Forum Display Enhancements - Collapsable First Post using AJAX (or Last Post!)

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NOTICE: This is for vBulletin v3.6 ONLY. You can find a v3.5 compatible version here.

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*** Confirmed working on ALL vBulletin 3.6.x versions! ***

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Keywords: FORUMDISPLAY, search, results, collapse, AJAX, collapsable, first, last, unread, post

Description:
Allows you to expand/collapse the first, last or first unread post of a thread from FORUMDISPLAY and search results without the need to load the entire thread.

Details:
Upon perusing the wonderful deals over at slickdeals.net, I noticed this nifty feature which caught my eye. I found it quite useful as most people have a bad habit of not being very descriptive with their thread titles. This little trick made my browsing experience much more enjoyable, so naturally I had to borrow [read: shamelessly rip] the idea.

Please note that no additional queries are added, unless using the 'First Unread Post' option. Otherwise, the only queries performed are the same as those when a thread is normally viewed.

The magic behind this modification is performed by jQuery: The Write Less, Do More, JavaScript Library.

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Usage:
Simply click the expand icon [+] in front of the thread title to expand, and the collapse icon [-] to collapse. Rocket science, eh?

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Installation:

1. Download and unzip the ajax_first_post.zip archive.
2. Upload necessary files to their respective locations. (Attention custom style users! Be sure to upload the images to your custom image directory.)
3. Import the product-ajax_first_post.xml via the Product Manager.
4. Make any desired configuration changes via AdminCP > vBulletin Options > Collapsable First Post using AJAX
5. ???
6. Profit!

Notes:
All template modifications are made automatically. They attach to pretty common text locations, so modified styles shouldn't* be a problem.

However, for those who wish (or need) to perform the edits manually, you can find that information here.

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Comments:
As with all my hacks, this modification is provided free of charge. However, if you find this product useful and have money burning a hole in your pocket, feel free to make a small donation, I won't mind.. really.

Version History:

• 1.0.0 - Initial release, here's to hoping...
• 1.1.0
  • Fixed JavaScript errors when using search.
  • Resolved (known) cross browser compatibility issues.
• 1.2.0
  • New AdminCP configuration options:
    • Ability to select first or last post to be displayed.
    • Ability to disable on a per forum basis.
    • Option to update thread views when expanded.
    • Option to disable automatic template editing with a single click.
  • Tweaked a couple plugins to prevent unnecessary checking.
  • Properly registers in Who's Online
• 1.2.1
  • Will no longer show expand icon next to thread redirects.
  • Added ability to display first unread post.
  • Completely revamped the automatic template editing system. Should now be able to make template edits to even the most modified templates as well.
  • Fixed a couple non-breaking typos.
  • Included JavaScript in USERCP_SHELL to allow expand/collapse of subscribed threads.
  • Added a hover title to the expand icon to inform the user what they can expect when clicking it.

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Tips, Tricks and Modifications:

• Fix for users of passiveVid receiving Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /includes/class_postbit.php(296) : eval()'d code on line [#]

Currently Known Bugs:

• None

* Please note that this modification was developed on a forum with a userbase of 1 (myself). I've tested it for basic functionality but I cannot guarantee functionality or behavior on your forum. So, please -- make backups before installing this product!

[blastup]

yea it was the same thing before.. .. i don't know what is wrong... i checked everthing .. everthing is uploaded. js are in the source.. help?

[beduino]

Hi,
first of all: tks for your work and support here.

And ... the 'mystery'
I install your lovely hack and don't work - apparently... I read the first posts and begin a manual edition in templates. Nothing happens. Then ... i resolve see in other set of templates [called 'vB Brasil New'] and already work.

Then i see the location of images [ (+).gif etc ] and make the correct upload.
And the mystery begun ...



I can't ripped out the duplicate images!!! I look in my edited templates and is fine [no php duplicated]...

How can i solve this mystery????

All the best
And tks again
Beduino
www.vb-brasil.org
skin VB BRASIL
[vB Brasil New is ok...]

[magnus]

You have duplicated images because you've applied manual edits without disabling the automatic ones. In essence, you're editing the templates TWICE.

You need to pick one or the other. I'd recommend the automatic edits.

[blastup]

so how should i fix mine? should i do manuel edits?

[magnus]

Originally Posted by blastup

so how should i fix mine? should i do manuel edits?

No, all of your edits are performed correctly. The JavaScript just isn't being loaded. I'd attribute it to a problem with your style.

Do you still have the Default Style? Try it. If it works, then you know the problem lies with your modified style. Run it through the W3C XHTML Validator. Fix as many problems as you can and see if that helps.

[beduino]

Hi Magnus,
works fine - i re-done all mods in templates and the mystery ... you solved.
Tks a lot
Beduino

[LockeAG]

I found a BUG.....

It's a really strange behavior, when I active the Plugin , USERGROUPS that I add have this problem when trying to access to their CP.

Fatal error: Call to undefined function: fetch_coventry() in /hsphere/local/home/#/#/Forum/usercp.php(500) : eval()'d code on line 16

The normal USERGROUPS (7,6,5,4,3,2,1) have no problems.

See'a

[ragtek]

i have a problem

in the forumdisplay it works fine(i have set up to read the last post) but in the search i see the first

[magnus]

Originally Posted by LockeAG

I found a BUG.....

It's a really strange behavior, when I active the Plugin , USERGROUPS that I add have this problem when trying to access to their CP.

Fatal error: Call to undefined function: fetch_coventry() in /hsphere/local/home/#/#/Forum/usercp.php(500) : eval()'d code on line 16

The normal USERGROUPS (7,6,5,4,3,2,1) have no problems.

See'a

I've tested this on my development forum. I created a new usergroup (ID: 9) based off standard "Registered Users" permissions. I cannot replicate this problem. Everything appears to be working fine.

As a test, try using the default style. See if you still receive the error. The function fetch_coventry() is found in /includes/functions_bigthree.php -- and I've hooked into the usercp to include it. So, I can't see why one usergroup could use it and another cannot.

[magnus]

Originally Posted by ragtek

i have a problem

in the forumdisplay it works fine(i have set up to read the last post) but in the search i see the first

This is by design.

Search results will always return the first post. I have it this way for temporary simplicity. Search doesn't use the same SQL queries as FORUMDISPLAY -- so the same information isn't available without adding extra queries. Until I can find a cleaner, saner way to allow for different post viewing configurations on the search page, I've defaulted it to First Post.