AJAX Who's Online

First off, this is my first modification. It's tiny, it's obvious, but I'm proud of it. I have Zero Tolerance to thank, he did give me some hints and tips.

Description:
This only refreshes the names of the users in the index page of the forums. Not the "currently online" number of users. It could say currently 4 users online, and there's a huge list of usernames.
I don't really see a need of a picture since there's no visual change. It only calls the names of the users currently online and removes them if they're offline without the need of refreshing the index page of the forums.

Edits:
1 Template to edit (FORUMHOME)
1 File to edit (index.php)

First the File Edit:
Open your index.php file in your forum directory.
Find:

// ### ALL DONE! SPIT OUT THE HTML AND LET'S GET OUTTA HERE... ###

Above add:

if ($_GET['do'] == 'online')
{
	echo $activeusers;
	exit;
}

Save, close, then upload index.php file to your forum directory.

Next, open your FORUMHOME template.
Find:

			<div class="smallfont">
				<div style="white-space: nowrap"><phrase 1="$recordusers" 2="$recorddate" 3="$recordtime">$vbphrase[most_users_ever_online_was_x_y_at_z]</phrase>

Above that, add:

<script type='text/javascript'>
<!--
function requestWhoOnline()
{
	doReqOnline = new vB_AJAX_Handler(true)
	doReqOnline.onreadystatechange(ReqOnlineDone)
	doReqOnline.send('index.php?do=online')
}
function ReqOnlineDone()
{
	if (doReqOnline.handler.readyState == 4 && doReqOnline.handler.status == 200)
	{
		fetch_object('whoisonline').innerHTML = doReqOnline.handler.responseText
		setTimeout("requestWhoOnline()", 60000)
	}
}
setTimeout("requestWhoOnline()", 20000)
-->
</script>

Now Find:

<div>$activeusers</div>

Replace with:

<div id="whoisonline">$activeusers</div>

====================

Since this is my first mod, I'd back up the files. Forgive me if this hack has already been done. I made a strict search and found no such thing. I decided to try to do it, and voila! Go me.

[IrPr]

1 newbie question:
what about Ajax Technology and Bandwidth ?
using Ajax Technology and hacks that based on AJAX will Increase BW Usage on my board?

[Red Blaze]

Moosa, it doesn't have anything to do with the code you just posted. Also, I don't have "Username Management Addon - Latest Username Changes on Forumhome" by Marco.

Unfortunatly, I don't have alot of knowledge about AJAX, but from what I heard is if you have so much AJAX Technology on the site, it can increase your Server Load.

[o0oicebergo0o]

again, these AJAX mods "sound" good, but you won't catch me even testing this script becuase I know the CPU usage will go out the roof... good concept though

I think there should be some study and modification on AJAX its self before these mods are released

[IrPr]

sounds like AJAX Technology based on JS and JS increase CPU usage

[Lea Verou]

Oh give the guy a break! He released something and he could not have done it and keep it to himself. You know, what you are doing is nothing but discouraging to new coders. If you don't need it don't install it but please respect his work and the members who need it and don't put him off like that.
Advice is good but you've gotten too far away from advice and are actually moaning about his release!
At least he released something and given back to the community. Have you?

Personally, I think it's an awsome idea and I would install if the number also changed...

[Lizard King]

Originally Posted by Michelle

Oh give the guy a break! He released something and he could not have done it and keep it to himself. You know, what you are doing is nothing but discouraging to new coders. If you don't need it don't install it but please respect his work and the members who need it and don't put him off like that.
Advice is good but you've gotten too far away from advice and are actually moaning about his release!
At least he released something and given back to the community. Have you?

Perfectly said

[99SIVTEC]

I would normally agree, but in this case AJAX is simply not a good solution for this type of mod. Install the hack if you like, but I guarantee you will be back asking why your server load is spiked through the roof. This isn't a bash towards the hack creator, just a simple observation from a programmer. AJAX is great, but people get carried away with it without understanding the technology behind it.

Every time the WOL table is pulled from the database it queries the databse table which in turn places a load on the server. Normally this isn't a big issue because the query is only done on a page refresh. With this hack the table is queried by everyone every few seconds. I hope you can understand why this is a bad idea. It's the same problem everyone has with the vbPager hack. This may work fine if you have VERY small forum that isn't very active, but it WILL kill an active forum.

Originally Posted by Michelle

Oh give the guy a break! He released something and he could not have done it and keep it to himself. You know, what you are doing is nothing but discouraging to new coders. If you don't need it don't install it but please respect his work and the members who need it and don't put him off like that.
Advice is good but you've gotten too far away from advice and are actually moaning about his release!
At least he released something and given back to the community. Have you?

Personally, I think it's an awsome idea and I would install if the number also changed...

[IrPr]

sorry mates ! i just wanna report this bugs cause this hack is in beta stage

really nice work, BRAVO !

at least already installed this hack on my board and thanks to dear coder

[Lea Verou]

"A simple observation from a programmer", huh? At least the guy is releasing his work not keeping it to himself like others *cough*. One post was enough to warn people. I don't see the need for dozens of such posts that have nothing new to say but only discourage him. I wish my first hack was like that.

[Red Blaze]

I understand where 99SIVTEC is coming from. I don't have much experience with AJAX, thus proving to him that I did't really know what AJAX does to the server if used improperly. Atleast 99SIVTEC actually left a comment I can work with and not insulting my work.