Add-On Releases - Custom Tag Cloud for Forums, Threads, vbAdvanced & Social Groups

If you only have VB 3.7.x, then download this mod: 2.0 Version (VB 3.7+ required)
This mod adds 8 features to VB?s tag cloud:

NEW FEATURES: Social Group Tag Cloud (VB 3.8.0 or higher required)

1. A tag cloud for social group categories can be displayed anywhere in the site homepage (vbAdvanced) or forum homepage (forumhome). Similar to the forum tag cloud, the social group cloud resides in a collapsible box and the links can be custom styled to draw focus to specific groups (ie: if you have a new group that you want to promote).

2. Both the forum tag cloud and social group cloud can now be positioned in the left, right, or center blocks (download the VBA xml files). In earlier versions, the tag cloud could only be hooked to the adv_portal template.

Version 2.0 features:
1. It allows you to display the tag cloud in forum related pages in any location you want. You can display tag clouds in forumhome, forumdisplay, and showthread, and hook it to any $template_hook or HTML comment. Instead of installing 3 different mods to accomplish this, you can install this mod to do all 3. Plus you can specify if you want to not display the tag cloud in certain pages.

2. It allows you to show the tag cloud in your site?s home page in any location you want if you have vbAdvanced installed (optional).

3. When viewing forumdisplay or showthread (pages listing threads or posts), you can specify custom styles for tags that belong to the active forum or thread being viewed so that users will know which tags are relevant to that forum or thread.

4. It allows you to specify preferred tags that you want to have custom styles so that they will be noticed more. For example, if your site just started a forum about cars with tags like ?Lexus? ?Infinity?, you can specify those tags as preferred to draw attention to the new forum.

5. The tag cloud resides in a collapsible box and has a legend for the custom styles.

6. When viewing a thread (in showthread), this mod will move the thread?s tag box below the tag cloud. The tag box and tag cloud are different: the tag box shows tags specific to its thread, whereas the tag cloud shows tags from all threads. Currently, the tag box is shown at the very bottom of the thread, which can be easily ignored by readers. Moving it next to the tag cloud will make the tag box more visible.

Installation
1. Download the product-forum_vba_tag_clouds.xml file. Go to Manage Products > Add/Import Product, upload that xml file, set ?allow overwrite? to yes, and click Import.

2. Go to VB Options > Forum VBA Tag Clouds to set the tag cloud locations, specify preferred tags & special groups, and set custom tag styles.

3. Optional: to display the tag cloud in vbAdvanced, go to VBA CMPS > Default Settings > Main Options > add to ?Portal Output Global Variables?:

tag_cloud
group_cloud

.
If you want the tag clouds to show in the left/ right/ center blocks instead of being hooked to adv_portal: go to VBA CMPS > Download / Upload Modules > in ?Module to Upload?, select ?forumtagcloud.xml? or ?socialgroupstags.xml? (download these files below), and click ?Submit?.

Important: The tag clouds can use 3 different types of hooks. You can read this thread?s 2nd post for further examples, instructions, and tips. If you still do not understand, just use the default hooks ?cause I can not elaborate any further?.

Update:
1. Reimport the new product xml file and allow overwrite.
2. Optional: upload the VBA modules and set ?Portal Output Global Variables? via vbAdvanced AdminCP (read ?Install? instruction #3 above for further details).
3. See the 2nd post for template hook selection tips.

Versions:
2.5.0 Initial VB 3.8 Release.
2.5.5 Optimized code to create tag links. Created preselected hooks for forumhome.
2.6.0 Fixed a potential conflict with other mods.

Notes:
1. I read all posts for this mod so feel free to post any comments or suggestions.
2. You will be notified by e-mail for future updates if you click ?Marked as Installed.? If you find this mod useful, remember to click ?Nominate for MOTM.?

Things to notice about the tag cloud screenshots:
1. Tag clouds are in ?what?s going on box? in forumhome (you can move it anywhere you want).
2. Button to collapse the tag cloud & tag legend are at the right corner.
3. ?Uploaded? is styled red because it?s set as a preferred tag.
4. ?Hobbies? is styled lime because it?s set as a special group.
5. ?Test? & ?xml? are styled aqua because they are active/ present in the thread being viewed (for a forum, all tags in its threads will be custom styled).

MAKE SURE TO CLICK INSTALL

[testbot]

Originally Posted by vbboarder

Good idea, I'll try to implement that feature within the next month.... no guarantees though

THANKS!

[vbboarder]

Originally Posted by testbot

is there a way to exclude certain words?

some clever users think it's funny to add a dumb tag to every post so it's huge on the main page. it's funny but i still want the control of a tyrant.

thx

Actually, I won't be implementing this feature since it's not really needed. If you go to AdminCP > Threads & Posts > Tags, you can merge, rename, or delete any tag. Do you still need to hide a tag instead of renaming or deleting it?

[intelgio2]

I am running VB 3.8.1 and am not able to find where to activate the tags for Social Groups... I am also still pretty new to the app. Any help here would be greatly appreciated!

[vbboarder]

Originally Posted by intelgio2

I am running VB 3.8.1 and am not able to find where to activate the tags for Social Groups... I am also still pretty new to the app. Any help here would be greatly appreciated!

You need to: 1. add categories to your social groups via adminCP > social groups > add new social group category,
2. add social groups to those categories by editing each group
3. go to VB Options > tag cloud (forum vba groups) > select your preferred location for the group tag cloud in forumhome, and if you use vbAdvanced, specify the template hook for the group tag cloud in VBA or upload the socialgroupstags.xml via VBA CMPS > add module (see 1st post for detailed install info).

[intelgio2]

Originally Posted by vbboarder

You need to: 1. add categories to your social groups via adminCP > social groups > add new social group category,
2. add social groups to those categories by editing each group
3. go to VB Options > tag cloud (forum vba groups) > select your preferred location for the group tag cloud in forumhome, and if you use vbAdvanced, specify the template hook for the group tag cloud in VBA or upload the socialgroupstags.xml via VBA CMPS > add module (see 1st post for detailed install info).

Thanks! I have installed everything. My main question is; when I am entering a new discussion to a Social Group that i have created, where would I enter the tags related to the post? I have no Tag line like I do in the forums....

[testbot]

Originally Posted by vbboarder

Actually, I won't be implementing this feature since it's not really needed. If you go to AdminCP > Threads & Posts > Tags, you can merge, rename, or delete any tag. Do you still need to hide a tag instead of renaming or deleting it?

yes because i don't want to remove their tags i just don't want some of them to show up in the tag cloud. my users have fun with tags by making fun of users and other stuff. i know it's not the intended use of tags but if they like it i don't care what they do but i don't want the word "butt" or something being huge on the forum index cloud.

i understand if you don't implement it but maybe you can help me make the modification to my code.

thanks again for your reply!

[Mondi]

Outstanding Mod - and installed.

Apologies upfront if this question falls below par intellectually but... how can I resize the tags?

Some of the most popular tags come up just a bit too large for my liking so I'd like to reduce their size.

Thanks for help upfront.

[vbboarder]

Originally Posted by testbot

yes because i don't want to remove their tags i just don't want some of them to show up in the tag cloud. my users have fun with tags by making fun of users and other stuff. i know it's not the intended use of tags but if they like it i don't care what they do but i don't want the word "butt" or something being huge on the forum index cloud.

i understand if you don't implement it but maybe you can help me make the modification to my code.
thanks again for your reply!

You can hide specific tags but you'll lose the ability to custom style other tags - there's no other way without modifying the code. To hide specific tags, you'll need to specify those tags as preferred tags separated by commas in VB Options > Tag Clouds (Forum VBA Groups). Then you need to specify the preferred tag style as:

style="display:none"

.

Originally Posted by Mondi

Outstanding Mod - and installed.
Apologies upfront if this question falls below par intellectually but... how can I resize the tags?

Some of the most popular tags come up just a bit too large for my liking so I'd like to reduce their size.
Thanks for help upfront.

You can resize specific tags but you'll lose the ability to custom style other tags - there's no other way without modifying the code. To resize specific tags, you'll need to specify those tags as preferred tags separated by commas in VB Options > Tag Clouds (Forum VBA Groups). Then you need to specify the preferred tag style as:

style="font-size:small"

Note: you can also use: x-small, xx-small

[Ohiosweetheart]

Just what I was looking for.


EDIT - I'm trying to import the forumtagcloud.xml, but get an error saying that this is an invalid file?

Edit - nevr mind, the code for this breaks my xhtml validation. GREAT mod tho!

[vbboarder]

Updated: version 2.6.0 was just released. Fixed a potential conflict with other mods. You do not need to reinstall the VBA modules if you’re using them. It is recommended that you install this update.