Forms Hack

Forms Hack 3.5

Features:

Ever wanted an online form that a user can fill out, which when submitted gets:

• Posted into a new thread in a forum of your choice
• Create a new poll in the new thread with options of your choice
• Posted as a reply in an existing thread of your choice
• PMed to you or someone else
• Emailed to an email address you specify
• Choose to redirect to the post, thread or forum, or a custom thank you message
• Choose to redirect to edit post to upload attachments
• See a preview before they submit

Or any combination or all of the above?

Well, this is the hack for you!

You can use this for:

• Moderator Applications
• Quiz Submit Form which gets PMed to a moderator
• Contact Form that goes to PM, email or thread
• Guests to apply to be members
• Report a Moderator form that goes as a PM to you
• Guests can PM you for whatever reason
• Order form to buy things
• Donation form
• News or Articles submissions that can go straight to a thread

Or anything you like - this hack is totally customizable via the AdminCP.

The beauty of this hack is that once you install this hack, to make a new form all you need to do is copy the main hook, rename it to whatever you want, edit the variables in the hook, and you have a totally new form!!! You do not need to touch the templates again, but can always create new ones and use different templates for different forms.

Format of the form:

• One main input question
• 3 Radio buttons Choice questions
• 3 Normal text input questions
• 1 Drop down menu
• 3 Check boxes
• 1 Long answer question
• 1 VB message editor text box question

This is customizable via the hook.

Also:

• You can set the usergroups you want access to this form.
• Depending on your forum permissions, if the new thread is in a public forum, members can reply to it. This hack allows a form to submit the new thread or post wherever you want it to go.
• Force the user to answer all questions.

INSTALLATION
Easy - takes only a few minutes:

• Import the XML into products. (admin cp -> Plug-in System -> Manage Products -> Add/Import Product)
• Edit the main plug-in - the instructions are all inside the hook itself, in the top half. Follow the instructions carefully!
• To get to the form, go to: /newthread.php?do=form (change "form" to the name of your form if you have few)

Done!

Use this hack to make as many forms as you like!

Enjoy!

Updates:

Version 2.0: (08/10/2005)

• Ported over for vb3.5

Version 2.1: (08/10/2005)

• bug fix with answers not showing

Version 2.5: (08/13/2005)

• Major update:
• Templates have a few lines changed here and there.
• You can now have more then 2 poll options very easily
• Polls can't be created if your not creating a new thread
• New Thread now uses VB function to add the thread
• New Poll now uses VB function to add the poll
• New Reply now uses VB function to add the reply
• PM now uses VB function to send the PM

Version 2.6: (08/21/2005)

• fixed bug with posts having to be moderated

Version 2.7: (08/23/2005)

• Minor update:
• Fixed some issues with signatures, URL parsing, and subscriptions
• Option to name the post titles
• Made template XHTML 1.0 Transitional

Version 3.0: (11/29/2005)

• Major update:
• Added drop down menu
• Made the long answer show up in a the vb message box
• Re-wrote some instructions
• Pressing back should save work
• Both templates and plug-in were edited
• Some more minor things

Version 3.1: (12/07/2005)

• Brought back the standard text box (longanswer)

Version 3.2: (12/09/2005)

• [ADDED] Option to make polls public.

Version 3.3: (12/19/2005)

• [FIXED] Guests can now post using the forms to make a thread or post. They cannot send a PM though.
• [ADDED] Paypal link so you can make a donation for this hack.

Version 3.4: (04/05/2006)

• [FIXED] Removed extra line from template.
• [ADDED] WYSIWYG editor now works besides the regular editor.
• [ADDED] Preview.
• [CHANGED] Subscriptions now take from user default setting.

Version 3.5: (05/31/2006)

• [ADDED] Check boxes.

Abe1 with rights from Dr Erwin Loh

This hack is created for your use free of charge. No payment is requested. However, if you would like to donate money for the work I put in to this hack, a donation would show your appreciation.

[bonjurkes]

i think its pretty hard to edit that form.

for example i want to remove that longanswer section, i remove the proper parts. The text next to long answer part is disappears but there is a still long answer section here..

I couldnt made the changes that i want to do. I want to use it for application form of moderator.

Is anyone have an example form like that??

[Abe1]

Originally Posted by WNxWakko

Hmm, when I click preview it does show me at the top, but all the stuff I entered in the form is gone. I would have to retype it all? What did I do wrong?

You have to make sure the varibles where not changed or edited.

[Abe1]

Originally Posted by RDX1

Any idea what's wrong with mine?

Yes. You have make // to block out code. Not just one /.

[Abe1]

Originally Posted by ChiliVB

Abe1,

Would you mind giving me an example of the impact for upgrading. I don't want to cause any downtime for my primary form when I upgrade.

I'm thinking it might be best to install this as a "new" hook and not overwrite and so a custom "answer" template can be created in parallel without causing disruption?

Also is it only the answer template that needs "lots of changes" or also the mainhook for the form.

The main template was the edited thing. I had to add mostly 'value=' or something simular so it would pull info when you use the preview.

The answer template I believe was not edited.

The hook was edited a little.

[Abe1]

Originally Posted by bonjurkes

i think its pretty hard to edit that form.

for example i want to remove that longanswer section, i remove the proper parts. The text next to long answer part is disappears but there is a still long answer section here..


I couldnt made the changes that i want to do. I want to use it for application form of moderator.

Is anyone have an example form like that??

You have to remove the code from the template also.

[RDX1]

Originally Posted by Abe1

Yes. You have make // to block out code. Not just one /.

Thanks

[OrangeFlea]

Can this thing be used for reviews? I want users to be able to submit reviews (books, movies, etc.) using a modified template of your hack, which essentially means that the form will have been completed at the time of its posting. In other words, when a user clicks on a thread titled "Flea's Review of Lord of the Rings," I want them to see an already completed form that consists of my personal ratings of the movie's elements (e.g., 5-stars for the plot; 4 stars for the score, etc.).

Also, is there a demo of this hack available?

[Abe1]

Originally Posted by OrangeFlea

Can this thing be used for reviews? I want users to be able to submit reviews (books, movies, etc.) using a modified template of your hack, which essentially means that the form will have been completed at the time of its posting. In other words, when a user clicks on a thread titled "Flea's Review of Lord of the Rings," I want them to see an already completed form that consists of my personal ratings of the movie's elements (e.g., 5-stars for the plot; 4 stars for the score, etc.).

Also, is there a demo of this hack available?

Sorry, I have no demo but you can use this hack to do wat you want.

[yayvb]

Hi, I used your hack but was having problems with something. I would ask certain questions like average harvest time, have several radio boxes, etc. But if the person hit EDIT then they could edit the text that was output, but they could edit it as if it was a regular message as opposed to editing the various answers to the questions.

In other words when you click EDIT instead of seeing the same sort of form that you filled out originally preopulated with your answers which you can edit and save, it just shows like you're editing a message.

Is there any way that we can use a different template to edit, one that we show the correct variables, etc.? Would we have to insert an if statement into the edit the editpost.php file, or maybe there is a hook in place.

If you are curious what I am talking about, try editing your hack thread here. You get a message box, and the same checkboxes, etc. that you saw originally. How can we do this? Could you provide code samples for a basic example? I think this would make your script go from being a 8 to being a 12 (on a 1 - 10 scale)!!!

[Abe1]

Originally Posted by yayvb

Hi, I used your hack but was having problems with something. I would ask certain questions like average harvest time, have several radio boxes, etc. But if the person hit EDIT then they could edit the text that was output, but they could edit it as if it was a regular message as opposed to editing the various answers to the questions.

In other words when you click EDIT instead of seeing the same sort of form that you filled out originally preopulated with your answers which you can edit and save, it just shows like you're editing a message.

Is there any way that we can use a different template to edit, one that we show the correct variables, etc.? Would we have to insert an if statement into the edit the editpost.php file, or maybe there is a hook in place.

If you are curious what I am talking about, try editing your hack thread here. You get a message box, and the same checkboxes, etc. that you saw originally. How can we do this? Could you provide code samples for a basic example? I think this would make your script go from being a 8 to being a 12 (on a 1 - 10 scale)!!!

This would be just about in possable since it's one varible once it's posted.

[Heaven]

If I change the following line:
$newpost['username'] =& $vbulletin->userinfo['username'];

to
$newpost['username'] = 'Anonymous';

Will the author of the posted thread always be Anonymous? That's what I'm looking to do. Sorry for the dumb question, I'm not a coder.

[Abe1]

Originally Posted by Heaven

If I change the following line:
$newpost['username'] =& $vbulletin->userinfo['username'];

to
$newpost['username'] = 'Anonymous';

Will the author of the posted thread always be Anonymous? That's what I'm looking to do. Sorry for the dumb question, I'm not a coder.

Nope. Unless that is a real user I think.

[MrPatience]

Thanks Abe1 for this hack, it is great! Just installed few days ago and it is working perfect.

I have only a question. Sorry if this has been answered before, I searched through the thread and didnt find an answer... I'm running a non-English forum, and I tried to translate the buttons to Send, Reset and Preview form. But when I try things like this:

<input type="submit" value="Enviar" name="submit" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt" class="button" />
<input type="submit" value="Previsualizar" name="submit" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt" class="button" />
<input type="reset" value="Reiniciar" name="reset" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt" class="button" />

then the Reset button does not seem to work, and clicking on Enviar(Submit) does a preview (and the thread is not posted). What am I doing wrong?

Thanks in advance

[Abe1]

Originally Posted by MrPatience

Thanks Abe1 for this hack, it is great! Just installed few days ago and it is working perfect.

I have only a question. Sorry if this has been answered before, I searched through the thread and didnt find an answer... I'm running a non-English forum, and I tried to translate the buttons to Send, Reset and Preview form. But when I try things like this:

<input type="submit" value="Enviar" name="submit" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt" class="button" />
<input type="submit" value="Previsualizar" name="submit" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt" class="button" />
<input type="reset" value="Reiniciar" name="reset" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt" class="button" />

then the Reset button does not seem to work, and clicking on Enviar(Submit) does a preview (and the thread is not posted). What am I doing wrong?

Thanks in advance

I;m not really sure. I believe I have these values hard coded into the hook for submission. I'm not sure why the rest whould not work though.

[mcgrco]

Hi, I'm currently working for the Medcorps NGO on a project that's allows cambodian doctors to communicate with a network of international doctors. http://www.medicorps.com/updates/cambodia.html
i have only got programming experience in MS Access VBa and implemented a solution using access with outlook integration. Although this works on small scale the project really should be online so it can be rolled out across Cambodia and many other poor countries. The key to its success is the simplicity of the input forms for the doctors. i.e pull down list and simple text boxs should be used to create the first post. the doctors have little or no computer expereince so this is really vital to sucess.

I am in the process of installing the vbulletin softwear which the company kindly donated to Medicorps. Is there anyone out there that could provide guidance to a vbulletin newbi on how i can get my access forms on the web. My concern is that the form is very long (its tabbed in access) and i have no web design experience. Any help is greatfully appreciated.
Thanks in advance