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.

[bashy]

I meant "when" sorry...

Also i have the AI bot installed as well, and hwen that posts it sometimes messes up, So i am thinking that when the rss and bot posts, they post at the speed of light (so to speak) and it looks like the spy cannot keep up with it, thats what it looks like, I know the bot aint your problem and is hopefully being resolved (slow him posting) so its just the rss feeds..

If one rss is posted its ok, but if theres 2 or more thats when it messes up.
I think the rss feeds posts at virtually the same time, therefore if a smal 1 or 2 second delay can be implemented between posts thats should help

Does this make any sense to you lol

[Timan]

Quick question about modifying the look of the threadbits...

Is there a way to make the bg color of each table row alternate from class="alt1" to class="alt2"?

[kushal]

This is a great mod, allmost making board live of content.

[Adrian Schneider]

I made some major adjustments to mine, take a looksie... The only one not visible here is a 10 minute refresh, to check for new private messages and to update any posts I've read.

Cool New Features

[bashy]

Any chance of your modification Adrian please?

[Adrian Schneider]

Mine also has vBSEO rewritten URLs, so it's a bit diff. I may post it later when I clean it up some more.

BTW if anyone wants alternating rows, here is an easy way to accomplish it.

--

In va_spy.js find

function spyinit() {

Above it, add

var rowClass = 'alt2';

Find

highestid = Math.max(parseInt(spyid), highestid);

above it, add

rowClass = rowClass == 'alt2' ? 'alt1' : 'alt2';

Find

text = '

For every <td> (with or without a class="alt1" or "alt2") make it

<td class="' + rowClass + '">

Remember that some of the cells have alignment set, so be sure to keep that intact.

[MPDev]

Thanks, Adrian!

I'm going to add PhotoPost thumbnails here shortly for new photos added to the gallery.

[warnmar10]

Originally Posted by warnmar10

Other than that one, minor annoyance this is a nice add.

On my site, in Firefox or IE, it only works for guest.

If I log in and run vaispy.php?do=xml under Firefox, everything looks to be in order, I see exactly what I would expect to see but it doesn't display anything on the vaispy.php page.

If I log out in Firefox, browse to vaispy.php it works.

If I open a new tab and log in, it continues to work in the 1st tab.

If while I'm logged in on the 2nd tab I refresh the first tab it continues to work but it doesn't show me as logged in.

If I log in to the working instance on tab 1 it stops working.

I read all 5 pages and saw this problem mentioned 4 or 5 times, did I read past the answer somewhere?

Very cool for my guests though.

It is still no work for me only guests can view, it correctly pulls posts only from forums with guest permission but pulls nothing for logged in users.

[MPDev]

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).

[firstrebel]

Something is not right, look at http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/forum/vaispy.php.

There are different fonts in the first column Event.

Bob