Download Forum Thread To Your Computer (Vb3.x)

This hacks allows you to download a forum thread into your computer (desktop etc.) as a text file with one click.

The hack adds a "DOWNLOAD THREAD" link inside Thread Tools pop-up and when clicked entire thread is downloaded to your computer. (See Screenshot)

It's useful when:
a) You want to archive and save the thread,
b) Want to read it offline,
c) It's a long thread and you want to browse it faster as a text file, use better searching features of your text editor.

The hack is tested with vB3.0.0 And vB 3.0.1, it is NOT tested with versions prior to 3.0.0. (vB2.x version is here). It is very easy to install. As a matter of fact it is an add-on, not a hack so you can install to your board without modifying any vb files. Just upload dt.php to your forum directory and make a easy change in showthread template and it is installed. Simple as that.

VERSION FOR VB 3.5 is released here:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=97217

If you install it, please click INSTALL, thank you.

Note : Download function is tested with IE v.6.0, Netscape v.4.7, Mozilla 1.2a and it's working fine in these browsers. I dont know other browsers or older versions though.
27.May.2004 Bug Fix : A small bug is fixed in file dt.php which effect users with prefixed tables in database.
29.May.2004 Bug Fix : A small bug in dt.php is fixed to cure post titles with special characters ("'?&) in it. Attached dt.php file is uptodate.
12.Dec.2004 Bug Fix : A small bug which causes soft deleted posts to be included in the downloaded text is fixed. Attached dt.php file is uptodate.


Note 1: If you want to use a different download thread image, see this post.
Note 2: If you want to save threads as .rtf, instead of .txt, see this post.


Enjoy the hack,
Logician

[Ocean]

I'm having a problem. When I try to download a Thread, the file name defaults to something like "dt.php?t=14".

The Thread Title has nothing strange about it - we're talking about titles like "Smilie Test".


Any ideas?

[Logician]

Originally Posted by Ocean

I'm having a problem. When I try to download a Thread, the file name defaults to something like "dt.php?t=14".

The Thread Title has nothing strange about it - we're talking about titles like "Smilie Test".

Have you hacked dt.php? Is the lines around 100 is like that:

PHP Code:

  $thread[title] = unhtmlspecialchars($thread[title]);
  $filename=preg_replace("/[.&!:\\\?\^\'\"\$]/", '', $thread[title]);
  if (strlen(trim($filename))<2) {$filename='Thread'.$threadid;}
  header("Content-disposition: attachment;filename=".$filename.".txt"); 


[Ocean]

Originally Posted by Logician

Have you hacked dt.php? Is the lines around 100 is like that:

I used the dt.php file as downloaded directly from here. The section you quoted is exactly what I have in my file.

[Logician]

Originally Posted by Ocean

I used the dt.php file as downloaded directly from here. The section you quoted is exactly what I have in my file.

For debugging purposes try to change the section above like this:

PHP Code:

echo "thread[title] = $thread[title] <br><br>";
$thread[title] = unhtmlspecialchars($thread[title]); 
echo "unhtmlspecialchars (thread[title]) = $thread[title] <br><br>";
  $filename=preg_replace("/[.&!:\\\?\^\'\"\$]/", '', $thread[title]); 
echo "filename1= $filename <br><br>";
  if (strlen(trim($filename))<2) {$filename='Thread'.$threadid;} 
echo "filename2= $filename <br><br>";
  header("Content-disposition: attachment;filename=".$filename.".txt"); 


This will make the hack stop working correctly, but it is temporary debugging so after you make the change, try to dl a thread, note what screen has been posted, you can revert the lines back.

Also please mention your vb version and the browser you are using.

[Ocean]

Originally Posted by Logician

For debugging purposes try to change the section above like this:

This will make the hack stop working correctly, but it is temporary debugging so after you make the change, try to dl a thread, note what screen has been posted, you can revert the lines back.

Also please mention your vb version and the browser you are using.

Replacing the code in question causes no discernable difference in behavior. When I click on "Download This Thread", I get the dialog box asking me if I want to save this file - and the name is still formatted the same way.

Incidentally, if it matters - when I hover over the "Download This Thread" link, the Status Bar shows this as the URL: http://www.mydomain.com/forums/dt.php?t=3


And to answer your last question, I'm using vB 3.0.3, and IE 6.

However, something interesting to note - when I try using this hack (either original or debug version) from a FireFox 0.9.3 browser, the file name shows up as the first word in the Title.

For example, if the Title Thread is "Here we go again", these are the results I get:


IE 6 Filename: "dt.php?t=3"

FireFox 0.9.3 filename: "Here"

[Logician]

Originally Posted by Ocean

Replacing the code in question causes no discernable difference in behavior. When I click on "Download This Thread", I get the dialog box asking me if I want to save this file - and the name is still formatted the same way.

This does not sound right. When you add the lines, it is not possible for the hack to download the thread anymore. It should post some debugging lines into the screen then give "Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by.. " error and post the entire thread into the page. (I've tested and confirmed). Its not doing it makes me think that something is wrong with your installation like script's being run from another board (test board/localhost) or smt.

[Alzeimer]

Nice hack, installed.

[vishalsachar]

Superb --- an absolute must install

[AbSoluTc]

Just wanted to say thank you for an awsome hack and a simple install. Simple, yet one of those things that leaves you saying "how could I live without it".

Thank you and INSTALLED BABY!

[Ig@r]

That is "must have" hack! Thank you!