Thread Introductions

About
This little hack will allow you to have introductions at the top of your threads that only admins can edit. Screenshots follow in the next posts.

I was inspired by my ignorance, really. I was over at http://www.bikeforums.net/ to gawk at his contest thing at the top of each thread, and I didn't realize it was on EVERY thread - I thought he had created some kind of hack! scsa20 pointed out that it was merely a template edit.

I had already fallen in love with this idea, though. So here it is.

Notes:
1. If you install this, please click the "install" button or post the URL of a thread with an introduction in your forums in this thread so I can see this in action. I'd consider it a personal favor.
2. I was unable to get one screenshot working, but I can just tell you that the thread introduction editing page looks like the post editing page. If someone could post this screenshot, I'd appreciate it.

Latest Version: 1.1.5
The latest version integrates the "Thread Introduction" link INTO the admin options menu, adds an option to show the thread title when no intro is present, and allows you to update the introductions of ALL threads in EVERY forum at once (Thanks Boofo for the idea). If you are upgrading, read through install.txt, but the only necessary things to do are to change the "threadintro" template and to overwrite the old threadintro.php file with the new one!
Download: here

Old Versions / Change Log
v1.1.0 - added formatting & introduction box
v1.0.0 - first release

[N!ck]

Screenshot #1 - thread introduction

[AnkisethGallant]

I'm just getting black pictures.

[N!ck]

fixed - at least one

[AnkisethGallant]

It works now. The only thing is, what's the main point of this? If you have a message, it goes on the thread. If a moderator has an annoucnment, it has it's own thread.

[N!ck]

*shrug* I don't know. If you can't think of a use, don't install it. It's a lot of fun though.

for starters, i used it once to tell people not to SPAM for the sake of post counts on a thread where people were guessing who would get the most posts

in general, it would be good to, as the name implies, introduce the thread or to make a clarification, etc.

[Velocd]

*shrugs*

[Tungsten]

Originally posted by nicksaunders
*shrug* I don't know. If you can't think of a use, don't install it. It's a lot of fun though.

Don't sweat it. There's countless hacks here that I haven't installed because I personally don't see a use for them but each adds overall value to VBulletin and the VBulletin community. I'd hate to think what it would be like if the various hackers here were deterred from writing or releasing their addons because they thought no one else would benefit.

The more the merrier!

[John]

I get two instances of

PHP Code:

if (!$thread['visible']) {
  $idname="thread";
  eval("standarderror(\"".gettemplate("error_invalidid")."\");");
  exit;
} 


[John]

A few things - I found that the first bit of code (as mentioned above) has to be put under the second instance.

Secondly, I think you should point out that the "Thread Intro" thing is a link, literally underneath the admin menu - I thought by "under the menu" you meant it was an option in the menu.

Thirdly, does this require that the user does his/her own formatting? This is what I get (see attachment):