Miscellaneous Hacks - Forum-wide Search For Unanswered Threads

Please click Mark as Installed if you are using this hack.


What Does This Hack Do?[hr]hr[/hr]
This is an update to my 3.7.x version of this hack, with the addition of navbar placement via AdminCP Options.

This is a hack adds an extra option to the Search drop down list on the navbar, or on the navbar itself (left hand side or ride hand side) which allows you to search for unanswered threads forum-wide, apart from the forums you choose to exclude from the search.

This hack was originally created as a result of a request from Boofo in 2008 - see here.

There are no file or template changes at all, and is fully phrased.

AdminCP settings for this hack available in vBulletin Options > Forum-wide Search For Unanswered Threads.
Settings that can be changed are:

1. Exclude Forums - list of forums to exclude from the search for unanswered threads
2. Turn off cached results - enable/disable
3. Automatic Link Creation - location link will be added

vBulletin Version Compatibility[hr]hr[/hr]
This hack can be used with vBulletin versions 3.6.0 - 3.8.8.

For the v4.0.4 version of this hack - check here.


Hack Support/Feature Requests[hr]hr[/hr]
IMPORTANT: This hack is no longer supported.


Install Instructions[hr]hr[/hr]

1. Unzip ms_search_all_unanswered_38.zip
2. Upload bitfield_ms_search_all_unanswered.xml to your /includes/xml folder.If upgrading from an earlier version, then overwrite the previous copy.
3. Import the ms_search_all_unanswered_38.xml into vB using the AdminCP Product Manager. If upgrading from an earlier version, then set Allow Overwrite to Yes.
4. In the Usergroup Manager edit the usergroup(s) you want:
   • To see the Unanswered Threads link (disabled by default for all usergroups).

Uninstall Instructions[hr]hr[/hr]

1. Delete the bitfield_ms_search_all_unanswered.xml file from your /includes/xml folder.
2. Uninstall the product in vB using the AdminCP Product Manager.

Screenshots[hr]hr[/hr]
Shown in this order:

• Link on Search Forums Menu
• AdminCP Options
• Usergroup Permissions
• Link on navbar (left hand side)
• Link on navbar (right hand side)

Version History[hr]hr[/hr]
v3.8.002 - Tuesday 23rd June 2009
-- Final v3.8.x Release
-- Added: AdminCP Option to allow for Unanswered Threads link to be placed in different places on the navbar

v3.8.001 - Friday 9th January 2009
-- Initial v3.8.x Release


Thanks[hr]hr[/hr]
Thanks go out to Paul M who gave me permission to use some of his install code.


Show Your Appreciation[hr]hr[/hr]
Although not required, if you have enjoyed the benefits of this hack, and would like show your appreciation for my efforts, then please feel free to click on the Support Developer link and donate any amount you feel is appropriate.


Donations[hr]hr[/hr]
I would like to thank the following people for their kind donations:

• adwade

[Mosh]

Originally Posted by jilly

Thanks Mosh - I tried installing, and of course I have customized my navbar (LOL) - how can I add the link manually?

The best thing I can suggest is for you to look at the default/original vBulletin navbar template, locate $template_hook[navbar_buttons_left] or $template_hook[navbar_buttons_right] are normally located and put either of those hooks in the appropriate position in your customised navbar template and select the appropriate navbar placement option in this hack's vBulletin options for it to display. I can not be any more specific than that, because as you said, it is a customised template.

[jilly]

Originally Posted by Mosh

The best thing I can suggest is for you to look at the default/original vBulletin navbar template, locate $template_hook[navbar_buttons_left] or $template_hook[navbar_buttons_right] are normally located and put either of those hooks in the appropriate position in your customised navbar template and select the appropriate navbar placement option in this hack's vBulletin options for it to display. I can not be any more specific than that, because as you said, it is a customised template.

well, I can put the code into the navbar myself, that's not an issue, just need to know what exactly to put in - like whatever the code is that makes the link.. for example my user cp link, the code is:

<td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="usercp.php">User CP</a></td>

so I can add in the link myself, if I now what to put between the two TD's - for example:

<td class="vbmenu_control"> Mosh's Unanswered Thread Info Goes Here</td>

[Mosh]

Originally Posted by jilly

well, I can put the code into the navbar myself, that's not an issue, just need to know what exactly to put in - like whatever the code is that makes the link.. for example my user cp link, the code is:

<td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="usercp.php">User CP</a></td>

so I can add in the link myself, if I now what to put between the two TD's - for example:

<td class="vbmenu_control"> Mosh's Unanswered Thread Info Goes Here</td>

Cool

Here you go, everything in the below HTML tags including the tds, just copy and paste where you need it:

REMOVED, DOES NOT WORK

[jilly]

Okay, I tried to add it into my navbar template, and got this error message:

The following error occurred when attempting to evaluate this template:

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_ENCAPSED_AND_WHITESPACE, expecting T_STRING or T_VARIABLE or T_NUM_STRING in /home/jilly/public_html/forums/includes/adminfunctions_template.php(3938) : eval()'d code on line 162

This is likely caused by a malformed conditional statement. It is highly recommended that you fix this error before continuing, but you may continue as-is if you wish.
and line 162 in my template is where I tried to put the code from above.

[Mosh]

Originally Posted by jilly

Okay, I tried to add it into my navbar template, and got this error message:

The following error occurred when attempting to evaluate this template:

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_ENCAPSED_AND_WHITESPACE, expecting T_STRING or T_VARIABLE or T_NUM_STRING in /home/jilly/public_html/forums/includes/adminfunctions_template.php(3938) : eval()'d code on line 162

This is likely caused by a malformed conditional statement. It is highly recommended that you fix this error before continuing, but you may continue as-is if you wish.
and line 162 in my template is where I tried to put the code from above.

I know where I went wrong with this. Try this:

REMOVED, DOES NOT WORK

[jilly]

tried the new one, but still got the same error.. D'oh!

[Mosh]

Originally Posted by jilly

tried the new one, but still got the same error.. D'oh!

OK, the below is tested and working, so for the last time, copy and paste the below

<!-- Forum-wide Search For Unanswered Threads (c) Mosh Shigdar 2008 --><td class="vbmenu_control"><a href="{$vbulletin->options['bburl']}/search.php?$session[sessionurl]do=process&amp;replyless=1&amp;replylimit=0&amp;exclude={$vbulletin->options['fwsfut_exclude_forums']}&amp;nocache={$vbulletin->options['fwsfut_cache_enable']}">$vbphrase[forum_wide_unanswered]</a></td><!-- end of Forum-wide Search For Unanswered Threads -->

[jilly]

yay, it worked! Thanks Mosh, awesome!

[Bubble #5]

How (or where) do we remove the title 'Unanswered Threads' from the search drop down. It looks redundant. We need it to look more like what is used on this site...

Thanks

[Mosh]

Originally Posted by Bubble #5

How (or where) do we remove the title 'Unanswered Threads' from the search drop down. It looks redundant. We need it to look more like what is used on this site...

Thanks

This change is not supported, but should work.

Edit the Forum-wide Search For Unanswered Threads plugin, find:

PHP Code:

        $template_hook['navbar_search_menu'] .= '<!-- Forum-wide Search For Unanswered Threads (c) Mosh Shigdar 2008 - 2009 --><tr><td class="thead">'.$vbphrase['forum_wide_unanswered'].'</td></tr><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="'.$vbulletin->options['bburl'].'/search.php?'.$session['sessionurl'].'do=process&replyless=1&replylimit=0&exclude='.$vbulletin->options['fwsfut_exclude_forums'].'&nocache='.$vbulletin->options['fwsfut_cache_enable'].'">'.$vbphrase['forum_wide_unanswered'].'</a></td></tr><!-- end of Forum-wide Search For Unanswered Threads -->'; 


Change to:

PHP Code:

        $template_hook['navbar_search_menu'] .= '<!-- Forum-wide Search For Unanswered Threads (c) Mosh Shigdar 2008 - 2009 --><tr><td class="vbmenu_option"><a href="'.$vbulletin->options['bburl'].'/search.php?'.$session['sessionurl'].'do=process&replyless=1&replylimit=0&exclude='.$vbulletin->options['fwsfut_exclude_forums'].'&nocache='.$vbulletin->options['fwsfut_cache_enable'].'">'.$vbphrase['forum_wide_unanswered'].'</a></td></tr><!-- end of Forum-wide Search For Unanswered Threads -->';