Calendar Enhancements - vB Event Forums

Introduction

This is a continuation of my Event Forums plugin/addon from 3.5. You can find the old version here. The original plugin was developed by Endquote, and I have since taken it over to bring it to what it is today. I hope you can find it useful!

What is this addon?

This is a plugin which allows you to create relationships between calendars and events, giving each event a thread of its own for users to discuss. I have tested this alot, and I am running it myself on a live board.

Sure, so whats it do?

Some examples of the features this plugin offers

• When a new event is created in a calendar, an associated thread is created in the linked forum.
• Links to events in the calendar are forwarded to the associated thread, or optionally a seperate New Event button can be added with a minor template edit.
• New thread links in the event forum are redirected to a new event form.
• A summary can be shown at the top of the event forum which shows the up and coming events over the next 'x' days.
• The date and time shown in the thread and post title, is calculated on the current viewing users timezone. In other words, times always show in the users timezone, not forced to GMT.
• Full moderation support.
• Editing a thread or event, will update its associated event/thread.

Screenshots

Some screenshots of this plugin

• Admin Options
• Event Thread
• Event Thread with Reply
• Thread List

How do I install it?

For upgrading, please see the section below.

Summary

• 1 xml import.
• 1 (optional) template change.
• 1 (optional) gif file upload.

Step 1

Install the product
Download the product XML file.

Goto your Admin CP at your forums, then goto Plugin System -> Manage Products. Click [Add/Import Product] at the bottom of the page. Browse to the location where you downloaded the xml file and then click the Import button.

Step 2

Calendar ID:
Goto your Admin CP at your forums, then goto Calendar Manager. Find the calendar you want to link to a forum, then click Edit.
Right at the top of the page you should see:

Calendar: NAME (id: ID)

Make a note of the ID, you will need this soon.

Forum ID:
Goto your Admin CP at your forums, then goto Forum Manager. Find the forum you want to activate as your event forum, then click Edit Forum.
Right at the top of the page you should see:

Forum: NAME (id: ID)

Make a note of the ID, you will need this soon.

Link a Calendar to a Forum:
Goto your Admin CP at your forums, then goto vBulletin Options and find Event Forums.
The first option you should see is Calendar/Forum Map.
Enter in your IDs into the box, as CALENDARID:FORUMID.
Example, my Calendar is 5 and my Forum is 14:

5:14

Click Save.

Step 3

Base permissions check:
You will need to check that users using the Event Forums, have basic permissions to both the Linked Forum AND Calendar.
Basic Permissions include: Can View Forum and Can Post Threads and possibly some others.

Step 4 (Optional template edit)

Add the New Event button:
You only need todo this if you want to show a seperate New Event button next to the New Thread button.

First of all, upload newevent.gif to your images/buttons folder. NOTE you will need to upload this to any custom image folders too for different styles you might have.

Second, open up FORUMDISPLAY template for each of your styles you want to show the button, find and add the highlighted code below:

<td class="smallfont"><if condition="$show['newthreadlink']">
<a href="newthread.php?$session[sessionurl]do=newthread&amp;f=$foruminfo[forumid]" rel="nofollow"><img src="$stylevar[imgdir_button]/newthread.gif" alt="$vbphrase[post_new_thread]" border="0" /></a>
<if condition="$show['neweventlink']">&nbsp;<a href="newthread.php?$session[sessionurl]do=newevent&amp;f=$foruminfo[forumid]" rel="nofollow"><img src="$stylevar[imgdir_button]/newevent.gif" alt="$vbphrase[lv_vb_eventforums_phrase_post_new_event]" border="0" /></a></if>
<else />&nbsp;</if></td>

Lastly, go into the Event Forums options, and change the option Show the New Event button on the thread list to yes.

Step 5

Install on VB.org:
Browse back to this thread, and click the INSTALL button so you can recieve updates whenever I update this plugin.

How do I upgrade it from an old version?

Step 1

Import xml
Download the product XML file.

Goto your Admin CP at your forums, then goto Plugin System -> Manage Products. Click [Add/Import Product] at the bottom of the page. Browse to the location where you downloaded the xml file. Make sure the overwrite option is set to ON and then click the Import button.

Can I give you money to make this?

This isn't a commercial plugin, and can be used by anyone for free. However, a few people have said to me that they would like to donate some money for my time working on the plugin and for picking it up and continuing the development of new features etc. If you do want to donate some money my way, then you can do so through paypal by clicking this link. Thanks!

Bugs / Support

If you find a bug, then please post in this thread and let me know. There are a few bugs that haven't been fixed since the old version, so i'm hoping that we can fix these soon. I will do my best to support the plugin as much as possible, however I also have a busy job which takes up alot of my time.

Known Bugs

Here is a list of known bugs to date

• Soft delete actually hard deletes the thread.
• Search doesn't search the first post of an event thread.
• Inline ajax edit bugs thread title. Need to remove date and time from it before edit.

Feature request list

Here is a list of the requested features. Please note that because it makes this list, doesn't mean it will be added.

• Intergration with the event attendance plugin.
• Customisation of the order of the custom fields in the thread title.
• An option to "import" all the previous events from a Calendar into threads.
• Extra post options support (Attachments, Post Icons, Sticky etc).
• Custom ordering of the %datetime variable.
• Custom ordering of %custom variable.
• Better handling of recurring events.

Credits

Thanks to endquote for originally creating the plugin.
Thanks to the Ninja :ninja: for helping me infiltrate the vb code and finding those hidden hooks!
Thanks to anybody that helps test this plugin.

Changelog

Version: 3.3

• Added Farcasters Event Attendance patch to the mod. I've added a self check so it will only run when the Event attendance mod is installed and active.

Version: 3.2

• Fixed a bug which was prevent the thread from being deleted when you try to delete an event.

Version: 3.1

• Fixed a bug which would cause an error with undefined function on the forum display page when summary is turned on.

Version: 3.0

• Version now compatible with 3.6. Please note this plugin will no longer install on a board older than 3.6. I would recommend you upgrade your board as soon as you can!
• Added an optional template edit to show a New Event button next to the New Thread button.
• Plugin no longer in BETA. I feel this has been running enough stablely to take this out of BETA. There are still some bugs which need fixing, but as a whole it works and is used by quite a few people.

Version: 2.7 and below

• See the old thread here

[Cocko]

Originally Posted by |oR|Greg

I have it working fine and I have tons of hacks on my board. www.amacny.com

Could it be a calendar thing? I'm using the default Calendar (ID:1).

also have default calendar ID:1 for events

installed products (particulary german, translated on the fly for this post)

Add PhotoPost Pro to each forum  	1.0  	Add PhotoPost Pro to each forum  	
 
Age Lock 	2.0 Beta 2 	Add Forum locking based on age 	
 
Ajax Register Check 	1.0.1 	Ajax Register Check 	
 
AutoPM after addBuddy by Antivirus 	1.0.4 	This will send an automatic PM to a user after you add him/her to your Buddy List. 	
 
Post Thanks Hack 	5.3 	Erm?glicht es sich f?r n?tzliche Beitr?ge zu bedanken. 	
 
Userpages 	1.06 	Benutzerseiten Hack f?r my-vb.org & vbuletin 	
 
CinVin Forum Feed Listing 	1.0.2 	CinVin Forum Feed Listing 	
 
Close Old Threads 	1.1 	Close old forum threads after X days of inactivity. 	
 
CMPS naviguation 	1.12 	Better integration of CMPS with navbar 	
 
Custom WOL Locations 	1.0.2 	This Hack allows you to easily manage your custom WOL Locations 	
 
Cyb - Attention Zero-Posters 	1.3 	Cyb - Attention Zero-Posters 	
 
Debug Modus 	1.2.1 	This Hack allows you to activate the vBulletin Debug Mode by the ACP 	
 
EWT - eXtend Show Spider 	1.0.0 	by defualt the vbulletin $show['search_engine'] only works for three spiders this extends it to well over 250 spiders. 	
 
EWT - Users Registered Today 	2.0.0 	This gives you a nice little box showing everybody who has registered today. 	
 
Farcaster's Event Attendance 	1.1.0 	This hack will allow users to RSVP to selected events. 	
 
Farcaster's Event Attendance & Event Forums Add-On 	1.0.0 	Integrates Farcaster's Event Attendance with Evercraft's Event Forums so that the RSVP system is displayed on the Event Forums thread. 	
 
Foren von 'Neue Beitr?ge' ausschlie?en 	1.1.0 	Dieser Hack erlaubt es Benutzern bestimmte Foren von der 'Neue Beitr?ge'-Suche auszuschlie?en 	
 
GRPS: Groups Commune 	2.0.2 	This is a commune for groups. 	
 
GTOnline 	1.0.0 	Online Status on Member List 	
 
Track Guests visits 	1.03 	Zeichnet die Besuche von G?sten und Suchmaschinen auf 	
 
IBPro Arcade New Post on Highscore Addon 	1.0.2 	Make a new Post or New Thread on Highscore 	
 
ibProArcade CMPS 	1.0 	CMPS-Module for vbAdvanced 	
 
ibProArcade for vBulletin 	2.5.7 	ibProArcade - professional Arcade System for vBulletin 	
 
Log Logins Hack 	2.0 	Log Logins Hack 	
 
Lv vB Event Forums 	3.3 	Creates tight integration between a forum and a calendar. 	
 
Mini Navbar 	1.0.4 	Places a breadcrumb from the navbar on the bottom of a thread 	
 
Members who have visit today 	4.35 	Zeigt die Mitglieder an die heute das Forum besucht haben. 	
 
Members who have read thread 	3.29 	Anzeige der Mitglieder, welche ein Thema gelesen haben. 	
 
Moderation Auto-PM 	2.0.1 	Automaticly PMs a user when their thread is moderated 	
 
Multiple Login Detector 	1.03 	Cookie-based multiple account login detector 	
 
nCode Image Resizer 	1.0 RC 2 	Automatically resize posted images 	
 
PJIRC JavaChat Integration 	2.0.10 	Integrates PJIRC Java Applet With vBulletin 	
 
PM Attachments 	1.55 	Allows attachments inside private messages 	
 
Self Delete 	1.0.0 	Allow users to self-delete 	
 
Separate Sticky and Normal Threads 	1.0.5 	Separate Sticky and Normal Threads 	
 
ShowProfileFieldInPostBits 	1.0 	EMiN3M Show Profile Field In Post Bits 	
 
Smilies in QR and QE 	1.0.3 	Created By VisionScripts (www.visionscripts.com) 	
 
Special Forum Footer 	1.0.1 	Fu?zeilen anlegen und den Foren zuordnen 	
 
Template Modification System 	1.0.0 Beta 3 	Dieser Hack erlaubt die automatische Verwaltung von Template-Modifikationen 	
 
Top Nav Bar 	1.0 	Top nav bar for extra drop down menues. 	
 
Un-Activated User Management 	3 	This hack will clean up unactivated users 	
 
Miserable Users 	2.12 	Unerwuenschte Benutzer vom Forum bannen. 	
 
Usergroup Messages 	1.1.0 	Show Usergroup(s) a message on forum home 	
 
vB Favorits 	1.0.1 	F?gt Favoriten-System hinzu 	
 
vB Pager 	3.0.4 	vB Pager is a text-based instant messaging system over your community between members. 	
 
vBadvanced CMPS 	2.2.1 (vB 3.6) 	vBadvanced Content Management & Portal System 	
 
Who has visit my Profile 	1.1.0 	Dieser Hack protokolliert Profilaufrufe und zeigt die letzten X Profilbesucher. 	
 
Who quoted me? 	1.0.3 	Dieser Hack zeigt dem Benutzer in seinem Kontrollzentrum an, in welchen Beitr?gen er zitiert wurde 	
TestenL?schen 
Zoints SEO 	2.2.2 	The Zoints Search Engine Optimization Package 	
TestenL?schen 
[APM] Advanced Product Management 	3.0.4 	Advanced tool to manage product, add/edit/delete product's components. 	
TestenL?schen 
[Sniper] - Mood Manager 	1.2.3 	Allows users to manage there mood

[kderentz]

Awsome mod! Works flawlessly!

[funinbc]

Is there way to put the list of events at the top of the main forum instead or including inside the events forum?

[Cocko]

Originally Posted by Cocko

same issue here (vb 3.6.4)

in addition to farcasters event attendance and its new integration

Thanks to Farcaster for great support.
Thumbs up. Issue /w wrong date is fixed.

[smoknz28]

I would like to ask all of you for your input about better managing my events. For instance... I run a car forums where there are members all across the U.S. I've broken my forums down to capture groups of the U.S.

Regional Gatherings and Events (This is the category)
- Eastern States (forum)
- Pacific States (forum)
- Mountain States (forum)
- Central States (forum)

What I would like to know....is currently, I have the Events Forum set up to use one calendar and it's using a seperate forum than those I've listed "Scheduled Events". Problem with using just one forum for all of our events is that there are events that I would rather capture putting them in each of their own forums.

For instance...if a member posting in the Eastern States forum wants to post up a new event in the calendar...the Events Forum will grab that and put it in the Eastern States forum. As with a member in the Pacific States....if he posts up a new event for the pacific states area...that event will go into the Pacific States forum.

I hope this is making sense...cause I'm just about feeling like I'm confusing myself. :doh:

I welcome your thoughts on this as it can better help me in managing this hack and my forums.

Gonzo
www.f-bodyhideout.com/forums

[|oR|Greg]

I have a problem.

I have 2 forums specified for 1 calendar. If I create an event in the 2nd forum, it's added to the 1st forum instead. I've tried reversing the order, I've tried other forum, I've tried more then 2... EVERYTHING goes to the first forum specified.

[smoknz28]

Originally Posted by |oR|Greg

I have a problem.

I have 2 forums specified for 1 calendar. If I create an event in the 2nd forum, it's added to the 1st forum instead. I've tried reversing the order, I've tried other forum, I've tried more then 2... EVERYTHING goes to the first forum specified.

Yea, I had the same issue....so I was figuring that the hack just doesn't like to use multiple forums for the same calendar id. This is why I'm trying to figure out a different way to get this hack to work with my other forums....but it appears I will have to use multiple calendars...bummer...as it would be easiest for my members in all states to work off of one calendar.

Greg, sounds like your forums for your events are laid out very similar to mine then.

[|oR|Greg]

Not really the same layout, but the same problem I agree. I have a Meeting/Events forum, and I have a Universal Threads forum. The Universal Threads is a hack that allows any thread in the specified forum to show across all other forums just like an announcement would, however because it's a thread, people can comment on it. I also customized it so it shows broken out like a Sticky Thread.

Here is an example. This is my General Forum. You'll see the Uni's at the VERY top of the thread listing with there own header, then Stickies, then Normal threads.

So, some events are general weekly, hey are we doing anything this weekend, those stay in Meetings/Events. But we have monthly meetings and special events that go in Universal Threads because those are bigger events then just a weekend hangout. I shouldn't have to use a 2nd calendar and that is just going to confuse people even more I think. I would like this hack to work as advertised.

[JoeWho]

Hello,

Did anyone notice that you can not edit the "New Events" ?

I get this: vBulletin Message: Invalid Action Specified

When I try to edit the message/post.

Any help on fixing this?

Thanks.

[|oR|Greg]

I've edited them fine.

Also for the time being I added a second calendar and it works, but I REALLY would like it fixed so it's only 1 calendar, but multiple forums.

Why can't you make it array based, like instead of

1:3
1:43

Something like

1:3,43

That way you can specify which forums get which calendars?