Add-On Releases - AJAX Tabs Content Script v2

AJAX Tabs Content Script - Version 2.0

Note: Altho this "How To" is written for implementation within vbadvanced CMPS, this can also be easily implemented anywhere within vB , ie on custom vB pages or within current vB pages.

Description/Whats changed within this release?: This new version (based on the AJAX Tabs Content Script (v 2.0) written by Dynamic Drive - http://www.dynamicdrive.com/dynamici...tent/index.htm) is a versatile Ajax script that lets you display content pulled from external files inside a DIV and organized via CSS tabs. A fully unobtrusive, CSS and HTML based script, it supports practical features such as persistence of the active tab (ie: when page is reloaded), an "IFRAME" mode, a "slideshow" mode, ability to expand/contract arbitrary DIVs on the page at the same time, nested tabs, and much more. Below lists the features of this script that together make it highly adaptable in the real world:

Here's a quick outline of the script features:

• Fetch and display an external page (from the same domain) inside a container when a tab is clicked on via Ajax.
• (v 2.0) Apart from Ajax, an external page can also be fetched and displayed via the IFRAME element instead. This is useful for external pages that either contain JavaScript/ CSS code that doesn't run properly when fetched via Ajax, or the page is from an outside domain.
• Add a "default" content inside the container to either be shown while no tabs are selected, or to be associated with a specific tab. The default content is added inline on the page and not fetched via Ajax, to avoid unnecessary fetching of external pages.
• Supports session only persistence, so the last tab user clicked on is remembered if he/she returns to the page within the same browser session.
• (v 2.0) Supports auto "slideshow" mode, in which script automatically cycles through and selects each tab periodically until a tab is explicitly selected.
• (v 2.0) Ability to also expand/contract arbitrary DIVs on the page as the tabbed content is expanded/ contracted.
• (v 2.0) Ability to dynamically select a tab either based on its position within its peers, or its ID attribute.
• (v 2.0) Ability to directly load a different external page into the content container, either via Ajax or IFRAME.
• (v 2.0) Ability to set where the CSS class "selected" get assigned when a tab is clicked on- either on the tab link itself (its "a" element), or its parent instead (ie: "li" element). This makes the script adaptable to both CSS Tabs that are styled at the "A" level itself, or its parent container instead.
• (v 2.0) Supports nested Ajax Tabs! In other words, you can have an external page fetched via Ajax contain in itself Ajax Tabs that show their own contents when clicked on as well. This is made possible using the "onajaxpageload" custom event handler (see documentation).
• Supports multiple Ajax Tabs Contents on the same page.
• Fully unobtrusive, search engine friendly design. For search engines or browsers with JavaScript disabled, the external contents will just load as actual pages (instead of via Ajax).

Reminder: Due to security limitations, the external pages loaded via each tab using Ajax must reside on the same domain as the script itself. This limitation doesn't apply if you use the "IFRAME" option to fetch and show the external page instead.

This is what I've done so far to implement AJAX Tabs functionality for my websites and others. I hope that its easy to follow along, answers your questions and meets your needs. If you are reading this and wondering what a tabbed content is, check out the screen shots for a visual.

CMPS Version Note: Coded for CMPS v3.0. Modifications can be made to the php files (Require Back-End) to work with CMPS v2.x

CMPS Module Type: TEMPLATE w/Alternative Module Wrapper Template
Templates: adv_portal_Tab_Block_Main, adv_portal_alt_module_wrapper (optional)
Files: ajaxtabs.js, ajaxtabs.css, Sample Content Files, images

Note: I've included sample files in the attached Zip File to use with the step by step how to.

Step 1. Upload the ajaxtabs directory (located in the attached Zip File) to the FORUMS Root.
This directory contains the ajaxtabs.js file & the ajaxtabs.css file
path example: /www/forums/ajaxtabs/ajaxtabs.js


Step 2. Modify CSS file.
Use Attached Sample CSS file - Sample name: ajaxtabs.css
Change paths to images to reflect your domain and forum root (2 lines)...

Note: Additional Modifications to this file can be made once you get the initial sample system up and running.


Step 3. Create, Name and Upload Multiple "Content" files.
Use attached Sample PHP "Content" file - Sample name: tabexternal.php (I've included working samples in the attached Zip File).

NOTE: Please read the Instructions TXT File for the edits that need to be made in order for them to work on your site.

The location I chose for these was the FORUMS root.
path example: /www/forums
You can name these files anything you want. For example, I chose a naming convention - tabexternal.htm, tabexternal2.php, tabrecentnews.php, tabvbookie.php, ..etc etc

Note: Further Modifications to these files can be made once you get the initial system up and running.


Step 4. (optional) Create an Alternative Module Wrapper Template.
Use attached Sample Alternative Module Wrapper Template - Sample name: adv_portal_alt_module_wrapper

I chose to do this, because I didn't want to use the standard Module Wrapper that comes default with vBadvanced.

NOTE: Use the default wrapper if you choose not to create your own custom one.


Step 5. Create a new Template.
Use attached sample Custom Template Sample name: adv_portal_Tab_Block_Main

This template will be the one that you include with the module that you will create in Step 6. I've included the code for the sample template in the attached file, HOWEVER, there are some edits that you will need to make to the code based upon steps 1-3 above.

EDITS NEEDED TO THE ATTACHED SAMPLE TEMPLATE:

EDIT 1 - Path location of the ajaxtabs.css file created in step 2. Simply edit this line in the template to the correct path.

<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/forums/ajaxtabs/ajaxtabs.css" />

EDIT 2 - Path location of the ajaxtabs.js file in step 1. Simply edit this line in the template to the correct path where you uploaded the ajaxtabs.js file.

<script type="text/javascript" src="/forums/ajaxtabs/ajaxtabs.js">

EDIT 3 - Path location of the "Content" file(s) created in step 3. Simply edit the line(s) in the template to the correct path where you uploaded the PHP file(s).

<li class="selected"><a href="http://www.domain.com/forums/tabexternal.php" rel="ajaxcontentarea">Tab 1</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.domain.com/forums/tabexternal2.php" rel="ajaxcontentarea">Tab 2</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.domain.com/forums/tabexternal3.php" rel="ajaxcontentarea">Tab 3</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.domain.com/forums/tabexternal4.php" rel="ajaxcontentarea">Tab 4</a></li>

Step 6. Create a new CMPS TEMPLATE Module.
Name it what ever you like. Include the template that you created in Step 5 above. Make sure that you either use the Module Wrapper Template OR the Alternative Module Wrapper Template that you created in optional Step 4 above. Give permission(s) to the user groups that you want to be able to view this.


Step 7. Add the Module to a CMPS page.
Add the module created in Step 6 above to any CMPS page (make a test page if you want to)...


Step 8. Load the CMPS page that you added the module to.
If you performed the above steps correctly, the result will be a tabbed block module with 4 tabs named Tab 1, Tab 2, Tab 3, Tab 4. The content for Tab 1 will say "Congrats USERNAME! You have successfully added AJAX Tab Content to your Site."


CUSTOMIZATION

Style: Modify CSS File in Step 2 to match the Style of your site. The Sample CSS Files comes with 3 different styles of Tab Layouts. Choose the one that best suits your needs and further modify the CSS to match your sites Style(s)....

Tab Names: Modify Template created in Step 5 to change the NAME of the tabs themselves - ie.. from Tab 1 to Announcements (see below)

<li><a href="http://www.domain.com/forums/tabexternal.php" rel="ajaxcontentarea">Announcements</a></li>

Content: Modify "Content" File(s) created in Step 3 to generate content. You can add static content or Dynamic Content. Below is a very very basic sample of what can be done.

Sample mix of static and dynamic content

PHP Code:

<?php

echo '<table cellspacing="2" cellpadding="0" width=100%><tr> <td class="alt2"><span class="smallfont">Welcome Back To YOURSITENAMEHERE&nbsp;<b>' . $vbulletin->userinfo['username'] . '!</b><br><br>Hope you are enjoying the off season so far.<br><br> The Draft, Mini Camps & Hall of Fame Weekend Events are complete, Train Camps are in full swing and Preseason Games have started to kick off!<br><br>
Im sure these next few weeks will be fun to follow and make the upcoming season even more exciting. <br><br>Good luck with your team&nbsp;<b>' .  $vbulletin->userinfo['username'] . '.</b></span></td></tr>';

?>

NOTE: You can get as creative as you want to with content (Both static and Dynamic). For example, I took code from the recentthreads.php file, modified it and included that as tabbed content to display recent threads within a tab on my site (as seen in the screen shots attached in Post 1 of this thread). (I've included samples with instructions of this within the zip file. Side Note: use/modify these samples at your own risk)


Turning on "slideshow" mode

You can have the tabs within your Ajax Tabs Content automatically rotate every x seconds until a user explicitly clicks on a tab. To enable "slideshow" mode on your Tab Content, just pass in an integer when calling instance.init() to initialize your script: This is located at the bottom of the Template you created in step 5

<script type="text/javascript">
var mytabs=new ddajaxtabs("maintab", "ajaxcontentarea")
mytabs.setpersist(true)
mytabs.setselectedClassTarget("link") //"link" or "linkparent"
mytabs.init(15000)
</script>
</body>
</td></tr>

Notice the integer in red, which is in units of milliseconds. With one defined, the script will rotate through the tabs every x milliseconds (so 15000=15 seconds).


ADDING MORE TABS

To add more tabs, you will need to modify the template created in Step 5 and create a new "content" file for each new tab (as explained in Step 3).

Step 1. Add the following line of code to the Template that you created in Step 5 for each new Tab that you want to appear. Its a good idea when you add the lines that you keep them in order with the other lines currently in the file.

<li><a href="http://www.domain.com/forums/CONTENT FILE" rel="ajaxcontentarea">TAB NAME</a></li>

Example:

<li><a href="http://www.domain.com/forums/tabcontent5.php" rel="ajaxcontentarea">Sports News</a></li>

Step 2. Upload the newly created "Content" file (as explained in Step 3) to your FORUMS root.


Additional Enhancements

Please see post 2 of this thread for additional enhancements.

If you want to read up on AJAX Tabs, check out the Ajax Tabs Content script over at Dynamic Drive (http://www.dynamicdrive.com/dynamici...tent/index.htm)

....thats it in a nutshell.... I do hope that I explained things well enough to at least get a head start on AJAX Tabbed Content. Let me know if you have any problems or need further explanation on anything...

Thanks and enjoy Bobster

Screen Shots Explained:

The 1st is an example of "Slideshow" Mode
The 2nd is an example of some dynamic content based on the user.
The 3rd is an example of modified recentthreads.php used within a tab.
The 4th is an example of using modified vbarticles within a tab.
The 5th is an examples of custom dynamic content within a tab.

[bobster65]

Originally Posted by gwerzal

Thank you for your replies they are very much appreciated.

Its getting late now so il have a play with it in the morning and see if i can get it working.

Thanks again.

Yer welcome... I will check back tomorrow and see if you need any help

[peterpiper]

how is this supposed to work with vb forums? all the functions are alien to me! and how does it fit in with the templates?

thanks in advance

[bobster65]

Originally Posted by peterpiper

how is this supposed to work with vb forums? all the functions are alien to me! and how does it fit in with the templates?

thanks in advance

This "how to" is written for use with vbadvanced. However, this can be used within vbulletin itself with a little tweaking to the install instructions. For example, instead of the step for creating a template Module... that can be replicated in vb by creating a custom template and integrating that template within an existing page or a custom page.

Im actually surprised that nobody has done this yet.. well, I have, but I mean the community as a whole lol.. 3.7 I see finally has some tabs in the Profile, but still not anywhere else on the forums..

[peterpiper]

ok, so could you provide a step by step instruction list for vb then please!

[bobster65]

Originally Posted by peterpiper

ok, so could you provide a step by step instruction list for vb then please!

I'll think about it. Got some other things going on right now. If anyone else wants to do it, they have my permission to do so..

[bobII]

I followed all the steps, but it's not showing any content... When I click on a tab, I "Requesting Content" but nothing displays... Just a plain white screen. Any ideas???

[bobster65]

Originally Posted by bobII

I followed all the steps, but it's not showing any content... When I click on a tab, I "Requesting Content" but nothing displays... Just a plain white screen. Any ideas???

sounds like its not finding the content files.. double check ALL and ANY paths to make sure that everything is pointing to the correct files .. makes sure the path to the ajaxtabs.js is correct as well. The most common thing when it just sits and displays "requesting Content" is that is can not find the content file that you are telling it to load.

[peterpiper]

when i create a separate template, what do i put in it, and how do i link to it from the other main forumdisplay template?

[reddyink]

bobster,
I am trying to put javascript in php file for expand collapse. I want description field read more, when user click on Read more.. link whole description field should display.
I included onclick event in echo statement for link. but nothing happens.
I would like to know, weather expand/collapse works in ajax tabs onclick event for link.

Thanks

[bobster65]

Originally Posted by reddyink

bobster,
I am trying to put javascript in php file for expand collapse. I want description field read more, when user click on Read more.. link whole description field should display.
I included onclick event in echo statement for link. but nothing happens.
I would like to know, weather expand/collapse works in ajax tabs onclick event for link.

Thanks

You CAN use additional Javascript, but there is a trick to it (where you include it).. I'll have to dig through my notes (or you can check on dynamic drive if you don't want to wait)... Also, check to make sure the IDs for the expand contract part are not conflicting with anything else that might be on the entire page itself.... that will cause the expand/contract to not work as well.. if it uses IDs, change then to some high number like 8749 lol (hope that made sense)