Add-On Releases - vBISpy - AJAX real-time feed of new posts/threads

After seeing the http://www.digg.com/spy application; I wondered if this could be done for vBulletin as well. I came across this webpage which had a "how to" on how they built a similiar application to do the same thing. Taking a page from their book (i.e. the code), I modified it for use with vBulletin.

During development, I also came across this post here on vBulletin.Org where the very subject had already been discussed.

So I put this together; a simple ZIP file with a single PHP script, three javascript files and 4 images.

Installation

. UNZIP the file into your forums directory
. That's it!

Virtually all the code to customize the page is in the vaispy.php script; there are no plugins, no templates and no phrases. You do not need to do anything further; this should work right out of the box.

In your browser, open the URL:

http://www.yourforum.com/forum/vaispy.php

You can see examples of this at:

http://www.viperalley.com/forum/vaispy.php
http://www.extremefitness.com/forum/vaispy.php

Note: I claim no ownership of this code except for the file vaispy.php - the rest of the files were using 'freely distributable' sources. As such, you may use these files as you wish, but please do not remove the copyrights.

This modification is for vBulletin 3.6 only, if you are running vBulletin 3.5 you will need to see this thread.

JOIN THE vBIspy Network!
Once you have this mod installed, you can join the vBIspy network to have your threads appear on this site; the vBIspy Network is a great way for people to see what's going on in various vBulletin communities and for forum owners to promote their sites and generate new traffic.

Optional add-ons

Who's Online mod for this: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=126209

vBAdvanced Module: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=126421

UPDATES
1.0.4
Added buro9's code from here

1.0.5 - 9.9.06
Modified some JavaScript in va_spy.js to remove split strings

1.0.6 - 9.10.06
Added date cuffoff code from here and changed init() to spyinit() - changed vaispy.php and va_spy.js files.

1.0.7 - 9.12.06
va_spy.js: Added a forum url variable to allow for integration with portals or other products outside the forum directory
va_spy.js: Added xmldelay variable at top of script for easier configuration or repolling
Updated files: vaispy.php, vb_spy.js

1.0.8 - 9.13.06
vaispy.php - changed code for checking for forum permissions to include password protected forums, added javascript tag for script code

1.0.9 - 9.16.06
vaispy.php
va_spy.js
va_effects.js
- modified to allow for proper display in Opera browsers and moved more html into vaispy.php to allow for stylevars, trimmed va_effects.js to remove unused code (ForumDog's suggestions, except not using templates yet), changed way threads are parsed (removes html as well)

1.0.10 - 9.17.06
va_prototype.js - removed 20kb of unused code

1.1.11 - 9.25.2006
vaispy.php
va_spy.js
- added SirAdrian's mods for thread status icons and alternating row colors
- added code to prepopulate the first 10 rows with existing threads allowing for 5 new ones to be added in scrolling mode (versus scrolling starting from the first thread).
- added option to display subscribed threads only

1.1.12 - 9.26.2006
vaispy.php
- added code to add empty rows if initial pull has less than 20 rows.

[Brew]

Originally Posted by MPDev

Yes, forum permissions are checked. You can also exclude specific forums by changing the line:

    // Do not list these forums even if they have permissions (test categories, etc)
    $blockforums = "26,13";

in vaispy.php - I use this to block test post forums and such.

Can you add this to the options for the mod?

So you don't have to manually edit the file

[ninjashoes]

-When I first submitted my site, http://ninjashoes.net to vbispy.com there was no Sport section so I put it in Health and Fitness, theres a sport section now but I dont see how to change category. Can you change this for me?

-Do people who view vbispy.com show up on my online users list? The other day there were 500 people viewing vbispy, were these people actually on my site or at vbispy.com?

[nicker]

is there any way to show this permanently on the forum home page?
I don't have cmps and would like it on the forum.

Great hack, have clicked on installed.

[MPDev]

Originally Posted by Brew

Can you add this to the options for the mod?

So you don't have to manually edit the file

Currently there is no admin section; but if I add one, I'd be glad to put it there.

Originally Posted by ninjashoes

-When I first submitted my site, http://ninjashoes.net to vbispy.com there was no Sport section so I put it in Health and Fitness, theres a sport section now but I dont see how to change category. Can you change this for me?

-Do people who view vbispy.com show up on my online users list? The other day there were 500 people viewing vbispy, were these people actually on my site or at vbispy.com?

Okay, done. No, users are not registered as viewing on your site - although our bot that checks your site every 5 minutes or so will be shown as a guest.

Originally Posted by nicker

is there any way to show this permanently on the forum home page?
I don't have cmps and would like it on the forum.

Great hack, have clicked on installed.

Modify your navbar template and insert a link in there. I have the code in bold added into a cell where I want it to display:

        <td class="vbmenu_control" align="center">
        <a href="/forum/vaispy.php">Live Feed</a>

You may need to modify your path accordingly.

[GamerJunk.net]

Great mod but I think it would be more effective if it was embedded in a page rather than being on a separate page.

[Trana]

Originally Posted by GamerJunk.net

Great mod but I think it would be more effective if it was embedded in a page rather than being on a separate page.

Thus the need for someone who knows how this works to resolve the problems with the CMPS module version of this hack.

[ngaiox]

Wait, I don't get it. What does this do? Does it show a post or thread as soon as it is added? Kind of like a chatroom?

[emiratesmac]

Awesome! Thanks! Just uploaded and it works great. We don't have that many users that it makes much sense yet but we're growing

Now if you could make a similar thing for admin-use where it shows users logging in and out, what thread they're in, what they're doing, etc. If that exists, tell me where, please.

[JoeP]

This is a great feature!

One thing I'm puzzled about - when viewed by a logged-in user, does it distinguish unread from read posts? It seems to display them all. I'd like to see the unread posts highlighted. I'd say this is pretty important considering why a forum member would use a realtime feed.

Even better, I'd like a checkbox 'unread posts only' (like the existing 'subscribed threads only').

How possible are these requests?

Joe

Originally Posted by Doglet

Also, when I use it to take me to a new post, the only way I can get back to iSpy is to use the browser's back arrow and the post that I read still shows as unread, even if I refresh the screen.

I must be doing this wrong. Any hints?

Doglet, did you get it to work the way you wanted?

[TrikkeTalk]

Hi,

I've been here several times and the question I ask is aready asked several times before and completely ignored by everyone .

I installed this hack and it works great, once logged in to my forums (ie or ff) it doesn't work anymore?? Is there a way to solve this problem, just ignoring it doesn't mean this problem is not exitsting. Please try to help me out!!!

Thanks in advance!!