Miscellaneous Hacks - Thread Prefixes

Thread Prefixes

Version: 1.6.2
vBulletin Version: 3.6.10
Developer: Michael (Mystics) Koenig (www.vbulletin-germany.com)
Modification-Language: English & German & French (thanks to ReadWrite - Note: Readme has not yet been translated to french.)
Install-difficulty: Medium
File-edits: 5
Template-edits: 10


Brief Description of the Modification

This modification allows your users to choose a thread prefix for each thread. To do this you are able to select an appropriate prefix from a list beside the title while posting a new thread - for example 'Help', 'Problem', 'Search' etc.

This prefix will be displayed in front of the thread title. The result will be for example:
Problem - I can't find this setting

Problem is the thread prefix, I can't find this setting is the title of the thread.

The prefixes displayed in this list may be defined by a moderator for each of his moderated forums (Forum Tools -> Manage Thread Prefixes); of course an administrator and a super moderator is allowed to do this for every forum.


Features

• Moderators are able to create own prefixes for each of their moderated forums.
  (Forum -> Forum Tools -> Manage Thread Prefixes -> threadprefix.php)
• Display of the prefixes on forum display, search results, subscribed threads and within the thread itself.
• It is possible to change the prefix with editing the first post of a thread or with the thread tools available for moderators at any time.

Settings in Admin CP

• Maximum prefixes per forum
• Thread Prefix required: Users have to select a thread prefix for their threads. You can select this globally for all forums or on a per forum basis.
• Default Thread Prefixes: You may set default prefixes which will either be shown only in forums without own prefixes or be shown in addition to existing prefixes
• Show Thread Prefixes in extra column or in front of the thread title in the same column
• Alignment of the prefixes (if 'Show in extra column' is enabled): Align left, align right, center
• Show Prefix in 'Last Post' column
• Prefix HTML Markup: Specify an HTML tag with which to display the prefixes (bold, italic, red etc.)
• Allow Thread Prefix search: If enabled, the prefixes of all forums the user has access to will be grouped in a list and displayed in the search engine.
• Per Forum:
  • Allow Thread Prefixes in this Forum
  • Thread Prefix Required in this Forum.

Screenshots

See attachments.


Version-History

1.6.2 (2008-05-24 - 9:30 pm CET)

• Fixed XSS security issue:
  Import the updated xml file (product-threadprefix_*.xml) to fix the security issue!
• Changes for vBulletin 3.6.10 (Updated Template modifications)
• Bugfix: It's possible again to search for prefixes
• Installation script prefixinstall.php now works with IE7 too.

1.6.1 (2006-08-29 - 11:30 pm CET)

• Bugfix: It's possible again to change the prefix by editing the first post of a thread.
• Bugfix: The prefix will be forwarded correctly and without an error to the advanced editor while editing the first post via AJAX.
• New: Thread Prefixes for discussion threads for user infractions and reported posts.
  You can enter those thread prefixes within your vBulletin settings.
• New: Ability to sort the thread prefixes in descending order.
  (Forum Tools -> Manage Thread Prefixes)
• New: Version check for the Thread Prefix Product within the AdminCP.
• Import the updated xml file (product-threadprefix_*.xml) and upload the updated file /upload/threadprefix.php to your server.

1.6.0 (2006-08-04 - 07:00 pm CET)

• Changes for vBulletin 3.6.0
• Because you have to upload all files of vBulletin 3.6, there are no instructions for the update. Just follow the standard instructions for the file and template changes.
• Fixed error within the search engine.
• New: Prefixes are displayed within Content Syndication (external.php)
• Do not forget to import the updated xml file (product-threadprefix_*.xml)!

1.5.5 (2006-04-09 - 03:00 pm CET)

• Fixed database error within the search engine.
  (if prefix was selected and results were shown as posts)
• Just import the updated xml file.

1.5.4 (2006-03-20 - 01:30 am CET)

• Fixed small error within the search engine.
• Just import the updated xml file.

1.5.3 (2006-03-19 - 03:30 pm CET)

• Changes in includes/class_dm_threadpost.php for vB 3.5.4
• Changes in includes/functions_threadprefix.php for vB 3.5.4
• New: Search for prefixes only is now possible (without keywords)
• New: Prefixes are displayed in "Similar Threads"
• New: Separator between prefix and thread title within threads/emails may now be defined in your Admin Control Panel (used to be always " - ").
• New: Save Thread Prefix in Search Preferences

1.5.2 (2005-11-03 - 07:30 pm CET)

• Missing phrase: updateprefixes
• Fixed small error in /threadprefix.php

1.5.1 (2005-11-02 - 09:30 pm CET)

• First version for vBulletin 3.5.1

1.5.0 (2005-11-02 - 09:30 pm CET)

• First version for vBulletin 3.5.0 (only one file edit more because of a missing hook)

Installation

1. Upload all files from the upload directory to your vBulletin directory on your server.
   
   Overview of the files and corresponding directories:
   • /threadprefix.php
   • /admincp/prefixinstall.php
   • /admincp/prefixinstall_text.php
   • /includes/functions_threadprefix.php
2. Import the file "product-threadprefix_english.xml" with 'Manage Products':
   Admin Control Panel -> Plugin System -> Manage Products ->
   [Add/Import Product] -> Select file -> Import
3. Open this file with your browser:
   http://www.yourdomain.com/forum/admincp/prefixinstall.php
4. Log in as administrator and follow the instructions

Time needed for installation: approx. 30 min.
Tested for version: 3.5.0 (and above).

Note: If you have used the Thread Category / Prefix Hack in vBulletin 3.0.x, don't worry: all existing prefixes will be imported during the installation. You just have to re-do your thread prefix settings in your vBulletin Options.

Update Product

1. Upload all files from the upload directory to your vBulletin directory on your server.
   
   Overview of the files and corresponding directories:
   • /threadprefix.php
   • /admincp/prefixinstall.php
   • /admincp/prefixinstall_text.php
   • /includes/functions_threadprefix.php
2. Import the file "product-threadprefix_english.xml" with 'Manage Products':
   Admin Control Panel -> Plugin System -> Manage Products ->
   [Add/Import Product] -> Select file -> Import
   
   You have to select 'Allow Overwrite' -> 'Yes' before clicking on Import!
3. Open this file with your browser:
   http://www.yourdomain.com/forum/admincp/prefixinstall.php
4. Log in, select the version you want to update from (at Step 2 -> 'Update Modification') and follow the instructions.

Short overview of the needed modifications

1. Files that need to be edited:

• /showthread.php (Display prefix in 'Similar Threads')
• /clientscript/vbulletin_textedit.js (JavaScript error message if no prefix was selected)
• /includes/class_dm_threadpost.php (Prefix within emails to moderators)
• /includes/functions_databuild.php (Update prefix in column 'Last Post' for mod functions)
• /includes/functions_online.php (Display prefix in 'Who's online')
  
  It is your decision if you need the above functions or if you decide do use the product without file modifications!
  You don't have to do the file modifications as the product will work even though without them!

2. New files:

• /threadprefix.php
• /includes/functions_threadprefix.php

3. Templates that need to be edited:

• editpost
• FORUMDISPLAY
• newthread
• search_forums
• search_results
• SUBSCRIBE
• threadadmin_editthread
• threadbit
• threadbit_announcement
• threadbit_deleted

4. New templates:

• threadprefix_listbit
• threadprefix_modify

5. New phrases:

• Too many to list them all - they will be created automatically while importing the xml file

Final words

If the modification doesn't work correct after installation, please verify all modifications you have made within the files and the templates. Be sure you have uploaded all edited and new files.

The modification was tested extensive and will function properly if installed correct.

Thanks to ReadWrite for his french translation.

Special Thanks to Andreas for his help with the hooks.

Have fun with the modification!

Please click Install if you have installed it

Mike

[jack-d]

Mystics,

This seems like a great hack but one question.

To make it easier on everyone and since you already modified the code, would it not be easier to include the line numbers of the code that need to be replaced.

showthread.php has 1924 lines of code and it can be a little taxing to say the least when looking for a single line of code, coupled with the fact that it would insure that the right code was modified which in turn would cut down on the amount of replies like,:smoke: "it does not work" or :smoke: "i can't find it" etc. etc.

Keep up the excellent hacks.

jackd

showthread.php - line 1810
clientscript/vbulletin_textedit.js - lines 1730,1731,1732
includes/class_dm_threadpost.php - line 398
includes/functions_databuild.php - line 146
includes/functions_online.php - line 1624

[jack-d]

A liitle help lease before I screw something up.

In the editpost template step 3 it states find this code-

<td><input type="text" class="bginput" name="title" value="$title" size="50" maxlength="85" tabindex="1" title="$vbphrase[optional]" /></td>

and add above, this code -

<if condition="$show['threadprefix']">
<td>$threadprefixes&nbsp;</td>
</if>


Exactly where above does this code get added. The first thing above is the <tr> tag so I do not see it going there. Above that is another similar section of code... Is that to be replaced.

tr>
<if condition="$show['threadprefix']">
<td class="smallfont">$vbphrase[threadprefix]:</td>
</if>
<td class="smallfont" colspan="<if condition="$show['threadprefix']">2<else />3</if>">$vbphrase[title]:</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><input type="text" class="bginput" name="title" value="$title" size="50" maxlength="85" tabindex="1" title="$vbphrase[optional]" /></td>


I hope this makes sense but exactly where would this new line of code be added.

Any help would be appreciated.

jackd

[Mystics]

Originally Posted by Dennis Olson

Yes. I've also used previous incarnations of this mod, so I know pretty much what to expect. Note that this issue ONLY occurs in a forum that requires prefixes, and ONLY when people first start using prefixes (so many of the prefix values are still blank). Once there are several pages of threads with prefixes present, this issue no longer manifests itself.

Still can't reproduce it...have you already defined prefixes in these forums? How is it possible the latest thread has no prefix when prefixed are required for this forum?

[Mystics]

Originally Posted by wordup

Is there a way to center "Testing" Prefix?

Hm, you can change the alignment of thread prefixes in your vBulletin settings.

Originally Posted by Hades-1

i hope you can tell me what i missed so i dont have to do this all over again but......

once i do the "new thread" template edit my title box goes away on all new posts, you cant insert a title at all, not to mentionthere is no prefix box either.

i can revert the template and get the title box back

whats going on?

Re-do the modifications properly.

Originally Posted by jack-d

Exactly where above does this code get added.

??? Exactly above the line you have to find.

[jack-d]

??? Exactly above the line you have to find.

well i have built quite a few css pages and never inserted any code between a
<tr> and <td> tag...

this is the reason for my question....

[Mystics]

Originally Posted by jack-d

well i have built quite a few css pages and never inserted any code between a
<tr> and <td> tag...

Yeah? What about just another row!?

			<if condition="$show['threadprefix']">
			<td>$threadprefixes&nbsp;</td>
			</if>

This is the code you have to insert..you don't see the <if> in the output...only the new row...

So in the end it's just:

<tr>
<td></td>
<td></td>

I don't see any reason why you couldn't do this...

[Roverturbo]

I have a question about the "Show Prefix in 'Last Post' column" feature.

In order to see prefixes tagged to topic titles in index.php you need the above option on but with this option on it passes the prefix over to the next newly created thread title. (As described in the option field)

So if userA makes a thread with a [Information] prefix and then userB comes along and makes a new thread without a prefix the [Information] prefix gets tagged to this new thread even though the new thread may not be information.

I suppose this could be bypassed by forcing members to use prefixes but that is not suitable for my forum.

Is there anyway to have the prefix shown in the last post column on index.php but not get tagged to the next new thread created if it as no prefix?

P.S Good work, Easy to install and works great.

[Mystics]

Originally Posted by Roverturbo

I have a question about the "Show Prefix in 'Last Post' column" feature.

In order to see prefixes tagged to topic titles in index.php you need the above option on but with this option on it passes the prefix over to the next newly created thread title. (As described in the option field)

So if userA makes a thread with a [Information] prefix and then userB comes along and makes a new thread without a prefix the [Information] prefix gets tagged to this new thread even though the new thread may not be information.

I suppose this could be bypassed by forcing members to use prefixes but that is not suitable for my forum.

Is there anyway to have the prefix shown in the last post column on index.php but not get tagged to the next new thread created if it as no prefix?

I tried everything but I'm unable to reproduce this...the information in the last post column is always correct in my tests. Please post all details about this forum (prefixes in forum defined, prefixes globally defined, prefix required, userb made a new thread or just a reply to an old thread etc.) and a step-by-step instruction to reproduce this. And be sure to make all file modifications as well.

[ogden2k]

Excellent addition, just what I was looking for. I hope this is carried on to future versions of vB.

[Roverturbo]

Originally Posted by Mystics

I tried everything but I'm unable to reproduce this...the information in the last post column is always correct in my tests. Please post all details about this forum (prefixes in forum defined, prefixes globally defined, prefix required, userb made a new thread or just a reply to an old thread etc.) and a step-by-step instruction to reproduce this. And be sure to make all file modifications as well.

The Goodbye thread was created without the [Information] prefix, But because the last prefix used in the forum was [Information] its being attached to it.

If you read the desciption of the "show prefix in last post column" option in the admincp it says:

If you enable this option the last used prefix will be shown in the Last Post column of each forum. This applies to Forum Home (index.php) and Forum Display (forumdisplay.php).

The bold part is exactly what its doing, It showing the last used prefix even if its not apart of the last thread made.

The mods installed fine, Im 100% positive.

EDIT:

Just so you know, I can not replicate the problem on demand, Its appears to just start happening after a certain period of time.

Turning the option on and off seems to fix it for a short while then it starts happening again.