Miscellaneous Hacks - Forum-wide Search For Unanswered Threads

Please click Mark as Installed if you are using this hack.


What Does This Hack Do?[hr]hr[/hr]
This is an update to my 3.7.x version of this hack, with the addition of navbar placement via AdminCP Options.

This is a hack adds an extra option to the Search drop down list on the navbar, or on the navbar itself (left hand side or ride hand side) which allows you to search for unanswered threads forum-wide, apart from the forums you choose to exclude from the search.

This hack was originally created as a result of a request from Boofo in 2008 - see here.

There are no file or template changes at all, and is fully phrased.

AdminCP settings for this hack available in vBulletin Options > Forum-wide Search For Unanswered Threads.
Settings that can be changed are:

1. Exclude Forums - list of forums to exclude from the search for unanswered threads
2. Turn off cached results - enable/disable
3. Automatic Link Creation - location link will be added

vBulletin Version Compatibility[hr]hr[/hr]
This hack can be used with vBulletin versions 3.6.0 - 3.8.8.

For the v4.0.4 version of this hack - check here.


Hack Support/Feature Requests[hr]hr[/hr]
IMPORTANT: This hack is no longer supported.


Install Instructions[hr]hr[/hr]

1. Unzip ms_search_all_unanswered_38.zip
2. Upload bitfield_ms_search_all_unanswered.xml to your /includes/xml folder.If upgrading from an earlier version, then overwrite the previous copy.
3. Import the ms_search_all_unanswered_38.xml into vB using the AdminCP Product Manager. If upgrading from an earlier version, then set Allow Overwrite to Yes.
4. In the Usergroup Manager edit the usergroup(s) you want:
   • To see the Unanswered Threads link (disabled by default for all usergroups).

Uninstall Instructions[hr]hr[/hr]

1. Delete the bitfield_ms_search_all_unanswered.xml file from your /includes/xml folder.
2. Uninstall the product in vB using the AdminCP Product Manager.

Screenshots[hr]hr[/hr]
Shown in this order:

• Link on Search Forums Menu
• AdminCP Options
• Usergroup Permissions
• Link on navbar (left hand side)
• Link on navbar (right hand side)

Version History[hr]hr[/hr]
v3.8.002 - Tuesday 23rd June 2009
-- Final v3.8.x Release
-- Added: AdminCP Option to allow for Unanswered Threads link to be placed in different places on the navbar

v3.8.001 - Friday 9th January 2009
-- Initial v3.8.x Release


Thanks[hr]hr[/hr]
Thanks go out to Paul M who gave me permission to use some of his install code.


Show Your Appreciation[hr]hr[/hr]
Although not required, if you have enjoyed the benefits of this hack, and would like show your appreciation for my efforts, then please feel free to click on the Support Developer link and donate any amount you feel is appropriate.


Donations[hr]hr[/hr]
I would like to thank the following people for their kind donations:

• adwade

[Sweeks]

Installed 3.7.4 PL1
________
Xxx free

[RoughOcean]

Installed, but confused.
The description says "This is a hack adds an extra option to the Search drop down list on the nav bar which allows you to search for unanswered threads forum-wide, apart from the forums you choose to exclude from the search."

It doesn't add it to the nav bar though, it adds the option to the Search this Forum drop down above each forum.

I'm upgrading from a previous version which I think did put it in the nav bar.
I would rather have it in the nav bar and search Unanswered Threads for my entire forum.

So....my confusion is; did I install the wrong version, or is the description off?

[Mosh]

Originally Posted by RoughOcean

Installed, but confused.
The description says "This is a hack adds an extra option to the Search drop down list on the nav bar which allows you to search for unanswered threads forum-wide, apart from the forums you choose to exclude from the search."

It doesn't add it to the nav bar though, it adds the option to the Search this Forum drop down above each forum.

I'm upgrading from a previous version which I think did put it in the nav bar.
I would rather have it in the nav bar and search Unanswered Threads for my entire forum.

So....my confusion is; did I install the wrong version, or is the description off?

You are probably confusing my Search For Unanswered Threads By Forum hack with this one, as that one does what you describe, and this one does the same, but in the Navbar and for all forums.

[RoughOcean]

Thanks. It does appear I was getting the two mixed up. This is the one I wanted and it is working correctly. Thanks for a great mod!

[cash7c3]

What is the direct link for the search call? We do not use the default search on our install, and so don't have the search option visible on forumhome - which means the link to search for unanswered posts doesn't show up either. I could bookmark it direct though if I knew the URL.

[cash7c3]

Found it:

search.php?do=process&replyless=1&replylimit=0&exc lude=

[Mosh]

Originally Posted by cash7c3

What is the direct link for the search call? We do not use the default search on our install, and so don't have the search option visible on forumhome - which means the link to search for unanswered posts doesn't show up either. I could bookmark it direct though if I knew the URL.

It would be something along the lines of:

http://YOUR-FORUM-URL/search.php?do=process&replyless=1&replylimit=0&nocache=1

[tommac3]

Can I ignore some forums from the list of unanswered posts? I have 3 rss feeds on my site and I do not want to include them in my unanswered posts.

I installed:
http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=172811

for the new posts ... but I would like to install it for the unanswered posts

[tommac3]

Can someone tell me if I can change a query somewhere to exclude certain forums so that they dont show up in the unanswered posts? It seems that most rss articles never get answered ... so these almost always show up. I think that this mod is better suited to list all of the new posts that havent been addressed ... Also you may have forums where one person is doing all of the posting those would also always show up.