New Posting Features - [Ajax] Check for similar thread before posting a new one

You love the 'similar threads' function and you are sick of duplicate threads just because your users don't use the search function?

Why not just combine them?

This Add-on will grab the thread title the user typed in and it will load a small box (using Ajax magic ) with 5 similar threads just like the 'similar threads' function that you can normally find under an already posted thread.

The box also tells the user to search through the similar threads first BEFORE starting a new one.


Features:
- no edits whatsoever needed, just import the product file, enable the Add-on and it works (well, it should )
- you can turn it off for certain forums or
- you can turn it off completely without leaving any code that messes your templates/files
- it can be translated
- don't like it anymore? Remove the product and you'll never see that Add-on again


Known issues:
- none


Things to consider:
It uses jQuery to get the information from ajax.php. jQuery is great and you can do many great things with it and unlike the vBulletin method it's quite easy to understand.
The jQuery file is compressed and only 20kb large.
To download the file, visit the homepage at http://jquery.com/
The link to download the file is on the right hand side.

Here's the version I use: http://code.google.com/p/jqueryjs/do....1.3.1.pack.js

Just download it and put it into the 'clientscript' folder without renaming the file.


Installation:
Download jQuery as described above.
Import the attached file using the Product Manager. Go to your vBulletin settings and search for 'Check for similar threads?'. Enable it.


Important:
It adds 2 new templates, it changes 1 template and it edits 2 files. I highly doubt that it will break you vBulletin but do a back-up and be on the safe side.



Version history:
1. initial release
2. current release
*** fixed some browser issues. The attached file is up to date.





How to fix the Opera problems in the first release:
The first release of this Add-on didn't work on Opera. To fix the problems, please follow these steps:
Open the template 'mrnasesimilarthreadcheck_header' and REPLACE the content with this code:

    <script type="text/javascript" src="clientscript/jquery-1.1.3.1.pack.js"></script>
    <script type="text/javascript">
        $(function(){
            $("#inputthreadtitle").bind("blur", function(){
                var value =$(this).val(); 
                $('td#similarthreadcheckcontent').html('<img src="$stylevar[imgdir_misc]/13x13progress.gif" />');
                $.ajax({
                    type: "GET",
                    url: "ajax.php",
                    data: "do=getsimilarthreads&title="+value,
                    success: function(msg){
                        $('td#similarthreadcheckcontent').html(msg);
                         }
                });
            });
        });
    </script>

The attached file is up to date.


Support will only given to those who have clicked 'install'.

[Invalid ID]

Thanks again

[4x4 Mecca]

I get this error in firefox, it doesn't work for me in IE either.

Error: [Exception... "Component returned failure code: 0x80004003 (NS_ERROR_INVALID_POINTER) [nsIDOMNSHTMLDocument.queryCommandState]"  nsresult: "0x80004003 (NS_ERROR_INVALID_POINTER)"  location: "JS frame :: http://www.myforum.com/clientscript/vbulletin_textedit.js?v=364 :: anonymous :: line 1469"  data: no]
Source File: http://www.myforum.com/clientscript/vbulletin_textedit.js?v=364
Line: 1469

[lolo?]

thx work fine for me

edit small probl?me:

Uncached templates: mrnasesimilarthreadcheck_header (1)
Uncached templates: mrnasesimilarthreadcheck_main (1)

[TheMilkCarton]

Brilliant. I love how assertive it is... it really prevents people from using the excuse "Well I searched and couldn't find anything".. when posting a new thread.

*Installed!!*

EDIT: Small question/feature request:

Would it be too intensive to add the parent forum to the "Forum" column? So say I was posting in this forum, it would say "vBulletin Modifications > vBulletin Add-ons" instead of just "vBulletin Add-ons"? Not the best example, but the location can be very vague if it doesn't show a breadcrumb.

Alternatively, what about at least wrapping a link around the forum name in the forum column? So they can at least click to visit the forum.

Anyway, I haven't even looked at the templates/plugins yet.. I may be able to make this modification easy enough, but I still thought I'd share the idea.

[Lizard King]

Originally Posted by lolo?

thx work fine for me

edit small probl?me:

Hook : cache_templates

if (THIS_SCRIPT == 'newthread')

{
$globaltemplates[] = 'mrnasesimilarthreadcheck_header';
$globaltemplates[] = 'mrnasesimilarthreadcheck_main';
}

This will take care of your problem

[MrNase]

Originally Posted by Lizard King

This will take care of your problem

Thanks, I included it into the product file.

[lolo?]

Originally Posted by Lizard King

Hook : cache_templates

if (THIS_SCRIPT == 'newthread')

{
$globaltemplates[] = 'mrnasesimilarthreadcheck_header';
$globaltemplates[] = 'mrnasesimilarthreadcheck_main';
}

This will take care of your problem

Originally Posted by MrNase

Thanks, I included it into the product file.

great work fine thanks :up::up:

[sunrise2006]

Thanks, it's great mod. I installed it.

[Mecho]

is it possible that u add one picture like this :
when this system is trying to find similar topics ??? so ppl know something trying to happen

thanks

[Lizard King]

Originally Posted by Mecho

is it possible that u add one picture like this :
when this system is trying to find similar topics ??? so ppl know something trying to happen

thanks

It already have a picture but something is wrong within the picture. Download images/misc/progress.gif to your computer and rename it to 13x13progress.gif and reupload it.

I also modified the hack to work with GARS , here is the how to.

Open GARS_newthread and search for

$GARS_options[options]

Replace it with

<!-- / subject field -->
$GARS_options[options]

Open newthread_form_complete plugin and add the following just after

            $vbulletin->templatecache["newthread"] = str_replace('<!-- / subject field -->', fetch_template('mrnasesimilarthreadcheck_main'),$vbulletin->templatecache["newthread"]);

            $vbulletin->templatecache["GARS_newthread"] = str_replace('</head>',fetch_template('mrnasesimilarthreadcheck_header').'</head>',$vbulletin->templatecache["GARS_newthread"]);
            $vbulletin->templatecache["GARS_newthread"] = str_replace('name=\"subject\"','id=\"inputthreadtitle\" name=\"subject\"',$vbulletin->templatecache["GARS_newthread"]);
            $vbulletin->templatecache["GARS_newthread"] = str_replace('<!-- / subject field -->', fetch_template('mrnasesimilarthreadcheck_main'),$vbulletin->templatecache["GARS_newthread"]);