Show Thread Enhancements - External Link Titles, retrieve descriptive titles for URLs

Keywords: SHOWTHREAD, external, link, titles, URLs, SEO

Description:
Retrieves descriptive titles for external posted links. Allows for better link recognition and, in theory, could help increase page SEO.

Details:
I recall this being requested somewhere, so I decided to take a stab at it. This is yet another feature offered in vBSEO.

For those unaware of what this actually does.. by default, when a URL is posted without a description it looks like:
http://www.vbulletin.com

With this modification enabled, it will now look like:
vBulletin.org Forum - The Official vBulletin Resource!

Nicer, eh?

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Installation:

1. Download and import product-linktitles.xml via the Product Manager.
2. Enable the modification via AdminCP > vBulletin Options > External Link Titles Options (it is disabled by default)
3. ???
4. Profit!

Notes:
There's really no magic here, it polls for titles using the cURL() function. If for some reason your host does not have cURL() enabled, you're out of luck.

From time to time you may notice the occasional link that does not get titled -- this is due to either the fact that the url is not active or it either timed out waiting for a response. By default, the system will wait for 5 seconds before timing out. If you wish to modify the timeout, you may do so via the AdminCP.

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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 - Added the ability to blacklist specific domains from having link titles retrieved (configurable via the AdminCP)
• 1.1.1 - Wrapped returned titles in html_entity_decode(); to return properly decoded HTML characters.

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!

[KURTZ]

Warning: curl_setopt() [function.curl-setopt]: CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION cannot be activated when in safe_mode or an open_basedir is set in [path]/includes/functions_newpost.php(376) : eval()'d code on line 30

i'd this error onto 3.7.2 PL2

[nesta1]

this not working on 3.7.3

[Da22Da]

installed and working fine on 3.8.0 WoW
thanks alot

[wideopen]

This isn't working on 3.6.7 any ideas?

[mdawg]

Running 3.8.2 Had this installed for a little while. Works.

Only question is why it takes over most threads, and not others.

For example these URLS, it leaves the same as always:
http://www.ebaydropoffsites.net/
http://877isoldit.com/
http://letssellitonebay.com/

Try it, see if the same for you.

For example this one
http://www.ebay.com/
works fine - it converts it to: "eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices"

but the above three, the hack just leaves alone just like that.

Why?

[Leo Brazil]

Did someone test it on 4.0 ?

[rwoscott]

Originally Posted by Leo Brazil

Did someone test it on 4.0 ?

I have and it works perfectly!!

[Chuta]

Yep, works fine with vB 4.0.2 PL1.

Nice mod. ;D

[afed]

Great +++++ , always wanted one like this. TA

[sonixax]

very ver very fine , works perfectly on 4.0.8