Add-On Releases - vBISpy - AJAX real-time feed of new posts/threads

After seeing the http://www.digg.com/spy application; I wondered if this could be done for vBulletin as well. I came across this webpage which had a "how to" on how they built a similiar application to do the same thing. Taking a page from their book (i.e. the code), I modified it for use with vBulletin.

During development, I also came across this post here on vBulletin.Org where the very subject had already been discussed.

So I put this together; a simple ZIP file with a single PHP script, three javascript files and 4 images.

Installation

. UNZIP the file into your forums directory
. That's it!

Virtually all the code to customize the page is in the vaispy.php script; there are no plugins, no templates and no phrases. You do not need to do anything further; this should work right out of the box.

In your browser, open the URL:

http://www.yourforum.com/forum/vaispy.php

You can see examples of this at:

http://www.viperalley.com/forum/vaispy.php
http://www.extremefitness.com/forum/vaispy.php

Note: I claim no ownership of this code except for the file vaispy.php - the rest of the files were using 'freely distributable' sources. As such, you may use these files as you wish, but please do not remove the copyrights.

This modification is for vBulletin 3.6 only, if you are running vBulletin 3.5 you will need to see this thread.

JOIN THE vBIspy Network!
Once you have this mod installed, you can join the vBIspy network to have your threads appear on this site; the vBIspy Network is a great way for people to see what's going on in various vBulletin communities and for forum owners to promote their sites and generate new traffic.

Optional add-ons

Who's Online mod for this: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=126209

vBAdvanced Module: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=126421

UPDATES
1.0.4
Added buro9's code from here

1.0.5 - 9.9.06
Modified some JavaScript in va_spy.js to remove split strings

1.0.6 - 9.10.06
Added date cuffoff code from here and changed init() to spyinit() - changed vaispy.php and va_spy.js files.

1.0.7 - 9.12.06
va_spy.js: Added a forum url variable to allow for integration with portals or other products outside the forum directory
va_spy.js: Added xmldelay variable at top of script for easier configuration or repolling
Updated files: vaispy.php, vb_spy.js

1.0.8 - 9.13.06
vaispy.php - changed code for checking for forum permissions to include password protected forums, added javascript tag for script code

1.0.9 - 9.16.06
vaispy.php
va_spy.js
va_effects.js
- modified to allow for proper display in Opera browsers and moved more html into vaispy.php to allow for stylevars, trimmed va_effects.js to remove unused code (ForumDog's suggestions, except not using templates yet), changed way threads are parsed (removes html as well)

1.0.10 - 9.17.06
va_prototype.js - removed 20kb of unused code

1.1.11 - 9.25.2006
vaispy.php
va_spy.js
- added SirAdrian's mods for thread status icons and alternating row colors
- added code to prepopulate the first 10 rows with existing threads allowing for 5 new ones to be added in scrolling mode (versus scrolling starting from the first thread).
- added option to display subscribed threads only

1.1.12 - 9.26.2006
vaispy.php
- added code to add empty rows if initial pull has less than 20 rows.

[G_Man]

Originally Posted by MPDev

G_Man, are you talking about the vBAdvanced module or just this mod? I'm confused.

I get NO feeds in the Module and on the Normal vaispy.php page it shows all the html in titles of the first 15 posts.

[MPDev]

Originally Posted by FFW

The latest version, for some reason doesn't seem to be working for me.

http://www.ureshi-now.com/forums/ispy.php

I have modified vaispy.php to ispy.php but have amended the .js file accordingly. I have not made any other amendments other than the page title.

Did you change the number of rows being pulled? Because your html is missing more than a few of the row id's in the table.

row14

and then

row21

where is row 15-20?

[MPDev]

Originally Posted by G_Man

I get NO feeds in the Module and on the Normal vaispy.php page it shows all the html in titles of the first 15 posts.

How about a link so I can see what you are talking about?

[MPDev]

I've modified the vaispy.php application in the download to include new code to add empty rows when the initial pull yields less than 20 rows.

This should fix the display issues.

[FFW]

Originally Posted by MPDev

Did you change the number of rows being pulled? Because your html is missing more than a few of the row id's in the table.

row14

and then

row21

where is row 15-20?

I didn't change anything but the revised file seems to work fine now.

[G_Man]

Originally Posted by MPDev

How about a link so I can see what you are talking about?

My Sig is my CMPS Page... www.afterseppuku.com
and
http://www.afterseppuku.com/theforum/vaispy.php is the main screen.

[thisgeek]

I'm using the latest download (just re-grabbed it) - and I'm having an issue with the $blockforums facility.

If I add more than three exclusions, then the display of vBISpy breaks. Some blank rows are appended to the bottom of the list. Sometimes the most recent entry at the top blanks out after a few seconds, although the links in it are still active if you move your mouse over the area. It also appears that the script stops working properly - ie, no new posts appear.

[MPDev]

G_Man, you have an error in your header:

Expected ',' or '{' but found '/'. on line 385.

Just thought you might want to chekc that out.

You've also set your var vbforum variable wrong, look at the example it should be:

var vburl = '/theforum/';

not:

var vburl = 'theforum';

[MPDev]

Originally Posted by thisgeek

I'm using the latest download (just re-grabbed it) - and I'm having an issue with the $blockforums facility.

If I add more than three exclusions, then the display of vBISpy breaks. Some blank rows are appended to the bottom of the list. Sometimes the most recent entry at the top blanks out after a few seconds, although the links in it are still active if you move your mouse over the area. It also appears that the script stops working properly - ie, no new posts appear.

Link?

[G_Man]

Originally Posted by MPDev

G_Man, you have an error in your header:

Expected ',' or '{' but found '/'. on line 385.

Just thought you might want to chekc that out.

You've also set your var vbforum variable wrong, look at the example it should be:

var vburl = '/theforum/';

not:

var vburl = 'theforum';

oh... I've edited it soooo many times, just making mistakes now....

Question that I've always wondered... how do I find a line, like like line 385... surely you don't count.