Fork Threads

Boring Preamble
Sometimes a thread gets really long or some posts generate interesting but off topic conversation. I wanted to test the new cool product manager system and thought of this very simple mod to add Fork Thread functionality to the end user.

What it does
Allows the end user to divert off-topic tangents into a new thread, while automatically quoting the original thread.

Specs
Plugin: Included

Phrases added automatically: 2
fork_prefix and fork_this_post

Templates added automatically: 1
newpost_fork

Templates to edit: 1
postbit or postbit_legacy

Images to upload: 1 (optional)
fork.gif

How to Install

This is a full blown plugin. Follow the usual instructions for a plugin. Then you have to edit the postbit or postbit_legacy template.

For the graphical version you have to insert these lines where you want the link to appear:

PHP Code:

<a href="newthread.php?fork=1&do=newthread&p=$post[postid]"><img src="$stylevar[imgdir_button]/fork.gif" alt="$vbphrase[fork_this_post]" border="0" /></a> 


For the text version use this code:

PHP Code:

<a href="newthread.php?fork=1&do=newthread&p=$post[postid]">$vbphrase[fork_this_post]</a> 


You may want to place it in an "if" conditional so that only users who can post New Threads will see the image. Just use the same code as what's embedded in the "quote" image.

Updated to version 1.0.1 on 08/18/2005

*Modified to use the phrase manager.
*Fixed minor bug when "Automatically Quote Post / Thread Title" was set to "no".
*Fixed minor bug where after processing the title I pointed to the wrong variable

Preview and Live Demo

Preview attached. Or you can Register and try to fork the posts in the fork me thread.

Graphics help solicited

The quickie image I put together of a fork sucks
If someone comes up with an edited image of the .psd file vb comes with I will edit this post.

Wishlist for this mod

1. I doubt I will have the time to put this together, but it would be nice if there was a dropdown with forums the user has permission to post in so that the user can fork the thread to a different forum.
2. Adding a post to the original thread stating it had been forked and a link to the new thread

Final note

Oblivion Knight donated an image you can use of a fork (Thanks). It is attached to this post.

[GilbertZ]

Looks like a good start. Maybe a vb official will provide the other part. Will be cool if we can work off the cache.

BTW, I've seen some of your mods, you are a great asset to vb.

[amykhar]

Thank you

[Da Chang Gang]

I don't think there's need for this plug in. Why don't you just split the thread

[poolking]

Originally Posted by Da Chang Gang

I don't think there's need for this plug in. Why don't you just split the thread

So you don't like the idea of saving yourself work if a user splits the thread themselves?

[spongebobrox128]

Hi! Where do you put the Fork Thread link when you want it to be in the same place as it is in the screenshot?

[GilbertZ]

Originally Posted by spongebobrox128

Hi! Where do you put the Fork Thread link when you want it to be in the same place as it is in the screenshot?

It depends on your layout. If you use the default layout it's in the postbit template if you have turned on legacy then you use legacy_postbit.

[Oblivion Knight]

Just a small note, the &'s in your links should be & for XHTML validation..

[Leah]

Here's the fork with transparant background.

[silurius]

Bumping for 3.5 Gold. This looks like a great plugin!

(anyone with Gold got it to work? i'm erring on the side of caution)

[weaver]

Great hack. I've got it working with Gold. Here is a button I created for it to go with the default style.