of queries : only one for every recharging / refreshment of the chatbox and 5 for the statistics in the load of the page if you actiate them. If you don't activate advanced options of course as stated aside each in the acp

Installation

Read the file "Installation" in the pack.

Once the installation is ended, go in usergroups and edit permissions to see the Chatbox.

By default, no group has access to the chatbox.

Screenshots

The screenshots are in french as I have made it on an online website which is in french. Don't hesitate to give me new one if you want in english

They are up to date of 1.3 version.

See the following post : https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=1292136&postcount=559

User manual

Coming soon ...

Copyright

This hack is under copyright MGC (Mtor&Grog Corporation) 2007-forever and was developed for vBulletin-Resources.com & vb-hacks.org. Its redistribution on another forum that vbulletin-ressources.com, vb-hacks.org or vbulletin.org are prohibited without aggreement of the authors!

Evolutions and improvements

This sixth version of the chatbox is already very complete, but like each product, its evolution depends on all. Then don't hesitate especially to share your ideas of improvements so that we can improve even more this chatbox.

Languages

Actually available :

1. French
2. English
3. Arabic [Translator : alessai]
4. German [Translator : captainslater]
5. Vietnamese [Translator : Anhyeu12000]
6. Turkish [Translator : neutralizer and bocek]
7. Spanish [Translator : obmob] [TO BE UPDATED FOR 1.5]

To be available [Translation in progress] :

1. Bosnian [Translator : Benjaminbih]

[FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']For the translators : phrases with version number 1.5 in the English language file are the one that have been modified or added in the new version so you should probably find the modification for your language file easily.[/font]

Contact me if you want to participate and add your own country language file

Support

Several possible problems are explained in the file "Read Me"
Chatbox in iBProarcade and vBadvanced CMPS

See the readme file for iBProarcade.

For vbadvanced, a module is available here : https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=163628.

FAQ

Q: I installed the chatbox but it doesn't display
R: Check if you have allowed users (permissions in usergroups)

Q: I see shouts but in the collapsed chatbox
R: You can specify number of shouts in the collapsed chatbox. If you don't want to see it, put "0" for this option.

Q: The chatbox doesn't display below or in the top of one of the pages while in the other position it displays
R: You use a style and it's possible that variables used in templates aren't present. (Read the file "Read Me")

Q: I have a problem with accents in the Chatbox
R: Read the file "Read Me"

Q: How to change the value of color for date and for command /me?
R: When you add additionnal CSS for each style, you can change color in class CSS.

Thanks to Sofia for her earlier help on the chatbox.

You can donate if you want to show your support

Last version - MGC Chatbox Evo available : here

[frozen187]

I also have 3.6.8 and it's working great! I've had no complaints about it what so ever

[Henry187]

What does the "MP" (as an alternative to "PM") actually stand for? Sorry if this was already asked.

Also, as an idea, if not already mentioned, perhaps you could make a message appear whenever you get a PM in the chatbox. For example, if you're viewing a different channel, a message could show up, much like if someone had posted something, that says something along the lines of "[date/time] ________ sent you a message. Check your PM channel to view it". I'm only suggesting this because you can't really notice if someone sends you a message unless you're checking the channel every-so-often.

[bocek]

Originally Posted by Repentless

Do NOT use this mod. Does not work at all, frequent problems, javascript is sloppily coded and will not render at all.

Tested on vB 3.6.8

I didn't face any major problem.
And some minors are corrected, solved simply.

[VBDev]

Originally Posted by Richard1964

Can I just add my name to the others that have requested a sound alert when a new message is posted. This is a feature that several of my members have asked about (We had it in a previous 'chat' feature and they loved it)

Anyway, I'd love to see it implemented.

This would be a bit too hard for the server I think IMO.

Originally Posted by Repentless

Do NOT use this mod. Does not work at all, frequent problems, javascript is sloppily coded and will not render at all.

Tested on vB 3.6.8

This is a very constructive remark ... Among more than 500 people you're are the only one who's nervously sending such post ...

Before saying that it doesn't work at all maybe you should think of the fact that you might have installed it wrongly ...

[VBDev]

Originally Posted by Henry187

What does the "MP" (as an alternative to "PM") actually stand for? Sorry if this was already asked.

Also, as an idea, if not already mentioned, perhaps you could make a message appear whenever you get a PM in the chatbox. For example, if you're viewing a different channel, a message could show up, much like if someone had posted something, that says something along the lines of "[date/time] ________ sent you a message. Check your PM channel to view it". I'm only suggesting this because you can't really notice if someone sends you a message unless you're checking the channel every-so-often.

MP is the french translation of PM : Message priv? <=> Private Message

Yes this is planned check out the todo list

[redtaz]

Originally Posted by VBDev

It seems that it depends of the server configuration coz user with big boards haven't experienced such problems while few of you have.

What refresh rate have you put for the chatbox ?

Have you activated team message warning system and inactive mode ?



No spanish phrases are up to date (unless I forgot to put the uptodate version ).

Regarding the color, there is not change between two dates, it's the same color for all the date in the chatbox.

Did you put the css thing in the right place ?



To do so, you have to follow the howto at the end of the readme file (about style issue).

This is not really a style issue but as both modifications are using replacements to appear after the navbar, the first called will be the first under the navbar. And as you can't manage the order of the plugin calls you have no way of choosing which one will be the first.

So the only thing to is following the little howto to put it under the navbar in your forumhome template

Thanks that worked now one more question I have the full chat window button enabled on my chat but when you roll over the button "Ouvrir la chatbox en pleine page" where can i edit that so it says it in English?

Thank You,
REDTAZ

[Andres Kello]

Hi VBDev,

I'm experiencing a problem and wanted to give you some feedback so you can perhaps fix this in the next version.

I wanted the Chatbox to appear on every page of my forum so on the option Display on defined pages above the navbar I selected YES.

This worked, and placed the Chatbox on the pages were it was not appearing before (for example, on the "New Posts" page).

HOWEVER, on these new pages (such as "New Posts"), the Chatbox appears farther below than in the default pages. In fact, on the new pages, the space between the Chatbox and the NavBar doubled from 16 pixels to 32 pixels.

In the index page, threads, and posts it had 16 pixels of spacing, and on every other page it has 32 pixels of spacing. So when browsing the forum, the Chatbox jumps from one position to the other depending on what page you are on, instead of always staying in the same position.

To give you a better idea of what I'm talking about, I took screenshots so you can see the Chatbox on the index page (with the default 16 pixels of spacing) and on the "New Posts" page (with 32 pixels of spacing). I also took a screenshot of my Chatbox settings so you know what they are:

• Index Page Screenshot (16 pixels): http://www.mobility.mobi/images/chatbox-16px.png
• New Posts Screenshot (32 pixels): http://www.mobility.mobi/images/chatbox-32px.png
• Chatbox Settings Screenshot: http://www.mobility.mobi/images/chatbox-settings.png

Thank you very much for your time, other than that the Chatbox is working great so far!

Cheers,
Andres

[Abu2]

Hi, VBDev! I have the same bug of chat-loading in IE The problem still exist for v 1.5.

Please, help!

Stroke: 459
Symbol: 4
Error: "mgc_cb_jsloc"
Kod: 0
URL: http://www.solium.ru/forum/index.php

[GoNz00]

try a uninstall and manual file removal, then reinstall as its been working fine for my clans site?

[VBDev]

Originally Posted by redtaz

Thanks that worked now one more question I have the full chat window button enabled on my chat but when you roll over the button "Ouvrir la chatbox en pleine page" where can i edit that so it says it in English?

Thank You,
REDTAZ

I think it a phrase I forgot to put in the english xml language file or an hardcoded one

Have a look in the mgc_chatbox_editor template and check if it's a phrase or an hardcoded text.

If it's a phrase you will be able to modify it by editing the phrase in your language manager otherwise directly in the template if it's hardcoded.

Originally Posted by Andres Kello

Hi VBDev,

I'm experiencing a problem and wanted to give you some feedback so you can perhaps fix this in the next version.

I wanted the Chatbox to appear on every page of my forum so on the option Display on defined pages above the navbar I selected YES.

This worked, and placed the Chatbox on the pages were it was not appearing before (for example, on the "New Posts" page).

HOWEVER, on these new pages (such as "New Posts"), the Chatbox appears farther below than in the default pages. In fact, on the new pages, the space between the Chatbox and the NavBar doubled from 16 pixels to 32 pixels.

In the index page, threads, and posts it had 16 pixels of spacing, and on every other page it has 32 pixels of spacing. So when browsing the forum, the Chatbox jumps from one position to the other depending on what page you are on, instead of always staying in the same position.

To give you a better idea of what I'm talking about, I took screenshots so you can see the Chatbox on the index page (with the default 16 pixels of spacing) and on the "New Posts" page (with 32 pixels of spacing). I also took a screenshot of my Chatbox settings so you know what they are:

• Index Page Screenshot (16 pixels): http://www.mobility.mobi/images/chatbox-16px.png
• New Posts Screenshot (32 pixels): http://www.mobility.mobi/images/chatbox-32px.png
• Chatbox Settings Screenshot: http://www.mobility.mobi/images/chatbox-settings.png

Thank you very much for your time, other than that the Chatbox is working great so far!

Cheers,
Andres

Hum Yes really strange.

Perhaps those page have a defined height or particular margin which leads to that difference. But they are mainly generic so I don't see why it would act like that.

By the way such bug might be a hassle to debug

Originally Posted by Abu2

Hi, VBDev! I have the same bug of chat-loading in IE The problem still exist for v 1.5.

Please, help!

I think it's because you made modifications to the mgc_chatbox template in the previous version and you haven't reverted it for the new version installation.

Revert the template and you'll see everything will be fine