Random Rotating Avatar for specific users

This little plug in allows you to have a random avatar instead of a constant one. The avatar of the user(s) you do this to will change each time their postbit is called. This will allow you as an admin, and those you choose (usually mods) to stand out a little more. Be cautious on using this too liberally unless you theme the avatars (all by the same artist - all of the same character, etc.).

Start out of course by creating the images that you want to cycle through and place them in the same directory, numbering them sequenctially -- 1.jpg, 2.jpg, 3.jpg, 4.jpg etc.

Now go to the plug in manager and click "Add New Plug in." Name it "John Doe's avatar" or some such. The hook location is "postbit_display_complete"

The code is as follows:

PHP Code:

if ($this->post['userid'] == Y)
{
$randomavatar = rand(1,X);
$this->post['avatarurl'] = "http://yourdomain/path_to_your_directory/$randomavatar.jpg";
} 


X is the upper most picture you made - so if your highest picture is 22.jpg you would use rand(1,22)

Y is your user id (or the id of the user you want this to apply to.

If you want to do this to multiple users then put multiple instances of this code in the same plugin to save on queries.

Make sure to keep your avatar set to something despite this plug in -- if you don't vbulletin will think there is no avatar and set the $show['avatar'] variable to false. While you could override this you'd need to check the logged in user's preferences to see if they even want to see avatars. It's just a whole lot easier to avoid the issue by making sure that vbulletin has an avatar on file for the user this plugin affects - this plugin will then switch the avatar url after vbulletin has made all it's normal determinations.

Tested on RC2, should work on all versions.

[Michael Morris]

Originally Posted by Wordplay

anybody got a hack coming out with random avatars for all users within specific usergroups?

thought that would be cool, if all users had 1-5 rotating avatars. number of rotating avatars set by usergroup options.

No, but this hack would definitely be a good starting point to develop such an expansion - and anyone who wants to do so has my blessing to go ahead and publish it here.

[Bubble #5]

Originally Posted by Wordplay

anybody got a hack coming out with random avatars for all users within specific usergroups?

This would be a nice add-on for members who donate.

[LadyBeth]

If this could be set for a user who gets to a certain "rank" I would love it.
Beth

[piXelatedEmpire]

Is anyone currently working on this hack? I would love to see a admincp option developed for this.. and the ability to apply this to certain usergroups

[Next-Selection]

Originally Posted by piXelatedEmpire

Is anyone currently working on this hack? I would love to see a admincp option developed for this.. and the ability to apply this to certain usergroups

WORD !!!

[Gaffer]

Cool... someone made another one of these...

i made something like this for Verseion 2.2.x but i've never been able to convert it, mainly cause i've not had the time

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=44749

[tony adams]

excellent hack, been after this for a long time

[gakousei]

Tested but it doesn't work on v3.6.8.
Nobody cares about this kind of mod ? I want to have this function on my forum.

[Ragnarok]

Works fine on my v3.6.8 install.

It possible to change it to work on the memberlist and in profiles as well, and any other add-ons?

As installed you only get random avatars in the postbits, and your usercp-set avatar displays everywhere else.

[BigDog56]

I just tried this in 3.7.2 and it works just fine! thank you!