Miscellaneous Hacks - vBISpy - AJAX real-time feed of new posts/threads

This is a port of vBISpy by MPDev to vBulletin4. MPDev has given me permission to port this modification, if any staff need to see it, I can forward the PM.


If you use this modification, please >> Mark As Installed, Nominate for MOTM, or Support Developer <<, thank you


What is this!?
vBISpy is an AJAX real-time feed of new posts/threads for your vBulletin 4.0 forum.

Please note that this is currently in Beta. The style is not perfect, but the mod should be fully functionial.


Current Version
2.0.4 - You can find the 3.6.x version, here.


Features flagged for future version(s):

• looking for suggestions

Will this work on x.x.x ??
Unless otherwise stated, this will work on all 4.0.x versions. This will not work on 3.x.


Sounds cool. How do I install?

1. Extract the zip, you should have the following directories/files:
   
   

   /
   |_ vaispy.php
   
   /clientscript/
   |_ va_effects.js
   |_ va_prototype.js
   |_ va_spy.js
   
   /images/
   	/misc/
   	|_ pause_down.gif
   	|_ pause_up.gif
   	|_ play_down.gif
   	|_ play_up.gif

2. Upload: (in the below instructions 'yourforum' would be where you have vBulletin installed)
   
   • vaispy.php to /yourforum/vaispy.php
     
   • /clientscript/*.js to /yourforum/clientscript/*.js
     
   • /images/misc/*.gif to /yourforum/images/misc/*.gif

Upgrading
Unless noted otherwise, just upload and overwrite 'vaispy.php'.


Customization
Virtually all the code to customize the page is in the vaispy.php script; there are no plugins, no templates and no phrases. You do not need to do anything further; this should work right out of the box.

If you'd like to block certain usergroups from viewing vBISpy; or certain forums from being displayed - edit vaispy.php

PHP Code:

/**
* Do not list these forums even if they have 
* permissions (test categories, etc)
*
* Enter them by ID, separated by commans (eg: 1,2,3)
*/
$blockforums = '';

/**
* Do not allow these groups.
*
* Enter them by ID, separated by commans (eg: 1,2,3)
*/
$blockgroups = ''; 


In your browser, open the URL:

http://www.yourforum.com/forum/vaispy.php

You can see examples of this at:

• Anyone wanting to list here as an example?

Note: Neither I nor MPDev claim ownership of this code except for the file vaispy.php - the rest of the files were using 'freely distributable' (although modified to suit vBISpy) sources. As such, you may use these files as you wish, but please do not remove the copyrights.


Changelog
2.0.4 - June 23, 2011
- Changed 'xml' to 'feed' when the script is requesting data via AJAX
- Updated code that checks for blocked groups and forums so that it works properly.
- Added version string (?v=) to script calls.
- Updated template html to include facebook data if enabled.
- Updated css link rendering to determine if templates are stored as files or not.

2.0.3 - March 25, 2010
- Updated alternate row colors to use stylevars.
- Added ability to block certain usergroups by editing vaispy.php.
- Fixed possible bug where in certain situations a database error would occur.

2.0.2 - January 23, 2010
- Hopefully the incorrect showthread link is now fixed.
- Added alternate row colors.
- Changed default xml delay in va_spy.js to 3000 from 7000.

2.0.1 - January 21, 2010
- Fixed issue with incorrect path to thread statusicon's
- Edits to clientscript/va_spy.js to hopefully fix issues with incorrect showthread link.
- Removed &nbsp;'s from the rows generated if displayed rows are less than 20

2.0.0 - January 21, 2010
- Ported to vBulletin4 with permission from MPDev



If you use this modification, please >> Mark As Installed, Nominate for MOTM, or Support Developer <<, thank you

[d19rnyxx]

Originally Posted by tomerl1

Hello,

Since 4.1.2. Hack does not work. No Page refresh.
Is this a known error?

Sorry my english (I`m Austrian)

Im having the same issue.
Is there anyway of uninstalling this hack

[Mikevet1984]

Just remove the uploaded in your server files and you are done!

[ZeroHour]

Originally Posted by New Joe

Same problem here, anyone has a fix for this?

Put this under "blockforums = '';"

if ($vbulletin->userinfo[usergroupid] == 1)
{
    print_no_permission();
}

This blocks unregistered.

[sportsfroma2]

I see two reports of it not working in 4.1.2..

Anyone have it working in 4.1.2 or 4.1.3? others having issues?

just wondering about the status of the before I decide to upgrade from 4.0.7 to 4.1.3

thanks

[ZeroHour]

Originally Posted by sportsfroma2

I see two reports of it not working in 4.1.2..

Anyone have it working in 4.1.2 or 4.1.3? others having issues?

just wondering about the status of the before I decide to upgrade from 4.0.7 to 4.1.3

thanks

Running 4.1.3 and all is good
Its code actually doesnt affect vbulletin and unless vb change the structure of the DB it will probably work fine in 4.1.4 etc (4.2 tree *could* be diff but probably not)

[sportsfroma2]

Originally Posted by ZeroHour

Running 4.1.3 and all is good
Its code actually doesnt affect vbulletin and unless vb change the structure of the DB it will probably work fine in 4.1.4 etc (4.2 tree *could* be diff but probably not)

that's good to hear.. I've been using this for years and haven't had any incompatibilities so was surprised to read that this stopped working for some at 4.1.2, so it's good to hear you have it working on 4.1.3.

Occasionally on my site I do have an issue where the spy gets "stuck" and certain posts don't show, but I haven't really found a pattern so figured there's now use reporting it..

For future reference, is there a cache or something that needs to be cleared/reset to get it spying again? seems to happen randomly though

no biggie, just curious

[ZeroHour]

Originally Posted by sportsfroma2

that's good to hear.. I've been using this for years and haven't had any incompatibilities so was surprised to read that this stopped working for some at 4.1.2, so it's good to hear you have it working on 4.1.3.

Occasionally on my site I do have an issue where the spy gets "stuck" and certain posts don't show, but I haven't really found a pattern so figured there's now use reporting it..

For future reference, is there a cache or something that needs to be cleared/reset to get it spying again? seems to happen randomly though

no biggie, just curious

Hmm there is no cache as far as I can see but I suspect that when the xml feed that contains the actual stream of posts fails, the script does not resume. I presume a refresh of the page fixes the issue.
Its also possible some content in the post preview etc has error'ed the script which would stop it updating and there is always the other possibility if your a larger board of the mysql taking a bit too long to respond with the data but you need to have either a weak vps or large amounts of load.
I personally added a html meta refresh tag to our page to prevent these types of issues for those with our iSpy on a different monitor which may be a plan. The refresh we use is either 20 or 40 mins (I need to check)

[skariko]

Hi there,
anyone know this bug?

It solves itself when someone create a new thread. It shows this gray line and don't make auto-refresh. (and don't shows all the latest messages).

Thanks,
Andrea

[tomerl1]

Not working by 4.1.3

[Alan_SP]

works for me on 4.1.2 (just installed, some testing is needed). Is there a way to use new png grafics for threads instead old gifs from vB3.8?