vBulletin Forum Sideblocks - VC_Countdown (FORUM BLOCK)

D E S C R I P T I O N

Countdown timer for forum sidebars that is configurable from the admin control panel. This countdown timer will calculate the remaining time left to reach your targeted event according to the GMT Time Zone Offset that you have pre-set in the admincp (VC_Countdown options). This countdown will expire at the same moment in time for all viewers, regardless of their separate time zones.

You can count down to any future month/day/time within the next 12 months.

This countdown timer is ideal for counting down to:
- have competitors meet at the same time for tournaments on gaming servers (which is what I have used it for)
- for fixed term offers
- for items available in X days
- for sale begins in X days time
or for whatever else tickles your fancy.

This is a no-frills countdown timer but there are no files to upload to your server and there is no need to fiddle around with templates and codes to adjust the countdown expiry date.
You can easily adjust this countdown display to suit forum sidebar widths from 165px to 300px.

I N S T R U C T I O N S

1. Import Product
Plugins & Products / Manage Products / Add/Import Product
Import: product-vc_countdown.xml

2. Create Forum Block
Forums & Moderators / Forum Blocks Manager / Add Block

Select Block Type: Custom HTML/PHP
Title: Event Timer (or whatever you prefer)
Description: VC_Countdown Event Timer
Content Type: HTML
Content: <div></div>
Template to use: block_VC_Countdown

3. Configure VC_Countdown
Admincp / Settings / Options / VC_Countdown

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PLEASE NOTE: I have only tested this as working on 4.0.8 PL4.
Confirmed working well on 4.1.3 by rammieone

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Updates:
v1.0.3
Removed superfluous css
Added css to enable proper font-color control over all four strings of text
Added ability to include background image
v1.0.4
Added 4 levels of bgimage transparency
Added bgimage 100% height & width of forum block container
Removed option for image:repeat
Added padding options for between (Event Name & top of forum block) and (Event Name & Countdown Numbers)
v1.0.5
Removed "X Days from Now" option (If you don't experience save/default problems using version 1.0.4 there is no need to update to 1.0.5)

[tommyxv]

Sweet. Thanks!

[Mr_Running]

Version 1.0.5
Excellent working on vB 4.1.11

[Mr_Running]

Originally Posted by midnz

Cheers for that.
Changing your GMT Offset option to that which will be accurate at the completion of the countdown should work. Maybe it would be wise for me to simply add that instruction.
Likewise, an instruction advising the consideration of an extra day to compensate for a calculation made prior to Feb 29th of a leap year and expiring after Feb 29th of a leap year should fix that issue. I'll look at adding an option that adds one day to the calculation where Feb 29th becomes an issue, knowing that I will need to do that before 2016.

Yes, any chance to have Daylight savings and Leap year solved...factored in the settings.

Presently we have to deal with this all year. 2012.

Cheers.

[wilford brimley]

any way to have multiple counters?

[midnz]

Originally Posted by wilford brimley

any way to have multiple counters?

Yes, there is a way to have multiple counters however that would mean coding a separate .xml for each new counter required. It's not something that I have the spare time to do honestly.

[TheSupportForum]

works in 4.1.12 thx, just what i needed

[Hawk7173]

Trying to get his to work in my side blocks instead of going across the bottom. I've changed the template to block_html in both the product and the block manager. Block shows, but not the timer....

Any ideas as to why?

[midnz]

Originally Posted by Hawk7173

Trying to get his to work in my side blocks instead of going across the bottom. I've changed the template to block_html in both the product and the block manager. Block shows, but not the timer....

Any ideas as to why?

The correct code to use can be found in an attached image in post #16 of this thread. See here for your convenience.
Have you typed "block_VC_Countdown" in the "template to use" field?

[Hawk7173]

I changed that to block_html as the side bar uses that template.

[Hawk7173]

I did some playing with the blocks manager and managed to get it to do what I wanted.

Thanks for the help.