Chat Modifications - FlashChat Combo-Module v1.2 for vBadvanced

FLASHCHAT COMBO-MODULE FOR vBADVANCED
WITH CHAT ROOMS DISPLAYED!
Version-1.2
Tweaked by Yotsume

Last Updated: March, 2nd 2008
(Works on 3.7x and 3.6x)

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# FLASHCHAT COMBO-MODULE 1.1 Changelog #
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- Some minor code clean up.
- Added clear code labels to each section of the code. (for future developments)

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# FLASHCHAT COMBO-MODULE 1.2 Changelog #
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- Added instructions on how to include a link to FlashChat Admin in Quick Moderation block.
- Added new zip with a tweaked version of whochat.php which has be reported to address some issues when trying to install my mod on vBulletin 3.6x

Flashchat 5x: Not Compatible Yet
My mod currently does not work with Flashchat 5x. My mod uses Paul M's whochat.php. I have asked for his help in upgrading my mod to be compatible. My mod works with all versions of Flashchat 4x.

DESCRIPTION:
This is a module that contains a combination of code from several hacks all in one place to make a more complete FlashChat module for vbAdvanced. It works with the latest versions of FlashChat, vBulletin and vBadvanced. Also, optionally there are instructions for adding a module with link to your FlashChat Admin page in the zip file.

INSTALL TIME: (2-5 Minutes Max)
The install is very easy and takes 2-5 minutes max. Follow the simple instructions step by step to insure you input your information correctly.

REQUIREMENTS:
You must have: vBulletin, vBadvanced, and FlashChat installed.


FLASHCHAT COMBO-MODULE WILL DISPLAY: (see included screenshot)

1. Total number of how many people are in the chat.
2. List of usernames of the people in chat with links to their profiles.
3. The names of your chat rooms with a head count per room.
4. The names of the people in chat listed under each chat room.
5. A link to join the chat.
6. If no one is in the chat a customizable message is displayed.

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Upload the whochat.php file into your modules directory.
2. Next, you must create a new template.
3. Go to: >Admin >Styles & Templates >Style Manager >Add New Template
4. Title of the new template needs to be: adv_portal_whochat
5. You must replace the url in the code below to point to your flashchat.php file.
6. Copy the below code into the template area:
7. Next, add a new PHP file module in your vBa CMPS with the following settings:

Title: Who's Chatting!
File to include: whochat.php
Identifier: whochat
Templates used: whochat

....8. Tweak the module's permissions and click save. Your module should be active now!

<!-- flashchat userlist -->
<tr><td class="thead"><span class="smallfont">Members In Chat: $totalchatters</span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="$bgclass"><span class="smallfont">$chatters</span></td></tr>
<!-- end flashchat userlist -->

<!-- flashchat rooms and users -->
<tbody><tr>
<td class="alt2" colspan="2">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="180" src="http://www.your_domain_here.com/chat/info_embedded.php" style="width: 100%; margin: 0; padding: 0; border: 0; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" border="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe></td></tr>
</tbody>
<!-- end flashchat rooms and users -->

<!-- chat link -->
<tr><td class="alt2">
<span class="smallfont"> <a href="http://www.your_domain_here.com/chat/flashchat.php" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" linkindex="51" set="yes"><u>Join the Chat!</u></a></span></td></tr>
<!-- end chat link -->

HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT NOTE:
You can adjust the height of the block by changing the value of: height="180" in the above code. Be aware that vbAdvanced blocks are fixed dimensions. So if you have many room names or many users in chat the text will run out the bottom of the block and not be visible. This is why I have the height set at "180" as a default. Adjust this value to fit the needs of your site.

############
# Future Plans #
############
- For version 2.0 of this module I plan to implement some kind of chat invitation system that will immediately notify other chosen members that you wish for them to enter the chat. A invitation window of some kind will appear containing the chat link. It would be nice if a sound would play to help alert them as well.
- In version 1x the module does not collapse fully. Rather just the members list collapses which is either a code mistake or a cool feature depending on your perspective. If you have many users in the chat having just the members list collapse might be a cool feature to leave in.
- I plan to combine into this module a link to the FlashChat Admin page and eliminate the need for a second module for that link. It needs to be coded so that only Admins can see that link.

FlashChat Admin Link in Quick Moderation Block
Here is a simple way to include a link to FlashChats Admin page inside the Quick Moderation block. I decided to put a link to the chat admin there because I have that block set so only Admins can see it. So it helps to keep the link to the chat admin secure.

Instructions:
How to add FlashChat Admin Link to Quick Moderation Block:

1. Go to >admincp >Styles & Templates >Edit Templates
2. Click on vBadvanced CMPS Templates >adv_portal_moderation
3. Find the last instance of: </td> </tr> and before it add the below link code: <a href="/forum/chat/admin/index.php" TARGET=_BLANK>Chat Admin</a></td>
4. Be sure to replace the correct path to your chat's index.php in the above link.
5. Save the template and your done!
6. See attached screenshot of the Quick Moderation block with chat admin link.

[yotsume]

Originally Posted by ArnyVee

yotsume (or anyone else for that matter),

I'd like to use this mod (which I've been using for quite some time now) and combine it with the "online users" module that vBadvanced comes with. Any ideas on how I could do that?

Any help would be appreciated.

Why would you want to combine these two together exactly? You see my mod separate allows for greater permission control for one. If you combine the two together you remove a bunch of the permission control from one block to the other. Meaning my block separate can have permissions independently set. There is a way to edit the who's online block and enter my mod's code into it but... I HIGHLY SUGGEST NEVER DOING THIS!

THE "NEAR" FUTURE:
The only next steps I am working on is making my mod updated so it will be compatible with FlashChat 5x. I will also be make my mod into a product/plugin format with all the needed settings editable from within vBulletin's AdminCP. The current required template edits will no longer be necessary. They will happen automatically when you enter in your urls within the admin area. Besides these enhancements and major updates, I plan to have direct room entering as a feature. Where you see a user listed you can click that room and join directly. After these happen there will be a chat invitation system next. Maybe ajax based? or maybe private message based. I am sure Paul M. is reading this and getting ideas. I need his help here to get this mod updated to where it "COULD" be.

So I am sorry but I am not going to be posting how to add my block inside another critical block. I would consider that a separate mod in and of itself. Someone else could attempt this so long as they don't rip off my mod. :up:

[ArnyVee]

I wanted it mainly to combine two modules into one and for them to sit on my homepage neatly rather than two small modules that won't look exactly right on the page.

Oh well, I guess there's no way to do this without causing some issues, so I'll see what I can do.

[yotsume]

Originally Posted by ArnyVee

I wanted it mainly to combine two modules into one and for them to sit on my homepage neatly rather than two small modules that won't look exactly right on the page.

Oh well, I guess there's no way to do this without causing some issues, so I'll see what I can do.

You have stretched your theme and broke your layout. To fix what you have done already your "WDB Construction" block needs to be in the center not in the right column or you will need to decrease the size of the photo. Then you will need to fix your "WDB Friends" block. The thumbs are also stretching your page off to the right. It needs to be coded so your thumbs in that block show on two rows not just one or you will need to decrease the amount of thumbs that show to prevent breaking your page layout.

My block on the left is one of the few that actually shows nicely on your page already. :up: I also suggest you edit the FlashChat files to name your chat correctly in the new window to match your WDB Chat link name.

[camomouse]

I'm having no luck! I have tried a few things but I can not get it to work.

Any Help?

Warning: include(INC_DIRget_config.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in [path]\chat\inc\config.php on line 5

Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'INC_DIRget_config.php' for inclusion (include_path='.;\xampp\php\pear\') in [path]\chat\inc\config.php on line 5

Warning: require_once(INC_DIRclasses/db.php) [function.require-once]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in [path]\chat\inc\config.php on line 11

Fatal error: require_once() [function.require]: Failed opening required 'INC_DIRclasses/db.php' (include_path='.;\xampp\php\pear\') in C:\xampp\htdocs\forums\chat\inc\config.php on line 11

[yotsume]

Originally Posted by camomouse

I'm having no luck! I have tried a few things but I can not get it to work.

Any Help?

What version of FlashChat do you have installed? For me to be able to help you, I need more info. Usually any problems are with how URLs are entered into the code. My mod works up to FlashChat 4x. FlashChat 5x integration is not designed yet but in the works.

[tldagent]

Actually, I've sent a PM to yotsume that I did in fact get this to work with Flaschat 5 and how I did it was create a new template module and use some of the information in Paul's Module. So far have not heard anything back. Everything works perfectly on my site with the exception of linking to the users profile but I believe this will be worked out when the forum URL is converted to integrate fully into vbadvanced. It can even display the rooms in the template module I've set up on my forum.

Hopefully someone will get this working with Flashchat 5 completely. I'm close and sent all the details to Yotsume so hopefully we'll get this resolved soon. This module really isn't all that complicated... but then again, I'm far from being a coder.

[yotsume]

Yes got your PM. However, what you did is jerry rig the code and break your theme. Sorry but its not going to work that way. I hear patience is a virtue. I am working on a 5x version that is correctly coded.

When an update for my mod is ready it will of course be released here!

[tldagent]

Great. Yes, patience is a virtue. The theme in my solution isn't actually broken so long as I remove some of the code. It actually works rather well. The only thing is clicking on the members name and being directed to the forum home/member/membername. So actually with Mosh's code it does work as a template module.

Thank you for working on this much needed modification.

[ArnyVee]

Originally Posted by yotsume

You have stretched your theme and broke your layout. To fix what you have done already your "WDB Construction" block needs to be in the center not in the right column or you will need to decrease the size of the photo. Then you will need to fix your "WDB Friends" block. The thumbs are also stretching your page off to the right. It needs to be coded so your thumbs in that block show on two rows not just one or you will need to decrease the amount of thumbs that show to prevent breaking your page layout.

My block on the left is one of the few that actually shows nicely on your page already. :up: I also suggest you edit the FlashChat files to name your chat correctly in the new window to match your WDB Chat link name.

Thank you so much for your advice!

I'm actually working towards eliminating the left hand column altogether to try and fix things up a little better.

That's why I originally wanted to combine your mod with the 'online users' in one block to put it next to each other horizontally and put it in one of the two columns.

I haven't had a chance to look specifically at these issues for the last week and a half because I'm launching a social networking site for Disney fans and I've been busy with that one

Thanks again for taking the time for the advice though...I appreciate it!

[Cocko]

Any news on this add-on with vB 3.7.x