Fork Threads

Boring Preamble
Sometimes a thread gets really long or some posts generate interesting but off topic conversation. I wanted to test the new cool product manager system and thought of this very simple mod to add Fork Thread functionality to the end user.

What it does
Allows the end user to divert off-topic tangents into a new thread, while automatically quoting the original thread.

Specs
Plugin: Included

Phrases added automatically: 2
fork_prefix and fork_this_post

Templates added automatically: 1
newpost_fork

Templates to edit: 1
postbit or postbit_legacy

Images to upload: 1 (optional)
fork.gif

How to Install

This is a full blown plugin. Follow the usual instructions for a plugin. Then you have to edit the postbit or postbit_legacy template.

For the graphical version you have to insert these lines where you want the link to appear:

PHP Code:

<a href="newthread.php?fork=1&do=newthread&p=$post[postid]"><img src="$stylevar[imgdir_button]/fork.gif" alt="$vbphrase[fork_this_post]" border="0" /></a> 


For the text version use this code:

PHP Code:

<a href="newthread.php?fork=1&do=newthread&p=$post[postid]">$vbphrase[fork_this_post]</a> 


You may want to place it in an "if" conditional so that only users who can post New Threads will see the image. Just use the same code as what's embedded in the "quote" image.

Updated to version 1.0.1 on 08/18/2005

*Modified to use the phrase manager.
*Fixed minor bug when "Automatically Quote Post / Thread Title" was set to "no".
*Fixed minor bug where after processing the title I pointed to the wrong variable

Preview and Live Demo

Preview attached. Or you can Register and try to fork the posts in the fork me thread.

Graphics help solicited

The quickie image I put together of a fork sucks
If someone comes up with an edited image of the .psd file vb comes with I will edit this post.

Wishlist for this mod

1. I doubt I will have the time to put this together, but it would be nice if there was a dropdown with forums the user has permission to post in so that the user can fork the thread to a different forum.
2. Adding a post to the original thread stating it had been forked and a link to the new thread

Final note

Oblivion Knight donated an image you can use of a fork (Thanks). It is attached to this post.

[Ghostsuit]

bloody nice idea.

[Azhrialilu]

What a great idea!

maybe crop your screenshots, big white spaces are not looking good..

and like said... GREAT idea!

[turksengel]

i couldnt understand what is it doing ?

[Azhrialilu]

One thing that might be useful is if it added a post to the original thread stating it had been forked and a link to the new thread - otherwise on a busy board you could get loads of forks many of which could be under the same thread.

[Ghostsuit]

Originally Posted by turksengel

i couldnt understand what is it doing ?

It creates a new thread with a quote fromt he old thread and puts Forked in the title so people can spawn a thread from a post in another thread rather than take the topic of the thread in a different direction with in that thread. Very simple idea and very very handy.

[Neutral Singh]

Brilliant Idea !!

[jugo]

/me installs and bows.

Nicely done!!!

[Vizionz]

this is a pretty good idea it would be better if it let u choose where to put the fork after. and it should be called offtopic instead of fork :P