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.

[Chadi]

I've asked on vbulletin.com, vb.org, and the skin developer. No one has helped out with a resolution.

[Sparticus_V2]

i would like to take this and only have 5 recent posts show on my main forum page....

like as a category names "recent topics"
then have the 5 most recent... how do i do this?

[skariko]

This is a wonderful mod, I've installed it on my forum.

I read all 38 pages.. I've found what I'm looking for, but I can't do it.

My question is:

how can I upgrade the line from 25 to 50 post?

If change the "spymax = 25" to 50 it doesn't go.

Can someone help me?

Thanks.

[MPDev]

You also have to edit the html to support 50 rows; I know its been discussed in the early pages, I'm not inclined to keep repeating myself on it so check out the first few pages again.

[Chadi]

Anyone care to help please? Anyone getting the same errors as I do in 3.6.7?

[MPDev]

If you are using the default template, I don't know what to tell you because I cant duplicate it or see the problem in your script.

The only suggestion I might see is to look at your $stylechar[charset] variable and see if that has some kind of issue.

[Chadi]

I use a custom skin from vbstyles.com

My current headinclude

<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=$stylevar[charset]" />
<meta name="generator" content="vBulletin $vboptions[templateversion]" />
<if condition="$show['threadinfo']">
<meta name="keywords" content="$threadinfo[title], $vboptions[keywords]" />
<meta name="description" content="<if condition="$pagenumber>1"><phrase 1="$pagenumber">$vbphrase[page_x]</phrase>-</if>$threadinfo[title] $foruminfo[title_clean]" />
<else />
    <if condition="$show['foruminfo']">
<meta name="keywords" content="$foruminfo[title_clean], $vboptions[keywords]" />
<meta name="description" content="<if condition="$pagenumber>1"><phrase 1="$pagenumber">$vbphrase[page_x]</phrase>-</if>$foruminfo[description_clean]" />
    <else />
<meta name="keywords" content="$vboptions[keywords]" />
<meta name="description" content="$vboptions[description]" />
    </if>
</if>

<!-- CSS Stylesheet -->
$style[css]
<if condition="is_browser('opera') AND !is_browser('opera', '8.0.1')">
<style type="text/css">
ul, ol { padding-left:20px; }
</style>
</if>
<!-- / CSS Stylesheet -->

<script type="text/javascript">
<!--
var SESSIONURL = "$session[sessionurl_js]";
var IMGDIR_MISC = "$stylevar[imgdir_misc]";
var vb_disable_ajax = parseInt("$vboptions[disable_ajax]", 10);
// -->
</script>

<script type="text/javascript" src="clientscript/glossary_crosslinking.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="clientscript/vbulletin_global.js?v=$vboptions[simpleversion]"></script>
<if condition="$show['popups']"><script type="text/javascript" src="clientscript/vbulletin_menu.js?v=$vboptions[simpleversion]"></script></if>
<script type="text/javascript">
document.cookie = "psistats_screenwidth = " + self.screen.width;
document.cookie = "psistats_screenheight = " + self.screen.height;
document.cookie = "psistats_screendepth = " + self.screen.colorDepth;
</script>
<if condition="$vboptions['externalrss']">
<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="$vboptions[bbtitle] RSS Feed" href="external.php?type=RSS2" />
<if condition="$show['foruminfo'] OR $show['threadinfo']">
<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="$vboptions[bbtitle] - $foruminfo[title_clean] - RSS Feed" href="external.php?type=RSS2&amp;forumids=$foruminfo[forumid]" />
</if>
</if>

<script type="text/javascript" src="/highslide/highslide.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">

    // remove the registerOverlay call to disable the controlbar
    hs.registerOverlay(
        {
            thumbnailId: null,
            overlayId: 'controlbar2',
            position: 'bottom left',
            hideOnMouseOut: true,
            opacity: 0.75
        }
    );
    
    hs.graphicsDir = '/highslide/graphics/';
    hs.outlineType = 'rounded-white';
    window.onload = function() {
        hs.preloadImages(5);
    }
</script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/highslide/highslide.css" type="text/css" media="screen" />

my navbar template

<if condition="in_array(THIS_SCRIPT, array(index))"><br /><else /></if>
<if condition="$show['member']"><if condition="in_array(THIS_SCRIPT, array(index))"><else /><br /></if><else /></if>

<!--  Nav -->
<div class="nav_border_out">
  <div class="nav_border_in">
    <if condition="is_array($navbits)">
      <table  cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%" align="center">
        <tr>
          <td width="15"><a href="#" onclick="history.back(1); return false;"><img src="$stylevar[imgdir_misc]/navbits_start.gif" alt="$vbphrase[go_back]" border="0" /></a></td>
          <td width="100%"><span class="navbar"><a href="$vboptions[forumhome].php$session[sessionurl_q]" accesskey="1">$vboptions[bbtitle]</a></span> $navbits[breadcrumb] <img src="$stylevar[imgdir_button]/lastpost_1.gif" alt="" class="inlineimg" /> <a href="$scriptpath"><span class="navbar"><strong>$navbits[lastelement]</strong></span></a> </td>
        </tr>
      </table>
      <else />
      <table width="100%"  border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
        <tr>
          <td width="50%"><if condition="$show['member']">
              <div class="smallfont"><img src="$stylevar[imgdir_button]/lastpost_1.gif" alt="" class="inlineimg" /> $bbuserinfo[username],
               <phrase 1="$pmbox[lastvisitdate]" 2="$pmbox[lastvisittime]">$vbphrase[last_visited_x_at_y]</phrase>
              </div>
              <if condition="$show['pmstats']">
                <div class="smallfont"> <img src="$stylevar[imgdir_button]/lastpost_1.gif" alt="" class="inlineimg" />
                  <if condition="$show['pmstats']"><phrase 1="$vbphrase[unread_x_nav_compiled]" 2="$vbphrase[total_x_nav_compiled]" 3="$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[private_messages_nav]</phrase></if>
            <if condition="$show['pmwarning']"><br /><img src="$stylevar[imgdir_button]/lastpost_1.gif" alt="" class="inlineimg" /><phrase 1="$vbphrase[pmpercent_nav_compiled]">$vbphrase[your_pm_box_is_x_full]</phrase></if>
                </div>
              </if>
              <else />
              <div class="smallfont"><img src="$stylevar[imgdir_button]/lastpost_1.gif" alt="" class="inlineimg" /> <a href="register.php$session[sessionurl_q]" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[nav_register]</a></div>
            </if>
          </td>
          <td width="50%" align="right"><if condition="$show['member']">
             <form action="search.php?do=process" method="post">
           <input type="hidden" name="do" value="process" />
            <input type="hidden" name="quicksearch" value="1" />
            <input type="hidden" name="s" value="$session[sessionhash]" />
          <input type="text" class="navbar_forms" name="query" size="20" onfocus="this.value=''" value="$vbphrase[nav_search_form]" tabindex="1001" />
                <input  type="image" src="$stylevar[imgdir_button]/go.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;"/>
                
              </form>
              <else />
              <!-- login form -->
              <form action="login.php?do=login" method="post" onsubmit="md5hash(vb_login_password, vb_login_md5password, vb_login_md5password_utf, $show[nopasswordempty])">
        <script type="text/javascript" src="clientscript/vbulletin_md5.js?v=$vboptions[simpleversion]"></script>
                <div class="smallfont">
                  <input type="text" class="navbar_forms" style="font-size: 11px" name="vb_login_username" id="navbar_username" size="16" accesskey="u" tabindex="101" value="$vbphrase[username]" onfocus="if (this.value == '$vbphrase[username]') this.value = '';" />
                  <label for="cb_cookieuser_navbar"><input type="hidden" name="cookieuser" value="1" tabindex="103" id="cb_cookieuser_navbar" /></label>
                  <input type="password" class="navbar_forms" style="font-size: 11px" name="vb_login_password" id="navbar_password" size="16"  tabindex="102" onfocus="this.value=''" value="Password" />
                  <input  type="image" src="$stylevar[imgdir_button]/go.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;"/>
                </div>
                <input type="hidden" name="s" value="$session[sessionhash]" />
                <input type="hidden" name="do" value="login" />        
                <input type="hidden" name="vb_login_md5password" />
                <input type="hidden" name="vb_login_md5password_utf" />
                </form>
              <!-- / login form -->
            </if>
          </td>
        </tr>
      </table>
    </if>
  </div>
</div>
<!-- /Nav -->

<!-- Forum Description -->
<if condition="$show['forumdesc']">
<div class="spacer_small"></div>
<div class="forumdesc_border"><div class="forumdesc"><span class="smallfont"><strong>$foruminfo[title]</strong> $foruminfo[description]</span></div></div>
</if>
<!-- /Forum Description -->

<div class="spacer"></div>
<br />


<if condition="$show['popups']">
<!-- NAVBAR POPUP MENUS -->
    
    <if condition="$show['searchbuttons']">
    <!-- header quick search form -->
    <div class="vbmenu_popup" id="navbar_search_menu" style="display:none">
        
        <table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" border="0">
        <tr>
            <td class="thead">$vbphrase[search_forums]</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td class="vbmenu_option" title="nohilite">
 <form action="search.php?do=process" method="post">
                    <input type="hidden" name="do" value="process" />
                    <input type="hidden" name="quicksearch" value="1" />
                    <input type="hidden" name="childforums" value="1" />
                    <input type="hidden" name="exactname" value="1" />
                    <input type="hidden" name="s" value="$session[sessionhash]" />
                    <div><input type="text" class="bginput" name="query" size="25" tabindex="1001" /><input type="submit" class="button" value="$vbphrase[go]" tabindex="1004" /></div>
                    <div style="margin-top:$stylevar[cellpadding]px">
                        <label for="rb_nb_sp0"><input type="radio" name="showposts" value="0" id="rb_nb_sp0" tabindex="1002" checked="checked" />$vbphrase[show_threads]</label>
                        &nbsp;
                        <label for="rb_nb_sp1"><input type="radio" name="showposts" value="1" id="rb_nb_sp1" tabindex="1003" />$vbphrase[show_posts]</label>
                    </div>                   
                </form>
            </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td class="thead">$vbphrase[nav_search_options]</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="search.php?$session[sessionurl]do=getnew">$vbphrase[nav_new_posts]</a></td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="search.php?$session[sessionurl]do=getdaily">$vbphrase[nav_todays_posts]</a></td>
        </tr>

        <tr>
            <td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="search.php$session[sessionurl_q]" accesskey="4" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[advanced_search]</a></td>
        </tr>
 $template_hook[navbar_search_menu]
        </table>
        
    </div>
    <!-- / header quick search form -->
$zointstags_searchform
    </if>

    <if condition="$show['member']">
    <!-- user cp tools menu -->
    <div class="vbmenu_popup" id="usercptools_menu" style="display:none">
        <table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" border="0">
        
        <tr><td class="thead">$vbphrase[quick_links]</td></tr>        
        <if condition="$vboptions['enablesearches']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="search.php?$session[sessionurl]do=getdaily">$vbphrase[todays_posts]</a></td></tr></if>
        <tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="forumdisplay.php?$session[sessionurl]do=markread">$vbphrase[mark_forums_read]</a></td></tr>
        <tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="#" onclick="window.open('misc.php?$session[sessionurl]do=buddylist&amp;focus=1','buddylist','statusbar=no,menubar=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,width=250,height=300'); return false;">$vbphrase[open_buddy_list]</a></td></tr>
                
        <tr><td class="thead"><a href="usercp.php$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[user_control_panel]</a></td></tr>
</tr>
        <if condition="$show['siglink']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="profile.php?$session[sessionurl]do=editsignature">$vbphrase[edit_signature]</a></td></tr></if>
        <!--<if condition="$show['avatarlink']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="profile.php?$session[sessionurl]do=editavatar">$vbphrase[edit_avatar]</a></td></tr></if>-->
        <tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="profile.php?$session[sessionurl]do=editprofile">$vbphrase[edit_profile]</a></td></tr>
        <tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="profile.php?$session[sessionurl]do=editoptions">$vbphrase[edit_options]</a></td></tr>
        
        <tr><td class="thead">$vbphrase[miscellaneous]</td></tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="usercp.php?$session[sessionurl]">My Favorite Threads</a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="member.php?$session[sessionurl]u=$bbuserinfo[userid]">$vbphrase[my_profile]</a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/usercp.php#Notepad">Personal Notepad</a></td></tr>
        <if condition="$show['pmmainlink']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="private.php$session[sessionurl_q]" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[private_messages]</a></td></tr></if>
        <tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="subscription.php$session[sessionurl_q]" rel="nofollow">$vbphrase[subscribed_threads]</a></td></tr>
        <if condition="$show['wollink']"><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="online.php$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[whos_online]</a></td></tr></if>
        
        </table>
    </div>
    <!-- / user cp tools menu -->
    </if>

   <div class="vbmenu_popup" id="journalnavbar_menu" style="display:none">
     <table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" border="0">
     <tr><td class="thead" align="center">$vbphrase[journal_links]</td></tr>
     <tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="journal.php$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[journal_index]</a></td></tr>
     <if condition="$bbuserinfo!=0">
     <tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="journal.php?$session[sessionurl]do=gotomyjournal">$vbphrase[my_journal]</a></td></tr>
     </if>
    </table>
   </div>

<!-- extras pop start -->   
<div class="vbmenu_popup" id="1_menu" style="display:none">  
<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" border="0"> 
<tr>
<td class="thead">
Fun Zone
</td>
</tr> 
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/arcade.php">Arcade</a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/journal.php">Journals</a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/misc.php?do=flashchat">Live Chat</a></td></tr>   
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/gallery/index.php">Photo Gallery</a></td></tr> 
<tr>
<td class="thead">
Special Tools
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/calendar.php">Calendar</a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="glossary.php$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[glossary]</a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/vaispy.php">iSpy</a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="vbgooglemapme.php">Members Map</a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/quotes.php">Random Quotes</a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/usercp.php">Refer A Friend!</a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/tags/">Tag Cloud</a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/worldtimes.php">World Time Zones</a></td></tr>
</table></if>      
</div>  
<!-- extras pop end -->

<!-- extras pop start -->   
<div class="vbmenu_popup" id="2_menu" style="display:none">  
<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" border="0"> 
<tr>
<td class="thead">
Appreciation
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="billspaypal.php?">$vbphrase[billspp_donate]</a></td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="thead">
Help Center
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/faq.php">FAQ</a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/forum-rules-ten-commandments/53-talk-jesus-10-commandments-rule.html">Forum  Rules</a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/showgroups.php">Staff Members</a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/press-stand/3028-statement-faith.html">Statement of Faith</a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/tutorials.php">Tutorials</a></td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="thead">
Info Center
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="http://www.talkjesus.com/forum-news-blog/">Forum Blog</a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="memberlist.php$session[sessionurl_q]">Members List</a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="news.php">RSS News</a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="psistats.php">Site Statistics</a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="misc.php?do=topstats">Top Statistics</a></td></tr>
</table></div>
<!-- extras pop end -->

<!-- / NAVBAR POPUP MENUS -->

<!-- PAGENAV POPUP -->

    <div class="vbmenu_popup" id="pagenav_menu" style="display:none">
        <table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" border="0">
        <tr>
            <td class="thead" nowrap="nowrap">$vbphrase[go_to_page]</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td class="vbmenu_option" title="nohilite">
            <form action="$vboptions[forumhome].php" method="get" onsubmit="return this.gotopage()" id="pagenav_form">
                <input type="text" class="bginput" id="pagenav_itxt" style="font-size:11px" size="4" />
                <input type="button" class="button" id="pagenav_ibtn" value="$vbphrase[go]" />
            </form>
            </td>
        </tr>
        </table>
    </div>

<!-- / PAGENAV POPUP -->
</if>

[Snider]

Why does it take so long to get your site approved ?

[aquariumpros]

Originally Posted by MPDev

No reason it should just stop; should keep working normally.

Unfortunately - it does just (seemingly) randomly stop.

Again it's doing it today:


See the top line - it's blank...but it links to a post if clicked. Notice also the last post states 8-hours ago - however, there have been a number of posts since then.

As I said - it's not just me - my other Mods and Admins all experience the freeze at same time; on both MSIE 7 and FF2.





We rely on this to moderate - so any help would be sooo greatly appreciated.

TIA,

[Mrdby]

so just upload and then it should work?