Multiple Recent topics blocks

[Adrian Rea]

I have searched around but cannot find this. I thought some have done it before. Is it possible to make several recent topic blocks and have them display the recent topics of specified forums?

A

[Drop-Forged]

I had something similar running between two separate sites, each site had its own recent topics and a recent topic block from the other site.

Worked good, except it confused some people, and had a little issue with sessions sometimes becuse the sitename was diferant.

Put that was 2 different boards,

Are you looking for multiple topic blocks on the same board???


That wuold be cool if we could just have it call on the forums we wanted them to.

[billsatx]

Adrian..is this what you mean??

Goes in the phpBB2/blocks directory

blocks_imp_recent_topics2.cfg

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<?php/***************************************************************************  *                       blocks_imp_recent_topics.cfg  *                            -------------------  *   begin                ]http]  *   email                : [url=http://www.integramod.com]http://www.integramod.com[/url]  *   email                : <a>webmaster@integramod.com</a>  *  *   note: removing the original copyright is illegal even you have modified  *         the code.  Just append yours if you have modified it.  ***************************************************************************/  /***************************************************************************  *  *   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify  *   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by  *   the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or  *   (at your option) any later version.  *  ***************************************************************************/  if ( !defined('IN_PHPBB') ){         die("Hacking attempt");}  if(!function_exists(imp_recent_topics2_block_func)){         function imp_recent_topics2_block_func()         {                 global $template, $portal_config, $userdata, $board_config, $db, $phpEx, $var_cache, $lang;                   $forum_data = array();                 if($portal_config['cache_enabled'])                 {                         $forum_data = $var_cache->get('forum', 90000, 'forum');                 }                 if(!$forum_data)                 {                         $sql = "SELECT * FROM ". FORUMS_TABLE . " ORDER BY forum_id";                         if (!$result1 = $db->sql_query($sql))                         {                                 message_die(GENERAL_ERROR, 'Could not query forums information', '', __LINE__, __FILE__, $sql);                         }                         while( $row1 = $db->sql_fetchrow($result1) )                         {                                 $forum_data[] = $row1;                         }                         if($portal_config['cache_enabled'])                         {                                 $var_cache->save($forum_data, 'forum', 'forum');                         }                 }                   $is_auth_ary = array();                 $is_auth_ary = auth(AUTH_ALL, AUTH_LIST_ALL, $userdata, $forum_data);                   if( $portal_config['md_except_forum_id2'] == '' )                 {                         $except_forum_id = ''start'';                 }                 else                 {                         $except_forum_id = $portal_config['md_except_forum_id2'];                 }                   for ($i = 0; $i <count>sql_query($sql))                 {                         message_die(GENERAL_ERROR, 'Could not query recent topics information', '', __LINE__, __FILE__, $sql);                 }                 $number_recent_topics = $db->sql_numrows($result1);                 $recent_topic_row = array();                 while ($row1 = $db->sql_fetchrow($result1))                 {                         $recent_topic_row[] = $row1;                 }                   if($portal_config['md_recent_topics_style2']){                         $style_row = 'scroll';                 }else                 {                         $style_row = 'static';                 }                   $template->assign_block_vars($style_row,"");                   for ($i = 0; $i <number_recent_topics>assign_block_vars($style_row . '.recent_topic_row', array(                                         'U_TITLE' => append_sid("viewtopic.$phpEx?" . POST_POST_URL . '=' . $recent_topic_row[$i]['post_id']) . '#' .$recent_topic_row[$i]['post_id'],                                         'L_TITLE' => smilies_pass($recent_topic_row[$i]['topic_title']),                                         'L_BY' => $lang['By'],                                         'U_POSTER' => append_sid("profile.$phpEx?mode=viewprofile&" . POST_USERS_URL . "=" . $recent_topic_row[$i]['user_id']),                                         'S_POSTER' => $recent_topic_row[$i]['username'],                                         'S_POSTTIME' => create_date($board_config['default_dateformat'], $recent_topic_row[$i]['post_time'], $board_config['board_timezone'])                                         )                                 );                         }                         else {                                 $template->assign_block_vars($style_row . '.recent_topic_row2', array(                                         'U_TITLE' => append_sid("viewtopic.$phpEx?" . POST_POST_URL . '=' . $recent_topic_row[$i]['post_id']) . '#' .$recent_topic_row[$i]['post_id'],                                         'L_TITLE' => smilies_pass($recent_topic_row[$i]['topic_title']),                                         'L_BY' => $lang['By'],                                         'U_POSTER' => append_sid("profile.$phpEx?mode=viewprofile&" . POST_USERS_URL . "=" . $recent_topic_row[$i]['user_id']),                                         'S_POSTER' => $recent_topic_row[$i]['post_username'],                                         'S_POSTTIME' => create_date($board_config['default_dateformat'], $recent_topic_row[$i]['post_time'], $board_config['board_timezone'])                                         )                                 );                         }                 }         }}  imp_recent_topics2_block_func();?>

Goes in the phpBB2/templates/yourtemplate/blocks/ directory
recent_topics2_block.tpl

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<table><tr><td><span><BEGIN><marquee><BEGIN>&raquo; <a><b>{scroll.recent_topic_row.L_TITLE}</b></a><br>by <a>{scroll.recent_topic_row.S_POSTER}</a> on {scroll.recent_topic_row.S_POSTTIME}<br><br><END></marquee><END><BEGIN><BEGIN>&raquo; <a><b>{static.recent_topic_row.L_TITLE}</b></a><br>by <a>{static.recent_topic_row.S_POSTER}</a> on {static.recent_topic_row.S_POSTTIME}<br><br><END><END></span></td></tr></table>

Then in the IM Portal config menu decide which forums for that recent topics. I have topics, topics2, topics3, topics4

Just redo above file and replace with the correct 2, 3, 4, 5 etc etc

[Adrian Rea]

Thanks Bill, That is exactly what I meant. [flash=,:2naniwiw]http://integramod.com/forum/images/icon/icon14.gif[/flash:2naniwiw]


A

[billsatx]

Just FYI...sure you know, but for others who may not be as knowledgeable...it takes more than just renaming the files 2, 3, 4 etc. Within the files there are several references to recent_topics that must be renamed recent_topics2 and so forth.

If you compare the recent_topics and recent_topics2 it pretty easy to spot the changes.

Thus just make the next set of blocks recent_topics3 and so on.

[Adrian Rea]

Indeed, Nice follow up. <img>

A

[billsatx]

Adrian...here is the link for the tutorial...

http://integramod.com/forum/kb.php?mode ... 2cab4cfbbe

I knew it was somewhere....

[Adrian Rea]

Well, it just goes to show that even I miss the odd item

[evolver]

Within the files there are several references to recent_topics that must be renamed recent_topics2 and so forth.

If you compare the recent_topics and recent_topics2 it pretty easy to spot the changes.

Thus just make the next set of blocks recent_topics3 and so on.

There is more to change than you did...

Every instance of recent_topic_row has to be changed as well
If you don't, you won't be able to set the right amount of topics to display in a specific block...

And I guess the same has to be done for the scroll and static (style_row), and for the except_forum_id if you want it to be different on different blocks... <img>

[billsatx]

Yes, as I said referenced comparing the two recent_topics vs recent_topics2. The attachements were originally so a person could compare. After I posted the tutorial, I figured better to read that than continue with eplaining.

The example posted works on several boards I have..

Thanks

[evolver]

Yes, as I said referenced comparing the two recent_topics vs recent_topics2. The attachements were originally so a person could compare. After I posted the tutorial, I figured better to read that than continue with eplaining.

The example posted works on several boards I have..

Thanks

Sorry billsatx, I'm not complaining...
I have to thank you for helping us on the right way...

I'm working on a fully automated solution for this...and I have figured out how...
I will create an .exe file for cloning the recent_topics_block files with the right filenames and replaced code...
The .exe file will only ask for a name (or number) and do the rest by itself...

I will post it soon... <img> (one of the next days)

[Unregistered]

how abt a random picture block from a selected topic?

[evolver]

how abt a random picture block from a selected topic?

I will try making more multiple blocks possible...

But for now, I have made a little tool to make it very easy with just a few mouseclicks to generate Recent_Topic_Blocks...

I hope you like it...

EDIT: I have it updated and uploaded:

[evolver]

Could someone please check this out,
and place it in the downloadsection if it's OK?

[computerz]

Could someone please check this out,
and place it in the downloadsection if it's OK?

Could you draw up a text file explaining how to use it.

[sanji]

I have downloaded the small exe made by evolver. There are two issues: first, when you type the name you want to use for the new block, only "M" are displayed - but the name is saved properly. For example, if you want to name your new block "test", it will be written "MMMM" when you try to type that word, although the block's file will be properly named... So just a small issue.

In my case, however, after uploading the 3 files, I can select the new block (recent topics test), but can not get any parameter for that block (I can not select the forums id nor the number of posts I want to display).

Where am I wrong?

Thanks,m

sanji

[evolver]

I have downloaded the small exe made by evolver. There are two issues: first, when you type the name you want to use for the new block, only "M" are displayed - but the name is saved properly. For example, if you want to name your new block "test", it will be written "MMMM" when you try to type that word, although the block's file will be properly named... So just a small issue.

I have downloaded and checked, you are correct...
That was an error that I corrected, but I guess that I uploaded the one with the error by accident
I've replaced it with the corrected one and downloaded that one myself again to doublecheck it...
I'm sure, it's the corrected one now.

[sanji]

OK, I could manage the configuration, I only didn't know that you first have to activate the block before being able to change the options.

But there is still a problem: the option "Show not" (tick, if listed forums is not to be shown [ recent topics block ]) is NOT available for the newly created block. All other parameters can be changed but this one...

Any idea?

sanji

[evolver]

the option "Show not" (tick, if listed forums is not to be shown [ recent topics block ]) is NOT available for the newly created block. All other parameters can be changed but this one...

Any idea?

sanji

The option "Exceptional Forum ID(s)" should be there for each 'recent topics block'.
Check again...

[sanji]

The option "Exceptional Forum ID(s)" is there, but not the option "Show not" (tick, if listed forums is not to be shown [ recent topics block ]). There is only 1 "Show not" available, for the original recent topic block.

Why am I so interested in it?

If you check my portal (see signature), you will see that I defined 2 recent topic blocks.

The first one is the normal one, defined for "Exceptional Forums" 38,35,30,21,36,40.
The second one as exactly the same options as the first one, but with "Exceptional Forums" 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9 and only 3 topics shown.

Still... The same posts are displayed, although they obviously are not on the forums with id's 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9. No idea why...

sanji

[evolver]

The first one is the normal one, defined for "Exceptional Forums" 38,35,30,21,36,40.
The second one as exactly the same options as the first one, but with "Exceptional Forums" 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9 and only 3 topics shown.

Still... The same posts are displayed, although they obviously are not on the forums with id's 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9. No idea why...

sanji

Here is why:

Exceptional Forums are the ones that are NOT to be displayed!!!!
All (allowed) forums will be displayed in the recent topics blocks except the ones you define in "Exceptional Forums"

So in your case:
The first one will NOT display Forums 38,35,30,21,36,40
The second one will NOT display Forums 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9
Then ofcourse, posts that are not on Forums 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,38,35,30,21,36,40 will be displayed on both.

It's just a little misunderstanding...

[sanji]

I really have problems with that...

In my first AND second blocks, ALL messages are from forum 40, which is an "Exceptional Forum" for the first block, but not for the second block ?!

In the ACP, I see the following option for the first - and only the first - block:

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Show not ]  

So I guess that if the box is not ticked, you should list the forum from which the posts should be taken, correct? But then, why blocks 1 and 2 have completely different behaviour??


Obviously, there are some strange things going on...
I then changed the parameters (they are still active that way now) to the following:

The first one is the normal block, defined for "Exceptional Forums" 38,35,30,21,36,40.
The second one has exactly the same options as the first one, including the SAME "Exceptional Forums" 38,35,30,21,36,40.

Well, the result is clear: First block takes messages FROM the listed forums, while second block takes messages OUTSIDE the listed forums...

There must be a problem, no?

Thanks for your time evolver,

sanji

[evolver]

Now I am confused...
I do not see anything like that... <img>

This is how it looks like (Portal Configuration) on my testsite:
[flash=,:kfgtnnm6]http://www.stelplaats.be/recentconfig1.jpg[/flash:kfgtnnm6]

[sanji]

OK, now this is weird...

Here is a screenshot of my ACP...

[flash=,:15zz62p2]http://www.sogival.com/japan/ss.jpg[/flash:15zz62p2]

sanji

[evolver]

On what version is that?

I used it on my 141 testsite, but I checked it on my 140 site now...
Can't find this "Show not" anywhere...

I don't know where it commes from...
Maybe someone else knows???

Or did you add it with an extra MOD there?

[sanji]

Sorry evolver,

(probably) my mistake. I downloaded again the full 1.4.0 package, and compared the files related to that block with the file created by the exe file.

Indeed, there were some small differences. I can not remember where those differences come from; could be a MOD that touched those files, but I do not remember editing them... After uploading again the original files, and suppressing the extra entry in the portal_config database, things started to behave the way you said they will.

I wonder if I did not try to install something to select which forum the recent topics should be taken from, rather than excluding some forums. But again, I do not remember which MOD was involved.

Anyway, this is now solved. The procedure is working and is an extremely valuable modification for the portal page.

Thanks for your long explanations, which allowed me to focus on the origin of the problem.

sanji

[goodgad]

this is fabulous evolver works brilliantly - just what i was looking for. great tool thx sooo........ much

[Drop-Forged]

Is the download corrupted???

It is only 23k for me, and I cant unzip it. <img>

[Drop-Forged]

Also, I have this working, but it will only allow me to put 88 Exceptional Forums IDs, my board has over 280 forums, so I would need to expand that field.

Does anyone know how I would do this??? <img>

[tekguru]

Just tried downloading and I only get a 20.5Kb file?

[sanji]

Same problem here. The download files is, indeed, corrupted. Sorry, I checked, I do not have the original file anymore on my HD...

sanji

[tekguru]

Damn, does anyone have the file at all?

[Helter]

Im sorry, but evolvers file does not exist. I have been through the files folder and every file backup with a fine tooth comb. Im assuming he uploaded the last file when we were having ftp issues.

[tekguru]

Oh well so it looks like we are stuck for an easy solution unless of course some other kind user has downloaded the file and has a copy that can be reuploaded.

Guys?

[Ezra]

Ezra to the rescue!!! <img> I got the file and will attach it to this post.

[color=blue]Edit][hr:37gxnpb5]It's an earlier version, so there's just one problem that was described earlier in this topic by "sanji". He wrote the following:

"I have downloaded the small exe made by evolver. There are two issues: first, when you type the name you want to use for the new block, only "M" are displayed - but the name is saved properly. For example, if you want to name your new block "test", it will be written "MMMM" when you try to type that word, although the block's file will be properly named... So just a small issue."

So, it will work like it should. Oh, and for other issues with this you have to read the rest of this topic, because everything works fine.

Greetings,
Ezra

[tekguru]

Ezra is our hero. Hmm you can try to upload into the file upoad area?

PM on the way anyway! <img>

[tekguru]

Well thanks to Ezra I now have the second recent topics block in position - very much apprecaited, but if possible I'd like to modify the routine but my PHP is not good enough to handle it.....

The idea of the second block is that we can use it to display the last 60 reviews posted in a forum so what we want to do is to retrieve the link to the first post in each thread and then display them backwards time wise, so we can say display the last 30 reviews. That is:

* Most recent review posting
* ...
* ...
* Oldest review

Is this possible at all?

The block as standard looks like this:

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<?php/***************************************************************************  *                        blocks_imp_recents_topic.php  *                            -------------------  *   begin                : Saturday, March 20, 2004  *   copyright            : (C) 2004 masterdavid - Ronald John David  *   website              : [url=http://www.integramod.com]http://www.integramod.com[/url]  *   email                : <a>webmaster@integramod.com</a>  *  *   note: removing the original copyright is illegal even you have modified  *         the code.  Just append yours if you have modified it.  ***************************************************************************/  /***************************************************************************  *  *   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify  *   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by  *   the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or  *   (at your option) any later version.  *  ***************************************************************************/  if ( !defined('IN_PHPBB') ){     die("Hacking attempt");}  if(!function_exists(imp_recent_topics_Revie_block_func)){     function imp_recent_topics_Revie_block_func()     {         global $template, $portal_config, $userdata, $board_config, $db, $phpEx, $var_cache, $lang;           $forum_data = array();         if($portal_config['cache_enabled'])         {             $forum_data = $var_cache->get('forum', 90000, 'forum');           }         if(!$forum_data)         {             $sql = "SELECT * FROM ". FORUMS_TABLE . " ORDER BY forum_id";             if (!$result1 = $db->sql_query($sql))             {                 message_die(GENERAL_ERROR, 'Could not query forums information', '', __LINE__, __FILE__, $sql);             }             while( $row1 = $db->sql_fetchrow($result1) )             {                 $forum_data[] = $row1;             }             if($portal_config['cache_enabled'])             {                 $var_cache->save($forum_data, 'forum', 'forum');             }         }           $is_auth_ary = array();         $is_auth_ary = auth(AUTH_ALL, AUTH_LIST_ALL, $userdata, $forum_data);           if( $portal_config['md_except_forum_id_Revie'] == '' )         {             $except_forum_id = ''start'';         }         else         {             $except_forum_id = $portal_config['md_except_forum_id_Revie'];         }           for ($i = 0; $i <count>sql_query($sql))         {             message_die(GENERAL_ERROR, 'Could not query recent topics information', '', __LINE__, __FILE__, $sql);         }         $number_recent_topics_Revie = $db->sql_numrows($result1);         $recent_topic_Revie_row = array();         while ($row1 = $db->sql_fetchrow($result1))         {             $recent_topic_Revie_row[] = $row1;         }           if($portal_config['md_recent_topics_Revie_style']){             $style_row = 'scroll_Revie';         }else         {             $style_row = 'static_Revie';         }           $template->assign_block_vars($style_row,"");           for ($i = 0; $i <number_recent_topics_Revie>assign_block_vars($style_row . '.recent_topic_Revie_row', array(                     'U_TITLE' => append_sid("viewtopic.$phpEx?" . POST_POST_URL . '=' . $recent_topic_Revie_row[$i]['post_id']) . '#' .$recent_topic_Revie_row[$i]['post_id'],                     'L_TITLE' => smilies_pass($recent_topic_Revie_row[$i]['topic_title']),                     'L_BY' => $lang['By'],                     'U_POSTER' => append_sid("profile.$phpEx?mode=viewprofile&" . POST_USERS_URL . "=" . $recent_topic_Revie_row[$i]['user_id']),                     'S_POSTER' => $recent_topic_Revie_row[$i]['username'],                     'S_POSTTIME' => create_date($board_config['default_dateformat'], $recent_topic_Revie_row[$i]['post_time'], $board_config['board_timezone'])                     )                 );             }             else {                 $template->assign_block_vars($style_row . '.recent_topic_Revie_row', array(                     'U_TITLE' => append_sid("viewtopic.$phpEx?" . POST_POST_URL . '=' . $recent_topic_Revie_row[$i]['post_id']) . '#' .$recent_topic_Revie_row[$i]['post_id'],                     'L_TITLE' => smilies_pass($recent_topic_Revie_row[$i]['topic_title']),                     'L_BY' => $lang['By'],                     'U_POSTER' => append_sid("profile.$phpEx?mode=viewprofile&" . POST_USERS_URL . "=" . $recent_topic_Revie_row[$i]['user_id']),                     'S_POSTER' => $recent_topic_Revie_row[$i]['post_username'],                     'S_POSTTIME' => create_date($board_config['default_dateformat'], $recent_topic_Revie_row[$i]['post_time'], $board_config['board_timezone'])                     )                 );             }         }     }}  imp_recent_topics_Revie_block_func();?>

Hope someone can help!

[Teelk]

change...

ORDER BY p.post_time DESC

to...

ORDER BY p.post_time ASC

change both occurances to be sure.

[Drop-Forged]

Sorry to bring this up again, but does anyone know how to increase the number of Exceptional Forum Ids so I can have over 88??? <img>

[tekguru]

Teelk that just reverses the list based on the daet of the last posted topic, we're loocking to base the date on the original seed message of the topic so that we get the most recently posted review first.

We're not interested in the date based on subsequent posts replying to the original review.

[Teelk]

Teelk that just reverses the list based on the daet of the last posted topic, we're loocking to base the date on the original seed message of the topic so that we get the most recently posted review first.

We're not interested in the date based on subsequent posts replying to the original review.

Ah, ok. Try chaging those line to...

ORDER BY t.topic_time DESC

instead...

[tekguru]

Teelk you are a wonder that has done it - pretty sure it has anyway - it looks right - thanks a million!

[bigtime]

Hi guys

Where can I find this file?

the standard recent topics block shows ALL recent topics - even ones in hidden forums....Id like a way to disallow it from showing any topics in a certain forum.

I found a .zip called recent_articles.zip in the downloads - not sure if thisis it....but it doesnt work for me - get a mass ton of errors on the default portal.php

It DOES make mention of:
Make sure you add your portal config variables in the acp.

Whatever that is supposed to mean....if this is the bottom line issue can someone decribe in more detail what is suppsoed to be happening in ACP??

Or perhaps someone can help me with a quick hack to exclude a certain forum from display?

[evolver]

Hi,

For those who are still looking for the RecentTopicBlock Generator:
[url=http]Download[/url] <img>

[sarkimas]

hi .i want to show only exact forum ,like forum id 1,2,3 .Other forums wont show at my ''recent topics block '' how could i do this .its so important for me because i have made a rss block like this but it has occured some errors like null/empty blocks ..

[sarkimas]

hi guys ,any idea about this issue .it might be more easy then java <img>