Forum Display Enhancements - Alternate Last Post Display

Alternate Last Post Display
By: Idan B.

1. Description & Usage:
Alternate Last Post hack will allow the forum admin to make the "Last Post" column on forum look different (have another/better layout):
Hack will make it with user avatar picture & instead of showing post date, it will show "time diff" since the post (for example: 4 Hours, 5 Minutes ago") - See pictures in attachment for better understanding. :up:
This Hack can be enabled on both Forum Home & forum Display or Forum Display Only.
The hack was develop for request of Theater (request was made here: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=214212 )
I assumed this request might be "handy" to other users of community, so developed it to be a fully working modification.

2. Installation:
Please click Mark as Installed.
Installation is pretty easy - just download & install:

• Extract zip for product xml & no-avatar picture.
• Goto: AdminCP->Plugin System->Manage Products : Choose "Add/Import Product" and import this product xml (product-alt_last_post.xml)
• Upload the "anonymous_avatar.gif" file onto /images/avatars/ directory. If testing it on your develop board, be sure to upload there as well.

3. Upgrade From Older Version:
1. uninstall previous version
2. Download new version xml & install as instructed in previous section.

4. Configuration:
Once installed, the "Vbulletin Options" under admincp will have extra section:
Section name: "Alternate Last Post Display"

• Enabled ? - Yes/No (default YES)
• Enable on Forum Home ? - Yes/No (default NO)
• Enable on Forum Display ? - Yes/No (default YES)
• Use "Last Post" text as title ? - Yes/No (default YES)
• Show differential time ? - Yes/No (default YES)
• Align "Never" to LEFT ? - Yes/No (default YES)
• Use profile picture instead of avatar ? - Yes/No (default NO)
• Picture width - INT (default: 40)
• Picture height - INT (default: 40)
  

5. Known Bugs:

• Forum Tabbbed modification has known competability with this mod - result it is not showing on forumhome. Currently debugging this one to allow fix on next version.
• v1.1.4 released. Since v.1.1.0 code was re-writeen completely from "scratch" and now it should support multi-languages (other than english) ! Note: Cyrillic & Latin chars reported to have some issues, still under check)
• See changelog below for full description of stuff fixed.

6. TO-DO's LIST (Next Versions):

• Allow thread view option on admincp.
• Other mods (such as Forum Tabbed Modification) conflict fixes - under checking !.
• [S]Admincp option to set avatar width/height.[/S] added in v.1.1.4
• [S]Admincp option to select between profile and avatar picture.[/S] added in v.1.1.4

NOTE: Currently supported format chars for date/time (v1.1.4) are :
Date: "j","d", "m", "n", "F", "M", "Y", "y","S"
Time: "h", "H", "g", "G", "i", "s", "a", "A".
Any other chars will result with Post Time: N/A displayed !

NOTE: i've left v1.1.3 and added in addition the v1.1.4, just in case anyone has problem, he can download old version & rollback.

Enjoy hack & dont forget to click Mark as Installed

[TimberFloorAu]

Sorted:

Changed: template : forumhome_lastpostby_alternate_view

to:

<div align='left'>
<table width='100%'>
<tr>
   <td align='left' width='\$GLOBALS[alt_lp_pic_width]'>$GLOBALS[alt_lp_avatar_img]</td>
   <td align='left' NOWRAP><a href='$GLOBALS[alt_lp_last_post_link]'>$GLOBALS[alt_lp_last_post_title]</a><br /> $vbphrase[alt_lp_by] <a href='$GLOBALS[alt_lp_last_poster_profle_link]'>$GLOBALS[alt_lp_last_poster]</a><br>$GLOBALS[alt_lp_last_post_time_ago]</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>

[TheTrust]

Thanx IdanB, it working well
regards

[TimberFloorAu]

I am noticing the times arent quite as accurate as you would hope.

at 6.22am this morning, the actual last post on a particular thread was Yesterday, 08:28 PM

On forumhome, it is listed as: 1 Day, 6 Hours ago

hmmm that aint right lol

[TimberFloorAu]

In fact anything overnight, seems to be reported as 1 day 6 hrs ago

[TheTrust]

Thank you IdanB for this excellent work
I have tested and it is working fine and so easy to install and configure, and this is my opinion:

* it is not working properly with vBSEO, the lastpost line it is come in different size not fixed as 40px as the width.
* i have succeeded to translated into Arabic, but the font of time and details of last post is in large fonts, so i cant configure the size of the fonts.
=====
If you can make other ((Alternate Last Post hack)) without the time, date and last post by.
just to install the Avatar next to the default of forumhome_lastpostby.

Many thanks again.

[Aclikyano]

this hack not working at all on my board... do you need SEO installed?

[IdanB]

I'm sorry for lack of support last 3-4 months, i wasn't online due to personal problems (wont get into it here).
Important thing is now i'm back & active.
I will try to attend any bugs reported here soon enough.

[IdanB]

TLS - i thank you for your help.
I will check your notes during next 3-4 days & come up with fix if required.

[Erica1977]

Is there any way that the Users Name get there color Group on this hack just wondering cause before i added this hack the way the forum looked without this would show the color group user name.

[IdanB]

Originally Posted by Erica1977

Is there any way that the Users Name get there color Group on this hack just wondering cause before i added this hack the way the forum looked without this would show the color group user name.

Based on default skin colors ? or we are talking about custom color mod already installed on forum ?