[Mooff]

Changelog

1.1.0 (8.11.2011)

• included a "cache" system for pictures which solves a browser cacheing issue and speeds up the slider (on second image creation) -- added some FAQ questions
• included a bit more debug messages
• new crop function (beta stadium) included

1.0.0 (4.08.2011)

• confirmed working with 4.1.5 on our testsite, changed jquery path to account for 4.1.5 and below (now using the file which is uploaded in the zip)
• minor changes in the database query code
• fixed a bug where articles did show up in the slider even though their publish date was in the future

0.9.9 (28.07.2011)

• images are now saved as jpg instead of png -> reduced filesize by a factor 10
• removed a bug causing weird characters to show up in the previewtext
• added loads of debug messages and a debug mode
• removed beta status - slider is running on our live site now

0.9.2 (23.07.2011)

• fixed a bug which caused the slider to not find attachements
• removed the fopen() function. Now checking via a GD function whether given ressource is an image

0.9.1 (21.07.2011)

• added $description_length variable
• reworked description cutting code. Now using a word sensitive substring function. Cutpoint is easier on the eye now.
• removed some slashes '/' in the code which might have caused pictures not beeing shown
• changed description title to h2 instead of span - might have a small effect on beeing more seo friendly
• removed a bug in the image resizing code (code was wrongly placed outside an else condition)

FAQ

Q: I want a static version. Can you give me some code?
A: Code can be found here: http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showt...49#post2222449

Q: I want the slider on FORUMHOME
A: Code that should work can be found here (untested): http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showt...07#post2222907

Q: I see only a white Box - no images
A: Probably a jquery issue: http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showt...63#post2224063

Q: Captions appear and the slider works, but i can't see images
A:
- See Answer above, it might be a jquery problem.
- Do the images show up in the folder you specified?
- Does the fallback image show up if you set the switch to yes?

Q: Slider isn't working (f.e. I can see text, but no images and no slider functunality)
A:
Make sure the slider_img_filepath variable is set correctly
$slider_img_filepath = 'external/unitedforum/slider/';
If you open such a link in your browser: http://www.mysite.com/$slider_img_filepath/nivo-slider.css you should see the css file!

Q: I want articles from exclusive cms categories or sections
A: Modified database query can be found here: http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showp...&postcount=144

Q: Attachments aren't working for me
A: If your guests do not have the rights to see attachments - neither does the slider.

Q: I want to show specific articles and nothing else
A: Code can be found here: http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showp...8&postcount=91

Q: I want to change some nivo slider settings (effects, timings..)
A: An example for timings can be found here:
http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showp...&postcount=132
For other settings please check the nivo slider homepage:
http://nivo.dev7studios.com/#usage

Q: I want the slider without widget title - how to do that?
A: Explanation can be found here: http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showt...48#post2233348
A2: No Background at all: Check this post (including pictures) by The Rocketeer http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showp...&postcount=205

Q: How to order the articles shown by date descending - without value sorting function?
A: Take a look at this post: http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showp...&postcount=120

Q: I updated one of my articles but the slider shows the old picture?
A: Thats the new cache function. Either delete all slide images in the slider folder or run the slider one time in debug mode.

Q: Can i have different pictures in the slider and as a preview?
A: That's now possible via the cache system. Just upload the picture you want to have in the slider into your slider folder, nameing convention is: slide_articleID.jpg. Be aware that those images will be overwritten in debug mode.

Q: I have more and more slider pictures in my slider folder?
A: Again cache system. Each article which was in the slider one time creates an unique picture. The slider does not delete those pictures, in order to be able to use the cache functionality. Please delete them manually from time to time if you do not want them there.

[b]Q: Slider is not working and Firebug is giving me an "#slider is empty" error?
A: Solution can be found here: http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showp...&postcount=331

Q: My question wasn't answered in this FAQ
A: Please set the slider into debug mode via $debug_modus = true;
You then should see debug messages, which might point you in the right direction.
If that doesn't help. Post in the thread and please provide above debug and very detailed information what doesn't work and what you want.

[Loversama]

I have the original slider installed on my website and was thinking to myself "if only someone could integrate this into my forums" and here it is..

Well done, I am a little confused about the instructions at the moment, but if that could be made more clear I think I could 5 Starr this plugin!

[Sage Knight]

Great job, I have yet to actually test it, but so far it looks good. Thank you.

One question we have to manually add the images? And if we only want certain effects what should we do?

[Mooff]

I updated the installation information and custom settings on top a bit.

Please give feedback if i'm unclear in the description, so i can change it.


The slider does use the pictures which vb4 stores in the databasefield "previewpicture" and resizes them. You do not need to manually add images except 1.
You need a fallback image if your article does not have a previewimage (or something goes wrong during resizing), then the fallback is shown.


If you want certain effects you have to edit the nivo slider options:
http://nivo.dev7studios.com/
Usage tab - options, there is an explanation given.

[apn3a]

Does this perfect script works with vb advanced ?

[Mooff]

I do not own vb_advanced. Therefore i have no idea.

Since the db_query is build upon the vb4-cms article database/table structure i have to go with "probably not". Maybe an experienced coder who does have vb advanced can clearify on that one.

[Lazorbeam]

Awesome .

I have a couple questions...

1 - Is it possible to have the posts pulled from a forum instead of CMS (seems like it would need some rewrite)?
2 - Is it possible to have, say, 5 articles that are static and nothing else? I'd like to show users 5 "must read" pages instead of shuffling through new ones.
3 - Is this certified 4.1.3 because you got it running on this VB version? Is it not working with 4.1.4?

Edit: http://nivo.dev7studios.com/#usage shows how to customize the slides manually.

[Mooff]

If you want static articles then you don't need 90% of the code:
Without testing! - Include into a static html widget: (height setting on div style="heigth needs your number in it)

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That would show 1 static article - you have to insert the link to your article, the previewimage and the description.
(additional examples are in the demo folder, when you download the nivo slider from their homepage)

Version is 4.1.3 since we will jump 4.1.4 and install 4.1.5 next. I'm pretty sure it will work with 4.1.4 (the static version will work like 100% with 4.1.4) - but i can't verify it - so i won't say it does.


Regards

[Gemma]

Very nice work. Thanks a lot

[Lazorbeam]

I'm having trouble getting the slider to work (static version posted above). Here's the code I used;

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Note, the page already loads jquery 1.4.2 for TWS notifications. Does this have any implications?

Here's the test page where I've tried to load the widget: http://consortium.stormspire.net/con...The-Consortium

[Mooff]

Img tag is not closed.

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try this one.

Ah i see, was my blunder in the code above - sorry


Edit:
If you have jquery 1.4 or higher allready running on your site you can delete that line:
<script type="text/javascript" src="/clientscript/jquery/jquery-1.4.4.min.js"></script>

[Lazorbeam]

Originally Posted by Mooff

Img tag is not closed.

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try this one.

Ah i see, was my blunder in the code above - sorry


Edit:
If you have jquery 1.4 or higher allready running on your site you can delete that line:
<script type="text/javascript" src="/clientscript/jquery/jquery-1.4.4.min.js"></script>

Fantastico. Looks like it's working. As you pointed out I needed to remove the line that calls jquery.

Next step is to add additional slides. I tried duplicating some code but failed miserably.

Also, it seems that the arrows are somewhat pixelated. Do the "overlay" graphics look normal to you?

Link again for convenience: http://consortium.stormspire.net/con...The-Consortium

Edit: Hang tight, I'll first go through the nivo site and see if I can fix my own problem.

[Mooff]

Originally Posted by Lazorbeam

Also, it seems that the arrows are somewhat pixelated. Do the "overlay" graphics look normal to you?

No, they do not. I uploaded the wrong png by mistake in the zip file. New version is up, should look better.

ah well, since i'm typing anyway

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[Lazorbeam]

For anyone looking to add slides to static pages, add the following bold code;

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You also need to rename htmlcaption1 to htmlcaption2.