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.

[Invalid ID]

It's good, but how can we allow our members to see that?

[admin0]

Hi,

Is this possible to display in a small box in another website, but in the same server ??

[ymy]

Originally Posted by dirtycrow

i know you said it checks forum permissions, but how about password protected forums?

In the vaispy.php Look for

// ####################### SET PHP ENVIRONMENT ###########################

REPLACE WITH

// ####################### SET PHP permission ###########################
require_once('./global.php');
if (!($forumperms & $vbulletin->userinfo['userid']))
{
print_no_permission();
}

// ####################### SET PHP ENVIRONMENT ###########################

Thanks much

Installed, great hack >> Click done! :up:

[MPDev]

Originally Posted by Invalid ID

It's good, but how can we allow our members to see that?

I would assume that most people put a link to it in their navbar or their portal page.

[Viper007Bond]

Sweet mod! Got it installed and works great!

However, it's not quite XHTML valid. I had to make about a 1/2 dozen changes to get it to be so.

http://forums.finalgear.com/vaispy.php?styleid=5

[kungfujesus]

This is a great hack. A nice way to just sit back and watch in real time which threads are most active, and when.
I'm keeping this all for myself... my members would only abuse it as they do with most things.

A couple of questions though:

1. In the "event" box, so far mine is only showing "new post" ... is this supposed to be logging anything else? New thread?

2. Is there any way to show the entire post in the thread/post column? It shows a fair amount but cuts off at a certain point.

[MPDev]

Originally Posted by admin0

Hi,

Is this possible to display in a small box in another website, but in the same server ??

Small box? Not that I can think off off-hand; although you could look at the vBadvanced plugin to see if that helps.

[MPDev]

Originally Posted by kungfujesus

This is a great hack. A nice way to just sit back and watch in real time which threads are most active, and when.
I'm keeping this all for myself... my members would only abuse it as they do with most things.

A couple of questions though:

1. In the "event" box, so far mine is only showing "new post" ... is this supposed to be logging anything else? New thread?

2. Is there any way to show the entire post in the thread/post column? It shows a fair amount but cuts off at a certain point.

1. It'll say new post or new thread depending on the last posts it grabs; so, yes, it should be posting new threads.

2. You could modify the vbispy.php application to change the string truncation occurring.

[Zia]

One Question:

I can use it to show thread at vbIspy ? and i dont want our user to seeing this page...just wanted to display the thread at vbiSpy Network only..

update every 1.5 hour(dont want to be a reason of heavy server load)

can u provide some tips?

[MPDev]

I have a module for just that purpose; I should post it here as well. There is no viewing capability (its been stripped out). You just load this on your forums directory and it provides the xml feed.

The file is attached; just upload to your server and run it in a browser window to see if you get the XML data. If you do, then you can submit your site to vBIspy.com.