Miscellaneous Hacks - Global Tag Cloud in Side Bar or Anywhere

What this plugin does

This plugin lets you call the tag cloud on any page. We wanted a tag cloud in a side column on our forum, and also the freedom to call it from within any template.

Live Demo

You can view the plugin in action on AdminFusion

Installation Instructions

1. Login in to the AdminCP -> Plugins and Products -> Manage Products
2. Click the Add/Import Product link at the bottom of the page and browse to the plugin's xml file.
3. Add the following variable where ever you want the tag cloud to appear:

$vbcloud

4. If you want to display just the cloud (i.e. without the category) open up the tag_cloud_search template and replace everything with the code below:

 
<if condition="THIS_SCRIPT != tags">
$cloud[links]
<else />
<table class="tborder" cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="$stylevar[cellspacing]" border="0" width="100%" align="center">
<tr>
	<td class="tcat">
		<div class="smallfont" style="float:$stylevar[right]"><phrase 1="$cloud[count]">$vbphrase[these_are_the_x_most_used_thread_tags]</phrase></div>
		$vbphrase[tag_cloud]
	</td>
</tr>
<tr>
	<td class="alt1" style="text-align:justify">$cloud[links]</td>
</tr>
</table>
</if>

Version Information:
1.01 -- Updated to make compatible with Vbulletin Blog
1.02 -- Script rewrite. Fixed time stamp issue, blog issue and other minor problems.
1.03

Now returns the most popular tags as opposed to the most searched for tags.
Some minor optimizations made.
Instructions revised (uses tag_cloud_box template instead of tag_cloud_search)

[Baldilocks]

It seems to be working fine on their own website.... but not working on anyone else's. I wonder how they have their time and date settings in.

[TechGuy]

Good observation. I looked through the little bit of code there is for this hack, but just can't spot what would break the timezone. I might have to uninstall as well, but I really like using this hack!

[TechGuy]

I'm not sure if it's appropriate to upload this, so Mods feel free to delete it if it's not. I cleaned up the code a bit and managed to get the timezones to work. I won't promise that I didn't break something else in the process, and I don't claim to be a vB hack expert.

[Baldilocks]

That one works swimingly! Thanks

[TechGuy]

Glad to help out.

[Baldilocks]

Looks great in a sidebar/header template too!!!

[Mum]

Mike - i installed yours, but i have no idea where to insert
$tag_cloud
to make it look like that on the right side of the forum home - how do i do that?

[Baldilocks]

You can insert it anywhere really. I have mine in my custom HEADER template. (It's not a real side column but it's actually the header.)

In my other skins I just have the tag cloud beneath all of the "What's Happening" stuff at the bottom of FORUMHOME template.

[Mum]

I want it to sit on the left side of teh home page of the forums - what template do i try and add it to for this?

[Jase2]

How do I add this down the right hand side of FORUMHOME ?