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!

[Tralala]

Originally Posted by magnus

.. let's see if that fixes it.

It did not.

[magnus]

Originally Posted by Tralala

It did not.

Uh... ok. Well, enough messing around, change the Hook Location for the plugin above to usercp_start (instead of usersub_start). Let's just nip this sucker right in the bud..

[Tralala]

Originally Posted by magnus

Uh... ok. Well, enough messing around, change the Hook Location for the plugin above to usercp_start (instead of usersub_start). Let's just nip this sucker right in the bud..

Okay, well, now I no longer get the error... the UserCP page loads fine... which is obviously a step in the right direction. :up:

But, unfortunately, I'm back where we started in that the expand/collapse button that appears in the title of the subscribed threads doesn't actually do anything. Clicking on it has no effect. It still works fine in the regular forum view, though.


I do also see the same thing that was mentioned earlier, with regards to spoilers and my particular spoiler BB code. When clicking on the expand/collapse button in regular forum view, if the post that is revealed has a spoiler in it, the state of that spoiler is set to "show" instead of "hide." The spoiler button works fine, mind you. It's just that it should default to "hide" the spoilerized text rather than show it... just like it appears in the regular post.

Here is my BB replacement code, if that helps any:

PHP Code:

<div style="margin:5px 20px 20px 20px">
  <div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px">
   <input type="button" value="Show" style="width:50px;font-size:10px;margin:0px;padding:0px;" onclick="if (this.value=='Show') {this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = '';this.value='Hide';} else {this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display='none'; this.value='Show';}">
  </div>
  <div class="alt2" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px; border: 1px inset;">
    <div style="display: none;">{param}</div>
  </div>
</div> 


FWIW, I am running vBulletin 3.6.4 on this particular forum.

[magnus]

Originally Posted by Tralala

Okay, well, now I no longer get the error... the UserCP page loads fine... which is obviously a step in the right direction. :up:

But, unfortunately, I'm back where we started in that the expand/collapse button that appears in the title of the subscribed threads doesn't actually do anything. Clicking on it has no effect. It still works fine in the regular forum view, though.


I do also see the same thing that was mentioned earlier, with regards to spoilers and my particular spoiler BB code. When clicking on the expand/collapse button in regular forum view, if the post that is revealed has a spoiler in it, the state of that spoiler is set to "show" instead of "hide." The spoiler button works fine, mind you. It's just that it should default to "hide" the spoilerized text rather than show it... just like it appears in the regular post.

Here is my BB replacement code, if that helps any:

PHP Code:

<div style="margin:5px 20px 20px 20px">
  <div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px">
   <input type="button" value="Show" style="width:50px;font-size:10px;margin:0px;padding:0px;" onclick="if (this.value=='Show') {this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = '';this.value='Hide';} else {this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display='none'; this.value='Show';}">
  </div>
  <div class="alt2" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px; border: 1px inset;">
    <div style="display: none;">{param}</div>
  </div>
</div> 


FWIW, I am running vBulletin 3.6.4 on this particular forum.

Would it be possible for you to make me a temporary account on your forum and PM me the details? I'd like to check this out first hand if possible.

[Tralala]

Originally Posted by magnus

Would it be possible for you to make me a temporary account on your forum and PM me the details? I'd like to check this out first hand if possible.

Sure. I'm assuming you'll need it to be an admin account? Happy to send you details via PM.

I'd just want to time it appropriately so I enable the mod during the precise time you're available to log in. (If I leave it on, I'll get a slew of questions from my members dying to know about the new feature, and I'm just not ready for that. )

[aggiefan]

I had to disable this because some of our users (actually a very small few were getting an error when they tried to access the usercp)

Fatal error: Call to undefined function fetch_coventry() in C:\AGGIEFANS\WEB\forums\usercp.php(500) : eval()'d code on line 16

Any clue to what this is? We have the latest version installed so im guessing its not a issue thats been fixed.

It was also documented here which is where i found out that it was this addon which was causing it: http://www.myhattiesburg.com/forums/...d.php?p=233020

[magnus]

Ok, apparently this is less isolated than I thought. I'm going to dive into this with force tomorrow and get a fix out.

Sorry guys!

[nymyth]

this is sweetass...thanks a lot for this....having no problems so far

Peace

[beduino]

Hi Magnus!
A suggestion, maybe useful.
If you remember [a few posts before] i talk about a 'mystery' - whith 2 images [+] etc.
The problem [as you said] is fixed, but this make me a ideia.
A hack [new one] with the first AND the last post.
Then the user with click in first [+] see the first post and, click in second [+] read the last post.

It's sound possible? Or useful?
[your hack is working here ]
A great day,
Joao Barroca
aka beduino

[LockeAG]

Hey Magnus I will wait for the correction for the Usergroups and then we can continue with the little issue of the SPILER TAG...

Thanks again!