Download Forum Thread To Your Computer (Vb3.x)

This hacks allows you to download a forum thread into your computer (desktop etc.) as a text file with one click.

The hack adds a "DOWNLOAD THREAD" link inside Thread Tools pop-up and when clicked entire thread is downloaded to your computer. (See Screenshot)

It's useful when:
a) You want to archive and save the thread,
b) Want to read it offline,
c) It's a long thread and you want to browse it faster as a text file, use better searching features of your text editor.

The hack is tested with vB3.0.0 And vB 3.0.1, it is NOT tested with versions prior to 3.0.0. (vB2.x version is here). It is very easy to install. As a matter of fact it is an add-on, not a hack so you can install to your board without modifying any vb files. Just upload dt.php to your forum directory and make a easy change in showthread template and it is installed. Simple as that.

VERSION FOR VB 3.5 is released here:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=97217

If you install it, please click INSTALL, thank you.

Note : Download function is tested with IE v.6.0, Netscape v.4.7, Mozilla 1.2a and it's working fine in these browsers. I dont know other browsers or older versions though.
27.May.2004 Bug Fix : A small bug is fixed in file dt.php which effect users with prefixed tables in database.
29.May.2004 Bug Fix : A small bug in dt.php is fixed to cure post titles with special characters ("'?&) in it. Attached dt.php file is uptodate.
12.Dec.2004 Bug Fix : A small bug which causes soft deleted posts to be included in the downloaded text is fixed. Attached dt.php file is uptodate.


Note 1: If you want to use a different download thread image, see this post.
Note 2: If you want to save threads as .rtf, instead of .txt, see this post.


Enjoy the hack,
Logician

[Logician]

Originally Posted by redlabour

@Logician + Intex - i am speaking from up-to-date Mozillaengine = Firefox 0.8 + 0.9 not compatible, not the Mozillasuite.

@Intex - who makes Freesoftware should be thinking about using Evil-M$ Products !

I'm sorry but I'm an evil "M$ certified" system engineer and database administrator. Besides 90% internet users are using evil IE users so you should appreciate my hack still supports regular Mozilla hehe.

Frankly speaking, I didn't dl firefox yet so don't know how the hack behaves with it. But I believe they should really stop changing their engine in every 3 months. ^^

[redlabour]

Originally Posted by Intex

Evil yeah, but still the most widely used. Developers can't ignore the mass market .

@Logician and Intex - and only developers can change the Market !

@Logician - Firefox is only the standalone Mozillabrowsercomponent. If it runs on Mozilla it runs under Firefox. I tried it with Mozilla 1.5 & 1.6 and finally 1.7 - thats more than 3 Months !

[sabret00the]

i'm having the extention problem that was mentioned earlier, i seem to have to manually add extentions.

[JirQUEST]

hmmm, is this compatible with 3.0.3?

[Logician]

Although I didn't test it personally, I'd say yes

[Andreas]

Anyone willing to add PDF as output format? I'd really love that

[Logician]

Originally Posted by KirbyDE

Anyone willing to add PDF as output format? I'd really love that

2 potential problems with this request:
a) PDF library is not standart in PHP installation and such a hack would require this library. So even if this hack is coded, it will not work in many boards if their hosting company didn't install this library while compiling PHP.
b) Even if it is installed, PDF library uses a lot of CPU power in the server (hence many hosting companies do not install it) so when many people use the link, it will put burden on the server.

[Andreas]

Hmm, one can also generate PDFs without PDFLib

But you are right that it does require a lot of resources.

[weitalia]

Great hack,but where'is the RTF working version?

[Erwin]

Originally Posted by JirQUEST

hmmm, is this compatible with 3.0.3?

Yes.