vB3 Similar Threads

vB3 Similar Threads for 2.2.x
Clone version | 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.

Install time: 6 minutes
File edits: 1 (showthread.php)
Template edits: 1 (showthread)
New templates: 2 (showthread_similarthreads, showthread_similarthreadbits)



What is it?
Basically this hack will check for other similar thread titles within the forum of the thread you are viewing, then it will display the most similar threads, based on a similar-priority setting you choose, at the bottom of that thread.

Why did I make it?
This hack instantly drew my attention when I first saw it at the Jupiter vB3 forums. I figured it couldn't be that bad to make, and why wait when it's such a simple feature to integrate as a standalone hack? So, I opened up my TextPad and started coding.

Personally, I HIGHLY doubt the method and coding I used in my hack is at all similar to the one at Jupiter vB3, but it seems to work just as fine. Even on my small forum the results on some threads look good, while for a large forum such as vB.org the results would look 3x as better.

Features:

• Displays everything that the vB3 similar threads does.
• Also gives a description of the thread, only if you have the thread-description hack installed. (source: here)

Bugs?
Depending on the priority level you pick, some threads that you are "dead sure" to have a similar result might not show. You might have to toggle the priority level at first, to get it set just right. Other than this, it's fairly clean.
See a demo at this thread, scroll to bottom:
http://beta.vbulletin.com/vb3/showth...p?threadid=990

Screenshots? Demo's?
See the next post for a screenshot. Want a demo? Visit the similar thread feature at the Jupiter vB3 forums


------------- Installation -------------

#1. In showthread.php, find:

PHP Code:

if ($noshutdownfunc) {
  $DB_site->query("UPDATE thread SET views=views+1 WHERE threadid='$threadid'");
} else {
  $shutdownqueries[]="UPDATE LOW_PRIORITY thread SET views=views+1 WHERE threadid='$threadid'";
}

if ($bbuserinfo[cookieuser]) {
  vbsetcookie("bbthreadview[$threadid]",time(),0);
} 


Above it place:

PHP Code:

//////////////////////////////////////////////////
// vBulletin3 Similar Threads "clone" by Velocd //
//////////////////////////////////////////////////

//////////////////////////// CONFIGURE ////////////////////////////////
$description_option = 0; //1 = on, 0 = off. (use only if you have THREAD descriptions installed)
if($description_option){ $desc = ",description"; }
$limit = 4; //Set the limit to the maximum amount of results to display
$priority = 60; //KEY: [less accurate, more results <0 --- 25 ---- 50 ---- 75 --- 100> more accurate, less results]
$previewcharacters = 150; //Amount of characters shown in the preview
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

$rthreads=$DB_site->query("SELECT threadid,title,postusername,replycount,lastpost,postuserid,dateline$desc
            FROM thread
            WHERE forumid='$thread[forumid]'
            ORDER BY dateline");

$validtitle = trim(strtolower($thread[title])," \t.");
$count = 0;

while ($rthread = $DB_site->fetch_array($rthreads)) {
    $validthread = trim(strtolower($rthread[title])," \t.");

    similar_text($validtitle, $validthread, &$similarity);

    if($similarity > $priority){
        $similar[title] = $rthread[title];
        $similar[threadid] = $rthread[threadid];
        $similar[postusername] = $rthread[postusername];
        $similar[postuserid] = $rthread[postuserid];
        $similar[replycount] = $rthread[replycount];
        $similar[date] = vbdate($dateformat,$rthread[lastpost]);
        $similar[description] = $rthread[description];


        if (strlen($similar[description]) > 150) {
            $similar[description] = substr($similar[description], 0, $previewcharacters) . "..."; } else {
            $similar[description] = $similar[description];
        }

        if($similar[threadid] != $thread[threadid] && $count < $limit){
        $count++;
        eval("\$similarthreadbits .= \"".gettemplate("showthread_similarthreadbits")."\";"); } 
    }
}

if($count != 0){
eval("\$similarthreads .= \"".gettemplate("showthread_similarthreads")."\";"); }

////////////////////////////
// End Similar Threads /////
//////////////////////////// 


Now look at this block of code from above:

PHP Code:

//////////////////////////// CONFIGURE ////////////////////////////////
$description_option = 0; //1 = on, 0 = off. (use only if you have THREAD descriptions installed)
if($description_option){ $desc = ",description"; }
$limit = 4; //Set the limit to the maximum amount of results to display
$priority = 60; //KEY: [less accurate, more results <0 --- 25 ---- 50 ---- 75 --- 100> more accurate, less results]
$previewcharacters = 150; //Amount of characters shown in the preview
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 


As detailed, those variables change how this hack works. The main thing you need to notice is $priority, which at default is set at 60, which I've found on my forums to be good. As said in the KEY in comments, a higher priority will get you more accurate similar threads, but less results. Ofcourse, a high priority is ideal for a large forum. Lower priority vice versa.


#2. Create a new template called
showthread_similarthreads, and place inside:

<table cellpadding="{_tableouterborderwidth}" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="{_tablebordercolor}" {_tableouterextra} width="{_contenttablewidth}" align="center">
<tr><td>
<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="{_tableinnerborderwidth}" border="0" {_tableinnerextra} width="100%">
<tr>
	<td bgcolor="{_tableheadbgcolor}" width="{_tablewidth}" colspan="4" align="center">
<normalfont color="{_tableheadtextcolor}">
<b>Similar Threads</b></normalfont></td>
</tr>
<tr align="center" bgcolor="{_categorybackcolor}" background="https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/images/catagory_backing.gif">
	<td align="center" nowrap><span><smallfont><b>Thread</b></smallfont></span></td>
	<td nowrap><span><b><smallfont>Thread Starter</smallfont></b></span></td>
	<td nowrap><span><smallfont><b>Replies</b></smallfont></span></td>
	<td nowrap><span><smallfont><b>Last Post</b></smallfont></span></td>
</tr>
$similarthreadbits
</table>
</td></tr></table>
<br>

In the code above, take out all the underscores (ie. _) out of the replacement variables, such as {_tablewidth}, or else they will not work.

#3. Create a new template called showthread_similarthreadbits, and place inside:

<tr align="center">	
<td width="60%" align="left" bgcolor="{_firstaltcolor}"><normalfont>
<a href="showthread.php?s=$session[sessionhash]&forumid=$thread[forumid]&threadid=$similar[threadid]" 
title="$similar[description]">$similar[title]
</a></normalfont></td>
	<td width="20%" bgcolor="{_secondaltcolor}" nowrap="nowrap"><normalfont>
<a href="member.php?s=$session[sessionhash]&action=getinfo&userid=$similar[postuserid]">$similar[postusername]
</a></normalfont></td>
	<td bgcolor="{_firstaltcolor}"><normalfont>$similar[replycount]</normalfont></td>
	<td bgcolor="{_secondaltcolor}" width="20%"><normalfont>$similar[date]</normalfont>
</td>
</tr>

In the code above, take out all the underscores (ie. _) out of the replacement variables, such as {_secondaltcolor}, or else the colors wont show.

#4. In the template showthread, find:

<!-- thread options links -->
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#0A293E"   align="center"><tr><td>

On the line above it place:

$similarthreads

------------- End -------------

That's it! Pretty easy and quick to install, which is the nicest part about it.

If you use this hack remember, please click install! Without it, you might have had to wait till vB3

[kenny@ecn]

I tried to install it but it didnt work!!!!

Parse error: parse error in /home/virtual/site57/fst/var/www/html/showthread.php on line 277

Would you like to try?

[DemiNeo0101]

Originally posted by DrkFusion
This is amazing, works like a charm
Too bad I can't show off my board :'(
If anyone can access
http://localhost, feel free to check out my board
Drk

hey a kiddie porn website.... I mean errr NM ^^

[MalaK_3araby]

Velocd

Good Job Indeed
Installs easy ... Works with 2.2.5 .. Works with foriegn language.

Thanks.

* installs *

[nuno]

Originally posted by kenny@ecn
Here is my showthread.php BTW:
yadda yadda

It's against the license agreement to post full vB .php files

[Freddie Bingham]

vb3 stores a list of similar threads along with each thread. This list is generated when the post is made/edited. Scanning the entire thread table on every view of showthread and then running checks on every thread is not the best way to go about this. The list is built from scanning the word table, NOT the thread table. Remember the word table is indexed so we can search for words efficiently. vB3 also only uses the title of the thread to determine something's value as being similar.

The function that searches for posts from search.php is reused for generating this search.

Enough information?

[Velocd]

I knew vB3 would have a much improved method, naturally

And yes, that was more than enough info
Unless you want to give me instructions on how to do all that you just said...just kidding! ^_^'

[proxyMX]

if you have a rollerball mouse, go to the first page of this post and bounce back and forward, its fun ps i got too many errors with this, uninstalled it

[Attrox]

Very cool, though I think I will just wait for vB3 to be released...

[CJi]

I got parse errors T_VARIABLE dodas. Uninstalled it before I could get an exact copy of the text, sorry. Nice idea.

[Velocd]

This hack shouldn't generate too many errors, being as small and simple that it is. Those of you who are recieving them can only be installing the hack incorrectly. (installed correctly, you should get no parse errors/T_Variable warnings) Ofcourse the hack has performance issues for the larger forums (I have a smaller forum, and my pages still generate at .3 seconds).

Anyway, I'm going to see what I can do to fix it..