[help] Displaying Variable after links

[Dr.CustUmz]

this should be my last request for help regarding this.

I am trying to show external link clicks next to links in post, like how twitter forums do:


I have everything ready, I just need help getting the count to show next to links in post through plugins.



plugin:
postbit_display_complete

$this->post['message'] = str_replace('href="', 'href="./out.php?link=', $this->post['message']);
$this->post['signature'] = str_replace('href="', 'href="./out.php?link=', $this->post['signature']);

this captures any link posted and sends it through out.php (which is effecting imgs if using highslide or w/e is built in currently which i also will need to fix)

out.php which captures the link to the database:

PHP Code:

define('NO_REGISTER_GLOBALS', 1);
define('THIS_SCRIPT', 'drc-lf');
require_once('./global.php');

if (isset($_GET['link'])) {
    // format passed url
    $drc_url = $_GET['link'];
    unset($_GET['link']);
    if(count($_GET))
        $drc_url = $drc_url . '&' . http_build_query($_GET);

    // deals w/ the display if $drc_url is a valid URL
    if (filter_var($drc_url, FILTER_VALIDATE_URL)) {
        $site = parse_url($_SERVER['HTTP_HOST']);
        $site = $site['path'];
        $url = parse_url($drc_url);
        
        // the passed url is not an external link
        if ($site == $url['host']) {
            Header( "Location: ". $drc_url);
        }
        // the passed url is an external link
        else {
          $query = $db->query_first("SELECT * FROM ". TABLE_PREFIX ."redirect WHERE url = '" . $drc_url . "'"); 
          if (!$query){ 
              $db->query_write("INSERT INTO ". TABLE_PREFIX ."redirect (url, hits) VALUES ('" . $drc_url . "', 1)");
          } else { 
              $db->query_write("UPDATE ". TABLE_PREFIX ."redirect SET hits = hits + 1 WHERE url = '" . $drc_url . "'"); 
          }  
           
            eval('print_output("' . fetch_template('drc_lf') . '");');
        }
    // open invalid link
    } else {
        Header( "Location: ". $drc_url);
    }
} 


So I have the data I need, I just don't know where to go from here.
Something like this should return the results:

$vbulletin->db->query_first("
  SELECT SUM(hits) AS hits
  FROM " . TABLE_PREFIX . "redirect
  WHERE url = '$drc_url'
");

I used

$drclf = $vbulletin->db->query_first("
  SELECT SUM(hits) AS hits
  FROM " . TABLE_PREFIX . "redirect
  WHERE url = 'http://google.com'
");

in global
and placed $drclf[hits] in header and it worked properly (just to test)

I just don't know where to hook it without causing severe queries in every postbit, or maybe even a cron task, where it updates the count every so often, and how can I get it to show after every link without modifying core files. I just need some help getting the final result like the first IMG.

sorry for all the help needed, I'm better when it comes to design lol.

--------------- Added [DATE]1458967207[/DATE] at [TIME]1458967207[/TIME] ---------------

really really need some help.

I been working non stop on this I managed to get the location where i need the number i just cant get the result to display in it.

and i know this is going to cause massive queries when ever i do get it working, so i need help figuring out another way to do it.

in global_start i have:

$drc_url = $_GET['link'];

$drclf = $vbulletin->db->query_first("
  SELECT SUM(hits) AS hits
  FROM " . TABLE_PREFIX . "redirect
  WHERE url = '$drc_url'
");

that doesnt feel right to me though.

then in postbit_display_complete is:

$post['message']=preg_replace ('</a>' , '</a>('.$drclf[hits].')' , $post['message']);

this isn't working though which im almost certain is because of the query in global. I think im off a little.

also my preg replace is f'd up and looks like <(this)> in posts <> shouldnt be in it but when i remove them i get an infinite load on showthread.

this is just driving me insane and i didnt think it would be this difficult.

all the data is ready, i just need to return it.

end goal:
Attachment 154574

the table:
Attachment 154575