Fork Threads

Boring Preamble
Sometimes a thread gets really long or some posts generate interesting but off topic conversation. I wanted to test the new cool product manager system and thought of this very simple mod to add Fork Thread functionality to the end user.

What it does
Allows the end user to divert off-topic tangents into a new thread, while automatically quoting the original thread.

Specs
Plugin: Included

Phrases added automatically: 2
fork_prefix and fork_this_post

Templates added automatically: 1
newpost_fork

Templates to edit: 1
postbit or postbit_legacy

Images to upload: 1 (optional)
fork.gif

How to Install

This is a full blown plugin. Follow the usual instructions for a plugin. Then you have to edit the postbit or postbit_legacy template.

For the graphical version you have to insert these lines where you want the link to appear:

PHP Code:

<a href="newthread.php?fork=1&do=newthread&p=$post[postid]"><img src="$stylevar[imgdir_button]/fork.gif" alt="$vbphrase[fork_this_post]" border="0" /></a> 


For the text version use this code:

PHP Code:

<a href="newthread.php?fork=1&do=newthread&p=$post[postid]">$vbphrase[fork_this_post]</a> 


You may want to place it in an "if" conditional so that only users who can post New Threads will see the image. Just use the same code as what's embedded in the "quote" image.

Updated to version 1.0.1 on 08/18/2005

*Modified to use the phrase manager.
*Fixed minor bug when "Automatically Quote Post / Thread Title" was set to "no".
*Fixed minor bug where after processing the title I pointed to the wrong variable

Preview and Live Demo

Preview attached. Or you can Register and try to fork the posts in the fork me thread.

Graphics help solicited

The quickie image I put together of a fork sucks
If someone comes up with an edited image of the .psd file vb comes with I will edit this post.

Wishlist for this mod

1. I doubt I will have the time to put this together, but it would be nice if there was a dropdown with forums the user has permission to post in so that the user can fork the thread to a different forum.
2. Adding a post to the original thread stating it had been forked and a link to the new thread

Final note

Oblivion Knight donated an image you can use of a fork (Thanks). It is attached to this post.

[GilbertZ]

Originally Posted by spongebobrox128

Hi! Where do you put the Fork Thread link when you want it to be in the same place as it is in the screenshot?

It depends on your layout. If you use the default layout it's in the postbit template if you have turned on legacy then you use legacy_postbit.

[Oblivion Knight]

Just a small note, the &'s in your links should be & for XHTML validation..

[Leah]

Here's the fork with transparant background.

[silurius]

Bumping for 3.5 Gold. This looks like a great plugin!

(anyone with Gold got it to work? i'm erring on the side of caution)

[weaver]

Great hack. I've got it working with Gold. Here is a button I created for it to go with the default style.

[silurius]

Works beautifully! Besides the feature mentioned elsewhere in this thread about selecting specific forum destinations during the forking process, one issue I can see coming up is managing fork abuse. I wonder if there's a simple means of throttling the amount of forking a user can do. Clicking Install.

[GilbertZ]

Originally Posted by silurius

Works beautifully! Besides the feature mentioned elsewhere in this thread about selecting specific forum destinations during the forking process, one issue I can see coming up is managing fork abuse. I wonder if there's a simple means of throttling the amount of forking a user can do. Clicking Install.

At some point I'll work on bringing this to Gold and adding the forum choice feature. As for the throttling, I think that'd be too complicated. The usual requirement of X seconds between postings, which is configurable in the admincp applies here, if that's any help.

[GilbertZ]

Originally Posted by snobbymom

Great hack. I've got it working with Gold. Here is a button I created for it to go with the default style.

I love that image. Any chance of getting the PSD file so we can insert custom colors?

[weaver]

Originally Posted by GilbertZ

I love that image. Any chance of getting the PSD file so we can insert custom colors?

It's telling me it's an invalid file type.

ETA: I sent you a PM. Also, how can we remove the image from showing up for PMs?

[Neutral Singh]

Does Gold version of this plugin will have some new features or its good to go as Gold. Is it working with vB350Gold ? Thanks


EDIT: Its working like a charm on vB350GOLD.

[Neutral Singh]

[QUOTE ]Also, how can we remove the image from showing up for PMs?[/QUOTE]

Making the temaplte edit with like below will show the image only while viewing the threads.

                         <if condition="THIS_SCRIPT=='showthread'">
                                <a href="newthread.php?fork=1&do=newthread&p=$post[postid]">[img]$stylevar%5Bimgdir_button%5D/fork.gif[/img]
                        </if>

[R1D1]

i know this feature from the old bbs-times... named "fup" -> follow up to...

great...!!! missed that a lot... thx...

[pfvc]

Originally Posted by weaver

Great hack. I've got it working with Gold. Here is a button I created for it to go with the default style.

be great to get the psd file so we can alter the colour of the button to match the other styles we may have

[GilbertZ]

Weaver was kind enough to send me the PSD. I zipped it and added to the original post.

[illusions]

I want to know where in postbit would be the best place to add this coding ??