Show Thread Enhancements - Post Ranking System

Post Ranking System
by FullyTested

This product does not modify any VB MySQL tables and thus can be used by all forums regardless of whether they have three thousand posts or three million posts in their database.
Also, no manual template edits.

In A Nutshell:

1. This product provides the ability to track the quality of post contributions made by your registered members.
   Each member's rank totals may be displayed (and are searchable) via the postbit template and/or public profile page.
2. Each post may be ranked 'up' (+1 point) or 'down' (-1 point) by your registered members. Each member may only do this once per post.
   This is done via AJAX if the viewer's browser has JavaScript enabled, or via a link, if not.
   Once a post has reached a certain point threshold (value is set via AdminCP), it's rank changes accordingly.
   All posts start as 'Neutral'.
   Positively ranked posts may have their rank changed to 'Highly Ranked' or 'Highest Ranked'.
   Negatively ranked posts may have their rank changed to 'Lowly Ranked' or 'Lowest Ranked'.
3. Whenever a post has its rank changed, the post creator has his/her rank totals updated accordingly.

Available Options:

• Rank threshold values may be changed at any time., Rank totals are then updated accordingly.
• Each rank can have it's own text colour.
• Each user has the option to have 'Lowest' ranked posts hidden in a collapsed state (same as the ignore postbit). This option is turned on via the User CP thread display options.
• Each user has the option to have 'Highest' ranked posts highlighted to destinguish them from the rest of the posts in the thread. This option is turned on via the User CP thread display options.
• Ability to globally force the above highlighted/hidden posts on all users.
• Option to have extremely lowly ranked posts auto 'soft' deleted. If post is subsequently undeleted, it's rank will revert to 'Neutral'.
• Ability to email mods upon auto deletion of a post.
• Selection of usergroups that may not rank posts.
• Selection of usergroups who's posts cannot be ranked.
• Exclude specific forums from post ranking.
• Ability to include/exclude rank name ('Highest Ranked') in postbit
• Ability to include/exclude rank score (+10/-5) in postbit
• Display user's post rank totals within the postbit template.
• Display user's post rank totals within the public profile page.
• Search for posts of a certain rank, which belong to a specific member, via the postbit or public profile page.
• Display total count, and search for, posts of a certain rank via the 'Post Ranking System' menu in AdminCP.
• Manage votes by User or Post via Admin CP.
• Statistics page where top posts and top posters are displayed. This page may be limited certain usergroups.
• Ability to set a cut-off date (in days). Posts older than x number of days cannot be ranked.

Accountable Actions

• Post delete (soft and physical) // rank totals decrement
• Post undelete // rank totals increment
• Post mergers // rank totals decrement as post may no longer reflect original content on which it was ranked
• Thread delete (soft and physical) // rank totals decrement
• Thread undelete // rank totals increment
• User mergers // ranks transferred to new user
• User delete // voted upon post ranks updated., tables cleared of said user

To Install:
Please see the 'ReadMe' file for installation instructions.
Installing this mod should take no longer than 5 minutes.

Version 2.5
Fixed small bug with the stats page.
Added the ability to have the score and rank images display in a separate line when default setting is to not have the thread title in every post.
The following files have changed:
- postrankstats.php (please re-FTP to your server)
- product_postrank.xml (please re-import with 'Allow Overwrite' selected)

[Stubbed]

FullyTested - My members have taken a shine to the mod, all is working as expected. I have defaulted the threshold values quite low to get people interested (10, 20, -10, -20), but I will make them higher at a later date.

I was never much of a fan of the reputation system built into vBulletin, so this mod with the thread five star ranking system seems to be working well.

Keep up the good work

[PamelaE]

Originally Posted by FullyTested

The only reason the stats are there is so one can search for posts of a certain rank by a specific user.
The post ranking is not supposed to provide an 'experience' for the clicker, nor is it meant to be a good behaviour point gathering counter (such as ranked badges).
It is what it is, a post ranking system. Nothing more.

But what is the incentive for users to click on it? Users don't do anything without a return on it. Some people have lowered the thresh hold and thus people see stats but in the long term that will become a little tedious.

Don't get me wrong I think this is something that could work and its potential is fantastic.
But I think this could be utilised in a much better way to give it more value.

[PamelaE]

Originally Posted by FullyTested

The only reason the stats are there is so one can search for posts of a certain rank by a specific user.
The post ranking is not supposed to provide an 'experience' for the clicker, nor is it meant to be a good behaviour point gathering counter (such as ranked badges).
It is what it is, a post ranking system. Nothing more.

Originally Posted by superthang

This is kind of confusion with all the highest and highly.

Is there a way to make it more simple like slickdeals?

just thumb up and thumb down?

That is a much better idea, its simple.

[FullyTested]

Pamela,

I understand what you are saying and a new mod that incorporates your suggestions and those of others might be a better addon to forum threads.
I understand this mod is limited in scope and is not for everyone. It does what I intended it to do and with the help of VB members such as yourself and others who have tried it and helped iron out its kinks, we can all learn from it and get inspired to create better, more exciting, and hopefully more useful mods.

[PamelaE]

Thanks FT. I think it rocks as an idea and the best system I have seen on here in terms of functionality. As I said its potential is what I find exciting.

Actually the mention of a thumbs up and thumbs down is something that will get people clicking and I'm thinking of simply changeing the icons and lowering the thresh hold.

I think icons like thumbs are more easily understood without the need for explanation.

Thanks for your work on this.

[EvilSeph]

Hi there,

Thanks for the mod! Currently testing it on a test forum (hence why I haven't marked it as installed) and I noticed that it is missing a logging feature (correct me if I'm wrong ). Would you mind adding one? It would be very helpful in dealing with abuse of the system.

Thanks again

[FullyTested]

Hi EvilSeph,

Not sure what kind of log record you are seeking.
Each time a person votes it is kept track of.

[FullyTested]

Originally Posted by Stubbed

I was never much of a fan of the reputation system built into vBulletin, so this mod with the thread five star ranking system seems to be working well.

Hi Stubbed,

I originally was going to have threads rated according to the ranked posts within it but never got that far.

[luan7749]

How about "Neutral". I couldn't see Highest Rank, Lowest rank ect.

What's Error ?

[AzzidReign]

Originally Posted by FullyTested

Hi Stubbed,

I originally was going to have threads rated according to the ranked posts within it but never got that far.

Not sure if that would be good. Because you can have a good thread (e.g. tutorial) and then a bunch of idiots come in and say stupid stuff therefore lowering the rating.