End-User Options - Default Postbit Selectable By Members

Hack Support

This hack is now discontinued - this means that while it will remain available for download and use, there will be no further updates, nor will support be provided as the thread is no longer monitored. You can now check out the 3.8.x version of this hack, as it also works with v3.7.5, v3.6.12 (and maybe even earlier versions).

Please click Mark as Installed if you are using this hack.


vBulletin Version Compatibility

This hack can be used with v3.6.10 and v3.7.x. This has not been tested with earlier versions of v3.6.x, but should work.


What Does This Hack Do?

This is a hack that lets your members select the type of postbit they want displayed for themselves, just like here at vBulletin.org.

vBulletin now uses a horizontal postbit as default, but it used to display the postbit vertically in two columns (see screenshots) and some long time members prefer the old school postbit over the new one, and this hack gives them the option. You can leave the forum wide setting as the new postbit, and members can choose themselves if they want this or the old one.

Show single posts will also be affected by this setting.

Now, as an added bonus, you can choose to display the member's default postbit in posts or threads.

DEMO: You can see how this works by testing the function out right here at vBulletin.org, all you need to do is tick the Yes, I prefer old-style postbit checkbox in the Thread Display Options of User CP -> Edit Options. Then check a few threads to see what it does.


IMPORTANT NOTE: This hack will only work if you use the horizontal postbit display site-wide.
I have no plans in making it work with the postbit legacy site-wide. I have looked into it, and it would require code changes to vBulletin's core files to make it work.

So, under the Style & Language Settings section of vBulletin Options in the AdminCP:

• Ensure Use Legacy (Vertical) Postbit Template is set to No.

IMPORTANT NOTE 2: When using Quick Reply when you are in legacy layout with your postbits, posts the QR are displayed in postbit layout when submitted. This quirk is rectified with a refresh of the page (see post #46 for more info). But there is a fix in the v3.8.x version of this hack (which will work with 3.7.x).


Installation Instructions

The Default Postbit Installation Instructions 3.7.xxx.pdf instructions file is included in attached .zip (includes visual instructions).
NOTE: If upgrading then just do Step 2 and Step 3 again.

Uninstall Instructions

1. In the AdminCP, go to User Profile Fields -> User Profile Field Manager.
   • Delete the Default Postbit profile field.
2. Uninstall the product using the AdminCP Product Manager.

Version History

v3.7.002 - Thursday 4th September 2008
-- Final Release
-- Fixed: Bug where keywords being searched for were not being highlighted in the results
-- Changed: Total code rewrite
-- Changed: Instructions
-- Changed: Screenshots
-- Changed: No more editing of plugins
-- Added: AdminCP Options for user profile field ID and displaying members default postbit in post/thread
-- Added: 2 new phrases

v3.7.001 - Tuesday 8th July 2008
-- Initial Release


Show Your Appreciation

Although not required, if you have enjoyed the benefits of this hack, and would like show your appreciation for my efforts, then please feel free to click on the Support Developer link and donate any amount you feel is appropriate.

[Jaxel]

Hmm... the caching error randomly fixed itself...

[Mosh]

Update: v3.7.002
-- Fixed: Bug where keywords being searched for were not being highlighted in the results
-- Changed: Total code rewrite
-- Changed: Instructions
-- Changed: Screenshots
-- Changed: No more editing of plugins
-- Added: AdminCP Options for user profile field ID and displaying members default postbit in post/thread
-- Added: 2 new phrases

[john102774]

Yet another great Hack!

What if we want to use the old postbit as a default to all members, Is there an option?

Thanks for this great Hack!

[Mosh]

Originally Posted by john102774

Yet another great Hack!

What if we want to use the old postbit as a default to all members, Is there an option?

Thanks for this great Hack!

You could try the instructions from the post below, I have not tested them, so you would try the instructions at your own risk, but I don't see why they should not work.

Originally Posted by RedWingFan

This is a roundabout way to do it, but here goes.

IF you can run a database query, you can take an extra step to change everyone over. I did it on my forum a few hours ago and nobody noticed.

After you set up your custom field in the user profile, and you have the ID number, you run this simple query first:

update userfield set field26 = '1'

My custom field was "26"...substitute your own field number there, of course. This would be step #1-1/2 in your procedure.

From that point, I then uploaded the XML file, modified the plugins, etc. per your instructions, then went over to the AdminCP and changed the forum over to the horizontal postbit. Since everyone's "Use the old postbit" setting is checked (set to '1' in the database), it is already turned on for them when you switch the main forum setting over to the horizontal postbit; nobody will know any better!

New users who sign up will get the newer postbit, but if they look through their options, they'll find the checkbox and activate it themselves. I did change the wording so that everyone could understand it better.

So the short version is--insert that database query instruction above as #2 in your procedure, and it's an easy workaround when most people are used to the left-hand postbit.

[Chris583]

I have a problem that I have noticed and a member just pointed out again to me.

"I like vertical more, except when I post, my post only comes up horizontal, and all the others vertical, until I refresh the page, if you can fix that, I'd be really grateful."

Any ideas, help? THANKS!!!

[Mosh]

Originally Posted by Chris583

I have a problem that I have noticed and a member just pointed out again to me.

"I like vertical more, except when I post, my post only comes up horizontal, and all the others vertical, until I refresh the page, if you can fix that, I'd be really grateful."

Any ideas, help? THANKS!!!

I am aware of the issue, it is not a bug, but a behaviour due to the fact that we are tricking vBulletin into thinking that we are using postbit_legacy when the forum is actually not using it.

It is because he is using Quick Reply, and as the whole page has loaded before he has replied, he is relying on Ajax to display the post after he has replied, and considering that vBulletin is being tricked into thinking it is in another mode from person to person, it will initially revert the postbit to horizontal, until the page has been refreshed, we can not get around this without edits to vBulletin files.

That would probably require at least editing vbulletin_quick_reply.js, which is a core vBulltin file (maybe other files too, but have not looked into it yet). I am not really up on javascript or ajax, but may attempt to fix it at some point (I will give no timeframe). But the only problem with the edits, is that each and every time vBulletin is updated, you will have to apply the edits.

[Chris583]

Thanks for the explanation!

[EagleNick]

Originally Posted by Mosh

I am aware of the issue, it is not a bug, but a behaviour due to the fact that we are tricking vBulletin into thinking that we are using postbit_legacy when the forum is actually not using it.

It is because he is using Quick Reply, and as the whole page has loaded before he has replied, he is relying on Ajax to display the post after he has replied, and considering that vBulletin is being tricked into thinking it is in another mode from person to person, it will initially revert the postbit to horizontal, until the page has been refreshed, we can not get around this without edits to vBulletin files.

That would probably require at least editing vbulletin_quick_reply.js, which is a core vBulltin file (maybe other files too, but have not looked into it yet). I am not really up on javascript or ajax, but may attempt to fix it at some point (I will give no timeframe). But the only problem with the edits, is that each and every time vBulletin is updated, you will have to apply the edits.

Hi there
I really like this modification, it is fantastic.

I have been using version 3.7.001 since it was first launched. I just now upgraded to the new version because I realized the issue with the highlighted search terms.
I am now noticing this error where the postbit is horizontal until the page is refreshed (when using Quick Reply).
However I am 99.99% sure that this did not happen in the first version. I would have noticed it a long time ago.

So why is it just now happening in this new version?

[Mosh]

Originally Posted by EagleNick

Hi there
I really like this modification, it is fantastic.

I have been using version 3.7.001 since it was first launched. I just now upgraded to the new version because I realized the issue with the highlighted search terms.
I am now noticing this error where the postbit is horizontal until the page is refreshed (when using Quick Reply).
However I am 99.99% sure that this did not happen in the first version. I would have noticed it a long time ago.

So why is it just now happening in this new version?

It is quite possible it did not, as v3.7.002 was a complete rewrite, and I am doing the same thing in a completely different way, and the original did not highlight no matter what I did, even though it should have, so went back to the drawing board and rewrote it.

If it bothers you that much and you can live without the highlighting of keywords when searching then by all means re-install v3.7.001

[Scamorz]

It doesn't work for me

I have 3.7.0 and i followed all instrunctions, but when i check box it doesn't change nothing...

I have 3 different styles and i make test on default style...