How Do I: Create a New Thread from an external PHP Script

[chrisjacob]

I've been searching and searching but cannot find 1 clear, easy to follow solution.

Currently I have an external PHP file (i.e. sitting outside the vB /forum/ folder) that can create a NEW Posts against an EXISTING Thread. Referenced:
--------------------------------------
Create Posts
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...highlight=Data

And for Using vBulletin-powered scripts outside vBulletin Directory...
[How-To] vBulletin API Basics: Creating Custom Pages & Misc.
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=98009
--------------------------------------

Now I want to create a NEW Thread against an EXISTING Forum.
Referenced: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....3&postcount=39
Here's my code thus far...

PHP Code:

<?php
// TODO~ Create new thread on existing forum

// change directory to the system path for the forums
// NOTE: add the following code in the beginning of any relative links: $vbulletin->options['homeurl']
chdir('/var/www/vhosts/example.net.au/subdomains/smb/httpdocs/forum');
// current directory
// echo getcwd() . "\n";

require_once('./global.php');
require_once('./includes/functions.php'); // for datamanager_init function, defined in functions.php
require_once('./includes/class_dm.php');
require_once('./includes/class_dm_threadpost.php');

// creating the thread data manager object
$threaddm =& datamanager_init('Thread_FirstPost', $vbulletin, ERRTYPE_ARRAY, 'threadpost'); 
// display object ID
//echo $threaddm . "\n";

// can also be grabbed this way? ~ $forumid = $vbulletin->GPC['fid'];
// https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=1365393&postcount=39
$forumdid= 1; 

$foruminfo = fetch_foruminfo($forumid);
$threaddm->set_info('forum', $foruminfo);

$threaddm->set('forumid', $foruminfo['forumid']);
$threaddm->set('userid', 1);
$threaddm->set('title', 'Testtitle');
$threaddm->set('pagetext', 'a little test');
$threaddm->set('allowsmilie', 1);
$threaddm->set('visible', 1);
$threaddm->set('dateline', TIMENOW);
//$threaddm->save(); 

$threaddm->pre_save();

// check for errors
if (!empty($threaddm->errors))
{
    $errorlist = '';
    foreach ($threaddm->errors AS $index => $error)
    {
        $errorlist .= "<li>$error</li>";
    }
    
    echo $errorlist . "\n";
    // ... additional code; $errorlist is outputted to the user
}
else
{
    echo "No Errors";
    // $threaddm->save(); 
    $thread_id = $threaddm->save(); 

    // ... additional processing code
}  
?>

Thanks in advance for any suggestions

--------------- Added [DATE]1210826124[/DATE] at [TIME]1210826124[/TIME] ---------------

p.s. This is my first crack at using vBulletin - I need to write a custom API to communicate with vB (for now to create New Threads and New Threads with Posts). The vB manual has some handy information but it seems to lack 'clear' examples of USING DataManagers to achieve simple tasks such at creating a new post and/or thread and populating it with data (e.g. from a submitted form).

I know it's going to be possible to do... I just can't figure it out :|

[Dismounted]

What is your problem? It looks like you've got it down.

[chrisjacob]

PHP Code:

<?php
// Create a new thread

chdir('/var/www/vhosts/example.net.au/subdomains/smb/httpdocs/forum');

require_once('./global.php');
require_once('./includes/class_dm.php');
require_once('./includes/class_dm_threadpost.php');
require_once('./includes/functions_databuild.php'); // required for "build_forum_counters"

$threadsdm = new vB_DataManager_Thread_FirstPost($vbulletin, ERRTYPE_STANDARD);

$forumid = '3';
$userid = '2';
$title = 'Test New Thread';
$pagetext = 'This works... Whoo Hoo!!';
$allow_smilie = '1';
$visible = '1';

//$foruminfo = fetch_foruminfo($forumid);   // Not sure what this does so removed it
//$threadsdm->set_info('forum', $foruminfo);  // Not sure what this does so removed it

//$threadsdm->set('forumid', $foruminfo['forumid']);  // Not sure what this does so removed it
$threadsdm->set('forumid', $forumid);
$threadsdm->set('userid', $userid);
$threadsdm->set('title', $title);
$threadsdm->set('pagetext', $pagetext); 
$threadsdm->set('allowsmilie', $allow_smilie);
$threadsdm->set('visible', $visible); // not required?

// no 'post_userid'
// no 'posttext'
// no 'username'

$threadsdm->save();

build_forum_counters($forumid);

unset($threadsdm);  
?>

--------------- Added [DATE]1210893914[/DATE] at [TIME]1210893914[/TIME] ---------------

Originally Posted by Dismounted

What is your problem? It looks like you've got it down.

My previous code seemed to just not work... I was banging my head against a wall. Eventually I ended up with the code posted above - which seems to work (a New thread is created and the forums counters are updated).

If anyone has suggestions on improving my script please comment.

[chrisjacob]

This seems to work for me

PHP Code:

        chdir('/var/www/vhosts/example.net.au/subdomains/abc/httpdocs/forum');
        require_once('./global.php');
                require_once('./includes/class_dm.php');
        require_once('./includes/class_dm_threadpost.php');
        require_once('./includes/functions_databuild.php');

        $forumid = '3';
        $userid = '1';
        $title = 'My New Thread Title';
        $pagetext = 'Thread posted from external php script';
        $open = '1';
        $allow_smilie = '1';
        $visible = '1';
        
        // fetch userinfo
        if (!$userinfo = fetch_userinfo($userid))
        {
            die("Invalid User!");
        }
        
        // initialize datamanager
        $threaddm = new vB_DataManager_Thread_FirstPost($vbulletin, ERRTYPE_STANDARD);
        
        // set data
        $foruminfo = fetch_foruminfo($forumid);
        $threaddm->set_info('forum',$foruminfo);
        $threaddm->set_info('user',$userinfo);
        $threaddm->set('forumid', $forumid);
        $threaddm->set('userid',$userinfo['userid']);
        $threaddm->set('title', $title);
        $threaddm->set('pagetext', $pagetext); 
        $threaddm->set('open', $open);
        $threaddm->set('allowsmilie', $allow_smilie);
        $threaddm->set('visible', $visible);
        
        // error checks
        $threaddm->pre_save();
        if (!empty($threaddm->errors))
        {
            echo ($threaddm->errors);
        }
        
        // save
        $threadid = $threaddm->save();
        unset($threaddm);
        
        // rebuild caches
        build_thread_counters($threadid);
        build_forum_counters($forumid); 


referenced:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....3&postcount=23

[Wakey]

How would I go about using the code in this thread to automatically create a discussion thread using the information from a News Thread (which doesn't allow replies). I can run the script and it creates the thread but I cant figure out how I would go about passing the information to it OR making it run on clicking the submit button to create a thread on a specific forum

[Dismounted]

You can use a plugin at newthread_complete to run the code as a new thread is created. Look above that hook, and you will see the variables for the current thread that is being submitted.

[Wakey]

Originally Posted by Dismounted

You can use a plugin at newthread_complete to ruin the code as a new thread is created. Look above that hook, and you will see the variables for the current thread that is being submitted.

OK I have got it to work on newthread_post_complete but I cant for the life of me work out how to make the new post have the same title as the original. I also cant get it to pull the threadid of the original so i could use the [thread ] tags to link back to the original post.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Oh and what did youy mean by "look above that hook"

[Lynne]

Originally Posted by playSocial

Oh and what did youy mean by "look above that hook"

He means go find the hook newthread_complete in the code and look at the code in the page above it.

[Wakey]

Originally Posted by Lynne

He means go find the hook newthread_complete in the code and look at the code in the page above it.

Any hints to which file the relevent code will be in, or do I just need to go through every script?

[Lynne]

Does your text editor not allow you to search in a folder? If not, I would highly recommend finding an editor that does - I couldn't live without that feature.

I would guess that since the name of the hook is newthread_complete, that it is in the newthread.php script (however, I have no hook called newthread_complete in either my 3.6.8 board or my 3.8.0 board, so I'm guessing you guys are talking about a different hook).