TOTW: Thread of the Week Poll - Version 1.16

Thread of the Week Poll - Version 1.16

Description
With this hack it is possible to setup an automated system for electing a "Thread of the Week". Based on 1 or more rules you define it will select a number of threads from your board and will post a poll to let your members select their favourite thread.

This hack was written based on a requestion made here previously: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=63969

Tested on
- vB 3.0.7
- vB 3.0.6
- vB 3.0.5
- vB 3.0.3 (Will probably also work on earlier versions)

Install Information
Installation using HIS installer included (HIS by Link14716 https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...staller+system)
Uninstaller included
Install time: 2 minutes, easy
File edits: 0
Template edits: 0
Database modifications: 2 new tables

Features

• Can run 1 or more Rules for selecting threads to include in Poll
• Forums to be scanned for candidate threads can be selected.
• Selection of candidate threads is done based on views and replies. The 'weight' of these selection criteria is settable for every rule.
• Poll's are fully configurable (Posted as user, Thread title, Poll question, number of options)
• Polls are automatic closed when a new poll is started
• Polls can be generated on a settable interval. Interval can be given in days or weeks. Alternativle a new poll can also be generated on a fixed day every month.
• uCash Integration. Activate in ACP Settings if you have uCash installed
• Setable uCash price money for place 1, 2 and 3.
• Date selection based on Thread Start Date or Last Reply Date. Selection can be made for every Rule.
• Optional result post on closing of Poll, user configurable text.
• Thread title with replacement variables. See Admin help!!
• Poll title with replacement variables. See Admin help!!
• Result post with replacement variables. See Admin help!!
• Help added to the Admin screen.
• .......

To be included in future releases
If enough request i am think of the following to add in a future release. More suggestions are welcome
- Integration with more existing Award system, already rewards possible using uCash
- More selection criteria

Support
Support will be given in this thread.

If you have problems, please first check the following:
- Did you set the uCash/uShop correct in ACP->vB Options->Thread of the Week (On/Off)
- Turn on logging in the Scheduled Taks for Thread of the Week. Check the Scheduled Task Log for any messages.

If you still have problems, please post the following information, so i can quickly try to help you:
- vBulletin version
- PHP and MySQL Version
- Version of this hack
- The schedule options you have set in the Rule Manager
- Selection Options
- When is it scheduled to run in the Scheduled Task Manager
- Any other relevant information

Thanks to
A big thanks to link14716 for the installer and to trafix for letting me use a script as a starting point for the admin settings, saved me a lot of time.

Also a huge thanks to sabret00th for testing (now i got someone to blame if there are still any errors left ).


Donations
I will not charge for this hack. But if you like it and are looking for a way to spend your money, paypal donations are always welcome (marcoh64@msn.com)

Please click Install if you are using this hack

Change log:
Version 1.16:
- Fixed bugs in updating Username/Userid/Thread Title in posted thread and forum info
- Removed 2 unneeded queries
- Added replacement variables for Thread Title:
- {date} - Current date formatted according to vB settings
- {beginofweek} - Date (formatted) of the start of the current week (sunday is start)
- {endofweek} - Date (formatted) of the end of the current week (saturday is end)
- {beginofweekmon} - Date (formatted) of the start of the current week (monday is start)
- {endofweekmon} - Date (formatted) of the end of the current week (sunday is end)
- Added {date} replacement variable to Poll Title
- Made all replacement variables case-insensitive
- Admin Help pages updated accordingly

Version 1.15:
- Add the option to override the default calculation for the cutoff date when selecting candidates. Now possible to enter a number of days to go back when selecting candidates.

Version 1.14:
- Bug that would make the cronjob crash if the current poll thread was deleted.
- Fixed version number in Manager script

Version 1.13:
- uCash Integration. Activate in ACP Settings to show them.
- Setable uCash price money for place 1, 2 and 3.
- Date selection can now be based on Thread Start Date or Last Reply Date. Selection can be made for every Rule.
- Optional result post on closing of Poll, user configurable text.
- Thread title with replacement variables. See Admin help!!
- Poll title with replacement variables. See Admin help!!
- Result post with replacement variables. See Admin help!!
- Help added to the Admin screen.
- Some minor modifications and bug fixes
- Removed debugging lines
- Scheduled task will now log information on the processing of the Rules in the Scheduled Task Log
- INSTALLER WILL ALSO UPGRADE FROM PREVIOUS VERSIONS, SEE UPGRADE NOTES.

Version 1.12:
- Fixed bug where threadoftheweek.php would not run correct (or even generate a database error) when running through the scheduler (as oppsed to running it with "Run Now")
- Added loads of debug information. To activate debugging, change includes/cron/threadoftheweek.php and uncomment the line "// $TOTW_DEBUG = TRUE;". Debug lines will go to the Scheduler log.
- Forum counters will now be updated when a new poll is posted.
- Fixed bug where "Run on day x of month" didn't work.
- Some minor changes
- The first time the rule is run, only threads with a last postdate in the time interval which is set for the rule will be selected as Candidates. In the older versions all threads where considered on the first run.

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Originally Posted by KW802

I think this hack might do what I'm after but I'm curious about the rules.

Would I be able to create a rule so that the selection criteria is ... Select the first X amount of threads between date X & date Y sorted by descending (high to low) rating by replies by views?

Not until date Y, but from date X until now. And yes, it can take the top X threads based on (configurable) replies and views.

@all who have problems.
What version are you running?
If you have problems, please post the version you're running, the settings for schedule you're using, the settings for the weights, and how often the cronjob is run.

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Originally Posted by Romeos Tune

It ran once for me and then never worked again even manually running the script and seems abandoned. I dunno.....

How you mean abandoned? That the script don't work anymore, or that there is no support?

Please see my remark above, about posting your config in case of problems. If you want you can also send it to me by PM.

[Romeos Tune]

Sorry about that..... I am running 1.13 and getting database errors when running the cronscript:

Invalid SQL: SELECT * FROM vb3_threadoftheweekpolloption
WHERE threadofweekrulesid = 1
mysql error: Table 'vb.vb3_threadoftheweekpolloption' doesn't exist

mysql error number: 1146

It's inserting and extra vb into the table name for whatever reason.

[MikaK]

So installed.

Originally Posted by trafix

Nice job ..... now if my forum had some thread ... lol

I?m in pre-launch and have 3 article bots posting day n night Let?s see whos most popular

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Originally Posted by Romeos Tune

Sorry about that..... I am running 1.13 and getting database errors when running the cronscript:

Invalid SQL: SELECT * FROM vb3_threadoftheweekpolloption
WHERE threadofweekrulesid = 1
mysql error: Table 'vb.vb3_threadoftheweekpolloption' doesn't exist

mysql error number: 1146

It's inserting and extra vb into the table name for whatever reason.

Did you start with version 1.13, or did you upgrade from an older version (if upgrade, did you run the upgrade script?).

What do you mean with the "extra vb"? "vb is probably your databasename and "vb3_" your table prefix.

[Romeos Tune]

Yep, that was the problem...... I'm sorry for the confusion....... Thankyou!

[deb0]

I have this hack installed, and it appears to be partially working:

the poll starts as schedule, but Isn't a new poll supposed to begin every week or x days?

What does it do to the last poll results? I don't see it anywhere.

Also, I don't see an option for UCash integration.

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Originally Posted by deb0

I have this hack installed, and it appears to be partially working:

the poll starts as schedule, but Isn't a new poll supposed to begin every week or x days?

What does it do to the last poll results? I don't see it anywhere.

Also, I don't see an option for UCash integration.

Originally Posted by MarcoH64

@all who have problems.
What version are you running?
If you have problems, please post the version you're running, the settings for schedule you're using, the settings for the weights, and how often the cronjob is run.

uCash You should find in the new Thread of teh Week option group in your vB settings.

[MikaK]

I would like to run a poll every Friday GMT 10 pm or so. How should I set the timer and the cron?

Thanks for any ideas,
-Mika

[Marco van Herwaarden]

- Create the Cronjob to run every day around 10PM.
- Set the schedule to run every 1 week.
- Make sure you create the rule (or set to active) the first time on a friday.

PS I might add a "Run every day X of the week" schedule type in the next release.

[MikaK]

Originally Posted by MarcoH64

- Create the Cronjob to run every day around 10PM.
- Set the schedule to run every 1 week.
- Make sure you create the rule (or set to active) the first time on a friday.

PS I might add a "Run every day X of the week" schedule type in the next release.

Thanks Marco.

-Mika

[deb0]

Originally Posted by MarcoH64

uCash You should find in the new Thread of teh Week option group in your vB settings.

Ok, I got that part now. But I still don't see full functionality:

Ok, people vote, and I see that clearly, but at the end of the week, where does it post results of which thread won?

All cron and weight settings are set to default.
I'm running VB306

[Marco van Herwaarden]

When it is time to rune the Rule again according to the schedule, it will close the current poll, post the results (and give away the uCash points if set) and create a new Poll.

[MikaK]

Any idea why trying to run the cron via ACDP scheduled tasks by pressing "run now!" gives this sql error:

Database error in vBulletin 3.0.3:

Invalid SQL: UPDATE scll
SET =+0 WHERE userid=11
mysql error: You have an error in your SQL syntax. Check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near '=+0 WHERE userid=11' at line 2

mysql error number: 1064


Date: Sunday 06th of March 2005 02:17:50 AM
Script: http://www.soundchilds.net/loud_lounge/admincp/cronadmin.php?do=runcron&cronid=24
Referer: http://www.soundchilds.net/loud_lounge/admincp/index.php?

Username: MikaK
IP Address: nono


Thanks for any ideas,
-Mika

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Please tell me which version you're running, also php and MySQL versions.

scll is your uCash points table? Do you have uCash installed? How is the uCash integration set in the vB settings for Thread of the Week?