New Posting Features - [Ajax] Check for similar thread before posting a new one

You love the 'similar threads' function and you are sick of duplicate threads just because your users don't use the search function?

Why not just combine them?

This Add-on will grab the thread title the user typed in and it will load a small box (using Ajax magic ) with 5 similar threads just like the 'similar threads' function that you can normally find under an already posted thread.

The box also tells the user to search through the similar threads first BEFORE starting a new one.


Features:
- no edits whatsoever needed, just import the product file, enable the Add-on and it works (well, it should )
- you can turn it off for certain forums or
- you can turn it off completely without leaving any code that messes your templates/files
- it can be translated
- don't like it anymore? Remove the product and you'll never see that Add-on again


Known issues:
- none


Things to consider:
It uses jQuery to get the information from ajax.php. jQuery is great and you can do many great things with it and unlike the vBulletin method it's quite easy to understand.
The jQuery file is compressed and only 20kb large.
To download the file, visit the homepage at http://jquery.com/
The link to download the file is on the right hand side.

Here's the version I use: http://code.google.com/p/jqueryjs/do....1.3.1.pack.js

Just download it and put it into the 'clientscript' folder without renaming the file.


Installation:
Download jQuery as described above.
Import the attached file using the Product Manager. Go to your vBulletin settings and search for 'Check for similar threads?'. Enable it.


Important:
It adds 2 new templates, it changes 1 template and it edits 2 files. I highly doubt that it will break you vBulletin but do a back-up and be on the safe side.



Version history:
1. initial release
2. current release
*** fixed some browser issues. The attached file is up to date.





How to fix the Opera problems in the first release:
The first release of this Add-on didn't work on Opera. To fix the problems, please follow these steps:
Open the template 'mrnasesimilarthreadcheck_header' and REPLACE the content with this code:

    <script type="text/javascript" src="clientscript/jquery-1.1.3.1.pack.js"></script>
    <script type="text/javascript">
        $(function(){
            $("#inputthreadtitle").bind("blur", function(){
                var value =$(this).val(); 
                $('td#similarthreadcheckcontent').html('<img src="$stylevar[imgdir_misc]/13x13progress.gif" />');
                $.ajax({
                    type: "GET",
                    url: "ajax.php",
                    data: "do=getsimilarthreads&title="+value,
                    success: function(msg){
                        $('td#similarthreadcheckcontent').html(msg);
                         }
                });
            });
        });
    </script>

The attached file is up to date.


Support will only given to those who have clicked 'install'.

[MrNase]

I tested it on FF (latest) using my Mac and it works perfectly. I tested it yesterday using FF (latest) on Windows XP and it also worked perfectly.

I reported the Opera problems to the jQuery developers and I am still waiting for feedback.

RMS-Chef: Yes, that sounds good. I'll take a look at it. I'll also modify the query which loads the similar threads to make it faster.

As for the problem that it loads without showing the similar threads I can only guess that it comes because of the amount of threads your community has.

To help me find out more about this problem please go to http://yourforums.com/ajax.php?do=ge...ads&title=test and look if you see the table with the similar threads.

[Lizard King]

I tested this on two different live boards and my test board. It doesn't work with any browser. The url you gave returns similar threads however within the thread it doesn't search anything with any browser.

[Smoothie]

Originally Posted by MrNase

I tested it on FF (latest) using my Mac and it works perfectly. I tested it yesterday using FF (latest) on Windows XP and it also worked perfectly.

I reported the Opera problems to the jQuery developers and I am still waiting for feedback.

RMS-Chef: Yes, that sounds good. I'll take a look at it. I'll also modify the query which loads the similar threads to make it faster.

As for the problem that it loads without showing the similar threads I can only guess that it comes because of the amount of threads your community has.

To help me find out more about this problem please go to http://yourforums.com/ajax.php?do=ge...ads&title=test and look if you see the table with the similar threads.

Did you test with safari? Because I tested this with Safari on the Mac and it did not work.

[Mecho]

installed but i can not see anything in vboption .

* i used this link : http://www.yoursite.com/admincp/inde...buildbitfields
* uninstalled and installed again !

but still nothing in vboption ... any idea ?

thanks in advance

[aggiefan]

marking this so i remember to come back to it.... would put this into use if/when the bugs get fixed. sounds like a really good idea.

[Smoothie]

Originally Posted by Mecho

installed but i can not see anything in vboption .

* i used this link : http://www.yoursite.com/admincp/inde...buildbitfields
* uninstalled and installed again !

but still nothing in vboption ... any idea ?

thanks in advance

look under message posting options.

[WiseOne38221]

I DID set it to run in message posting and editiing options, put the file required in clientscript folder, it does NOTHING. I see the message, but it does not work for some reason. IE7, Windows XP, 3.6.7 PL1

[Mecho]

Originally Posted by Smoothie

look under message posting options.

Thanks mate.. i got it now .. thank u

[WiseOne38221]

message posting and editing options...is wher it is at the bottom once you import the product. I can get that all working and then go to make a new thread and it does NOT do anything.

[AzzidReign]

This looks great! Maybe add to the bottom of the results: click here to see all results. Or something like that since there are usually more than 5 similar threads...at least on my site.