Recent topics - Topics since blocks

[gruslo]

I have the recent topics block placed at the left side of my forum (header). It' something very useful, because anyone can see the 10 last posts of the forum. But the members of my forum would also like to know which of those 10 posts is new. So I also activated the topics since block, which is more specific. My problem is that this block can only be placed in the center of the portal, because it's too big... But the members want to have a look at the recent topics block and know which of the last posts they have not read, and not to scroll down the page until they see the topics since block.

So, I ask if there is a mod of recent topics block, which shows the [flash=,:369p0bqs]http://integramod.com/forum/templates/fisubice/images//icon_newest_reply.gif[/flash:369p0bqs] icon and users know which of the last posts are new to them, without having to search for the topics since block.

[tmotley]

I don't know of one but I just use the user block and the 'View posts since last visit link' to get to only the new posts.

I also added the 'Mark all forums read' link to the search results and it makes it very quick in checking new posts and then marking them read all from the same search results.

[evolver]

To read new posts and also see older posts that I didn't read yet, I use the User block link "View posts since last visit (x)"
That's where I always start when I come here

[gruslo]

Well, if it's not possible to change the Recent topics block, there is another way: I could place the Topics since block at the header, but, as I mentioned, it's too big, because it has five rows, and the length of the header grows up, almost to the hole page... I wonder if it was possible to change some parameters of the TOPICS SINCE block and keep only the first raw (which is Recent topics raw but with the new post icon) and delete the others...

[Frost]

I can probably make you a block that will fit better down the left side, with a width of like 140px or so. All your users want is basically text showing new so I could make it wrap around.. but with this the block will expand down the page.

So I could try to make it use ... after so many characters, like...

Recent Topic: Date/Time Poster
->Whatever: whatever whatever whatever
whatever whatever whatever
whatever whatever whatever
whatever whatever whatever
whatever whatever whatever
whatever whatever whatever
whatever whatever whatever
whatever whatever

would change to

Recent Topic: Date/Time Poster
->Whatever: whatever whatever whatever
whatever whatever whatever...

Let me know if you still want this and I'll get to work on it

P.S. This is a block that will display on the index.php page with the forums and not the portal right?

[gruslo]

You can make a block for me??? Wow, that's cool!! <img>
Well, look, it's simple: Now I have something like this (the forum is in greek language):
[flash=,:1di8cdrb]http://www.e-arhontariki.gr/rt1.jpg[/flash:1di8cdrb]
and I'd like something like this (I made it roughly with an image editor):
[flash=,:1di8cdrb]http://www.e-arhontariki.gr/rt2.jpg[/flash:1di8cdrb]
The differences among them are the following:
1) There is the new post icon, that shows if the topic is read or not (this will be displayed after the log in)
2) There is no space between the topics, so I can include more topics into the raw
3) I would like to have the option to hide the date/time/poster elements. Personnaly I don't like this, but some members proposed it, in order to have even more space into the raw, to show more recent topics.

This is a block that will display on the index.php page with the forums and not the portal right?

This will be a block for portal.php actually, like all the other blocks. I mean, I will have the option to activate it for the header (left), center or right side. But if it's difficult to program this, my main purpose is for the header (left side) of portal.php. As for index.php, I think that if a block is shown at portal.php, through the IM Portal Configuration I can have it shown also at index.php (it's the Enable wide system portal header option), isn't this correct?

[Frost]

As far as options go to hide/show etc settings, I don't have the time/experience to make this selecatable, but it could be hardcoded into the new block file, just tell me what you want displayed

Or if you like you can paste your block .tpl file here and I'll show you what to do, this would be better if you ever wanted to change settings, you would know how.

/templates/yourtheme/blocks/recent_topics_block.tpl

either way I need the block

[gruslo]

You are right! The best thing is to learn from someone who knows! So, my recent_topics_block.tpl is [url=http]this one[/url] (from fisubice theme).

By the way, yesterday I realised that members are interested not actually for the 10 last posts but fot the posts that they have not read since their last log-in. So, as Evolve said, the most useful link is the "View posts since last visit", included in User's block. But members don't want this as a link but as a header block, shown like the Recent topics block. Is there a way to have these posts on the header, after user's log-in, instead of recent topics block? Which .tpl is the "View posts since last visit" link? Can I make a block and include it at IM portal header? Or maybe mod the recent topics block, to show the topics since last visit? That would be great...

Sorry for too many questions, I don't know php programming... <img>

[Frost]

Well, you could always make another block similar to the recent blocks one but use the variable for post's since last visit

the only problem with this, is that what if there were 100 posts since last visit?

thats why they normally set it to like 10 or so, if not it would take up 3 or 4 pages worth just in the header of space

Ill look at your block and tell you the possibilities

[gruslo]

Yes, if there are 100 since last visit posts it's a problem... Your idea is good: the default diplay posts number has to be about 10. Maybe a link to the Topics since page would be nice, if user wanted to see the complete list...
Thank you!

[Frost]

I'm working on adding the contents of the "View posts since last visit" (.tpl)? file to the overall_header.tpl file but the problem is finding which tpl file holds this information.

Once I find the right file I can edit to only show (X) amount of "New" posts then as you said a link under that to show the rest of the new ones if there are more. This link would just take the user to the real page that holds all the information.

It's a work in progress, we need a guru like teelk, michaelo, or helterskelter to point out what I'm missing...

I'll post updates as I get them.

Temporarily if your users want a link in the header that will take them directly to just new posts you can put this link in your overall_header.tpl file.

Depending on what theme you are using you will see links for portal,index etc ( L_INDEX) whatever (or it might say {QMENUS} i dont know anyways throw this link in there and it will take them directly to only "new" posts since they were there last.

<a>View New Posts</a>

Or you can attach your overall_header.tpl and I will add it

[gruslo]

Thank you! I will try by myself at first, if I have any difficulties I'll post again.

[gruslo]

I did it and centered the link with <center></center> tags. It was very easy! Thanks!

[Frost]

you're very welcome <img>

You are satisfied and this is solved yes?

[gruslo]

Well, this is a more obvious View posts since last visit link. Things are better now, but forum members insist for the "Recent topics mod", as we discribe it (showing 10 posts "since last visit" and a link to a main "post since last visit" page-> it will be the... third (!!!) "View post since last visit" link in the same page!).
If you could make the View posts since last visit(.tpl)? file, I would have less complaints...