Show Thread Enhancements - Basic QR Intergraton (2D Barcodes) for VB Threads (QR Pages by BOP5) VB4

Brought to you by BirdOPrey5 / Qapla.com

Note: Updated to version 1.5- added QR codes for attachments and profiles as well as threads.

This isn't a polished mod, its purpose is to bring 2D Barcode (QR Code) integration to vBulletin. I will be marking it unsupported as I do not recommend users without some basic HTML or coding experience attempt to use the mod. I will NOT be answering basic setup questions. Instructions for the manual template edits are included in the zip. you may use them if you wish but I strongly suggest you work on a custom solution.

Live Demo: Qapla.com Thread

This mod will allow a uniqe QR Code to be generated and displayed for every thread on your forum.

Users with Android, iPhone, and other advanced phones can easily scan these QR Codes and share links with friends via email, text, and other social networking platforms.

The QR generation is handled by a free open-source project called phpqrcode which has its own GNU Lesser General Public License.

I have created the vBulletin interface needed to generate codes for individal threads, attachments, and/or profile pages.

The mod will check if the QR Code has already be generated for a thread (or profile, or attachment) and if so will simply display the png file previously created. If this is the first time someone has viewed the thread (since installing this mod) it will generate and save the QR Code for future use.

All QR Codes are stored in .png format in a new folder called /images/qr/ which you must create and must be writable. (chmd 755 is usually sufficient but if you have problems go to 777).

A utility included in the Admin CP settings will allow you to delete all these images if necessary.

Other Admin CP settings include the ability to set the size, quality, and border size around the QR Code.

What isn't finished is the best way to intergrate this onto your SHOWTHREAD pages and attachment template. I have instructions for a manual template edits that will give you a basic "box" that you can mouse-over and get the full image to pop-up over the rest of your page.

I am aware this isn't an ideal setup but I am more of a coder than a designer. If anyone has some suggestions (with code) for a better implementation I am open to suggestions.

This mod could be expanded to show QR Codes on all pages, not just threads, but until a better way is found to display the code on the page I didn't bother.

Server Load- In general the mod only generates a code on the first view of the thread- this will usually be when a new thread is first submitted so in the long run I don't anticipate any major server load by this mod. However if you have a very large and very busy forum you can expect a temporary increased load after installation as members visit hundreds of threads which have never had a QR Code generated before. This increased load should decrease after the surge of new generations end.

Disk Usage - The smaller the QR Code you generate the smaller the file size per image. In my experience the average size of each QR code png file was 600 bytes. This would mean about 586 KB per 1,000 threads or 58 Megabytes for 100,000 threads. You can extrapolate from there.

Please Mark as Installed if you use this.

[puertoblack2003]

Hello,

can you add a feature for attachment file download using this mod. ?

thanks

[BirdOPrey5]

Just to clarify- next to each attachment you want a QR code with the URL of the download? It's something I can look into.

[puertoblack2003]

Originally Posted by BirdOPrey5

Just to clarify- next to each attachment you want a QR code with the URL of the download? It's something I can look into.

yes, a better look here > qrcode attachment sample



Attachment 134171

Attachment 134172

[nhawk]

Nice Add-on!

If you aren't using the first post ad location, that's a great place to put this..

Edit the QR Code plugin and put this code at the end BEFORE the }..

$template_hook['share_this_thread'] = $threadinfo['qr'];

Also, change the hook from showthread_complete to showthread_postbit_create

Then in ACP->Advertising, click Add New Ad, select 'Thread' and click on First Post Content.

Title: Share This Thread

Ad HTML:

<div align="center">Share This Thread<br />
{vb:raw template_hook.share_this_thread}</div>

Active: Yes

Click Save and you're all set.

You may need to edit ad_margin, ad_padding and ad_maxWidth in stylevars for it to display properly.

[Sunka]

Good temwork BirdOPrey5 & nhawk

Installed!

[Videx]

Users with Android, iPhone, and other advanced phones can easily scan these QR Codes and share links with friends via email, text, and other social networking platforms.

When I'm reading the forum on my Android smartphone, how do I scan a QR code? And is this easier than clicking a link?

[BirdOPrey5]

You don't use this if you are reading the forum on your smartphone... This is for when you are browsing the forum on a real computer or laptop, you can then scan the image with your smartphone and quickly get the link on your phone to share or use how you want.

[OldSchoolDSL]

Originally Posted by nhawk

Nice Add-on!

If you aren't using the first post ad location, that's a great place to put this..

Edit the QR Code plugin and put this code at the end BEFORE the }..

$template_hook['share_this_thread'] = $threadinfo['qr'];

Also, change the hook from showthread_complete to showthread_postbit_create

Then in ACP->Advertising, click Add New Ad, select 'Thread' and click on First Post Content.

Title: Share This Thread

Ad HTML:

<div align="center">Share This Thread<br />
{vb:raw template_hook.share_this_thread}</div>

Active: Yes

Click Save and you're all set.

You may need to edit ad_margin, ad_padding and ad_maxWidth in stylevars for it to display properly.

For those of you who dislike editing templates or files, but want to use the above alternative

This file will do it for you and you will not need to edit anything.

[Alan_SP]

Excellent mod, but I have problems with deleting images. For some reason it doesn't delete images.

[Alan_SP]

About positioning of QR code, I use this:

<vb:if condition="$post['isfirstshown']">	
<div align="right"><b>Share thread with your friends:</b><br />
{vb:raw thread.qr}
</div>
</vb:if>

Condition is that QR code is shown only in first posts, you can place this code wherever you like it in your postbit (legacy) template. I placed it after signature (but outside of signature conditionals so it's shown even if user don't uses signature).

To use it you need to change plugin hook location as nhawk suggested, from showthread_complete to showthread_postbit_create. But, new template hook that nhawk suggested ({vb:raw template_hook.share_this_thread}) doesn't work, so you don't need to add it at the end of plugin code:

PHP Code:

$template_hook['share_this_thread'] = $threadinfo['qr']; 


It works without it, just use {vb:raw thread.qr} instead.

Important note: If you use it in ad templates, then you need to create this template hook and use it as nhawk suggested. This information is only if you want to manually place QR code somewhere in your postbit (legacy) templates.