Topic: Message Icons in Recent Post/Topics Block

[ehsizzup]

Hello.

I would like to add the message icon to each post/topic listed by the Recent Post/Topics Block.  The current setup shows another icon that I'd like to replace.

The code in question is in the portalblocks.php file around line 1050.

Can some one help me?

[ehsizzup]

gentle bump.

[Nathaniel]

The code below will make it work for topics, if you want it to work for messages/posts then more edits will be needed to the SSI.php file.

Code: ("Find (Sources/PortalBlocks.php)") [Select]

', sp_embed_image(empty($parameters['type']) ? 'post' : 'topic'), '

Code: ("Replace") [Select]

', !empty($item['icon']) ? $item['icon'] : sp_embed_image(empty($parameters['type']) ? 'post' : 'topic'), '

[ehsizzup]

Now I'm a bit confused....this code seems to have had no effect on the block.

What is the difference between a topic, a message, and a post?

For example, this post/topic/message? has a custom message icon in this view.  It is this icon that I would like to show up in the block.

[AngelinaBelle]

In the Recent POSTS/TOPICS block, did you choose POST or TOPIC?
If you are using POST, please test using TOPIC, and report if that works for you.
 
Here's the short explanation of the difference:
In SMF, any item on the forum is a message. It is also a POST
A TOPIC message is the very first message in a thread, or topic.
The remaining posts, the replies to the topic posts, are not topics. They are just POSTS.
 
Here's why the difference matters in the SimplePortal RECENT block:
In the Recent Posts/Topics block, if you choose "POSTS" then, if the most recent post is a new TOPIC, it will show up in the block. But, if the most recent post is a reply to a much older topic, the new post, the reply to the older topic, will show up in the block.
 
If you are using this block to show boards where there are no replies to the topic posts, then you'll get exactly the same messages showing up regardless of whether you choose "POSTS" or "TOPICS".  Strangely, though, the two functions SMF supplies in SSI.php (ssi_recentPosts and ssi_recentTopics) return a very slightly different list of stuff.  ssi_recentTopics returns, among other things, 'icon', whereas ssi_recentPosts does not.
 
SimplePortal uses these SSI functions because they are guaranteed to work in any official SMF release, no matter what changes SMF might undergo. This makes it much easier to keep SimplePortal running right.  Of course, you could customize SSI.php, just as you have customized PortalBlocks.php. But I find that fewer manual customizations makes it easier to maintain a website through SMF and mod upgrades.

[ehsizzup]

That did the trick.

and thanks for the education.

[AngelinaBelle]

Glad to help.
 
I've often been accused of being too wordy.

[ehsizzup]

I'm going to try to modify the ssi_recentPosts to return the icon.

Pray for me.

[AngelinaBelle]

This will be a good introduction. It will be confusing, but not too hard.
Though it may take some time.
 
Make only one very small change at a time, because you are certain to get errors.
Even making a change that should not effect the output is a good step.
And remember -- you can always get the original SSI.php from the SMF distribution.
 
Good Luck.

[ehsizzup]

It took a while to get started on this, but I nailed it the first time without any errors!

Thanks for all your help.

[AngelinaBelle]

Congratulation! You are on your way...