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!

[deepak7]

Is there any statistic about % of people that uses javascript plugin?
I had a javascript menu on my site and some people complained they cannot see the menu (and they did not understand why).

My real question is what if I install this and the users can't run js?
Any error? (Display or anything else).

Regards

[magnus]

Originally Posted by deepak7

Is there any statistic about % of people that uses javascript plugin?
I had a javascript menu on my site and some people complained they cannot see the menu (and they did not understand why).

My real question is what if I install this and the users can't run js?
Any error? (Display or anything else).

Regards

If they can't run JavaScript, nothing will happen when they click the [+] icon. No popups, no alerts. Just.. nothing.

[mshadows]

Omg, one of the best hacks I've seen yet to date. Well done on this, I am definitely using it.

*Marks as installed*

[dragonlove]

Excellent hack, thank you!

[dragonlove]

Originally Posted by GrendelKhan{TSU

ps. any chance for a vbadvanced cmps module?

Mean that it doesn't work with vBAdvanced portal , on the portal we can't use this function, how can we do this?????

[egyptsons]

Thanks for the Hack but I want to ask
Is this Hack will causes a high load on server if the forums big?

[dbembibre]

I have a Big board with more than 1000 constant users and no load issues because this mod not add extra queries

[magnus]

Originally Posted by egyptsons

Thanks for the Hack but I want to ask
Is this Hack will causes a high load on server if the forums big?

No, as pointed out by dbembibre above, there are no extra queries. The same query is run whether a user clicks on the thread and views the whole thing, or if they click on the expand icon.

[GrendelKhan{TSU]

ok.. I bit confused:
I installed 1.2.0 and had to do manual edits as the automatic ones didn't work.

now I want to upgrade, so I can get the new features and the "auto" template edits but I'm not sure what I have to do/undo first and then upload/do for the upgrade.

just upgrading won't work right?

[magnus]

Originally Posted by GrendelKhan{TSU

ok.. I bit confused:
I installed 1.2.0 and had to do manual edits as the automatic ones didn't work.

now I want to upgrade, so I can get the new features and the "auto" template edits but I'm not sure what I have to do/undo first and then upload/do for the upgrade.

just upgrading won't work right?

Remove any manual template edits you've done, then just import the new version over the old one. Automatic template editing is enabled by default.