Forum Display Enhancements - Thread Thumbnails

Thread Thumbnails
Created By: Null Parameter

The Thread Thumbnails mod allows users of a forum to specify, in several possible ways, a thumbnail for their thread to be displayed on Forumdisplay thread list.

I had created the mod for vB 3.8, but people we're crying out for a ported version to vB4, and, thanks to help from several of the members, here it is!


Description of Features

Thumbnails are displayed on the Forumdisplay next to the threadicon.
In the ACP Options, assuming you are using the Auto-Template Edits, you can choose which side of the icon to display it on.

Forum Display Screenshot


When submitting a new thread or editing the first post of a thread, a thumbnail can be specified directly if the User Entered URL option is chosen in the ACP. Another option is to Require the thumbnail. If the thumbnail isn't required, it may be left blank by the user, and it can either not be shown at all on forumdisplay or be replaced by a default thumbnail image specified in the ACP.

New Thread Screenshot

Edit Post Screenshot


All available options in the ACP include...

• Turn Off/On Thumbnails
• Turn Off/On Auto-Template Edits
• Which forums to use thumbnails in
• Turn Off/On thumbnails on sticky threads
• Require thumbnails (doesn't work with attachment option)
• Choose to retrieve thumbnails from one of the following
  • User Entered URL
  • First Attachment
  • First Image in Post
• Choose where thumbnail is displayed in threadbit (relies on Auto-Template Edits)
• Thumbnail CSS Style
• Specify No Thumbnail Replacement Image

ACP Options Screenshot


This version is also now using phrases, so it can more easily be translated!


Installation

Install the product XML file. That's it!

If you have a highly customized style, there is a chance that the auto-template edits will not work. In that case, you will need to make the template edits manually. See the included README for more details.


Thumbnail Style

The style for thumbnails is specified in the ACP. It is used to choose exactly how thumbnails will be displayed, including width, height, margins, borders and many other attributes.

The style is specified in CSS, and is applied directly to the HTML img tag.

Here are some examples of possible thumbnail styles, along with a description of what they will do. If you don't know much about CSS, you can learn more here.

• Every thumbnail will have a width of 100 pixels, but be constrained to being a maximum of 150 pixels in height
  • width:100px;max-height:150px;

• Every thumbnail will have a width of 120 pixels and have a margin of 3 pixels around the thumbnail, so that it doesn't touch any of the other elements in the threadbit
  • width:120px;margin:3px;

• Thumbnails aren't allowed to exceed 150 pixels in either dimension, and are also mildly transparent
  • max-width:150px;max-height:150px;opacity:0.8;filter:alpha(opacity=80);

Note: Using CSS positioning attributes (i.e. position, float, clear, etc.) could mess up the threadbit structure, so beware.


FAQs

The version of this mod for vB 3.8 showed thumbnails in the search results. Where did they go?

The search system between vB 3.x and vB4 changed significantly. I didn't have the time to figure out the complexity of it, and was unable to find any examples of other mods that integrated into the search results.

If you know how this is done, feel free to contact me and we can work to get this feature back in!

Does this mod work for RTL Languages, such as Arabic?

There is a separate product XML file available for download that has the appropriate changes to support RTL languages.

When I choose the First Image in Post option, no thumbnails show up in my current threads. Why?

Thumbnails are only updated when a new thread is created or when the first post is edited. Parsing through every forum/thread whenever the options are changed could be disastrous for performance.

Luckily, a user of this mod, megamoose, created a script that you can use to help this out. I want this method to be known, but because I didn't write this, I make no promises that it will work.

Originally Posted by megamoose

This should enable batch processing. I have tested it.
Change the $STEP_AMOUNT at the top to something lower if you still get errors
Remember this is for vB version 3.8
Always backup your data before running scripts like these

TO THOSE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN FOLLOWING THE CONVERSATION:
This script will go through all your existing posts and give them thumbnails, based on the First IMG in post option.

<?php $STEP_AMOUNT = 600; ?>

<input type="button" id="btnNext" value="Process Next Results" onClick="window.location='?start='+(<?php echo $_GET["start"]; ?>+<?php echo $STEP_AMOUNT;?>)" disabled=true><br>
The button above should enable once this batch is complete!<br>
<br>

<?php
error_reporting(E_ALL & ~E_NOTICE & ~8192);

// #################### DEFINE IMPORTANT CONSTANTS #######################
define('SKIP_SESSIONCREATE', 1);
define('NOCOOKIES', 1);
define('THIS_SCRIPT', 'xupdate');
define('CSRF_PROTECTION', true);

// #################### PRE-CACHE TEMPLATES AND DATA ######################
// get special phrase groups
$phrasegroups = array();

// get special data templates from the datastore
$specialtemplates = array();

// pre-cache templates used by all actions
$globaltemplates = array();

// pre-cache templates used by specific actions
$actiontemplates = array();

// ######################### REQUIRE BACK-END ############################
require_once('./global.php');

if (!$_GET["start"]) { $_GET["start"] = 0; }


        $threads = $db->query_read_slave("
        SELECT *
        FROM " . TABLE_PREFIX . "thread
        LIMIT ".$db->escape_string($_GET["start"]).",". $db->escape_string($_GET["start"]+$STEP_AMOUNT));

while ($thread = $db->fetch_array($threads)){
    echo "<b>Thread:</b> ".$thread["title"]."<br>";

    $posts = $db->query_read_slave("SELECT * FROM `" . TABLE_PREFIX . "post` WHERE `postid` = '".$thread["firstpostid"]."'");
    $post = $db->fetch_array($posts);
    echo "&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          <b>First Post:</b> ".$post["title"]."<br>";
preg_match('/\[img\](.*?)\[\/img\]/i',$post["pagetext"],$matches);
$query = "UPDATE `" . TABLE_PREFIX . "thread` set `thumbnailurl` = '".$db->escape_string($matches[1])."' WHERE threadid = " . $thread["threadid"];
echo "&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
      <b>SQL:</b>".$query."<br><br>";
$db->query_write($query);

}
?>

<script> document.getElementById("btnNext").disabled = false; </script>

Translations

Arabic

Versions

v3.1

• Fix for Required Thumbnails
• New feature to automatically use ALL Forums

v3.0

• Support for vB4!
• Use Phrases
• Option to make Thumbnails Required
• Option to select where to show the thumbnail on Forumdisplay
• Option to specify the CSS Style of thumbnail images

Mod Support

I am fully willing to support this mod and continue to add new feature to it when they are desired enough to make them applicable to the product as a whole. The issue is that I do not have access to a vB4 installation, and therefore cannot develop.

Several people were gracious enough to offer up a test installation for me to use, and that is how this mod exists today. If any new features/fixes are wanted, other people will need to be just as gracious.

Also, since I don't own a vB4 instance, I'm supporting this strictly out of the kindness of my heart. So, if you wish to Support me as a developer, it would be much appreciated.

Enjoy!

[bluecat]

Originally Posted by TCB

In my forum (where I have activated this mod), it looks like the alignment of the threadthumbnails is wrong. Instead of being aligned to the right, left (or right) from the threadicon, it is placed somewhere in the middle, forcing the rest of the row to be placed on the next line.

I have tested this on a new, non altered style with the Automatic Template Edits enabled.

I have the same problem. I've also went through and manually edited it and still have the alignment messed up. I am however using a custom template. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks (I'm also using 4.0.2)

[mrt12345]

Hello i don't get the table in (Post New Thread) I have a light mod color template from vb. and i did manually install in/editpost/newthread/threadbit/ like in the instructions. any ides thanks

http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showt...Bulletin-4.0.2

[Cadellin]

Any idea what might be causing my problem Null Parameter? I really like the mod but I just can't use it at the moment.

[ellinofatsa]

<vb:if condition="$show['deletepostoption']">
<form class="vbform block" action="editpost.php?do=deletepost&amp;p={vb:raw postid}" method="post">
<h2 class="blockhead">{vb:rawphrase delete_this_message}</h2>
<div class="blockbody formcontrols">
<h3 class="blocksubhead">{vb:rawphrase delete_message_check_appropriate_option}</h3>
<div class="section">
<vb:if condition="$show['thumbnailurl']">
<div class="blockrow">
<label for="thumbnailurl">{vbhrase thumbnail_url}:</label>
<input type="text" name="thumbnailurl" id="thumbnailurl" class="primary textbox" value="{vb:raw threadinfo.thumbnailurl}" maxlength="250" />
</div>
</vb:if

hello i cant see the table thumbnail_url
any help ?

[Verionia]

using 4.03 and can't edit the thumbnail as I could in 4.02

[setishock]

<a href="http://animeappeal.com/forumdisplay.php?57-Seti-s-World&order=desc" target="_blank">http://animeappeal.com/forumdisplay....rld&order=desc</a>
I got bored at the grind tonight so I added this mod in to my forum. Set it up and set the thumbnail size limits. Bada bing, bada boom, worked as advertised right from the gate.
I did find that by just clicking on edit then save without making any changes works to get the thumbnail to show up in old threads. I was about to scrap my forum but with this little toy to play with I just might keep the doors open.
Nicely done!

[tlwwolfseye]

What are the manual edits for a custom Theme to make this mod work ? Just installed a new Theme and now it doesn't show the Thumbnails. I would appreciate this Information.

[Null Parameter]

Originally Posted by Cadellin

Any idea what might be causing my problem Null Parameter? I really like the mod but I just can't use it at the moment.

Yes, actually. I just posted a new version with a fix for this. Enjoy!

Originally Posted by Verionia

using 4.03 and can't edit the thumbnail as I could in 4.02

I don't have a 4.03 instance to test with, so I can't see what differences might be causing this.

Originally Posted by setishock

http://animeappeal.com/forumdisplay....rld&order=desc
I got bored at the grind tonight so I added this mod in to my forum. Set it up and set the thumbnail size limits. Bada bing, bada boom, worked as advertised right from the gate.
I did find that by just clicking on edit then save without making any changes works to get the thumbnail to show up in old threads. I was about to scrap my forum but with this little toy to play with I just might keep the doors open.
Nicely done!

Very nice to hear! Hope you keep enjoying it.

Originally Posted by tlwwolfseye

What are the manual edits for a custom Theme to make this mod work ? Just installed a new Theme and now it doesn't show the Thumbnails. I would appreciate this Information.

Look at the README.

Originally Posted by Jabong82

Hi is there any way to have it default show on all forums as opposed to entering each individual ID? I have a ton of sub-forums and they are always changing. Thanks again.

I added an option in the latest version where you can enter 'ALL' in the forums list and every forum will use it.

[tlwwolfseye]

Ok, thanks.

But for example:

# editpost

* Find
<div class="blockrow">
<label id="editor_message">

I don't have that exactly as described in my "editpost" template. That first part "<div class="blockrow"> i have more often, but with different things after it. What now ?

[Null Parameter]

Originally Posted by tlwwolfseye

Ok, thanks.

But for example:



I don't have that exactly as described in my "editpost" template. That first part "<div class="blockrow"> i have more often, but with different things after it. What now ?

Yeah, Mike_K just upgraded the test board he has setup for me to 4.0.3, and they demolished the templates. I'm gonna have to redo most of the template editing.