Threaded Forum Views

Threaded Forum Views (Version 1.8)

Threaded Forum Views will allow the user to display an individual forum or search results in a fully threaded manner. To enable this support the user selects Enable from the new Threaded Forum Views section within Edit Options in the User CP. In addition to the Enable/Disable setting the user may also select Compact or Expanded modes as well as the number of characters to be displayed in the thread/post titles.

A minor oversight/bug is corrected by release of 1.1. A class="inlineimg" has been added to the <img> tags in order to make sure the line spacing is proper. The prior releases relied on the fact that the <img> tag was automatically assigned vertical alignment in the main CSS.

A bug involving unregistered users has been fixed with the release of version 1.2.

Version 1.3 corrects a template error.

Version 1.4 is verified to work with RC3 and corrects template name errors.

Version 1.5 is verified to work with RC4 and has some minor cleanup.

Version 1.6 corrects an error when announcements are used. This version also includes updated graphics that perform well with either light or dark backgrounds.

Version 1.7 limits the number of posts displayed in a thread in the Forum Display based on the Thread Age Cutoff. This is of value for active boards where threads can get very long over an extended period of time. No filtering is done on search results at this time. Also included as part of the graphics is an updated "new post" image to match vb3 Gold.

Version 1.7.1 fixes a minor template error dealing with the display of the date & time of the post. The only change from the prior release is to the 'threadedbit' template.

NEW: Version 1.8 supports limiting the number of posts in both Forum Display and in Search Results. Additionally, the code has been modified so that the number of places that depend on the new field names has been reduced. This should help reduce installation errors.

Features:
Functionality controlled via the Users CP.
Supports 2 display modes. Single line or Dual line.
Supports variable title lengths.
Works with the display of forums and search results.
Indicates which posts have been read and which are new.
Indicates which posts have attachments.
Handles Sticky posts - limits the thread to the opening post.
Displayed results may be sorted using the existing tools provided by forumdisplay.php
Tested with vBulletin 3.0.0 GOLD.

Caveats:
Some of the Administrator functions (such as thread maintenance on deleted threads) are not available while in this mode. While doing administrative tasks the Admin should disable Threaded Forum Views.

Feedback & Support:
If you have any problems or questions please post them on vb.org. I will be happy to help in any way I can - though I am definitely no expert at PHP.

Miscellaneous:
This is currently running on my live board.

To update existing users it is necessary to manually run an UPDATE query. I used

UPDATE userfield SET field5='Enable',field6='Compact',field7='30' where field5='';

to set the default values.

Also, a new field has been added to the search parameters. Because of this it is neccessary to erase the existing cached searches. This can be done using the following query

delete from search;

It is also possible to turn Threaded Forum Views on for guest users by setting the appropriate values into the $bbuserinfo fields in sessions.php.

Screen shots and directions for making the necessary modifications to the files and templates are attached as are the 5 new graphics in the ZIP file.

[mysteryman152]

just installed it on my board
www.bimmer.info/forum

Great work man!

one thing is that "30" should be somethign we can change through the CP, i think.. or at least in the config.php. for those who dont know, that's how many characters of the reply sentence are shown in the forum view.


so far, no bugs

[gmarik]

This is great - it's all I'v ever missed at vB2.
Still it could be even more compact, maybe?!

[tgmorris]

Originally Posted by mysteryman152

just installed it on my board
www.bimmer.info/forum

Great work man!

one thing is that "30" should be somethign we can change through the CP, i think.. or at least in the config.php. for those who dont know, that's how many characters of the reply sentence are shown in the forum view.


so far, no bugs

Lots of little things on the "to do " list. This is one of them.

I've still go to learn how to do things like adding the CP stuff. But yes, it really should be in there.

[tgmorris]

Originally Posted by gmarik

This is great - it's all I'v ever missed at vB2.
Still it could be even more compact, maybe?!

Compact in what sense? The code or the display portion? Either is certainly possible. Right now the display is tuned to my preferences and will allow a fair depth in the thread before running out of room side-to-side. The height spacing was set so the posts don't run too close together - again based on my preference and monitor settings (1280 x 1024).

[Dean C]

Nice idea ! The screenshots look great.

[tgmorris]

This has been upgraded to allow customization via the ACP. A new screenshot along with an updated ZIP are in the 1st post.

[gmarik]

Morris, it's ok, I meant the display portion, which would be good if as an option would be suited for 800 px monitors as well, because 40% of all users still have those old ones. Possible to think about that?

[tgmorris]

Originally Posted by gmarik

Morris, it's ok, I meant the display portion, which would be good if as an option would be suited for 800 px monitors as well, because 40% of all users still have those old ones. Possible to think about that?

Perhaps the latest version, which supports the one line "compact" mode would be better. It also allows the title length to be adjusted. I've added a new screenshot of that.

I'm thinking of moving the Compact Mode control from the ACP to the user as I believe that they really should be able to decide the layout and not force it to be system wide.

[gmarik]

Great - it could be controled from CP and if admin allows - from every users settings.
The one line mode could coexist as an option besides the one you've allready made,

thanks for great programming, Marco