Download Thread

This hacks allows you to download a thread into your computer (desktop etc.) as a text file with one click.

The hack adds a "DOWNLOAD THREAD" link next to "Subscribe to this Thread" and when clicked entire thread is downloaded. (See Screenshot)

It's useful when:
a) You want to archive and save the thread,
b) Want to read it offline,
c) It's a long thread and you want to browse it faster as a text file, use better searching features of your text editor. For example wouldnt it be nice to download and search a keyword in the text file in, say, Lesene's Store Hack Thread which has 921 replies?

Anyway the hack works with ALL vb versions and very easy to apply (2 steps/ 2 minutes..). If you install it, please click INSTALL, thank you.

Note : Download function is tested with IE v.6.0 and Netscape v.4.7 and it's working in both browsers. I dont know other browsers or older versions though

Note : For Italian Translation (and instructions) of the hack, see this post. Thanks to Geminy.


UPDATE AT 13.OCTOBER.2002 : Due to a small bug, I updated the hack code. If you are downloading now, the code you dowload is already updated. If you installed the hack prior to 13.October.2002, you may want to reapply STEP 2, if you encounter problems.

Enjoy the hack.
Logician

[Boofo]

The original line in your text file had an extra \ in it (right before the '). You didn't add that to what you told him to replace. Is it supposed to be there? (It isn't showing in here for some reason)

[disable]$filename=preg_replace("/[.!:\\\?\^\'\"\$]/", '', $thread[title]);[/disable]

Originally posted by Logician
I tried parse out special characters from thread title so that file name will be nice but some may be missed. In your example it was : char. It's no big deal but if it bothers you, there are 2 possible solutions:

1- edit line:

$filename=preg_replace("/[.!\\\?\^\'\"\$]/", '', $thread[title]);


and replace it as:

$filename=preg_replace("/[.!:\\\?\^\'\"\$]/", '', $thread[title]);

(This will parse out : char too)

[Logician]

Originally posted by Boofo
The original line in your text file had an extra \ in it (right before the '). You didn't add that to what you told him to replace. Is it supposed to be there? (It isn't showing in here for some reason)

parsing in board playing tricks on us.. Just add a : in my original code right before ! char

Technical info: This line removes some special chars from thread title when forming file name and by adding : char we make it remove that char too..

[Boofo]

Ok, I just wanted to make sure in case the extra \ was needed.

[lordnet]

Great hack

my best wish...

LORD

[Reverend]

Nice one Logician.
Works great.

[Ryangel]

Originally posted by Boofo
The original line in your text file had an extra \ in it (right before the '). You didn't add that to what you told him to replace. Is it supposed to be there? (It isn't showing in here for some reason)

[disable]$filename=preg_replace("/[.!:\\\?\^\'\"\$]/", '', $thread[title]);[/disable]

Thanks for pointing that out !

*Goes to fix code*

[Boofo]

No problem.

Originally posted by Ryangel


Thanks for pointing that out !

*Goes to fix code*

[DWZ]

Looks like a great idea, can someone post the format of the .txt file...

i.e. download a thread then paste it (or part of it) here in the [code] tag?

Thanks

[Logician]

Originally posted by DWZ
can someone post the format of the .txt file...

sample downloaded thread.. here you go..

[FleaBag]

You uploaded the template instructions as a text file and hence vB.org is parsing the replacements. So everyone is leeching sortasc.gif from this site. Besides that, great addition to my forums; working well on 2.2.6. Thanks.