Miscellaneous Hacks - Forum-wide Search For Unanswered Threads

Hack Support

This hack is now discontinued - this means that while it will remain available for download and use, there will be no further updates, nor will support be provided as the thread is no longer monitored. You can now check out the 3.8.x version of this hack, as it also works with v3.7.5, v3.6.12 (and maybe even earlier versions).

Please click Mark as Installed if you are using this hack.


vBulletin Version Compatibility

This hack can be used with v3.6.10 and v3.7.x. This has not been tested with earlier versions of v3.6.x, but should work.


What Does This Hack Do?

This is an hack adds an extra option to the Search drop down list on the nav bar which allows you to search for unanswered threads forum-wide, apart from the forums you choose to exclude from the search.

This hack was created as a result of a request from Boofo - see here.

There are no file or template changes at all, and is fully phrased.

AdminCP settings for this hack available in vBulletin Options > Forum-wide Search For Unanswered Threads.
Settings that can be changed are:

1. Usergroup permissions - which groups will be able to see the Unanswered Threads link (no usergroups can use this by default)
2. Exclude Forums - list of forums to exclude from the search for unanswered threads
3. Turn off cached results - enable/disable

Installation Instructions

1. Import ms_search_all_unanswered.xml into vB using the AdminCP Product Manager. If upgrading then set Allow Overwrite to Yes.
2. Alter the settings in the Admin CP vBulletin Options to your liking.

Uninstall Instructions

1. Uninstall the product in vB using the AdminCP Product Manager.

Version History

v3.7.006 - Friday 29th August 2008
-- Final Release
-- Changed: Check boxes now for usergroup selection, instead of needing comma separated numbers
-- Changed: Screenshots
-- Added: New plugin, for processing usergroup permissions

v3.7.005 - Saturday 26th July 2008
-- Changed: Removed dependency, now works with v3.6.10

v3.7.004 - Thursday 17th July 2008
-- Changed: Total code rewrite
-- Changed: AdminCP exclude forums option to allow up to 254 characters on the line

v3.7.003 - Wednesday 25th June 2008
-- Added: AdminCP option to display to all usergroups

v3.7.002 - Sunday 11th May 2008
-- Changed: Version numbering
-- Added: AdminCP Options input validation
-- Added: vBAdvanced support

v1.0.0 - Friday 8th February 2008
-- Initial v3.7.x Release


Show Your Appreciation

Although not required, if you have enjoyed the benefits of this hack, and would like show your appreciation for my efforts, then please feel free to click on the Support Developer link and donate any amount you feel is appropriate.


Donations

I would like to thank the following people for their kind donations:

• jilly
• wmlvb

[Mosh]

Update: v3.7.003

• Added option to show to all usergroups

[ShackMaster]

In AdminCP/vBOptions:

Forums To Exclude From Search
Comma separated list of forumids to exclude from the search for unanswered threads. Use Zero (0) to not exclude any forums.
Example: 1,9,27,72

I entered:

1,4,5,6,19,20,22,24,26,31,39,40,45,76,96,111,114,1 26,128,152,153,158,159,177,178,179,181,182,183,184 ,185,186,190,193

I get the following:

Error:
You did not enter a valid value for this setting.

I can accept it anyway, but there is no reason to get the error that I can see.

[Mosh]

Originally Posted by ShackMaster

In AdminCP/vBOptions:

Forums To Exclude From Search
Comma separated list of forumids to exclude from the search for unanswered threads. Use Zero (0) to not exclude any forums.
Example: 1,9,27,72

I entered:



I get the following:



I can accept it anyway, but there is no reason to get the error that I can see.

There are 2 reasons why it is displayed, both to do with input validation:

• There is a space between 178 and the ,
• The total length of the line with excluding forums is over 99

I can fix the second, you can fix the first

[Mosh]

Update: v3.7.004

• Changed: Total code rewrite
• Changed: AdminCP exclude forums option to allow up to 254 characters on the line

[ShackMaster]

Thanks! It is now fixed!

There was actually no space above... that was the text wrapping, but none the less, there are no more errors.

Again... many thanks! Great mod!

[Mosh]

Originally Posted by ShackMaster

Thanks! It is now fixed!

There was actually no space above... that was the text wrapping, but none the less, there are no more errors.

Again... many thanks! Great mod!

You are most welcome

[Mosh]

Update: v3.7.005 - Saturday 26th July 2008
-- Changed: Removed dependency, now works with v3.6.10

NOTE: If already installed on v3.7.x, then there is no need to update to this version, as there are no functional changes. This is only for new installations, it now caters for v3.6.10 as well as v3.7.x.

[polgara_j]

Originally Posted by ChurchMedia

*installed* Thanks for the cool hack! I have a custom navbar so I altered the code to make it work for me. I changed the plugin code to:

PHP Code:

$fwsfut_groups = explode(',',$vbulletin->options['fwsfut_grps']); 

if (is_member_of($vbulletin->userinfo,$fwsfut_groups)) 
{
    $unanswered = '<a href="search.php?'.$session['sessionurl'].'do=process&replyless=1&replylimit=0&exclude='.$vbulletin->options['fwsfut_exclude_forums'].'&nocache='.$vbulletin->options['fwsfut_cache_enable'].'">'.$vbphrase['forum_wide_unanswered'].'</a>';
} 


(let me know if you want me to delete this)

This way I could just insert the $unanswered variable where I needed the link to be.

Thanks again!

Where in the xml would you add this? I'm new to the whole coding thing

[Mosh]

Originally Posted by polgara_j

Where in the xml would you add this? I'm new to the whole coding thing

That will probably not work anymore, as I have totally re-wrote the hack a couple of weeks ago.

[wmlvb]

I was wondering if I give permission for certain user groups to sue this will they see unanswered thread of board they are not allowed to see?