Blunts Welcome Member & Guests

Welcome to Mr Blunt's "Welcome Member & Guests" Series for vBulletin 3.5.0 RC3+


OVERALL PURPOSE OF THIS PRODUCT:
To simplify and condense several template modifications into "one ball".
To design edits so they do nothing if product isn't working or is deleted.
To integrate Usergroup Permissions and vBulletin Options into each feature.
To ultimately process/display a variety of extras to your site's visitors.


PURPOSE OF BLUNT'S WELCOME BREADCRUMB:
Inserts up to 3 types of new post counts to your navbar's breadcrumb.
These optionally run and display up to 3 extra search queries on every page.

• "Active Today" = Count of posts in last 24 hours (real time clock).
• "Active Lately" = Count of posts since last visit (cookie method).
• "Unread Lately" = Count of unread posts since last visit (database method).

The "Unread Lately" depends on AdminCP Option "Thread/Forum Read Marking Type".
This will not run if vB's read marking type is "Inactivity/Cookie Based".

These count how many new posts there are in how many threads (not new threads).
Each becomes a clickable link which takes you to appropriate search method.
Custom Usergroup Permissions allow you to pick who runs which queries and how.

All displayed numbers are REALTIME for that user (best as I can tell so far).
No worrying about hidden forums raising counts for unauthorized people!!
No worrying about soft deleted posts raising counts for unauthorized people!!

If the user can see that thread's post, then the tally counts rise.
If the count would be zero ... then that line of the display DISAPPEARS!!
... Kind of like cleaning up the house as you surf the site!!


PURPOSE OF BLUNT'S WELCOME TOPCODES:
Prints up to 5 very small "code" boxes in forumhome and forumdisplay.
Size is automatically managed based on number of boxes displayed.
Admins declare a seperate "postid" in admincp for each box to reference.
The post's author (and mods) can edit the post anytime to change the box.
The post's title becomes the code's title.
The post's text become the code's text.

Tons of uses for this feature!!
Useful for sites where everyone seeks the same "bits" of info daily.
This way, admins/mods don't have to be bothered to maintain the contents.
Let your members take care of them for you!!

And just because it's a "code box" doesn't mean it has to be code!!
It could be an announcement or a little soapbox for 5 handpicked users.
Use your imagination...

Note: All bbcode formatting will be stripped from the new code box's text.


PURPOSE OF BLUNT'S WELCOME VBRADIO:
Here's Zero Tolerance's thread:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=83132

No, I'm not trying to steal Zero Tolerance's work or grandstand him!!!
I love his script SOOO MUCH that I want to encourage and help it.
I had some other navbar edits ... and usergroup permissions for them all.
So why not simplify the template edit procedures ... and give him a perm too!
I had to do it for my own forum, so why not let everyone benefit from it.

THAT SAID ... I DO NOT INSTALL HIS EXTENSION FOR YOU ... YET!!
NOW THAT SAID ... My permissions CANNOT DISABLE his vBRadio.php file ... YET!!
They only disable the display of navbar's ** vBRadio LINK **!!

I had a very nice chat with ZT today and he's letting me rewrite his script.
Next version I shall stick his entire (reworked) script into my installation.
If you already have vBRadio, shut off my radio option or edit navbar with my code.
If you don't have vBRadio yet ... hold off a bit longer and I'll set you up!!


PURPOSE OF OTHER MISCELLANEOUS FEATURES:

• "Red Cross Banner" - The least I can do for the devastated U.S. Gulf Coast.
• "Whatsup" - Adds 2nd "what's going on box" to the top of forumhome.
• "Activeusers" - Adds 2nd "currently active users" to top of forums and threads.
• "vBRadio" - I LOVE Zero Tolerance's script, so this adds permissions for it.

VERSION HISTORY:

• v100:
  - Initial release was just the new posts breadcrumb.
• v102:
  - Added everything but breadcrumb, LOL, I start keeping score now.
  - BUT ONE KEY NOTE!!! BITFIELD FILE CHANGED SO OVERWRITE OLD ONE!!

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Upload 'redcross.jpg' to server's /IMAGES/MISC/ folder.
2. Upload 'bitfield_blunts_welcome.xml' to server's /INCLUDES/XML/ folder.
3. Import 'product_blunts_welcome.xml' via AdminCP -> Plugin System -> Manage Products.
4. Go into your vB options and usergroup permissions to customize all the new settings.
5. Always look below and double check what templates and exactly where to modify each.
6. I'll try to not change $var locations, but no promises, so always double check!!
7. Your Done, Enjoy.
8. Maybe stop by this file's support thread and "Click Install".
9. If you do, and updates become available, you'll be notified with a vb.org alert.

UNINSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Delete 'bitfield_blunts_welcome.xml' from Server's /INCLUDES/XML/ folder.
2. Uninstall 'product_blunts_welcome.xml' via AdminCP -> Plugin System -> Manage Products.
3. You can reverse template edits, but not neccessary. They will return "" if uninstalled.
4. Your Done - Thanks for trying my product!!

NAVBAR TEMPLATE MODIFICATIONS:

1. Aug 29,2005 - Find this:
   

   <if condition="$show['pmstats']"><br /><phrase 1="$vbphrase[unread_x_nav_compiled]" 2="$vbphrase[total_x_nav_compiled]" 3="$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[private_messages_nav]</phrase></if>

   Add this below it:
   

   $blunts_welcome_breadmember

2. Aug 29,2005 - Find this:
   

   <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="$stylevar[formspacer]" border="0">

   Add this below it:
   

   $blunts_welcome_breadguest

3. Sept 15,2005 - Find this:
   

   <td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="calendar.php$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[calendar]</a></td>

   Add this below it:
   

   $blunts_welcome_vbradio

   If you already have ZT's vBRadio edit in your navbar, you MUST REPLACE it with mine!!

KNOWN ISSUES:

1. I strip all bbcode from the "top code" boxes and I don't know yet what sort of issues (if any) which this might create. Currently this is by design so that I can wrap my own "very small" code tag around the message. If anyone has any ideas on ways to improve this, my ears are wide open so please contact me somehow with the ideas.

CREDIT:
Zero Tolerance for allowing me to integrate his vBRadio!!!
KirbyDE for lots of help, especially with the usergroup permissions.
vBulletin for their 'search.php' file (breadcrumb replicates queries).
Ohhh, and a little ingenuity on my part, LOL.


DISCLOSURE:
If somehow I am infringing on someone's rights, please let me know!!
I didn't look around and/or evaluate if mine is different than others.
If there's good reason, I'll be more than happy to retract this file.
Please just ask me nicely and show why, because I think this is unique.


FILE SUPPORT THREADS:
Blunts Welcome Member and Guests:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=95264
Zero Tolerance's vBRadio (installed seperately):
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=83132


PERSONAL CONTACT INFO:
Paypal Donations are graciously accepted.

mr_blunt@sbcglobal.net

Feel free to drop me an email with questions or comments.
Please put the exact (one) word "bluntswelcome" in the subject.
If you don't, I'm sorry to say that my spam might catch it.


The "blunts_welcome_screenshots_102.zip" is nothing more than the screenshots which are pictured here, so pick one way or the other to view them.

[Mr Blunt]

I suspect you deleted the bitfield file AFTER deleting the product??
If so, just rebuild the bitfields and it should correct itself.

To manually do that, vBulletin has to be in "debug mode".

If that is difficult for you, then just run my install once again AFTER the bitfield file is deleted .... and it should actually abort installation and redelete the product again .... and rebuild the bitfields again for you.

If not, post again please!!

[Wordplay]

thanks i did that worked like a charm everything is fine now.

[Mr Blunt]

Cool, glad it's all good now.

Unlike many people, I LIKE criticism.
I would enjoy it if you told me what you didn't like.
I'm always up for improving things.

Personally, after thinking about my little code boxes some more, I don't like how they are only 3 lines tall. I think I need to make the height another admin option.

[Wordplay]

oh sorry for not getting back at you right away... i only chose to take it out because all of that was already displayed in either one of my vbadvanced modules or on the users profiles.

[mrmike]

Thanks for a great hack! :up:

Does anyone know why the thread/posts "stats" does'nt show up on Photoplog and vbadvanced CMPS pages?


TIA

/Mike