Similar Topic Check

Similar Topic Check
for vBulletin 3 & vBulletin 2
by Velocd

This hack, as well all my other vB2 hacks, I no longer provide support for (being I run vB3 and it's too much hassel to debug vB2). When vB3 Release Candidate comes out, by request I might convert some of my hacks.

The vBulletin 3 version has been post-poned until vB3 RC is released.

What does this hack do?

This hack adds a button next to the subject field when creating a thread, that when pressed will display a pop-up window with a listing of similar threads already existent to the topic you are creating, as a means to provide you with alternatives just incase.


Background (aka, more reading stuff)

Yet another interesting hack of mine.. though this one has a strange scenario situated around it.

I began this hack for development on vBulletin 2 as an interesting new concept I thought would stop newbish posters from creating topics that already exist (and are usually fresh).

Early today I was preparing the hack for vBulletin.org release when I checked out this site and noticed it was down. When I returned sometime later, and learned of vB3 Beta release, I was thrilled (like most of us probably were).

Knowing that vB3 has an already good "similar thread" function, I decided to port over the hack to vB3, in the process of getting used to all the new variables and what not.

........ anyway, that is exactly what I have done, but I didn't feel like ditching the original vB2 code of my hack either, so I've decided to release two versions of this hack, both with the same intent in function, but very different coding.. such as the templates, as you know vB3 is very geared around stylesheets.


Differences between versions

When you actually run the check, the main difference you will notice between the two is output in speed, since my version has a few loops which could be bogged down a bit, but since the vB3 version has all those nifty predefined functions that I used, it goes much faster. Also, there is no preview function in the vB2 version (though it is possible, but laziness struck over)

Note if you have vB2, you of course can't use the vB3 version, for the differences in coding. Same goes vice versa.


Screenshots?

Refer to the next couple posts. They're screens of the vB3 version.


Download the hack!

Remember to click install if you use either version of this hack, and comments/questions/suggestions are always welcomed.

[S.Shady]

Today at 02:09 PM dano said this in Post #19
I like it a lot. Question though, it appears that it only searches the "Title" area of a post for simular threads. Anyway to get it to check the entire site? Or would that just slow the board down too much?

:cough: thats what the search.php file is designed to do in the vb

[partang2]

Hm.... what is wrong here?? It will not find anything at all even if I copy a title from a existing post at my board.... Did I do anything wrong here?? Shows up fine, but no results at all....

*EDITED*

Now it found something, but that was a thread who doesen't have anything at all to do with the one I would start....!? Any ideas?

[Smoothie]

hmm, is a good hack, and a good idea, but the search takes too long. Anyway to speed it up some?

[Velocd]

If you have a large forum, the search will take some time. The vB2 version of it is quite slow, being the loops that are processed. You might be better off waiting till vB3 RC is released, and I can re-open the vB3 version. (which works very fast)

As for the accuracy issue that you are experiencing partang.. I'm not sure about it. :ermm: It works fine with me.

Though, I just noticed a stupid mistake in the PHP file, and that is I have two values for my forums in this part:

PHP Code:

$discluded = "";  //Forums that are discluded 


Make sure $discluded is instead says:

PHP Code:

$discluded = "0";  //Forums that are discluded 


Unless you have already added forums there. There is no permissions check in this hack, so you have to manually add the forums you want not to be checked. I've updated the zip to remove this bug.

[Ninth Dimension]

Very nice hack, nice and easy to install and should help stop dupe threads. I do have a problem - it looks like it's not working correctly.

I'm still in the process of developing my forum and as such it only has one thread currently, but when i use this to search for that thread (to see if it works) iit keeps telling me no threads can be found.

I've tried everything from specific words in the title - to the whole title in an bid to get it to show, but no joy. any suggestions?

Other than that, like i say, great hack

/me clicks install

[David Bott]

WOW....This is a GREAT hack. But alas, because of our site size, not useable for it KILLED the server.

Their has to be a way to write it so it does not do such a thing. Are you not just doing a Topic Serach and showing the output? Doing a topic serach on our site does not hurt. Just wondering if anything can be done for I would LOVE this.

www.avsforum.com

[Velocd]

Wait for vB3 to come out, then install that version, because it's insant and wont affect server performance the least.

[David Bott]

LOL...and you are guessing I will go to Vb3 when it is out. That will be some time to come I fear for even after it is out, we will still wait to see what happens with the code for fear of major issues for large sites. (Thought I hear good things.)

Still very much like this hack. VERY MUCH needed.

[chrisvonc]

Thank you for this hack. Installed well on my test forum, going to install it now on the live one.

Can some one tell me how I decrease the width of the button?

Thank you again! I too have a lot of people who dont use Search, hopefully this will cut that down.

Chris

[chrisvonc]

Anyone know why this may stop working (finding similar topics) all of a sudden? I installed in on my local test forum, worked great. Installed it on my secure test forum, worked great. Installed it on my production forum worked great. Last week I started to notice repeat topics being posted when I knew there was almost identical pre-existing topics. Sure enough now its stopped finding them. This was one of the last hack I had installed. The only thing I recall doing recently to my forum was changind the default settings for deleting individual posts which really was not a hack.

Do I have to reindex something everynow and then for this to stay working? Any insights would be welcome.

Thanks,

Chris