New Posting Features - [DBTech] Advanced Post Thanks / Like v3 (vB4) [AJAX]

What it is: Advanced Thanks/Like mod is designed to cut down on spam and increase useful content in your forum by using a peer encouragement system - users thank/like each others posts, which can give them access to attachements, post content etc, as well as encourage the thanked person to post more great content.

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Priority support & Product Demos available at: http://www.dragonbyte-tech.com/forum.php

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Please remember to click the, button to the right if you installed the mod ---->

What does 'Marking As Installed' do ?

* It helps you to stay on top of updates - members who have installed modifications will be notified by us whenever new updates are available.

* For security issues - vbulletin.org will contact all members who have installed a modification whenever a security issue is brought to their attention.

* Marking a modification as installed also helps us know how many people are using our work, giving us extra incentive to provide more features and new modifications.

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Importer from Abe's Thanks mod (vB3 / vB4) and vBSEO "Likes" now available in Lite version!


Major Features: Lite

Require a Button Click: Allows you to hide the content of a post, or hie an attachment, until the person clicks a button on the post.

Statistics: Shows the top 5 people for; Giving / Receiving button clicks.

Collapsable postbit stats: Shows how many button clicks a person has given, received etc in the postbit. Admins can determine what statistics can show in the postbit to control sizes etc. The postbit is also collapsable.

Admin Permissions: Control things such as who can click buttons, require button clicks, what shows in postbit, what options can run concurrently, per forum permisions etc.

Reputation: Add / Remove Reputation for each of your button clicks.

Notifications: Receive alerts when a member clicked on one of the buttons for one of your posts.

Import Thanks: Import script to import "thanks" from Abe's [AJAX] Post Thank You Hack on vBulletin.org. It will work with both vB3 and vB4 versions of this mod.

Import Likes: Import script to import "likes" from vBSEO.


Major Features: Pro

Infinite Buttons: Ability to create new buttons to press! No longer do you need to be limited by Thanks / Like / Dislike.

Auto Collapse Posts: Collapses a post so it doesnt show up by using a formulae for button clicks of your choosing.

User Postbit Config: Lets users decide what postbit stats they want to see.

Additional permissions: Un-click a button. Control how many stats show on the statistics page, set permissions per subforum.

Integrated Controls: You can now integrate the button clicking controls into the post footer, like many of you requested.

Buttons in First Post Only: This allows you to only make the first post thankable. If you forum is based around news, releases or anything similar this will allow your users to easily see the quality of the thread in question.

Button Click Anonymity: This feature will be extremely helpful to forums who like the idea of a "dislike" button, but don't like the drama it brings. Now you can set certain buttons to be anonymous - no one will see who clicked.

Post Colour Thresholds: Ever wanted an easy way for members to tell if a post is helpful or trash? Colour thresholds let you change the colour of posts depending on how many clicks of a button they receive. Members can now see at a glance whether or not a post is helpful, interesting or pointless.



Complete Feature List
Lite

• Front-End
  • Click buttons for posts (permissions and settings permitting)
  • Require button clicks to see content (whole post is hidden)
  • Require button clicks to see attachments
  • Top 5 Given / Received statistics for each button
  • Collapsible postbit statistics
  • (vB4) Forum Sidebar block for button feeds
  • Hottest Threads / Posts page showing most clicked posts and threads
  • Each button can be set as "Default" for Attachments and Content. When posting via Quick Reply, the default button(s) will be set as Required
  • The "thanks bar" in posts displays the number of users who has clicked each button, also for non-forum integration areas
• AdminCP
  • Control display order of buttons
  • Set permissions per usergroup to be able to click and require clicks of buttons
  • Per-category toggle of what buttons are enabled
  • Search interface to find clicks for a specific post
  • Maintenance options; Clean up clicks that are attached to deleted posts, Recalculate the Given / Received statistics, Rebuild Reputation
  • Manual postbit stats relocation
  • Hide APTL info from guests
  • Globally disable notifications for new clicks
  • Disable APTL integration with non-forum areas via vBulletin Options
  • Disable "Total click count" on the "thanks bar"
  • Notifications can be disabled on a per-button basis
  • Disable button text
• Integration
  • Social Groups
  • User Notes
  • Visitor Messaging
  • (vB4) [DBTech] DragonByte Gallery: Images
  • (vB4) [DBTech] DragonByte Reviews: Reviews
• (vB4) Forum Block
  • Tabbed interface to choose between "Recent" and "Top" button clicks
  • Ability to select from any of the available buttons and display the 5 recent clicks from that button
  • "Top" tab on the forum block, lists top clicks for the selected button
  • Control the timespan in which the "Top" period is calculated for
  • Deny usergroup access

Pro

• Front-End
  • "Entry List" page; a browseable list of all button clicks
  • Users can hide postbit items via the UserCP
  • Users can turn off notifications via the UserCP
  • Hottest Threads / Posts has a date range filter
• AdminCP
  • Create unlimited buttons to click
  • Ability to create Post Colour Thresholds to highlight posts in different colours
  • (vB4) Choose what portions of the postbit should be coloured via the post colour thresholds.
  • Minimum posts required to click a button
  • Per-usergroup setting to become immune to clicks of a button
  • Per-usergroup setting whether who clicked a button is displayed
  • Per-usergroup setting to allow disabling clicks of a specific button for a post
  • Per-usergroup setting to allow removing a click of a button
  • Limit button clicks per day
  • Per-forum ability to set each button to only display in the first post
  • Per-forum toggle of what buttons are enabled
  • Set more / less than 5 for the Given / Received statistics
  • Ability to auto-collapse posts using provided formula or input for your own using your custom buttons
  • Move the "Post Like / Thanks" cloud above / below posts, above / below signatures
  • Ability to delete entries found in the Search interface
  • Email notifications (can be disabled globally) on a per-button basis
  • Disable notifications on a per-button basis
  • Set a flood limit (in seconds) that serves as a delay between button clicks
  • Individual users now be excluded from using the mod
  • Turn off individual buttons' integration with non-forum areas
  • Turn off "Given" and "Received stats on a per-button basis
• Integration
  • Blog Entries
  • Blog Comments

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This mod displays a copyright notification in the footer of pages generated by this mod which includes:

• 1 Link to DragonByte Technologies homepage
• 1 Link to Product Description page of this modification

[mokonzi]

Thanks for the responses, and I like what I'm seeing so far, but a question or two:

Why is it that the Like/Thank isn't integrated into the standard post controls (Blog this article, etc.)?

Second, the styling doesn't seem to naturally absorb the standards across the normal styles, to get mine to reflect the styles of the regular controls buttons (moderation menu at the foot of the thread) I had to adjust this template:

Template: dbtech_thanks_postbit_entries

<vb:if condition="$show[dbtech_thanks_thanks]"><span id="dbtech_thanks_thanks_{vb:var post.postid}" class="navpopupmenu popupmenu nohovermenu"><a href="javascript://" onclick="Thanks{vb:var post.postid}.ajax_call('thanks');" class="textcontrol" style="border-radius:5px;-moz-border-radius:5px;-webkit-border-radius:5px;padding-left:23px;float:left:clear:right;"><img src="dbtech/thanks/images/thanks.png" alt="{vb:rawphrase dbtech_thanks_thanks}" /> {vb:rawphrase dbtech_thank_this_post}</a></span></vb:if>
				
				<vb:if condition="$show[dbtech_thanks_like]"><span id="dbtech_thanks_like_{vb:var post.postid}" class="navpopupmenu popupmenu nohovermenu"><a href="javascript://" onclick="Thanks{vb:var post.postid}.ajax_call('like');" class="textcontrol" style="border-radius:5px;-moz-border-radius:5px;-webkit-border-radius:5px;padding-left:23px;float:left:clear:right;"><img src="dbtech/thanks/images/like.png" alt="{vb:rawphrase dbtech_thanks_like}" /> {vb:rawphrase dbtech_like_this_post}</a></span></vb:if>

@ SnapOff Racing

To unbold it (not sure about the other question) you can go to the template called dbtech_thanks_postbit and then change:

<dd class="collapse" style="font-weight:bold;">

to

<dd class="collapse">

[DragonByte Tech]

Originally Posted by SnapOff Racing

LOVE this hack, and it works great, but I have 2 simple things I'd like to do with it:



I'd like to move where it says thanks to the BOTTOM line of the postbit, as well as unbold it if possible to match the rest of them.

if anyone can help me with this, I'd greatly appreciate it!

It's really only designed to be positioned where it is atm, though we'll look into making them more movable in the future

Originally Posted by mokonzi

Why is it that the Like/Thank isn't integrated into the standard post controls (Blog this article, etc.)?

Wouldn't it look odd on lower resolution skins though? Having two, or three in the pro version, extra controls?
We don't have any narrow width skins to test with, you see...

Originally Posted by mokonzi

Second, the styling doesn't seem to naturally absorb the standards across the normal styles, to get mine to reflect the styles of the regular controls buttons (moderation menu at the foot of the thread) I had to adjust this template:

It does, some skin coders just don't correctly clear out the contents of a certain stylevar, instead they just remove the CSS attribute =/

[SnapOff Racing]

there has to be a way to move it...i've done it with other hacks before...what is the name of the code and where is it placed so i can figure it out myself...im not wanting to have you make it movable within the hack, i'd like to shift the code myself.

[mokonzi]

It's using a hook location, so you'd have to adjust the plugins/files to relocate that section, or completely move the hook, but that would then move and break any other mods and extensions you have, such as the blog.

It does, some skin coders just don't correctly clear out the contents of a certain stylevar, instead they just remove the CSS attribute =/

I'm using the default skin just adjusting the stylevars, which is why I mentioned it. It is frustrating how things don't completely integrate fully with vB4 (that is vB4 generally, not this hack).

[War.Frog]

Does anyone know if VSA's Advanced Forum Statistics would pick these number(s) up? At least total Thanks and Dislikes. It currently picks up Abe's automatically.

Edit: Also, Paul M's advanced forum notifications tells me immediately when I receive Thanks. Same thing?

[vauge]

Still can't get this product to work. I am sure a newer version might, for now - removed from test forum.

Also, if I can't move it around within my templates, that is bad - the little carrot thing looks very ugly and was the first thing I was looking forward to removing. Now, I hear we can't adjust any of it.

Postbit footer:
How about a dropdown within the postbit footer for thanks/likes/dislikes? This would only use 1 space in the postbit footer and still look ok in lower resolutions. Currently the extra bar is cartoonish with the icons and takes up WAY too much space.

The thanks notifications take up *too much space* as well. You should consider doing something like (in order):
===
Users below thank/like/dislike this post:
Thanks: joe1, job3, marylamb42, joesmama Likes: sally, tom42, walmartlover96 Dislikes: user4, unclejoe5
===
Use horizontal space as much as you can. You are wasting a ton of valuable real estate.

I would also advise:
Look at the history of successful vBulletin addons that sell pro versions. Give away the Abe converter/reports for free but make likes and dislikes part of the pro version. Go back to drawing board and you could make a ton of money before Abe gets his stats/dislikes working again. Replicate all his functions and reports from 3.8 version. If you keep reports/converter only pro version then we do not have the opportunity to test it on our test forums and switch it to our live with hundreds of thousands of thanks and millions of posts and we will be very apprehensive to purchase.

[War.Frog]

That's my concern too. I can't see how the conversion function will work without spending money on the Pro version, and at $50 USD that's not a cheap test.

[DragonByte Tech]

Originally Posted by mokonzi

I'm using the default skin just adjusting the stylevars, which is why I mentioned it. It is frustrating how things don't completely integrate fully with vB4 (that is vB4 generally, not this hack).

Weird, because postbit_control_background stylevar is what controls the background of this.

Originally Posted by War.Frog

Does anyone know if VSA's Advanced Forum Statistics would pick these number(s) up? At least total Thanks and Dislikes. It currently picks up Abe's automatically.

Edit: Also, Paul M's advanced forum notifications tells me immediately when I receive Thanks. Same thing?

I doubt vSA picks these up auto, he'll need to add support for it.

Originally Posted by vauge

Still can't get this product to work. I am sure a newer version might, for now - removed from test forum.

Also, if I can't move it around within my templates, that is bad - the little carrot thing looks very ugly and was the first thing I was looking forward to removing. Now, I hear we can't adjust any of it.

Postbit footer:
How about a dropdown within the postbit footer for thanks/likes/dislikes? This would only use 1 space in the postbit footer and still look ok in lower resolutions. Currently the extra bar is cartoonish with the icons and takes up WAY too much space.

The thanks notifications take up *too much space* as well. You should consider doing something like (in order):
===
Users below thank/like/dislike this post:
Thanks: joe1, job3, marylamb42, joesmama Likes: sally, tom42, walmartlover96 Dislikes: user4, unclejoe5
===
Use horizontal space as much as you can. You are wasting a ton of valuable real estate.

I would also advise:
Look at the history of successful vBulletin addons that sell pro versions. Give away the Abe converter/reports for free but make likes and dislikes part of the pro version. Go back to drawing board and you could make a ton of money before Abe gets his stats/dislikes working again. Replicate all his functions and reports from 3.8 version. If you keep reports/converter only pro version then we do not have the opportunity to test it on our test forums and switch it to our live with hundreds of thousands of thanks and millions of posts and we will be very apprehensive to purchase.

Thanks for your suggestions, could I please ask you to post them on Project Tools on our site instead?
When it's time to evaluate new versions, we don't have time to look through general support requests to spot the individual suggestion

As for your problems, what exactly didn't work with it?
And what do you mean, carrot thing?

[DragonByte Tech]

Originally Posted by War.Frog

That's my concern too. I can't see how the conversion function will work without spending money on the Pro version, and at $50 USD that's not a cheap test.

=) The pro version starts at <$20 and even the most expensive option is less that $45, maybe you're looking at the wrong site?

If you need an example of how the conversion works, feel free to make a post on the forums, i'm sure one of our customers will be happy to let you know how it worked for them ^.^

Also Vague, thanks for the suggestions ^.^, We're not really in the business of copying other peoples mods though, we just work with our own ideas, and then add customer requests to it. Making tons of money isn't our primary motivation either ^^

Iain

[vauge]

Originally Posted by DragonByte Tech

Also Vague, thanks for the suggestions, We're not really in the business of copying other peoples mods though, we just work with our own ideas, and then add customer requests to it. Making tons of money isn't our primary motivation either.

Awesome. I can respect that your primary motivation is not about money.

Since, we seem to share the same philosophy - I will let you add my concerns to your product request system because you are *selling* an option I am needing. This thread is the hub for your product.

Abe's can already do what I need less the reports. That is why I am here - looking for additional reports ability. Even your current Pro reports do not have what we need.

I called it a carrot, but I meant the "collapse icon" in the postbit. If there is zero dislikes/thanks - don't even show dislikes or thanks. Again, waste of space.

However, if you sell a product that attempts to compete with a standard like Abe's thanks - you simply must have equal or better options for the same price. In this case: free. That could mean copying the same functions (not necessarily code) from another product you wish to compete with. Those functions (reports) are what I currently need. Your product and Abe's 4.0 product does not have them - YET. So for me, your current pro ($50) product is virtually the same as Abe's free version. Because I can guarantee someone will, very soon, create those reports we are asking for with the other mod.

Above all: I don't have a need for "dislikes". But, I have to admit - your "likes" ability is enticing.

Thanks for listening.