New Posting Features - [Ajax] Check for similar thread before posting a new one

You love the 'similar threads' function and you are sick of duplicate threads just because your users don't use the search function?

Why not just combine them?

This Add-on will grab the thread title the user typed in and it will load a small box (using Ajax magic ) with 5 similar threads just like the 'similar threads' function that you can normally find under an already posted thread.

The box also tells the user to search through the similar threads first BEFORE starting a new one.


Features:
- no edits whatsoever needed, just import the product file, enable the Add-on and it works (well, it should )
- you can turn it off for certain forums or
- you can turn it off completely without leaving any code that messes your templates/files
- it can be translated
- don't like it anymore? Remove the product and you'll never see that Add-on again


Known issues:
- none


Things to consider:
It uses jQuery to get the information from ajax.php. jQuery is great and you can do many great things with it and unlike the vBulletin method it's quite easy to understand.
The jQuery file is compressed and only 20kb large.
To download the file, visit the homepage at http://jquery.com/
The link to download the file is on the right hand side.

Here's the version I use: http://code.google.com/p/jqueryjs/do....1.3.1.pack.js

Just download it and put it into the 'clientscript' folder without renaming the file.


Installation:
Download jQuery as described above.
Import the attached file using the Product Manager. Go to your vBulletin settings and search for 'Check for similar threads?'. Enable it.


Important:
It adds 2 new templates, it changes 1 template and it edits 2 files. I highly doubt that it will break you vBulletin but do a back-up and be on the safe side.



Version history:
1. initial release
2. current release
*** fixed some browser issues. The attached file is up to date.





How to fix the Opera problems in the first release:
The first release of this Add-on didn't work on Opera. To fix the problems, please follow these steps:
Open the template 'mrnasesimilarthreadcheck_header' and REPLACE the content with this code:

    <script type="text/javascript" src="clientscript/jquery-1.1.3.1.pack.js"></script>
    <script type="text/javascript">
        $(function(){
            $("#inputthreadtitle").bind("blur", function(){
                var value =$(this).val(); 
                $('td#similarthreadcheckcontent').html('<img src="$stylevar[imgdir_misc]/13x13progress.gif" />');
                $.ajax({
                    type: "GET",
                    url: "ajax.php",
                    data: "do=getsimilarthreads&title="+value,
                    success: function(msg){
                        $('td#similarthreadcheckcontent').html(msg);
                         }
                });
            });
        });
    </script>

The attached file is up to date.


Support will only given to those who have clicked 'install'.

[DJRavine]

all i can say is wow... thank you..
thats one hell of an awesome mod...
very very very useful..
keep it up mate...

[kushal]

Thank you for the modification. A small request:
Can the search function be limited to some forum only while it is searching for the similar thread?

[AzaDiyaR]

this not working for me

[BadgerDog]

Originally Posted by TheMilkCarton

For anyone who hasn't figured it out:

showthread_similarthreadbit_ajax

Find:

<a href="showthread.php?$session[sessionurl]t=$simthread[threadid]" title="$simthread[preview]">$simthread[title]</a>

Replace:

<a href="showthread.php?$session[sessionurl]t=$simthread[threadid]" title="$simthread[preview]" target="_blank">$simthread[title]</a>

Thanks ... :up:

That really helps the usefulness of the mod...

Regards,
Badger

[MrNase]

I think it's a good idea to let the similar threads open in a new window. Let's pretend the user doesn't find the information he was looking for. In that case he still has the window with the new thread form open and I doesn't have to navigate through the forums just to get back to the new thread page.

[AzaDiyaR]

waow thanks man this working for me

[TheBlackPoet]

its not working for me (ie7)... but im not uninstalling... i will just hold it in stasis until there is a fix for it in the browser i use... INSTALLED...

[user02934123123]

Doesn't seem to work.... It indicates in the edit box that it will show a listing of similar titles, but never does. Any suggestions?

[rapidphim]

Does this hack compatible with 3.6.8?

[user02934123123]

As per my earlier post: this doesn't seem to work.

It adds a line to the new thread template that indicates it will search for similar threads, but the search never takes place and nothing is displayed.

It appears this hack doesn't work with the newest release of vB. Any fix, or is it time to uninstall?

With thanks.