Similar Topic Check

Similar Topic Check
for vBulletin 3 & vBulletin 2
by Velocd

This hack, as well all my other vB2 hacks, I no longer provide support for (being I run vB3 and it's too much hassel to debug vB2). When vB3 Release Candidate comes out, by request I might convert some of my hacks.

The vBulletin 3 version has been post-poned until vB3 RC is released.

What does this hack do?

This hack adds a button next to the subject field when creating a thread, that when pressed will display a pop-up window with a listing of similar threads already existent to the topic you are creating, as a means to provide you with alternatives just incase.


Background (aka, more reading stuff)

Yet another interesting hack of mine.. though this one has a strange scenario situated around it.

I began this hack for development on vBulletin 2 as an interesting new concept I thought would stop newbish posters from creating topics that already exist (and are usually fresh).

Early today I was preparing the hack for vBulletin.org release when I checked out this site and noticed it was down. When I returned sometime later, and learned of vB3 Beta release, I was thrilled (like most of us probably were).

Knowing that vB3 has an already good "similar thread" function, I decided to port over the hack to vB3, in the process of getting used to all the new variables and what not.

........ anyway, that is exactly what I have done, but I didn't feel like ditching the original vB2 code of my hack either, so I've decided to release two versions of this hack, both with the same intent in function, but very different coding.. such as the templates, as you know vB3 is very geared around stylesheets.


Differences between versions

When you actually run the check, the main difference you will notice between the two is output in speed, since my version has a few loops which could be bogged down a bit, but since the vB3 version has all those nifty predefined functions that I used, it goes much faster. Also, there is no preview function in the vB2 version (though it is possible, but laziness struck over)

Note if you have vB2, you of course can't use the vB3 version, for the differences in coding. Same goes vice versa.


Screenshots?

Refer to the next couple posts. They're screens of the vB3 version.


Download the hack!

Remember to click install if you use either version of this hack, and comments/questions/suggestions are always welcomed.

[Xenon]

i've deleted the vb3 relating files in the archive

@VeloCD: the rule is clearly visible at the announcement of vb3 on our homepage:

vBulletin.org decided not to allow any vB3 hacks until it's in RC state.

it's even bolded, so you can't miss it

[Prankster]

nice work thx.

i install it next time

greets Prankster

[Velocd]

I actually didn't read the announcement here at vBulletin.org, I just saw the headline then headed over to vB.com.
:dead:

No problemo though, when it becomes ok to release it I shall.

[Bison]

Nice work young man! :classic:

[Hobbes]

nice hack ..

[high]* Hobbes installs[/high]

[DrkFusion]

Very useful, and unique idea, will mostlikly be one of the useful ones!

[Chris M]

Can't wait to use it on vB3

Satan

[Intex]

If your users can't be bothered to use the search facility, then this is a good idea. Funnily enough mine can't .

[high]* Intex clicks install.[/high]

[dano]

I like it a lot. Question though, it appears that it only searches the "Title" area of a post for simular threads. Anyway to get it to check the entire site? Or would that just slow the board down too much?

[Velocd]

Did you mean to say the entire post?

If so, it would be too much of a hassel to do it that way, and I'd assume things would slow down quite a bit. I find it more accurate anyway to search only titles, since a person should always make the title of the thread specific to the topic.