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!

[dancue]

Alright the issue was with rowMova mod.

What I did was move the plus/minus sign to the last post column and I'm using the last post feature of this mod. That way people can get a sneak peak of the last post of the thread.

If the author ever decides to continue support for this mod I would love for it to update the thread as read by the author.

[drsli]

Great addon anyway - I had to uninstall it unfortunately. In vb383 it only seems to work fully with Internet Explorer (8 in this case, within Windows7 RC1), in Firefox 3.51 (Windows and MacOSX) and Opera (latest version, Windows) the loading image shows up, but nothing happens. Using Safari4 in MacOSX gives an expanded view of the post, but the minus-button to collapse it has no effect.

[mad@Max]

For those who want to upgrade to jQuery v1.3.2 and use it with this hack.
Just replace original js of hack with attached.

[alfaowner]

You just needed to upload the latest jquery script and it would have worked.

Originally Posted by sector77

Hi there! Thanks for this!

I have it installed but I'm experiencing two problems.

1. I'm able to click on the plus sign and it expands as it should. However, when I attempt to click on the negative sign, it doesn't do anything. When I double click it, it gives me the ability to edit the Thread Title???

I've read a post where you recommended to check the all the .js files are being read and I've checked the source and see that they are.

Can you please help me with this? It would be great if I could make it so that my members and I could collapse it after viewing.

2. I can't figure out how to include the edit and/or reply button into the expanded post. Are there any detailed (somewhat simple) instructions to follow with this? It would be very helpful!

Thank you again!

[mad@Max]

Hack wouldn't work correctly with latest version of jQuery without the changes that i made in post above.

[reddyink]

SOLVED!

Works If you do
1) download latest Jquery +
2)Update of Mad@max file

[columbusgeek]

Thanks for getting this fixed.

[reddyink]

How to add extra material to this feature.
I want to add ratings and extra thread fields.

thanks

[columbusgeek]

Can this be changed to include the first and second posts of the thread? We use "answer forums" and it would be swell if you clicked the little plus and got the question and the answer, without having to see the rest of the chaff.

[Ghostt]

WHY i have a bad granularity font, with that ajax mod?
HOW can it be fixed? is it because of ajax effect??

http://i.imagehost.org/0174/Unbenannt_1.jpg

and the [spoiler] bbcode isn`T working it expand automaticaly...