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

[SnowBot]

great idea, nice hack
/me click install

[Reeve of shinra]

Very useful - especially for forums that have a writers area.

[djohn]

Does it work with multi page threads?

[Logician]

Originally Posted by djohn

Does it work with multi page threads?

Yes of course. It is the whole point, right?

[dndog]

Logician, my forum tables have the prefix vB3_. Your hack assumes there is no prefix and can't find the post table. I sifted through the code but can't figure out what I need to change to fix this. What should I do?

[Boofo]

Originally Posted by dndog

Logician, my forum tables have the prefix vB3_. Your hack assumes there is no prefix and can't find the post table. I sifted through the code but can't figure out what I need to change to fix this. What should I do?

Change this:

PHP Code:

 $post_db=$DB_site->query("SELECT p.dateline, p.title, p.pagetext, p.userid, user.username from post p LEFT JOIN user on user.userid=p.userid WHERE threadid=$threadid AND visible=1 ORDER BY dateline ASC"); 


To this:

PHP Code:

$post_db=$DB_site->query("SELECT p.dateline, p.title, p.pagetext, p.userid, user.username from " . TABLE_PREFIX . "post p AS post p LEFT JOIN " . TABLE_PREFIX . "user AS user on user.userid=p.userid WHERE threadid=$threadid AND visible=1 ORDER BY dateline ASC"); 


[dndog]

I now get this error

PHP Code:

Database error in vBulletin 3.0.1:

Invalid SQL: SELECT p.dateline, p.title, p.pagetext, p.userid, user.username from vb3_post p AS post p LEFT JOIN vb3_user AS user on user.userid=p.userid WHERE threadid=8 AND visible=1 ORDER BY dateline ASC
mysql error: You have an error in your SQL syntax.  Check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'AS post p LEFT JOIN vb3_user AS user on user.userid=p.userid WH

mysql error number: 1064 


[Boofo]

Originally Posted by dndog

I now get this error

PHP Code:

Database error in vBulletin 3.0.1:
 
Invalid SQL: SELECT p.dateline, p.title, p.pagetext, p.userid, user.username from vb3_post p AS post p LEFT JOIN vb3_user AS user on user.userid=p.userid WHERE threadid=8 AND visible=1 ORDER BY dateline ASC
mysql error: You have an error in your SQL syntax. Check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'AS post p LEFT JOIN vb3_user AS user on user.userid=p.userid WH
 
mysql error number: 1064 


I know. When I use that, I get the same error. Sorry about that. We will have to wait for Logician to telll us what to change it to, I guess.

It should have worked. Why it doesn't, I don't know. Again, sorry.

[dstruct2k]

Here's a version that supports table prefixes.

Just replace the PHP file and you're on your way!

(Small grammar error fixed too. )

[GamerJunk.net]

Installed great!