Threaded Forum Views

Threaded Forum Views (Version 1.8)

Threaded Forum Views will allow the user to display an individual forum or search results in a fully threaded manner. To enable this support the user selects Enable from the new Threaded Forum Views section within Edit Options in the User CP. In addition to the Enable/Disable setting the user may also select Compact or Expanded modes as well as the number of characters to be displayed in the thread/post titles.

A minor oversight/bug is corrected by release of 1.1. A class="inlineimg" has been added to the <img> tags in order to make sure the line spacing is proper. The prior releases relied on the fact that the <img> tag was automatically assigned vertical alignment in the main CSS.

A bug involving unregistered users has been fixed with the release of version 1.2.

Version 1.3 corrects a template error.

Version 1.4 is verified to work with RC3 and corrects template name errors.

Version 1.5 is verified to work with RC4 and has some minor cleanup.

Version 1.6 corrects an error when announcements are used. This version also includes updated graphics that perform well with either light or dark backgrounds.

Version 1.7 limits the number of posts displayed in a thread in the Forum Display based on the Thread Age Cutoff. This is of value for active boards where threads can get very long over an extended period of time. No filtering is done on search results at this time. Also included as part of the graphics is an updated "new post" image to match vb3 Gold.

Version 1.7.1 fixes a minor template error dealing with the display of the date & time of the post. The only change from the prior release is to the 'threadedbit' template.

NEW: Version 1.8 supports limiting the number of posts in both Forum Display and in Search Results. Additionally, the code has been modified so that the number of places that depend on the new field names has been reduced. This should help reduce installation errors.

Features:
Functionality controlled via the Users CP.
Supports 2 display modes. Single line or Dual line.
Supports variable title lengths.
Works with the display of forums and search results.
Indicates which posts have been read and which are new.
Indicates which posts have attachments.
Handles Sticky posts - limits the thread to the opening post.
Displayed results may be sorted using the existing tools provided by forumdisplay.php
Tested with vBulletin 3.0.0 GOLD.

Caveats:
Some of the Administrator functions (such as thread maintenance on deleted threads) are not available while in this mode. While doing administrative tasks the Admin should disable Threaded Forum Views.

Feedback & Support:
If you have any problems or questions please post them on vb.org. I will be happy to help in any way I can - though I am definitely no expert at PHP.

Miscellaneous:
This is currently running on my live board.

To update existing users it is necessary to manually run an UPDATE query. I used

UPDATE userfield SET field5='Enable',field6='Compact',field7='30' where field5='';

to set the default values.

Also, a new field has been added to the search parameters. Because of this it is neccessary to erase the existing cached searches. This can be done using the following query

delete from search;

It is also possible to turn Threaded Forum Views on for guest users by setting the appropriate values into the $bbuserinfo fields in sessions.php.

Screen shots and directions for making the necessary modifications to the files and templates are attached as are the 5 new graphics in the ZIP file.

[Bad Bunny]

Originally Posted by tgmorris

The files have been updated to allow the user to limit not only the number of threads but also the number of posts based on Thread Age Cutoff dates. The updated files (version 1.7) have also been verified to work with vb3 Gold.

I will be giving this a test run, as this sort of functionality is the only way I would ever concider allowing threaded view on my own forums.

[Bad Bunny]

Originally Posted by tgmorris

#1 is just a simple template mod.

#2 is a fairly minor code change.

#3 can be done but would be different than how all the other User CP stuff works.

Hmmm... I just finished reading through this thread, and I ave a couple thoughts before I delve too far into this.

Is is possible to be able to integrate an option in the "quick links" menu to be able to toggle the view on and off in addition to seetting the default view in the user CP?

When viewing a thread you have a dropdown menu to change the layout. But then when in a forum, you don't have this option. To me, that seems a little inconsistent. I would love to see a user (even guest) be able to select what view they wanted, just as they can with thread view.

So, to sum up my thought, a dropdown menu to change the views in the forumdisplay (much like the thread display) and also keep the option to modify the view in the cp.

*EDIT* Oh yeah, I can't seem to open the zip. Says it's corrupted or incomplete. :ninja:

[Tigerdude]

Try disabling any firewall protection you might be using.

[Bad Bunny]

Originally Posted by Tigerdude

Try disabling any firewall protection you might be using.

mmm, I'm not even sure how I would do that. lol
I'll try. I guess it's good to know know to turn it on and off.
*EDIT* well, I turned off the firewall, and I still get an errored zip. I will try and fidget around...
*NOTHER EDIT LOL*
Ok, got it. Thanks for the firewall tip, I forgot it was even enabled. And I learned something new. Cheers!

[tgmorris]

Just an FYI. Version 1.8 will be out shortly. This will add the capability to limit what's displayed in search results as well. That way a thread with 1000 posts in it may only wind up display 10-15 depending on how far back the search went.

I've also changed things so that the $bbuserinfo['fieldX'] stuff needs to be dealt with in one place. This reduces the chance for mistakes when applying the mod to a more mature implementation.

[tgmorris]

The "final" version of Threaded Forum Views has been released for vb3 Gold. Thanks to everybody that has installed and helped test this hack. I still wish Jelsoft would pick up the concept of this and run with it in the next release.

[leofender]

Hello Tom,

I tried to install your hack in vB 3.0.3 and gave up when the mods to functions_threadedmode.php didn't match your installation instructions.

Have you tried the hack with this version of vB? Any tips? Is anyone with a better handle on this interested in installing this hack for me on a pay to play basis?

Thanks,

Jeff

[tgmorris]

Sorry, I haven't had time to look at 3.0.3 yet.

[Kaitlyn]

Works with 3.0.3 just fine, the bit with the functions_threadedmode you just skip over the first two 'Find' parts, the lines beginning with ## don't seem to exist in 3.0.3 like they did in 3.0.0.

However just skip over them, make the rest of the changes and it works just dandy.

-K

[Surfer]

Great work! Any plans on a support for vb3.5?

Thanks