Forum Display Enhancements - Collapsable First Post using AJAX (or Last Post!)

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NOTICE: This is for vBulletin v3.6 ONLY. You can find a v3.5 compatible version here.

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*** Confirmed working on ALL vBulletin 3.6.x versions! ***

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Keywords: FORUMDISPLAY, search, results, collapse, AJAX, collapsable, first, last, unread, post

Description:
Allows you to expand/collapse the first, last or first unread post of a thread from FORUMDISPLAY and search results without the need to load the entire thread.

Details:
Upon perusing the wonderful deals over at slickdeals.net, I noticed this nifty feature which caught my eye. I found it quite useful as most people have a bad habit of not being very descriptive with their thread titles. This little trick made my browsing experience much more enjoyable, so naturally I had to borrow [read: shamelessly rip] the idea.

Please note that no additional queries are added, unless using the 'First Unread Post' option. Otherwise, the only queries performed are the same as those when a thread is normally viewed.

The magic behind this modification is performed by jQuery: The Write Less, Do More, JavaScript Library.

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Usage:
Simply click the expand icon [+] in front of the thread title to expand, and the collapse icon [-] to collapse. Rocket science, eh?

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Installation:

1. Download and unzip the ajax_first_post.zip archive.
2. Upload necessary files to their respective locations. (Attention custom style users! Be sure to upload the images to your custom image directory.)
3. Import the product-ajax_first_post.xml via the Product Manager.
4. Make any desired configuration changes via AdminCP > vBulletin Options > Collapsable First Post using AJAX
5. ???
6. Profit!

Notes:
All template modifications are made automatically. They attach to pretty common text locations, so modified styles shouldn't* be a problem.

However, for those who wish (or need) to perform the edits manually, you can find that information here.

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Comments:
As with all my hacks, this modification is provided free of charge. However, if you find this product useful and have money burning a hole in your pocket, feel free to make a small donation, I won't mind.. really.

Version History:

• 1.0.0 - Initial release, here's to hoping...
• 1.1.0
  • Fixed JavaScript errors when using search.
  • Resolved (known) cross browser compatibility issues.
• 1.2.0
  • New AdminCP configuration options:
    • Ability to select first or last post to be displayed.
    • Ability to disable on a per forum basis.
    • Option to update thread views when expanded.
    • Option to disable automatic template editing with a single click.
  • Tweaked a couple plugins to prevent unnecessary checking.
  • Properly registers in Who's Online
• 1.2.1
  • Will no longer show expand icon next to thread redirects.
  • Added ability to display first unread post.
  • Completely revamped the automatic template editing system. Should now be able to make template edits to even the most modified templates as well.
  • Fixed a couple non-breaking typos.
  • Included JavaScript in USERCP_SHELL to allow expand/collapse of subscribed threads.
  • Added a hover title to the expand icon to inform the user what they can expect when clicking it.

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Tips, Tricks and Modifications:

• Fix for users of passiveVid receiving Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /includes/class_postbit.php(296) : eval()'d code on line [#]

Currently Known Bugs:

• None

* Please note that this modification was developed on a forum with a userbase of 1 (myself). I've tested it for basic functionality but I cannot guarantee functionality or behavior on your forum. So, please -- make backups before installing this product!

[Get Shorty]

Awesome. I'll be keeping an eye on this and installing after it has more testing.

[dbirosel]

How does this perform query wise? Will this add heavy load to my server? How many queries does it add?

[VaaKo]

I did everything as you instructed but still I can't see the plus sign in forumdisplay.

[VaaKo]

Nevermind, it worked!

/me clicks install!

[taxick]

This Hack rocks

Thx - This is the best hack for long time

Installed

Nominate for MOTM

[TheMilkCarton]

Works great!!

Should definitely be Nominated for MOTM.

I'm guessing there are no options to configure? I would like to see a "Forum Exclude" in the future, so that you could block certain forums from using this. The First/Last post toggle also sounds like a good idea.. or maybe somehow display +/- toggles for both? I guess that could be really server intensive though..

Since this is in Beta I'll try my best to test it out. I haven't had any problems yet.

[magnus]

Originally Posted by dbirosel

How does this perform query wise? Will this add heavy load to my server? How many queries does it add?

It doesn't "add" any queries. The only queries are when someone clicks to expand thread, the same query that is run if someone was to click the thread anyway.

Originally Posted by TheMilkCarton

Works great!!

Should definitely be Nominated for MOTM.

I'm guessing there are no options to configure? I would like to see a "Forum Exclude" in the future, so that you could block certain forums from using this. The First/Last post toggle also sounds like a good idea.. or maybe somehow display +/- toggles for both? I guess that could be really server intensive though..

Since this is in Beta I'll try my best to test it out. I haven't had any problems yet.

I like the idea of an exclusion list, I'll add that. Thanks.

Also, it's not really in Beta. I always enable "Beta status" for my hacks, because I'm always tinkering. Once I stop updating the modifications, I remove the Beta status.

[magnus]

Update:
1.2.0

• New AdminCP configuration options:
  • Ability to select first or last post to be displayed.
  • Ability to disable on a per forum basis.
  • Option to update thread views when expanded.
  • Option to disable automatic template editing with a single click.
• Tweaked a couple plugins to prevent unnecessary checking.

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Template edits have changed! If you're not using automatic template edits, please review the changes in this post.

DO NOT DISABLE TEMPLATE EDITING BY DISABLING PLUGINS! THIS METHOD IS NO LONGER EFFECTIVE! USE THE NEW ADMINCP OPTION!

Otherwise, just import and overwrite as usual.

[magnus]

Originally Posted by yuu911

only thread message version (1.2.0)

?? Huh?

[dbirosel]

Originally Posted by magnus

?? Huh?

I'm assuming he has removed the avatar, title and signature and only provided the post message when someone expands.