Forum Display Enhancements - Advanced Info Center

Description:

This is a newsheader, welcome header, global announcement, newsticker in one.
It contains 2 independent and dynamic area's which contents can differ per usergroup.

For example, you can send multiple messages to everyone, and to members only, at the same time.

Message types:
Guests welcome header
Accounts awaiting email confirmation receive a message to check their email.
NonMembers receive a message where to apply for membership
Members receive messages for members only (?)
Everyone receive global public messages
Idlers receive a pm to start posting again
NonPosters also receive a pm to start posting
Unread Pm's: users receive a message when they have unread pm's, if they turned the popup off.

All messages, usergroups, on/off switches, and some style variables are manageable via the admin-cp.
The 2 biggest text area's you'll be using often are separated from the other options to make things easy on the eyes

This mod is style-friendly as it automatically changes with your style and is fully phrased.
The looks and feel of the container is adjustable in a template.
The messages you want to show support any html and css.

The Info Center also runs on custom forum pages, like portals, that aren't in the same forum folder.



Installation Time:

Uploading various files, like style sheets, installing the product, add 1 word in a template will take about 3minutes.
Configuring the settings on on/off switches, usergroups and the text you would like to show can take from 5mins up to what ever you want to make of it.



Installation Steps:

1.
Upload the files that are located in the upload-folder, within the zip-file, to their respective places:
- /forum
- - /includes
- - - contentslider.css
- - - contentslider.js
- - - /xml
- - - - cpnav_LaCN.xml

2.
Install the product using the LaCN_InfoCenter.xml file.

3.
Go to your Templates.
Find in templates: Navigation / Breadcrumb Templates --> navbar
Find this line:

<!-- / nav buttons bar -->

Add beneath:

$LaCN_InfoCenter

Save it, and u're done in the templates.
You can choose where ever you'd like to place it, since it will pretty much load in any template. Some alternate locations are: footer and FORUMHOME.

4.
Refresh the menu frame in the admin-cp.
U'll see a new menu: LaCN, containing the 2 Info Center links.

5.
Go to the Info Center Options.
The first switch is to turn the whole Info Center on.
It's turned off by default.
Per set of usergroups you can show a message.
But there's only 2 message area's:

 ______________________________
|                              |
|           top area           |
| _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _ |
|                              |
|         bottom area          |
|______________________________|

The bottom could be set for anyone to read.
(you can use a 0 in the usergroups field to make it show to everyone)

The top area is shared amongst different sets of usergroups:
- guests (if turned on)
- nonactivated accounts (if turned on)
- registered accounts, but not seen as members (if turned on)
- members (if turned on)
A guest will never see the other messages, same for the rest.

The bottom area could be used for any group, as second set of messages.
For example to everyone, if u set the usergroups to 0 in there.

You could turn all switches in the top area off, and it will only show the bottom area.
You could also turn that bottom area off, and it will show nothing at all

6.
Within a message box, for example for Guests, you can have multiple messages, that will slide behind eachother. This will save space.
A message in every box must be within
<div class="contentdiv"> and </div> tags.
For example:

<div class="contentdiv">
  <br />Welcome Guest
</div>
<div class="contentdiv">
  <br />Welcome to our board
</div>

If you don't add those tags, the Info Center will NOT work properly !!
So even with 1 line you need to add those tags.



Remove vBulletins Guest Welcome header:

vBulletin comes with a nice guest message already:

Welcome to the ....
If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Together with the Info Center, this takes up too much space, and frankly becomes unnecessary.
Here's how to remove it:
Go to your template: Forum Home Templates --> FORUMHOME
Find:

<if condition="$show['guest']">
<!-- guest welcome message -->
<table class="tborder" cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="$stylevar[cellspacing]" border="0" width="100%" align="center">
<tr>
	<td class="tcat"><phrase 1="$vboptions[bbtitle]">$vbphrase[welcome_to_the_x]</phrase></td>
</tr>
<tr>
	<td class="alt1">
		<phrase 1="faq.php$session[sessionurl_q]" 2="register.php$session[sessionurl_q]">$vbphrase[first_visit_message]</phrase>
	</td>
</tr>
</table>
<!-- / guest welcome message -->
<br />
</if>

Remove that part.



Add on:

The GMT-mod is being used in this mod, to show the gmt time and date.
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=130818



Demo:

http://test.lacnfamily.com



Integration with Inferno's vbShout ShoutBox

The ShoutBox can be placed into the Info Center.
See here (#11) on how to.



Version History

1.51

• Added dynamic links in the template, so the InfoCenter can also show outside the forum folder, like in portals and custom forum pages.
• Made the default guest message smaller to fit on the default hight.

When upgrading from 1.5:
Edit 1 template: See here
Edit 1 phrase: See here

1.50

• The following messages changed into phrases:
  • Guest welcome
  • Account not activated by email user
  • nonmember
• Updated the contentslider.css file:
  • Updated the padding from the pagination
• Added the following in the template LaCN_InfoCenter:
  • Added global phrases InfoCenter title and description
  • Added support for styles who have round corners
• The following groups have been added (phrased):
  • Idler message
    posted long ago (how long ago, is settable)
  • Low post count
    users with a low postcount get a message (post count is settable)
  • Unread pm's
    users with one or more unread pm's will get a message if their pm-popup is turned off

When upgrading:

1. Save all your messages in a text file
2. Overwrite or edit the /includes/contentslider.css file with the new version.
3. Install the product, and overwrite the current one
4. Revert the template LaCN_InfoCenter
5. Go check the InfoCenter options, open the phrases, and edit the ones using your notepad

1.0
Original release.


Support:

• If the css and js files and the plugins aren't changed, I'll help you.
• In time I won't be visiting this forum every day, so you'll have to help eachother in the meantime.
• To share the knowledge on bugs and solutions, I'll maintain a link-list to the appropriate posts in here.
• If needed, I will make modifications after forum upgrades, as we use this one too ourselves.
  But unless vBulletin is going to change their php and variables structure, there's no concerns for having to change this mod for any upgrade.
  After each forum upgrade that "resetted" your template, you can simply add this mod back on by placing the "$LaCN_InfoCenter" back in.
• If there are any suggestions or whishes from multiple people, I'll do my best to make it

So all in all, I think I give the same support as others, but I choose to mark this mod as not-supported, to have nobody wait for me replying, and that you'll help eachother when you can



HELP FAQ:

1. I see only one text area, the other is vanished
   But I see the to be placed text in the source code o_0
   You forgot the <div class="contentdiv"> and </div> tags in one of the text areas in the Info Center options.
2. The $gmt (gmt time) isn't showing
   post #30
3. The InfoCenter isn't working well on my custom pages outside the forum directory, like a portal
   See solution in post 62
   (This improvement will be standard added into next version (newer than 1.50))

This is my first real mod, so bare with me

[RedGTiVR6]

WOW!

This would be great for our forum.

We have different groups that we would like to be able to show different information to.

Just as an example:

Guests: How to register on the site.
Non-Activated Users: Reminding them to check their email for the activation email
Newbies: links to threads that will help them in understanding CarPCs and how to get started
Registered Users (users with less than 1 post): encouraging them to introduce themselves to the forum in the Welcome forum.
Moderators: Issues with current members or announcements to point them to the moderation forum, etc.
Admins: as a way to communicate with each other about important issues that need to be front and center.
Staff Members: as a reminder to check threads and reply to questions about products we sell on the store etc.
Private Software Testers: to alert them to new releases or changes in the way we want testing done

Simply GREAT!

Now I'm off to see if the other admins think we should replace the Welcome headers with this...

btw - I noticed that this mod is marked as not being supported, is this really the case?

[LaCN]

Originally Posted by RedGTiVR6

btw - I noticed that this mod is marked as not being supported, is this really the case?

Well, I don't want any strings attached to me

As the css and js part of this mod is quite advanced for newbies, errors are made easily, and it's usually hard to see where it comes from.

My Support:

• If the css and js files and the plugins aren't changed, I'll help you.
• In time I won't be visiting this forum every day, so you'll have to help eachother in the meantime.
• If needed, I will make modifications after forum upgrades, as we use this one too ourselves.
  But unless vBulletin is going to change their php and variables structure, there's no concerns for having to change this mod for any upgrade.
  After each forum upgrade that "resetted" your template, you can simply add this mod back on by placing the "$LaCN_InfoCenter" back in.
• If there are any suggestions or whishes from multiple people, I'll do my best to make it

So all in all, I think I give the same support as others, but I choose to mark this mod as not-supported, to have nobody wait for me replying, and that you'll help eachother when you can

[Azhrialilu]

Sounds like a fair compromise on the support to me Great modification, about to install and play with it now

[projectego]

Very, very nice hack! Looks like this has awesome potential. Great work!

[iogames]

Ready for this!

[giovannicosta]

Cool!

[wizardan]

Finally got around to installing this today.
I didn't bother with the GMT add-on and simply replaced the phrase with the standard vB time.
I love how I was able to do simple edits here and there via the template manager to suit my style.
Well done.
Vote for MOTM for sure

[LaCN]

Thanx

I'm currently expanding this mod, to send a message to lazy people as well
And some flashy warning when there's a pm or something..

All optional to switch on or off of course...

I will also change some messages into phrases, like a welcome message for guests.
Things that don't change often...

[iogames]

Originally Posted by LaCN

Thanx

I'm currently expanding this mod, to send a message to lazy people as well
And some flashy warning when there's a pm or something..

All optional to switch on or off of course...

I will also change some messages into phrases, like a welcome message for guests.
Things that don't change often...

:up:

[LaCN]

Okay, as promised..

It took a while, but then it's here

In short:
- more friendly for diff styles (template is prepared for round cornered styles)
- more friendly for diff languages (more phrased)
- more messages to get people active: idlers & non-posters
- Also optional message when a pm has been received

Version 1.5

• The following messages changed into phrases:
  • Guest welcome
  • Account not activated by email user
  • nonmember
• Updated the contentslider.css file:
  • Updated the padding from the pagination
• Added the following in the template LaCN_InfoCenter:
  • Added global phrases InfoCenter title and description
  • Added support for styles who have round corners
• The following groups have been added (phrased):
  • Idler message
    posted long ago (how long ago, is settable)
  • Low post count
    users with a low postcount get a message (post count is settable)
  • Unread pm's
    users with one or more unread pm's will get a message if their pm-popup is turned off

When upgrading:

1. Save all your messages in a text file
2. Overwrite or edit the /includes/contentslider.css file with the new version.
3. Install the product, and overwrite the current one
4. Revert the template LaCN_InfoCenter
5. Go check the InfoCenter options, open the phrases, and edit the ones using your notepad