Forum Display Enhancements - ThreadWorks: Threaded Forum Display

ThreadWorks
ThreadWorks is a vB plugin that allows a threaded forum display.

Features:
No modification to the vB code base

Only one template edit is necessary.

Saves display options sort order when a user chooses how to sort threads on forumdisplay.php

Installation
Installation instructions are included in do_not_upload/README.install.txt and are very simple.

Live Demo
To see it in a live production environment, visit http://forums.audiworld.com. Threaded mode is not enabled by default. You will need to register an account and set thread display mode to threaded in User CP.

Contact / Support
If you have any questions/problems post them here and I will get to them when I can.

[ibautocommunity]

Originally Posted by Patrick1969

I got it and it works with the NT as well as URL and PIC .gif, this is very good. Now the only thing I would need it a way to highlight the posts and/or threads which have been viewed while viewing the forum in a Threaded Format like this. That would be the last fix required for this format in order for all participants to adopt it as well as use it, is there an easy fix for this?

You can achieve this simply by adding the following CSS definitions:

a.threadlink {
color: blue;
}
a.threadlink:visited {
color: #551a8b;
}

You add these by going to "Styles & Templates"->"Style Manager" and editing the Main CSS for your style. Add them to "Additional CSS Definitions".

[Patrick1969]

Originally Posted by ibautocommunity

You can achieve this simply by adding the following CSS definitions:

a.threadlink {
color: blue;
}
a.threadlink:visited {
color: #551a8b;
}

You add these by going to "Styles & Templates"->"Style Manager" and editing the Main CSS for your style. Add them to "Additional CSS Definitions".

Thank you so much, that did the trick.

The only two last questions I have when you have a chance to get to it, is how to change the font size in the threaded forum view as well as the background color which differentiate the different threads and then I'd be pretty much set (I hope)

And again thank you for putting this together as well as taking the time to walk me through it all, it is greatly appreciated.

[ibautocommunity]

Originally Posted by Patrick1969

Thank you so much, that did the trick.

The only two last questions I have when you have a chance to get to it, is how to change the font size in the threaded forum view as well as the background color which differentiate the different threads and then I'd be pretty much set (I hope)

And again thank you for putting this together as well as taking the time to walk me through it all, it is greatly appreciated.

I am glad it is working for you. I plan on making the alternating background colors more configurable, but for now they rely on the alt1/alt2 css classes. However, in the current xml file I also define another color that fits our need at the moment. If you want it to only rely on the alt1/alt2 classes, you will have to edit the xml file and remove the following bit of code:

$thread_bg_color = ($thread_bg_color) ? '' : 'background-color: #eeeae8;';

[Patrick1969]

Originally Posted by ibautocommunity

I am glad it is working for you. I plan on making the alternating background colors more configurable, but for now they rely on the alt1/alt2 css classes. However, in the current xml file I also define another color that fits our need at the moment. If you want it to only rely on the alt1/alt2 classes, you will have to edit the xml file and remove the following bit of code:

$thread_bg_color = ($thread_bg_color) ? '' : 'background-color: #eeeae8;';

Thank you I will have to get it done and try different things, as long as the forum is not officially launched I can play with the settings. So far fantastic, and the threaded view if for the users who have known only Network54 type forums, very simple with no options... as such I'd rather give them an option they are familiar with and this works.

In some of the image samples you posted, the font did not look as big as what I am seeing on my monitor once I set it to Threaded Forum View. I inserted an image below. How do I make the font smaller? What I'll do afterward is attempt match the 'light yellow' background to the main forum standard gray #E1E1E2 the light blue is perfect though.

Here is a screen capture, see how big the font is... I just have no idea how to make it smaller

[ibautocommunity]

Originally Posted by Patrick1969

In some of the image samples you posted, the font did not look as big as what I am seeing on my monitor once I set it to Threaded Forum View. I inserted an image below. How do I make the font smaller? What I'll do afterward is attempt match the 'light yellow' background to the main forum standard gray #E1E1E2 the light blue is perfect though.

The font size is currently defined by the bigusername class.

In the xml file the line of code is:
$threadworks .= "<div class='bigusername $thread_alt' style='$thread_bg_color padding: 10px'>";

[Patrick1969]

Originally Posted by ibautocommunity

The font size is currently defined by the bigusername class.

In the xml file the line of code is:
$threadworks .= "<div class='bigusername $thread_alt' style='$thread_bg_color padding: 10px'>";

Thank you, I was successful in changing the background color however I had difficulties in making the font smaller, I just got it by changing 'bigusername' to user name that worked.

Thank you for pointing me in the right direction for this one.

[ibautocommunity]

Originally Posted by Patrick1969

Thank you, I was successful in changing the background color however I am having difficulties in making the font smaller, what do I need to change in the code, I already updated the 10px to 8 px without any effect as well as tried 10pt and 8pt, I guess I am missing something somewhere.

Thank you for pointing me in the right direction for this one.

Something you can try is replacing the existing line:
<div class='bigusername $thread_alt' style='$thread_bg_color padding: 10px'>

with:
<div class='$thread_alt' style='$thread_bg_color padding: 10px; font-size: 10px'>

This is a quick and dirty way to get it working now. Eventually I want to move all style definitions into a css file and all html created into a template.

[Patrick1969]

Originally Posted by ibautocommunity

Something you can try is replacing the existing line:
<div class='bigusername $thread_alt' style='$thread_bg_color padding: 10px'>

with:
<div class='$thread_alt' style='$thread_bg_color padding: 10px; font-size: 10px'>

This is a quick and dirty way to get it working now. Eventually I want to move all style definitions into a css file and all html created into a template.

Thank you so much for all your help, so far so good, lets see what the users will tell me but I think with the threaded view option everyone will be happy. I will keep my eyes out for new updates.

[Patrick1969]

After a weekend of trying it out and testing it, it works really well for the people who prefer to have a Threaded Forum View, now is there a way to keep the original message tree in place has opposed to move it within the threaded view under the post, that we do find a bit confusing at this time. It is great that it has the ability to move the message tree below the post, but that's a step beyond what we are a.) used to and b.) what makes the threaded view so legible for some.

Thank you.

[gct13]

Originally Posted by Patrick1969

now is there a way to keep the original message tree in place has opposed to move it within the threaded view under the post, that we do find a bit confusing at this time.

That's the way it should be imho in showthread, the post up top, followed by the thread tree below, followed by the reply box.

ibautocommunity - great job, I signed up for you site, the mod looks great. Finally, a true vb threaded view. (And ridiculously simple to install at that)

Feature request -

I would like to specify which forums have which display mode: flat or threaded (forget about the goofy "hybrid"). I would like this as an admin setting, I don't want the users to be able to choose, I think every user should be viewing and replying in the same display mode.

In other words in the admin panel I could specify forum #1 and #2 as flat, and #3 as your threaded.

Thanks again on such a great mod,

Dan