Miscellaneous Hacks - vBISpy - AJAX real-time feed of new posts/threads

This is a port of vBISpy by MPDev to vBulletin4. MPDev has given me permission to port this modification, if any staff need to see it, I can forward the PM.


If you use this modification, please >> Mark As Installed, Nominate for MOTM, or Support Developer <<, thank you


What is this!?
vBISpy is an AJAX real-time feed of new posts/threads for your vBulletin 4.0 forum.

Please note that this is currently in Beta. The style is not perfect, but the mod should be fully functionial.


Current Version
2.0.4 - You can find the 3.6.x version, here.


Features flagged for future version(s):

• looking for suggestions

Will this work on x.x.x ??
Unless otherwise stated, this will work on all 4.0.x versions. This will not work on 3.x.


Sounds cool. How do I install?

1. Extract the zip, you should have the following directories/files:
   
   

   /
   |_ vaispy.php
   
   /clientscript/
   |_ va_effects.js
   |_ va_prototype.js
   |_ va_spy.js
   
   /images/
   	/misc/
   	|_ pause_down.gif
   	|_ pause_up.gif
   	|_ play_down.gif
   	|_ play_up.gif

2. Upload: (in the below instructions 'yourforum' would be where you have vBulletin installed)
   
   • vaispy.php to /yourforum/vaispy.php
     
   • /clientscript/*.js to /yourforum/clientscript/*.js
     
   • /images/misc/*.gif to /yourforum/images/misc/*.gif

Upgrading
Unless noted otherwise, just upload and overwrite 'vaispy.php'.


Customization
Virtually all the code to customize the page is in the vaispy.php script; there are no plugins, no templates and no phrases. You do not need to do anything further; this should work right out of the box.

If you'd like to block certain usergroups from viewing vBISpy; or certain forums from being displayed - edit vaispy.php

PHP Code:

/**
* Do not list these forums even if they have 
* permissions (test categories, etc)
*
* Enter them by ID, separated by commans (eg: 1,2,3)
*/
$blockforums = '';

/**
* Do not allow these groups.
*
* Enter them by ID, separated by commans (eg: 1,2,3)
*/
$blockgroups = ''; 


In your browser, open the URL:

http://www.yourforum.com/forum/vaispy.php

You can see examples of this at:

• Anyone wanting to list here as an example?

Note: Neither I nor MPDev claim ownership of this code except for the file vaispy.php - the rest of the files were using 'freely distributable' (although modified to suit vBISpy) sources. As such, you may use these files as you wish, but please do not remove the copyrights.


Changelog
2.0.4 - June 23, 2011
- Changed 'xml' to 'feed' when the script is requesting data via AJAX
- Updated code that checks for blocked groups and forums so that it works properly.
- Added version string (?v=) to script calls.
- Updated template html to include facebook data if enabled.
- Updated css link rendering to determine if templates are stored as files or not.

2.0.3 - March 25, 2010
- Updated alternate row colors to use stylevars.
- Added ability to block certain usergroups by editing vaispy.php.
- Fixed possible bug where in certain situations a database error would occur.

2.0.2 - January 23, 2010
- Hopefully the incorrect showthread link is now fixed.
- Added alternate row colors.
- Changed default xml delay in va_spy.js to 3000 from 7000.

2.0.1 - January 21, 2010
- Fixed issue with incorrect path to thread statusicon's
- Edits to clientscript/va_spy.js to hopefully fix issues with incorrect showthread link.
- Removed &nbsp;'s from the rows generated if displayed rows are less than 20

2.0.0 - January 21, 2010
- Ported to vBulletin4 with permission from MPDev



If you use this modification, please >> Mark As Installed, Nominate for MOTM, or Support Developer <<, thank you

[New Joe]

Did anyone have the same problem as me?

[sematopdemir]

Thanks

[New Joe]

Originally Posted by New Joe

I get this after installing and going to the vBISPY page:



Although I'm not banned when I go back to the Forum.

This was a user group option permission problem, this is now ok.

The new problem I have is when the forum has been left standing for 5 mins or so and a new thread is started it doesn't up date on the ispy page.

[New Joe]

I remeber having the same problem with MPDev's version, but after doing this:

Keep in mind, this kind of script can add to your server load if alot of users are using it; it polls the lookup script every 7 seconds to give it a real-time effect; you may need to adjust this to suit your own needs.

The last line of the file:
setTimeout("getXML()", 7000);
can be changed to allow for greater periods of delay between polling.

It worked fine, I changed 7000 to 1000

But i have looked in the va_spy_js file in this new version and the above is different:

setTimeout("getXML()", xmldelay);

Any help would be great.
Thanks.

[New Joe]

Another small bug is that when you click on the newly posted post, it will take you to the first post and first page of that Thread, instead of taking you right to the last post, the on you've just clicked on in iSpy.

[DjEddie]

Originally Posted by SecondV

I do not have access to vB4 Suite (simply because I can't afford it), so it may prove difficult to build a widget for it, myself.

If u would like access to mine, as the widget ideas seems like a good one .. then pm me for details and ill sort u an account out ...

[skariko]

Originally Posted by clmazin

Downloaded the update. Still getting the "t=xxx" syntax on older threads instead of the proper "showthread" syntax.

C.

Same here!

[clmazin]

Another small bug is that when you click on the newly posted post, it will take you to the first post and first page of that Thread, instead of taking you right to the last post, the on you've just clicked on in iSpy.

Yes. If you fix that one, this mod will be really useful!

C.

[Eric]

I'll try to have a new version out within the next day or two - possibly Monday, since it's the weekend.

[Highwayfrunkis]

I can't get this to show up

edit - I got the page to show up, but when I click on a link I'm getting:

"Oops! Something is wrong. Please try again. "