Latest announcement on forum home

This is my first hack which I created out of necessity. It's is so simple, it adds "Last Announcement" in the forums home. This is done by selecting the latest thread created in a given forum to be displayed.

See the screenshot attached.

1.2 Update:
- The hack now uses the plugin system, no more code changes .

1.1 Update:
- Code is now more optimized, compatible with non-cookied and clustered boards. (Thanks for KirbyDE)

1.01 Update:
- Now it works if you use prefix in database.

Enjoy

[FleaBag]

Nice work, I shall most certainly use it.

[illusions]

I get this error when I made the changes...any1 know what the problem is?

Parse error: parse error, unexpected T_WHILE in /home/illusion/public_html/forums/index.php on line 101

[thedvs]

Works great thanks. *installed*

[tantawi]

Originally Posted by illusions

I get this error when I made the changes...any1 know what the problem is?

Parse error: parse error, unexpected T_WHILE in /home/illusion/public_html/forums/index.php on line 101

Are you sure you have vB 3.5 Final installed? I never tested this code on any Betas or RCs. And try the updated hack, as your problem may be with table prefix?

Welcome FleaBag & thedvs

[swantonio]

and possible to have it of different color more and than an announcement

:squareeyed:

[Snake]

Nice hack. Installed!

[Andreas]

Some suggestions
- Use Hook forumhome_complete to avoid file edits
- Use query_read instead of just query to avoid overhead and make the hack compatible with splitted (master/slave) mySQL servers
- Use $db->fetch_array instead of mysql_fetch_array() to make the hack compatible with vBulletins Database Abstraction Layer
- The generated link is missing the Session ID ($vbulletin->session->vars['sessionurl']), so it might not work for non-cookied users
- ++$lnsnbsp; seems to be unnecessary

Furthermore, if you just want 1 record, it's easier to use $db->query_first()

Last but not least: A setting to select the Forum ID (rather than having the User edit the Plugin) would be perfect

[tantawi]

Thanks a lot KirbyDE!

I have updated the hack following your suggestions, but I really don't know how to make a plugin and I don't really have time to , I'm not considering myself a pro vb coder or something just created this little hack out of necessity and liked to share it. Anyone is welcome to port this hack into a plugin without crediting me even

Thank you again for your valuable tips.

[csidlernet]

Thankyou i've been looking for something like this!
/me installs