Simple newsportal / thread overview to add to your board...

Okay, this isn't really a hack, since you don't have to modify any vb-files really, but I figured this was the best place to make it public anyhow. I found it rather useful myself, so I figured others might, too.

Last update: April 28th, 2003!
** Update summary: **
The bug that could occur due to MySQL stupidity has been fixed. Version 2 of the Newsportal script is now attached in this post, you can simply overwrite the newsportal.php on your site with the one from the attached zipfile to upgrade.
From now on, no more vB files need to be adjusted nor do you have to make any database changes. If you've already done all that due to the mysql-bug in a previous stage of this hack, you can just leave it like that, it won't do any harm. If you're intent on 'cleaning' your files again, let me know if you can't get it done yourself.


Q&A:
What does this 'hack' do?

http://www.kurafire.com/newsportal.php

That's a live example of the fully functional version of the Hack (version 2). I think it speaks for itself.

The amount of newsposts & threads on the right is set in a variable at the beginning.


Is this hack hard to install?
Absolutely not. You upload the newsportal.php, you add the new templates (see zipfile), and you place a link to newsportal.php wherever you want it on your site. That's it.
You don't have to modify any vB files, nor your database.


Does this hack include my style and everything?
Yes, the newsportal page will use your headinclude, header, footer and style-colors (pagebgcolor, tableouterwidth, linkcolor, etc.) and all these settings are easily configureable. You just edit the templates like you're (hopefully) used to with all the normal vB Templates.


Version 2:
The newsportal script now uses 2 queries to get the necessary information for your News posts. One for all thread info and the postid's of the starting posts, and one for the pagetext (ie. post contents) of all those postid's. You can use 2, 20 or 200 newsposts, that won't matter, it'll always be 2 queries (though I discourage using more than 20 newsposts ). ^_^

That's it, you're all done. Have fun with the newsportal! ^_^

[TECK]

kura.. if you have a chance, look at the perms included in the vbHome hack. they work, but perms = alot of queries, as firefly mention it to me earlier. PPN was kind enough to look at my hole file i wrote. i will let you know what he says about the perms, then i will post here the mods PPN did to the code, so you can insert it also in your hack.

team work.

[TECK]

here it is kura, from my file the code that works (thanks PPN):

// latest threads ***************************
$doperms=$DB_site->query("SELECT canview,forumid FROM forumpermission WHERE usergroupid='$bbuserinfo[usergroupid]'");
while ($doperm = $DB_site->fetch_array($doperms)) {
  $perms["$doperm[forumid]"] = $doperm;
}
$DB_site->free_result($doperms);
unset($doperm);

$forum=$DB_site->query("SELECT forumid FROM forum");
while ($forums=$DB_site->fetch_array($forum)) {
  if($perms["$forums[forumid]"]["canview"] == 1 || !isset($perms["$forums[forumid]"]["canview"])) {
    $forumperms[]=$forums["forumid"];
  }
}
$DB_site->free_result($forum);
unset($forums);

if(!empty($forumperms)) {
  $forumperms='AND forumid='.implode(' OR forumid=',$forumperms);
}

$dothreads=$DB_site->query("SELECT * FROM thread WHERE open=1 AND open<>10 $forumperms ORDER BY lastpost DESC LIMIT 10");
while ($dothread=$DB_site->fetch_array($dothreads)) {
  $dots='';
  if (strlen($dothread[title])>29) {
    $dots='...';
  }
  $forumid=$dothread[forumid];
  $threadid=$dothread[threadid];
  $threadtitle=substr($dothread[title], 0, 32);

  $lastthreadbits .= '<a href="showthread.php?s='.$session[sessionhash].'&forumid='.$forumid.'&threadid='.$threadid.'">'.$threadtitle.$dots.'</a><br>';
}
unset($dothread);

i use this code in corelation with a higly modified forumdisplay.php file. it involved several mods to the tables. but the result is nice, i think:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/attachmen...&postid=249059

try the code and let me know what you think. i will update my vbHome hack also. later on today...

[KuraFire]

I didn't use your code above nakkid, but I used PPN's new code (his former had a wrong var.name) and it works.

The first post is updated and the hack now includes permissions. Re-download if you have this installed and overwrite newsportal.php and re-set your variables, to include the permission checking (works like a charm! )

[KuraFire]

Okay I just wanna say a big THANK YOU NAKKID for helping me out, sure PPN did the actual code-writing but nakkid pointed me to it and helped out nonetheless. Thanks Nakkid! :up:

[pattox2k1]

hey kreft on that test forum i like dat avatar............where u got it from???? or could u PLZ pm me it??????

[inetd]

Help me!
I don't see changes in "Attachment: newsportal-hack.zip" from first post. :<
Anybody, please attach new newsportal.php. Thx!

[kreftt]

it might help to empty your cache in internet explorer and try downloading again...

kreftt

[KuraFire]

or you just use a Real browser and get Mozilla

[Floris]

Mozilla is a real browser, but not a final version yet. (just pointing out)

About the different type of "portal" / "cms" scripts that are out now, everybody has written their own, and they have included, excluded several features. This makes it perfect for certain groups. Some do not need the bulk from vBportal and then this is just fine. Also, adding stuff that is missing is a bliss for this script. Others who do not like vBportal can pick vBhome/ vBindex and/or whatever else is out there. It all ends on support/performance/serverload and ease in use. This differs per user. I am happy enough with this one, for it won't be a part of my frontpage.

[Sketch]

So I imagine the original file is now the completely updated and final version of this hack?

Also, can this be used on a non-vb page, such as my home page to the whole site?

Sketch

[KuraFire]

No, it's not the final version cos this script *still* has that random bug that randomly appears, and takes not the first post out of a thread on your newsforum, but a random post. But it appears not to happen all that frequently, and some people haven't even had it (or just haven't noticed / complained about it ).

This technically _is_ a non-vb page itself. As far as I can see, it won't work if you place it outside your vb folder (where global.php etc. are). It might, but you'll have to adjust the path, for starters. Still not sure it'll work then, you probably have to hardcode the FULL path to functions.php in your global.php first.

[AndyTSJ]

Any fix for the bug yet. I'm using the script for news posts and instead of showing the story it is showing a reply instead.

[Floris]

AndyTSJ -- read previous post from Kura, its explained there I think.

[KuraFire]

Nope, I requested some MySQL-help over at vb.com but nobody has responded, and I don't know how to fix it, either

[AndyTSJ]

Take a look at how it is handled in PluhNews (pluhnews.php) - that script posts the contents of the first post without posting a reply by accident.

You're right though, it doesn't happen all the time.... weird !