Improved Thread Preview Hack

The idea for this hack was originally that of Parker Clack, a regular here on vBulletin.org.

What this hack does:
Basically, this hack pops up a little box/window when the mouse is run over a thread title that shows the first three hundred characters of the first post in the thread (that is, the post that started the thread).

Improvements to Parker Clack's hack:

• Far, far less code...
• Easier installation (one file edit, one template edit)...
• Less space usage...the beginning of the first post in each thread is not stored twice - only once now!...

Versions:
3.0: Overgrow's search page thread preview instructions.
2.1: Added some necessary instructions.
2.0 Reduced MySQL queries significantly.
1.0 Initial release.

Comments appreciated...

A version for vbHacker is available here - note: some files may need fixing afterward if they present parse errors!

How to Censor Previews (by nakkid)
See page seven of this thread.

A very important security fix is available here - I have not updated the ZIP, so install it after you install the hack

[Overgrow]

One of my forums, gzipped length:

20448 - with preview
13791 - without preview

To drop the field:

ALTER TABLE `thread` DROP `firstpostid`

[ariaforums]

Hmm installed correctly to the letter but Im getting no popup with mouseover

[Erwin]

I uninstalled Parker's version and installed this one with no problems. This one works well, and just a tad quicker.

Just a note: not sure if anyone else has pointed it out, but the instructions in "threadpreview-search.txt" has a minor mistake:

In step 12

12) Replace with:

################################################## ##########
<a href="showthread.php?s=$session[sessionhash]&threadid=$searchresult[threadid]$highlightwords" title="fppreview">$searchresult[threadtitle]</a>
################################################## ##########

It should be like this:

12) Replace with:

################################################## ##########
<a href="showthread.php?s=$session[sessionhash]&threadid=$searchresult[threadid]$highlightwords" title="$fppreview">$searchresult[threadtitle]</a>
################################################## ##########

Just a missing $ in $fppreview.

Well done!

[N!ck]

oooooooooooh yeah! typo!

ariaforums > make sure you leave your mouse on the link for a second without moving it...

if that doesn't work, you've done something incorrectly

[N!ck]

so erwin, post your url

[beemer]

If someone has this working is it possible to post your vBulletin version? I have 2.2.4 and I constantly get this error, dots on or off.

Database error in vBulletin 2.2.4:

Invalid SQL:
SELECT DISTINCT post.userid, IF(votenum>=2,votenum,0) AS votenum,
IF(votenum>=2 AND votenum > 0,votetotal/votenum,0) AS voteavg, post2.pagetext as pagetext, icon.title as icontitle,icon.iconpath,
thread.threadid,thread.title,lastpost, forumid,pollid,open,replycount,postusername,postus erid,
lastposter,thread.dateline,views,thread.iconid,not es,thread.visible,sticky,votet otal,attach
FROM thread
LEFT JOIN icon ON (icon.iconid = thread.iconid)
LEFT JOIN post ON (thread.threadid = post.threadid AND post.userid = '1') LEFT JOIN post AS post2 ON (thread.firstpostid = post2.postid)
WHERE thread.threadid IN (0,411,399,363,322,331,313,77,78,28,95,286,280,245 ,148,217,200,163,160,129,112,1 13,114,106,103,81)
ORDER BY sticky DESC, lastpost DESC

mysql error: Unknown column 'thread.firstpostid' in 'on clause'

mysql error number: 1054

Date: Sunday 17th of March 2002 12:18:54 AM

[N!ck]

yeah...ummmm...run the install script first or it won't work

and please post your url too... i always like to see this in action

[ariaforums]

Hmmm just reporting I have the hack working correctly now with no noticble overheads, I think I uploaded the unedited forumdisplay.php by mistake the first time LOL

[N!ck]

sounds good!

[freakyshiat]

Installed it, works like a charm