Who Viewed This Thread - Enhanced Version

Who Viewed This Thread - Enhanced Version v1.3.2


Version: 1.3.2
vB Version: 3.0.3
Developer: Ocean
Install Difficulty: Moderately Easy



The original hack this references was done by Gary King (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=61222). I modified his hack in order to gain some additional functionality.

This hack is meant to be installed instead of Gary's original version - not in addition to it (for sanity's sake, as far as managing the code is concerned).


(This was submitted as a seperate hack with Gary's permission. If this belongs in a different group, I'm sure a Moderator will move it accordingly. )


Description:

This hack will allow you to see which users have viewed any given Thread. In addition, there is a second section that is resettable. What this means, is that there are two sections that show a list of users who have viewed the Thread in question.

The first section is a Master List - it shows all users who have viewed that thread at ANY point in time (since the hack was installed).

The second section works like your car's Trip Meter. You can Reset that second section at any time and it will then show only the users that have viewed that thread FROM THAT POINT ON. In addition, this second section will show you the Date/Time of the last Reset, so that you know from what point that second list is showing. This is useful, for example, if you want to be able to see which users have viewed a thread after you have updated it, or after a particular post of interest has been made.

You can choose which UserGroups can view the Who Viewed information, or even if you want all users to be able to see the first section - but only certain UserGroups to see the second.

You can also choose whether you want the Who Viewed information to be displayed directly on the ShowThread page, or if you would prefer to only show a link that opens a Pop Up Window with the Who Viewed information there.




Release Notes:


v1.3.2

Fixed the problem where the Pop-Up Link was visible to users who didn't have permission to view that information. (They still wouldn't be shown the information - but the link shouldn't have been visible to them in the first place)


v1.3.1

Minor modifications to the Aesthetics of the ShowThread page, as well as the Who Viewed Pop Up Window. No functional changes. If you are using v1.3.0, you do not need to upgrade, unless you wish to have the new aesthetics.


v1.3.0

Added the ability to choose whether you want the Who Viewed information to be displayed directly on the ShowThread page (as it was for all prior versions of this hack), or if you would prefer to only show a link that opens a Pop Up Window with the Who Viewed information there. Also consolidated and cleaned up the code.


v1.2.6

Fixed the problem with the "Who Viewed Since" table collapsing the wrong object


v1.2.5

Minor changes to optimize code. No functional changes. If you have v1.2.4, you do not need to upgrade to v1.2.5.


v1.2.4

Reworked the Security Sections so that they are exponentially easier to set. Now, other than choosing which UserGroups you want to have access to this hack, you only need to change ONE variable in order to choose which Security Layout you want to use.


v1.2.3

Updated all of the Security Sections to allow for more flexibility in selecting which UserGroups may view the WhoViewed Information.


v1.2.1

Upgrade Notes have been updated, and an Upgrade Script provided for those who have Gary's original version installed. If you have already successfully installed v1.2 of this hack, there is no need to do anything further.


v1.2

The original hack allowed you to see which users had viewed any particular thread on your board. It was and is an excellent hack - however, I desired some additional functionality, and so I made the following changes:


1. The format of stored User IDs has changed to a comma delineated format. This was done to optimize the code by stripping out the need for an additional explode() and implode().

2. An additional set of information is now being kept and maintained. However, unlike the first set (which will show you who has viewed a particular thread - ever), the second set is resettable at any time by Admins. This gives you a "tripmeter" of sorts, as you can now tell who has viewed a particular thread from the last time you reset that counter for that thread.

3. The date and time of the last reset for each thread is kept and displayed. Otherwise, it would be self-defeating, as you wouldn't remember when you last reset it.

4. This hack has been written so that all functions are for Admins only. Instructions are included for modifying this, if you wish. (Note: Even if you make ALL information viewable to ALL users, only Admins are allowed to Reset Counters. It is recommended that you do not change this)

5. I have the template additions being added at the bottom of the ShowThread page (right above the posting permissions). It seems to make more sense putting it there, as it doesn't get in the way, aesthetically speaking. Basically, if you want to check that section, it's there - if not, you'll never be bothered by it. If you prefer to have it somewhere else, feel free to insert the ShowThread Template portion of the code wherever you wish.



UPGRADE NOTES:

The instructions for this hack assume that you do NOT have any prior version installed.

At the moment, if you already have Gary's original 1.0 version installed, you will either need to completely clear out the existing data, before installing this hack - or you can download the "WhoViewedUpgradeFormat.php" script in order to convert the data format over to the new style.

Instructions are included for upgrading.

[Edric]

Does this hack work with VB 3.0.1?

[Ocean]

Originally Posted by Edric

Does this hack work with VB 3.0.1?

It should work fine with 3.0.1 - however the instructions were written for 3.0.3 - so you might find that some of the code you have to look for is slightly different. That aside, however, the code you have to insert should work fine as is.

[nando415]

Ocean big thanks for your help! Is there anyway to make it so the "Already viewed this thread" "Already viewed this thread since" tables do not show up at all in forums i didnt specify them in? I know it doesnt show the names of people but Id prefer for it not to show at all

thanks!

[Ocean]

Originally Posted by nando415

Ocean big thanks for your help! Is there anyway to make it so the "Already viewed this thread" "Already viewed this thread since" tables do not show up at all in forums i didnt specify them in? I know it doesnt show the names of people but Id prefer for it not to show at all

thanks!

If you followed my instructions properly, you shouldn't see them at all in the Subs you chose to exclude.

That's what the new addition to the ShowThread template is for.

[nando415]

Originally Posted by Ocean

If you followed my instructions properly, you shouldn't see them at all in the Subs you chose to exclude.

That's what the new addition to the ShowThread template is for.

ha....sorry, I dont know how I overlooked the template change. it works fine, thanks :nervous:

[Ocean]

Originally Posted by nando415

ha....sorry, I dont know how I overlooked the template change. it works fine, thanks :nervous:

You're welcome. I'm glad everything worked out.

[robert_2004]

hey mate,

i reckon the popup would be much better to hold the info - otherwise my server will die.

if :
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (1 members and 0 guests) [put your link here]

and make it say "people who have already viewed this thread."

that would be fantastic.
Take care mate.

[rjordan]

I kinda like the pop-up idea as you only pull the information when you want it.

A question: Does this show you when the user first (or last) read the message? I think it would be great if the master (original) "read" list included when the user first read the message and the secondary (trip-metered) "read" list included the last time someone read the message.

I belienve that if the above were in this hack, I would install it in a heartbeat! On Ikonboard, this was a great add-on. I would love to be able to add it on my vB board!

[Ocean]

Originally Posted by rjordan

I kinda like the pop-up idea as you only pull the information when you want it.

A question: Does this show you when the user first (or last) read the message? I think it would be great if the master (original) "read" list included when the user first read the message and the secondary (trip-metered) "read" list included the last time someone read the message.

I belienve that if the above were in this hack, I would install it in a heartbeat! On Ikonboard, this was a great add-on. I would love to be able to add it on my vB board!

The Pop-Up window is something that I will probably add to the next version of this hack.

As to your question, unfortunately it does not show when a post has been read. But that is also why I added the second resetable counter. This way, you can add a post, for example, and reset the second counter so that you can see who has viewed that thread from that point on. This allows you to easily see who has viewed that thread at all, and who has viewed it after that particular change has been made.

Adding a date/time stamp would mean an additional Query for every thread view on your board. I'm not sure it would be worth the overhead - especially on larger boards.

[rjordan]

Perhaps, then, instead of storing a bit that indicates that it has been viewed (assuming that is how you are doing it), you store the time and date value and check for a nul entry in the event that is has not been viewed? Doing this should not increase the queries as you are just querying for different data.

The value I have seen in this is when an announcement is made in the forums for whatever reason, people have stated that they never read the message. If there was a time limit on response to a message, if they had read the message, the time stamp would indicate that they saw it in the time allowed and had the chance to respond.

In any case, it is a great hack. This is just that extra function that I would not mind seeing.