Miscellaneous Hacks - vBulletin to Twitter, live tweets of new threads

This should work on all 4 and 3 versions of vBulletin as it's trivial.

Description:

You start a new thread, this hack makes a tweet about it on your twitter account.

This are live updates... not delayed, not based on RSS... the instant the thread is started, a tweet is made. This is how this hack differs from other hacks.

Why:

Mostly for SEO, but also as an alert system.

For SEO the idea is simply that search engines are drinking from the Twitter firehose and are indexing the links that are tweeted. Faster and increased indexing of your site benefits you by helping it be found.

For alerts it means that users are able to use whatever twitter client they wish to obtain updates. A lot of these provide filtering capabilities, so they're able to get a live filtered stream of updates that interest them. This works very well when you also use thread prefixes.

Pre-requisites:

You should have an account on bit.ly for URL shortening, and you should have an account on Twitter.

Go and register if you haven't yet:
http://bit.ly/
http://twitter.com/

Installation:

NOTE: Most problems are related to not putting your bit.ly or twitter user details in the plugin. Follow the instructions carefully!

Upload the two attached files to your forum root. These are twitter and bitly classes that enable the hack to work, you can also download these from the author:
http://classes.verkoyen.eu/bitly
http://classes.verkoyen.eu/twitter/

Go to the plugin manager and create a new plugin with the following details:
Product: vBulletin
Hook: newthread_post_complete
Title: Tweet to Twitter

PHP Code: [See below]

To configure the PHP code you need to know your bit.ly API key (go get it from bit.ly/account) and your username and password for twitter.

You also should make a list of the forumIds that are non-public as you will want to put these in the array provided.

i.e. if your admin forum is forumId = 7 and you also have a private forum for regular members which is forumid = 12, then you will want this:
$excludedForums = array(7, 12);

The PHP code should be this, with all of the relevant values for your forum inserted (replace everything bolded, including the < and > bits):

PHP Code:

// The array below are the ids of non-public forums, update these to be your admin forum ids or anything non-public by default
$excludedForums = array(0);

// If you are having trouble getting bitly URL shortening to work... disable it!
$useBitly = true;

if (!in_array($foruminfo[forumid], $excludedForums)) {
    $shortUrl = 'http://www.yourforumsdomain.com/showthread.php?t='.$newpost[threadid];

    if ($useBitly) {
      // http://classes.verkoyen.eu/bitly
      require_once 'bitly.php';
      $bitly = new Bitly('<bit.ly username>', '<bit.ly API key>');
      $shortUrl = $bitly->shorten($shortUrl);
    }

    $tweet = '';
    if (isset($newpost['prefixid']) && $newpost['prefixid'] != '') {
        $tweet = $vbphrase['prefix_'.$newpost['prefixid'].'_title_plain'].' ';
    }
    $tweet .= $newpost['title'].' '.$shortUrl;

    // http://classes.verkoyen.eu/twitter/
    require_once 'twitter.php';
    $twitter = new Twitter('<twitter username>','<twitter password>');
    $twitter->updateStatus($tweet);
} 


So the bit.ly line might look like this after you've put your values in:
$bitly = new Bitly('testUser', 'R_hj3456hgf3hig56hi2gf6');
NOT
$bitly = new Bitly('<testUser>', '<R_hj3456hgf3hig56hi2gf6>');
See? Remove those <> bits, they just show what to replace.

The shortUrl line might look like this:
$shortUrl = 'http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t='.$newpost[threadid];

The Twitter line might look like this:
$twitter = new Twitter('stephenfry','op1umisn1ce');

All make sense?

And that's it. Save and activate the plugin and create a test thread.

Now whenever a new thread is started, a tweet will be made to twitter instantly.

You can see this in effect here:
http://twitter.com/lfgss

That is being pushed new threads for http://www.lfgss.com/ and it's working perfectly.

Any questions?

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q: It doesn't work!

A: That's not a question, however if it doesn't work then it's extremely likely you got your username and passwords wrong or left the < > signs in there. Double-check and do it again.

Q: I see an "INVALID_JSON" error

A: Disable bitly by setting $useBitly to false.
Q: I see an "You must be authenticated to access shorten" error

A: The credentials that you entered are either wrong, or you made a mess of the syntax. You did remove the < > when you put your values in right? Did you check the example given above?

Q: I see an error that says "Warning: curl_setopt_array() [function.curl-setopt-array]: CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION cannot be activated when in safe_mode or an open_basedir is set in [path]/bitly.php"

A: Wow, that's a good one... but easily fixable. Insert this at line 136 (just after the CURL options) in bitly.php:

PHP Code:

$no_hack_needed = (ini_get('safe_mode') !== '1' && ini_get('open_basedir') === false);
if ($no_hack_needed) {
  $options[CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION] = true;
} else {
  $options[CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION] = false;
  $options[CURLOPT_HEADER] = true;
} 


[jinx222]

i did everything...removed <>, double checked login details and still won't work ..i'm sad.

[Videx]

Originally Posted by jinx222

i did everything...

Everything except read the last page or so of comments pointing out that it won't work no matter what you do.

Sorry, but every time I point this out it gets buried.

[Yixless]

I get this error:

Basic authentication is not supported on line 204 in /home/yixless/public_html/twitter.php
#0 /home/yixless/public_html/twitter.php(648): Twitter->doCall('statuses/update...', Array, true)
#1 /home/yixless/public_html/newthread.php(274) : eval()'d code(26): Twitter->updateStatus('Twitter Test ht...')
#2 /home/yixless/public_html/newthread.php(274): eval()
#3 {main}


Fatal error: Basic authentication is not supported on line 204 in [path]/twitter.php in [path]/vb/vb.php on line 287
#0 vb_error_handler(256, Basic authentication is not supported on line 204 in /home/yixless/public_html/twitter.php , /home/yixless/public_html/vb/vb.php, 287, Array ([exception] => TwitterException Object ([] => Array ([100] => Continue,[101] => Switching Protocols,[200] => OK,[201] => Created,[202] => Accepted,[203] => Non-Authoritative Information,[204] => No Content,[205] => Reset Content,[206] => Partial Content,[300] => Multiple Choices,[301] => Status code is received in response to a request other than GET or HEAD, the user agent MUST NOT automatically redirect the request unless it can be confirmed by the user, since this might change the conditions under which the request was issued.,[302] => Status code is received in response to a request other than GET or HEAD, the user agent MUST NOT automatically redirect the request unless it can be confirmed by the user, since this might change the conditions under which the request was issued.,[303] => See Other,[304] => Not Modified,[305] => Use Proxy,[306] => (Unused),[307] => Temporary Redirect,[400] => Bad Request,[401] => Unauthorized,[402] => Payment Required,[403] => Forbidden,[404] => Not Found,[405] => Method Not Allowed,[406] => Not Acceptable,[407] => Proxy Authentication Required,[408] => Request Timeout,[409] => Conflict,[411] => Length Required,[412] => Precondition Failed,[413] => Request Entity Too Large,[414] => Request-URI Too Long,[415] => Unsupported Media Type,[416] => Requested Range Not Satisfiable,[417] => Expectation Failed,[500] => Internal Server Error,[501] => Not Implemented,[502] => Bad Gateway,[503] => Service Unavailable,[504] => Gateway Timeout,[505] => HTTP Version Not Supported),[] => Basic authentication is not supported,[] => ,[] => 0,[] => /home/yixless/public_html/twitter.php,[] => 204,[] => Array ([0] => Array ([file] => /home/yixless/public_html/twitter.php,[line] => 648,[function] => doCall,[class] => Twitter,[type] => ->,[args] => Array ([0] => statuses/update.xml,[1] => Array ([status] => Twitter Test http://bit.ly/bnlIzS),[2] => 1)),[1] => Array ([file] => /home/yixless/public_html/newthread.php(274) : eval()'d code,[line] => 26,[function] => updateStatus,[class] => Twitter,[type] => ->,[args] => Array ([0] => Twitter Test http://bit.ly/bnlIzS)),[2] => Array ([file] => /home/yixless/public_html/newthread.php,[line] => 274,[function] => eval))),[code] => 256)) called at [(null):0] #1 trigger_error(Basic authentication is not supported on line 204 in /home/yixless/public_html/twitter.php , 256) called at [/home/yixless/public_html/vb/vb.php:287] #2 vB::handleException(TwitterException Object ([] => Array ([100] => Continue,[101] => Switching Protocols,[200] => OK,[201] => Created,[202] => Accepted,[203] => Non-Authoritative Information,[204] => No Content,[205] => Reset Content,[206] => Partial Content,[300] => Multiple Choices,[301] => Status code is received in response to a request other than GET or HEAD, the user agent MUST NOT automatically redirect the request unless it can be confirmed by the user, since this might change the conditions under which the request was issued.,[302] => Status code is received in response to a request other than GET or HEAD, the user agent MUST NOT automatically redirect the request unless it can be confirmed by the user, since this might change the conditions under which the request was issued.,[303] => See Other,[304] => Not Modified,[305] => Use Proxy,[306] => (Unused),[307] => Temporary Redirect,[400] => Bad Request,[401] => Unauthorized,[402] => Payment Required,[403] => Forbidden,[404] => Not Found,[405] => Method Not Allowed,[406] => Not Acceptable,[407] => Proxy Authentication Required,[408] => Request Timeout,[409] => Conflict,[411] => Length Required,[412] => Precondition Failed,[413] => Request Entity Too Large,[414] => Request-URI Too Long,[415] => Unsupported Media Type,[416] => Requested Range Not Satisfiable,[417] => Expectation Failed,[500] => Internal Server Error,[501] => Not Implemented,[502] => Bad Gateway,[503] => Service Unavailable,[504] => Gateway Timeout,[505] => HTTP Version Not Supported),[] => Basic authentication is not supported,[] => ,[] => 0,[] => /home/yixless/public_html/twitter.php,[] => 204,[] => Array ([0] => Array ([file] => /home/yixless/public_html/twitter.php,[line] => 648,[function] => doCall,[class] => Twitter,[type] => ->,[args] => Array ([0] => statuses/update.xml,[1] => Array ([status] => Twitter Test http://bit.ly/bnlIzS),[2] => 1)),[1] => Array ([file] => /home/yixless/public_html/newthread.php(274) : eval()'d code,[line] => 26,[function] => updateStatus,[class] => Twitter,[type] => ->,[args] => Array ([0] => Twitter Test http://bit.ly/bnlIzS)),[2] => Array ([file] => /home/yixless/public_html/newthread.php,[line] => 274,[function] => eval)))) called at [(null):0]

This is my thingy:

// The array below are the ids of non-public forums, update these to be your admin forum ids or anything non-public by default
$excludedForums = array(0);

// If you are having trouble getting bitly URL shortening to work... disable it!
$useBitly = true;

if (!in_array($foruminfo[forumid], $excludedForums)) {
    $shortUrl = 'http://www.thofgaming.com/showthread.php?t='.$newpost[threadid];

    if ($useBitly) {
      // http://classes.verkoyen.eu/bitly
      require_once 'bitly.php';
      $bitly = new Bitly('bob123', 'R_jf83lr58d7b3grt6f024j9a266bb200a');
      $shortUrl = $bitly->shorten($shortUrl);
    }

    $tweet = '';
    if (isset($newpost['prefixid']) && $newpost['prefixid'] != '') {
        $tweet = $vbphrase['prefix_'.$newpost['prefixid'].'_title_plain'].' ';
    }
    $tweet .= $newpost['title'].' '.$shortUrl;

    // http://classes.verkoyen.eu/twitter/
    require_once 'twitter.php';
    $twitter = new Twitter('bob123','password123');
    $twitter->updateStatus($tweet);
}

[Videx]

Originally Posted by Yixless

I get this error:

Basic authentication is not supported

That's nice. Is there a question here? Before you ask it, have you read back a bit? Like maybe the post right before yours?

[Azonaco]

Originally Posted by Videx

That's nice. Is there a question here? Before you ask it, have you read back a bit? Like maybe the post right before yours?

So are you recommending that we read all previous 37 pages of comments as well before installing. Someone needs to update this mod.

[Videx]

Originally Posted by Azonaco

So are you recommending that we read all previous 37 pages of comments as well before installing. Someone needs to update this mod.

The last time I asked to get a mod sent to the graveyard because it had stopped working I was told exactly that. That it's the user's responsibility to read the entire mod and determine if it works before they install it.

People are still installing that broken mod also after some 2 years now. I finally just had to unsubscribe from it's thread because I couldn't take it anymore.

[jinx222]

i think this thread should be deleted or the mod updated if it doesn't work....i don't get why it's still up.

[cagbaazee]

HI

I hv a problem

Unauthorized on line 236 in /home/gursecr/public_html/vbforum/twitter.php
#0 /home/gursecr/public_html/vbforum/twitter.php(655): Twitter->doCall('statuses/update...', Array, true)
#1 /home/gursecr/public_html/vbforum/newthread.php(274) : eval()'d code(75): Twitter->updateStatus('Seo warrior edi...')
#2 /home/gursecr/public_html/vbforum/newthread.php(274): eval()
#3 /home/gursecr/public_html/vbforum/vbseo.php(1392): require('/home/gursecr/...')
#4 {main}

Warning: Invalid error type specified in [path]/vb/vb.php on line 287

please help me to resolve it.

Thanks

[Videx]

Originally Posted by cagbaazee

Warning: Invalid error type specified in [path]/vb/vb.php on line 287

please help me to resolve it.

Thanks

Uninstall this version and go to https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...=236278&page=7 for the new, working version. Read the thread before installing.

[x YNWA x]

I get this error:

Warning: curl_setopt_array() [function.curl-setopt-array]: CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION cannot be activated when safe_mode is enabled or an open_basedir is set in [path]/twitter.php on line 189
/statuses/update.xml Could not authenticate you. Unauthorized on line 229 in /nfs/c08/h02/mnt/116350/domains/anfieldindex.com/html/forum/twitter.php
#0 /nfs/c08/h02/mnt/116350/domains/anfieldindex.com/html/forum/twitter.php(648): Twitter->doCall('statuses/update...', Array, true)
#1 /nfs/c08/h02/mnt/116350/domains/anfieldindex.com/html/forum/newthread.php(276) : eval()'d code(26): Twitter->updateStatus('hello http://ww...')
#2 /nfs/c08/h02/mnt/116350/domains/anfieldindex.com/html/forum/newthread.php(276): eval()
#3 {main}


Warning: Invalid error type specified in [path]/vb/vb.php on line 287

I did put the thing in line 36 but it did not fix anything.