Major Additions - Discuss!! A Yahoo Answers Clone

Discuss!!
A Yahoo Answers Clone

by ChrisTERiS

Compatible with 4.2.0
but you must download the file Disucss_1_4_0.zip

1. Why we need a discussion mod

Maybe sounds crazy to have a powerfull forum and to install this AddOn. But this is not true. I do agree that vB has tons of features for any type of discussions. But from the other point Yahoo Answers (and dozens of similars sites) became famous, because they offer a simple way to users to get replies. Short questions, with a couple of replies. Why to go in a complicated system for this? And why to add dozens of extra categories, subcategories etc etc, just for this? This is the reason that you need it.

2.- How it works?

Very simple, so easy to use by novice users too. A member is posting a question in any of your categories (unlimited level are supporting) and then is waiting other members to post a reply. Reads the replies, chooses the best and that's all. There is no need for discussion here.





3.- Installation

1. Download, unzip and upload all files from the "upload" folder where your vb installation is (you can't install in different directory).
2. Goto you admincp and import the product-discuss.xml
3. That's all

4.- Configuration





Configuration is very easy and is like all other addons here. You need to follow the steps below, and soon you'll be ready:

1. First of all goto Usergroup permissions and set what each usergroup can do or not do.
2. Goto Discuss General setting, check the default values and change them if you want
3. PM Templates. I believe that the predefinied text is ok for most of you. But if you want you can change them. Please don't touce the variables (anything inside {}). The available variables are:
   1. {questiontitle} : Title with link
   2. {questiontitle_nolink} : As above but without link
   3. {category} : Category name with link
   4. {category_nolink} : Category without link
   5. {questionowner} : The author's username with link
   6. {questionowner_nolink} : As above, no link
   7. {description} : 200 chars from the question body
   8. {username} : This is the "To:" value. eg Dear {username},
   9. {postdate_short} : Post date in format that you've set as long dates
   10. {postdate_long} : Same as above in long date format
   11. {signature} : Anything that you've set in your settings
4. Last step is to set your categories.

5.- Copyright

In the footer of each page there is a link back to my site vBulletON.com. Even if it easy to remove it, please avoid doing it. Respect if you want to be respected. That's the only that I can say.

6.- PRO version

Currently there is no one. I don't use to build an addon, and then remove 90% of its features to make a free version. No. This is all that I've done. Sure there are dozens of more features that I can add. If I see that this mod becomes popular then I'll add them but as commercial version.

7.- Live Demo

http://www.christeris.com/testvb4/discuss.php

Login:
demouser1 / demopass1
demouser2 / demopass2
demouser3 / demopass3

Enjoy
Chris

[apokphp]

Also, to be clear here, is it the case that it is impossible to remove/delete answers?

That is, is it the case that there is ZERO moderation capability with this mod (other than the initial approval)? So far, it seems as if we want to have any control over the questions or the answers, it must go through the approval queue...but after it has been approved, there is nothing we can do to edit or remove the questions or posts OTHER than the user being capable of editing/deleting the question (but not a mod/admin)...is this accurate?

[apokphp]

Other issues with 4.1.12 version:

1) More of a question...are the #'s in the category counter (0/0) updated w/ the cron? It doesn't seem to appear to increase the #'s as soon as the questions are given (or resolved). If it is dependent upon the cron, that explains the issue I'm having. If they are supposed to appear immediately, they aren't.

2) Using a sub-category doesn't work well. If you click on that sub-category (as a link), it takes you to the forum home page (instead of the sub-category page). Also, when a category has a sub-category...clicking on that category will take you to its sub-category.

btw, I've tested out all these issues with 2 styles: my custom, but also the vb 4.1.12 default. I'm using the 1.2.0 version of the mod on a 4.1.12 vb board.

[fromtheflames]

Hi Chris!

Thanks for this mod, is fantastic!

I permitted to translate it to Italian; here attached the xml.
Please let me know if it's ok!

[Chadi]

Can someone please help me fix the sidebar to make it look consistent with forum sideblock?

It has no purple background, proper padding, borders, etc.

This is a sample code of the default block_html template

<li>
<div class="block smaller">
<div class="vbcat"><div class="vbcat_left"><div class="vbcat_right">
<div class="blocksubhead">
<a class="collapse" id="collapse_block_html_{vb:raw blockinfo.blockid}" href="{vb:raw relpath}#top"><img alt="" src="{vb:stylevar imgdir_button}/collapse_40b.png" id="collapseimg_html_{vb:raw blockinfo.blockid}"/></a>
<span class="blocktitle">{vb:raw blockinfo.title}</span>
</div>
</div></div></div>
<div class="widget_content blockbody floatcontainer">
<div id="block_html_{vb:raw blockinfo.blockid}" class="blockrow">
{vb:raw content}
</div>
</div>
<div class="vbcat_bottom"><div class="vbcat_bottom_left"><div class="vbcat_bottom_right">&nbsp;</div></div></div>
</div>
<div class="underblock"></div>
</li>

[Code Geass]

i have proplem in instull

Database error in vBulletin 4.2.0:

Invalid SQL:
ALTER TABLE usergroup ADD discuss INT( 10 ) UNSIGNED DEFAULT '0' NOT NULL;

MySQL Error   : Duplicate column name 'discuss'
Error Number  : 1060
Request Date  : Friday, June 8th 2012 @ 04:27:30 PM
Error Date    : Friday, June 8th 2012 @ 04:27:30 PM
Script        : http://www.gta-arab.com/gt/***/plugin.php?do=productimport
Referrer      : http://www.gta-arab.com/gt/***/plugin.php?do=productadd
IP Address    : 188.54.0.75
Username      : R9a9~
Classname     : vB_Database
MySQL Version : 5.1.61-community-log

plz help me

[artcrimes]

nice module!

[macroforum]

Originally Posted by fromtheflames

Hi Chris!

Thanks for this mod, is fantastic!

I permitted to translate it to Italian; here attached the xml.
Please let me know if it's ok!

Thanks!
Antonio

[macroforum]

Fantastic Mod! Nominated!
Only this: how can i close one question?

Antonio

[fromtheflames]

Hi

I know that is possible be notified if a new question is made under a category that you follow, but if someone is not smart enough to put the question under a category, I (the admin) will not be notified of that until I will check manually.

Can you code a method for the admin to be notified of every new question?

[fromtheflames]

Originally Posted by macroforum

Fantastic Mod! Nominated!
Only this: how can i close one question?

Antonio

you can close it choosing the winner!