Forum Display Enhancements - Collapsable First Post using AJAX (or Last Post!)

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NOTICE: This is for vBulletin v3.6 ONLY. You can find a v3.5 compatible version here.

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*** Confirmed working on ALL vBulletin 3.6.x versions! ***

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Keywords: FORUMDISPLAY, search, results, collapse, AJAX, collapsable, first, last, unread, post

Description:
Allows you to expand/collapse the first, last or first unread post of a thread from FORUMDISPLAY and search results without the need to load the entire thread.

Details:
Upon perusing the wonderful deals over at slickdeals.net, I noticed this nifty feature which caught my eye. I found it quite useful as most people have a bad habit of not being very descriptive with their thread titles. This little trick made my browsing experience much more enjoyable, so naturally I had to borrow [read: shamelessly rip] the idea.

Please note that no additional queries are added, unless using the 'First Unread Post' option. Otherwise, the only queries performed are the same as those when a thread is normally viewed.

The magic behind this modification is performed by jQuery: The Write Less, Do More, JavaScript Library.

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Usage:
Simply click the expand icon [+] in front of the thread title to expand, and the collapse icon [-] to collapse. Rocket science, eh?

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Installation:

1. Download and unzip the ajax_first_post.zip archive.
2. Upload necessary files to their respective locations. (Attention custom style users! Be sure to upload the images to your custom image directory.)
3. Import the product-ajax_first_post.xml via the Product Manager.
4. Make any desired configuration changes via AdminCP > vBulletin Options > Collapsable First Post using AJAX
5. ???
6. Profit!

Notes:
All template modifications are made automatically. They attach to pretty common text locations, so modified styles shouldn't* be a problem.

However, for those who wish (or need) to perform the edits manually, you can find that information here.

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Comments:
As with all my hacks, this modification is provided free of charge. However, if you find this product useful and have money burning a hole in your pocket, feel free to make a small donation, I won't mind.. really.

Version History:

• 1.0.0 - Initial release, here's to hoping...
• 1.1.0
  • Fixed JavaScript errors when using search.
  • Resolved (known) cross browser compatibility issues.
• 1.2.0
  • New AdminCP configuration options:
    • Ability to select first or last post to be displayed.
    • Ability to disable on a per forum basis.
    • Option to update thread views when expanded.
    • Option to disable automatic template editing with a single click.
  • Tweaked a couple plugins to prevent unnecessary checking.
  • Properly registers in Who's Online
• 1.2.1
  • Will no longer show expand icon next to thread redirects.
  • Added ability to display first unread post.
  • Completely revamped the automatic template editing system. Should now be able to make template edits to even the most modified templates as well.
  • Fixed a couple non-breaking typos.
  • Included JavaScript in USERCP_SHELL to allow expand/collapse of subscribed threads.
  • Added a hover title to the expand icon to inform the user what they can expect when clicking it.

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Tips, Tricks and Modifications:

• Fix for users of passiveVid receiving Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /includes/class_postbit.php(296) : eval()'d code on line [#]

Currently Known Bugs:

• None

* Please note that this modification was developed on a forum with a userbase of 1 (myself). I've tested it for basic functionality but I cannot guarantee functionality or behavior on your forum. So, please -- make backups before installing this product!

[exportforce]

Originally Posted by magnus

.. as in? Everything works.

Originally Posted by exportforce

Nope not all at a time, only post by post.
A button "Next post" and "previous post" so I can go through one by one

like that ? =)

[magnus]

Originally Posted by exportforce

like that ? =)

I'll be honest, I still haven't grasped exactly what you're asking for.

[marquisite]

Hello there, this mod is great! I have a request however...

Is it possible to specify a maximum line/character count for the thread preview? Some posts on a forum this modification was installed on are huge, and for preview purposes the first couple of lines, first paragraph, or first 100 or so characters would be more than sufficient.

Is this easily implementable into this modification? Thank you

[magnus]

Originally Posted by marquisite

Hello there, this mod is great! I have a request however...

Is it possible to specify a maximum line/character count for the thread preview? Some posts on a forum this modification was installed on are huge, and for preview purposes the first couple of lines, first paragraph, or first 100 or so characters would be more than sufficient.

Is this easily implementable into this modification? Thank you

While I can't see myself adding this as a standard option in future releases, you can achieve this yourself via a quick edit to /forum/vbpost_ajax.php.

FIND:

PHP Code:

//if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'POST' AND 


ABOVE THAT, ADD:

PHP Code:

$post['message'] = fetch_trimmed_title($post['message'], 100, true); 


Obviously, change 100 to however many characters you would like displayed. Also, changing true to false will remove the trailing ellipses (...) if desired.

[jedrus]

Hi,
i've got a problem with this modification. Everything looks ok but after I click the [+] icon it's loading and loading and loading.... and nothing happens
you can see this situation here:
http://forum.vw-passat.pl/forumdisplay.php?f=19

What can be a reason? I've edited templates manually...

[Sayrex]

me too ...

[marquisite]

Originally Posted by magnus

While I can't see myself adding this as a standard option in future releases, you can achieve this yourself via a quick edit to /forum/vbpost_ajax.php.

FIND:

PHP Code:

//if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'POST' AND 


ABOVE THAT, ADD:

PHP Code:

$post['message'] = fetch_trimmed_title($post['message'], 100, true); 


Obviously, change 100 to however many characters you would like displayed. Also, changing true to false will remove the trailing ellipses (...) if desired.

Works great, now no longer are posts of up to 2000 or 3000 characters showing in full via this preview method.

[ksitguy]

Originally Posted by jedrus

Hi,
i've got a problem with this modification. Everything looks ok but after I click the [+] icon it's loading and loading and loading.... and nothing happens
you can see this situation here:
http://forum.vw-passat.pl/forumdisplay.php?f=19

What can be a reason? I've edited templates manually...

I had the same problem and traced it to the mod "Chief First Post", if you have that installed that's probably the reason. Once I disabled it this mod worked fine.

[jedrus]

hmm.... i don't have mod "Chief First Post" installed... is there any other reason?

[magnus]

Originally Posted by jedrus

Hi,
i've got a problem with this modification. Everything looks ok but after I click the [+] icon it's loading and loading and loading.... and nothing happens
you can see this situation here:
http://forum.vw-passat.pl/forumdisplay.php?f=19

What can be a reason? I've edited templates manually...

You've not placed vpost_ajax.php into your forum's root directory.