Chat Modifications - MGC Chatbox (with AJAX)

Last version - MGC Chatbox Evo available : here

Description

When I had left the vBulletin world, I was in the past the co-author of a little chatbox (shoutbox), very well known in the vBulletin world.
This chatbox had been developed by Svaliotti (known as Poseidon on vb.org) for vB2 in the past and I had made the porterage (with is authorisation as we were both members of the same french non-official support forum) and the improvement for vB3.

It is thus normal that in my return in the vBulletin world, I begin by getting down to this hack. Even if several versions of chatbox are already present in the vBulletin world, I said to myself that it would be a good thing to make a made in France.

Naturally, I don't deal with a "copy" version of the other chatbox, I have any coded at the beginning (it was preferable because the front code wasn't so clean any more), and I integrated a good quantity of very interesting features.

New version features

The new version contains all the features from the previous version. Description of these versions can be found in Sofia's post hereabove (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=1257510&postcount=3).

Modifications from previous version are the following :

• 1.5 :
  • Fixed bugs :
    • Chatbox is shown two times in full page mode when the Display on all pages under the navbar option is selected.
    • "Fermer" is not in a sentence.
    • Overflow problem with Netscape.
    • Uppercase transformed to lowercase in the PM channel.
    • The ban cron debans user indefinitly banned.
    • Chatbox continuously loading on some forums.
    • Inactivity and guests problem.
    • Team icon blinking is not working properly.
    • Coma error in the who is online.
    • 2 spaces instead of one between the date and the time.
  • New functionnalities :
    • Option to deactivate the random smilies.
    • Option to deactivate the automatic PM sending when banning a user.
    • New permission to allow or not the downloading of shouts.
    • Option to specify the name under which unregistered users shouts appear.
    • Syntax change for the /ban, /ignore, /del, /pm commands : Possibility to use them with the username or the userid (For more information about the new syntax, check the help button in the chatbox).
  • Removed functionnalities :
    • vBAdvanced integration [TEMPORARLY] => See this for integration with this version https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=163628

This hack is very light in term of queries : only one for every recharging / refreshment of the chatbox and 5 for the statistics in the load of the page if you actiate them. If you don't activate advanced options of course as stated aside each in the acp

Installation

Read the file "Installation" in the pack.

Once the installation is ended, go in usergroups and edit permissions to see the Chatbox.

By default, no group has access to the chatbox.

Screenshots

The screenshots are in french as I have made it on an online website which is in french. Don't hesitate to give me new one if you want in english

They are up to date of 1.3 version.

See the following post : https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=1292136&postcount=559

User manual

Coming soon ...

Copyright

This hack is under copyright MGC (Mtor&Grog Corporation) 2007-forever and was developed for vBulletin-Resources.com & vb-hacks.org. Its redistribution on another forum that vbulletin-ressources.com, vb-hacks.org or vbulletin.org are prohibited without aggreement of the authors!

Evolutions and improvements

This sixth version of the chatbox is already very complete, but like each product, its evolution depends on all. Then don't hesitate especially to share your ideas of improvements so that we can improve even more this chatbox.

Languages

Actually available :

1. French
2. English
3. Arabic [Translator : alessai]
4. German [Translator : captainslater]
5. Vietnamese [Translator : Anhyeu12000]
6. Turkish [Translator : neutralizer and bocek]
7. Spanish [Translator : obmob] [TO BE UPDATED FOR 1.5]

To be available [Translation in progress] :

1. Bosnian [Translator : Benjaminbih]

[FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']For the translators : phrases with version number 1.5 in the English language file are the one that have been modified or added in the new version so you should probably find the modification for your language file easily.[/font]

Contact me if you want to participate and add your own country language file

Support

Several possible problems are explained in the file "Read Me"
Chatbox in iBProarcade and vBadvanced CMPS

See the readme file for iBProarcade.

For vbadvanced, a module is available here : https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=163628.

FAQ

Q: I installed the chatbox but it doesn't display
R: Check if you have allowed users (permissions in usergroups)

Q: I see shouts but in the collapsed chatbox
R: You can specify number of shouts in the collapsed chatbox. If you don't want to see it, put "0" for this option.

Q: The chatbox doesn't display below or in the top of one of the pages while in the other position it displays
R: You use a style and it's possible that variables used in templates aren't present. (Read the file "Read Me")

Q: I have a problem with accents in the Chatbox
R: Read the file "Read Me"

Q: How to change the value of color for date and for command /me?
R: When you add additionnal CSS for each style, you can change color in class CSS.

Thanks to Sofia for her earlier help on the chatbox.

You can donate if you want to show your support

Last version - MGC Chatbox Evo available : here

[VBDev]

Originally Posted by andrewtr89

Hmm. Turned out I already had the php file there. Did a reinstallation and it worked.

Also for suggestions for 1.5:

Less server dependent: All my hosts i've been with have complained about the shoutbox using too much CPU Usage, even when I have it using as few SQL Queries as possible. Usually less than 10 people in it at once.

The Loading Error. I get this too sometimes - not always.

Also, one so as to allow administrators to be protected from all other usergroups with mod over the shoutbox.

Overall, favorite mod on vbulletin. Keep up the good work.

To lower server usage, you might put a smaller refresh time as this would probably lower the CPU usage.

Sql queries doesn't have much consequences on the CPU usage unless they are much complicated.

Originally Posted by Ohiosweetheart

I have both, and will test.

Can you send me an address where I can send you a corrected version (like an alpha 1.5) to be sure that those problems are solved in the current development version.

[VBDev]

Originally Posted by andrewtr89

I also have the loading problem all the time now. Its only on Internet Explorer. It only does this (as far as I know) with guests. Ihave to ask some of my members how it is

Also completely unrelated, ever since I've used the shoutbox the inactivity 'timer' doesnt work. No matter what its set to if you view it as a guest, it will give you the 'you are inactive in the shoutbox' after only several seconds.

Oh yes ! I didn't thought about guests and inactivity ... This shall be considered as a bug, I'll put it in the todo list.

[AllenSam]

I can test the endless loading problem.

[HEATSEEKERBUNGE]

I uninstalled this mod and it left the usergroup options for the mod and now when i try to update the usergroups i get a mysql error can someone help with this?

[VBDev]

Originally Posted by AllenSam

I can test the endless loading problem.

Ok send me an address where I can contact you and send you an alpha version to see if the problem is gone.

Originally Posted by HEATSEEKERBUNGE

I uninstalled this mod and it left the usergroup options for the mod and now when i try to update the usergroups i get a mysql error can someone help with this?

This is because you didn't removed the bitfield_mgc_chatbox.xml file from the includes/xml directory before uninstalling the products (which cause the usergroup options to be still there).

To correct that, you have to remove the file and then rebuild manually the bitfields.

Bitfields can be manually rebuild by adding a line to the config.php file (I don't remember exactly the syntax but do a small search and I am sure you'll find it) and then going into the acp in the vbulletin options menu.

[Doctor Death]

Great mod. Easy install and my members love it. Simple integration into Arcade.

Thanks a lot, look forward to next version too.

[baghdad4ever]

plz make in the next version

tha banning by the number of username

not by username itself

thanks

[Doctor Death]

When I installed, I did NOT do anything with the CSS as I was unsure of where it was to be put. It appears to work great anyway, is this a critical part of this mod? If it is, can you be more specific on where I need to put the CSS data? I am running 3.6.8.

Thanks again, great mod.

[VBDev]

Originally Posted by baghdad4ever

plz make in the next version

tha banning by the number of username

not by username itself


thanks

This is in the todo list for the 2.0 version (item 11).

Originally Posted by Doctor Death

When I installed, I did NOT do anything with the CSS as I was unsure of where it was to be put. It appears to work great anyway, is this a critical part of this mod? If it is, can you be more specific on where I need to put the CSS data? I am running 3.6.8.

Thanks again, great mod.

No this is not critical at all. You have to go in the style & templates manager then in the dropdown menu select Main CSS.

On the new page go to the bottom and add the code in the First of the two last textarea boxes.

[Dyrnwyn]

Best shoutbox/chatbox ever. The design is slick, the interface very intuitive and adaptable to your needs. Editing is a snap as is moderation and deletion. Excellent mod!