Can a plug in do this?

[blc]

I bought my site back in May and I have the database from the old TBL site. I would like to try and bring a feature from my old site to the new site, but I don't know where to look for the code in the db and I'm not sure they would be compatible anyway.

Here is what I would like to do

web.archive.org/web/20130316053245/http://www.trueblueliberty.com/

On the right hand side is a column, panel, sidebar, container. I don't know what you want to call it.

It consists of the most recent or active threads (top 10) in each category and subcategories. Each of the categories/subcategories is collapsible via the arrow next to the category title.

It would be nice if the admin could choose whether to have it on the main page only or globally. Globally would be great if it can only be one option.

It would also be nice if the members could choose which side they wanted it on. If that isn't possible then the right side would be fine.

I've included an image of just the panel on the right as well.

Wormopolis, I'm tagging you on this because I'm not sure where it belongs. I'm not sure if this is something a plug in can do or if it needs to be elsewhere.   If something like this already exists, please point me in the right direction.  

I already looked at the sidebar redux  Brian (I tagged you, since I brought up the sidebar redux)  and didn't see it being used in this manner, so I'm asking.  Maybe a plug in can't do this.  I don't know

Thanks.

Attachments:

[Brian]

A plugin cannot grab data that isn't immediately on the page or in the page's source.

In this particular case, the recent threads are not on any page other than the Recent Threads page, and cannot be obtained via plugin for use universally on all pages of the forum.

[blc]

Oct 26, 2013 22:55:05 GMT -8 Brian said:

A plugin cannot grab data that isn't immediately on the page or in the page's source.

In this particular case, the recent threads are not on any page other than the Recent Threads page, and cannot be obtained via plugin for use universally on all pages of the forum.

Ok. Is there a way to replicate that sidebar some other way? Does this request need to go some place else?

[Brian]

The only page that could possibly grab that information is a custom page. There's a Recent Threads/Posts widget you can add to custom pages that updates automatically.

[blc]

Oct 26, 2013 23:04:09 GMT -8 Brian said:

The only page that could possibly grab that information is a custom page. There's a Recent Threads/Posts widget you can add to custom pages that updates automatically.

Ok, I could look at at that and see what it looks like. Where do I find that? Thanks for the info.

[Brian]

In your admin area, go to Structure > Custom Pages and create a custom page from there.

Once that's done, your custom page will have areas called Zones which you can add widgets to.

[blc]

Oct 26, 2013 23:27:26 GMT -8 Brian said:

In your admin area, go to Structure > Custom Pages and create a custom page from there.

Once that's done, your custom page will have areas called Zones which you can add widgets to.

I have several custom pages already, lol.

What I can't locate is the Recent Threads widget code to paste in there. I've done a search and see various people tell others about this widget but no link to it.

I have a feeling that this is no better than the Recent Threads page when you click on that in the stats.

Can you tell me what the difference would be? Thanks

[Stinky666]

Oct 26, 2013 23:35:37 GMT -8 blc said:

Oct 26, 2013 23:27:26 GMT -8 Brian said:

In your admin area, go to Structure > Custom Pages and create a custom page from there.

Once that's done, your custom page will have areas called Zones which you can add widgets to.

I have several custom pages already, lol.

What I can't locate is the Recent Threads widget code to paste in there. I've done a search and see various people tell others about this widget but no link to it.

I have a feeling that this is no better than the Recent Threads page when you click on that in the stats.

Can you tell me what the difference would be? Thanks

On your custom page, where it says "add widget", you can locate the "recent threads/posts" second from last. I just made this quickly to show you what the 10 threads appears like:

blueninjatheme.proboards.com/page/test

Of course, it will display in your forum colours.

[blc]

Oct 26, 2013 23:55:53 GMT -8 Stinky666 said:

Oct 26, 2013 23:35:37 GMT -8 blc said:

I have several custom pages already, lol.

What I can't locate is the Recent Threads widget code to paste in there. I've done a search and see various people tell others about this widget but no link to it.

I have a feeling that this is no better than the Recent Threads page when you click on that in the stats.

Can you tell me what the difference would be? Thanks

On your custom page, where it says "add widget", you can locate the "recent threads/posts" second from last. I just made this quickly to show you what the 10 threads appears like:

blueninjatheme.proboards.com/page/test

Of course, it will display in your forum colours.

Ha! Thanks.

Why don't I remember seeing those in the drop down when I made my other pages? Is that a fairly recent addition?

I think I prefer the Recent Threads link from the stats. I took that page and added a link to it to the top navigation bar. Its just that I really prefer what we had at our old site. We did it there, so it should be able to be replicated here.

It was great for navigating and eliminated a click. You read an article then glance over and click the next one, no need to back out and then click on something else.

Appreciate you pointing out where the widgets are though. Why don't I remember them being there? I'll have to experiment with some of those. Some seem repetitive.. calendar, polls. Anyway thanks much!!

[blc]

Oct 26, 2013 23:04:09 GMT -8 Brian said:

The only page that could possibly grab that information is a custom page. There's a Recent Threads/Posts widget you can add to custom pages that updates automatically.

Since this is something that a plug in cannot do, where do I present this next?

Obviously it CAN be done, just not with a plug in.

How about a feature request? I'm just not sure where that goes.

[Brian]

The ability to add those widgets on any page has been discussed previously, but any sort of implementation of that would likely be way later down the line.

Feature requests can go in the Support Board.

[blc]

Oct 27, 2013 10:53:09 GMT -8 Brian said:

The ability to add those widgets on any page has been discussed previously, but any sort of implementation of that would likely be way later down the line.

Feature requests can go in the Support Board.

I'm not interested in those widgets.

So I go back to where I started in the support threads. ugh! I'll see if my original thread is still there. Thanks.