post count within thread

[cycleman]

i used to reference posts by "reply #."
those posts no longer make sense, as the reply # is not listed.
the reader must search through the named thread manually and laboriously count the number of replies to get to the relevant post.
if they lose count, they have to start all over again.

most would give up and just request a re-posting. while a reasonable request, this is still wasteful.
a re-posting takes up space in the thread, in bandwidth, and sometimes attachment limits.

this plugin is vital to my board. pls help.

[Chris]

There's a template mod for this and below you'll find the latest update to that code.

Jul 1, 2013 14:49:59 GMT -8 David Clark said:

Well the Post List "Reply #" template modification can be fixed, all you have to do is include the changed "list_posts" route. My layout template that adds classes to the rows in Recent Threads isn't going to work though, because it's based on using the route to determine where the user is, and if it just changes to the same value as any regular thread list, it's not gonna work. Maybe I'll write it as a plugin instead.

Oh well, here's the updated Reply # code for you, Chrissie.

SPOILER: Click to show

<span id="post-text-$[post.id]" class="post-method"></span>
<script type="text/javascript">
{if $[post.index] == 0}
var post = { page: (location.href.match(/\/page\/(\d+)\//) || location.href.match(/\bpage=(\d+)\b/)) ? RegExp.$1-0 : 1, index: 0 };
{/if}
var index = (post.page-1)*15 + post.index++;
if( !location.href.match(/(\?|\&)q=/) && proboards.data("route").name == "thread" || proboards.data("route").name == "list_posts" ) {
$("#post-text-$[post.id]").html( index == 0 ? "Thread started " : "Reply #" + index + " posted ");
}
</script>
<!-- End Reply # -->

And as always, edit the bit in red to match what you have set for your Post Per Page setting in Admin > Forum Settings.

[cycleman]

thx Eton Bones, but i don't know much about code so i don't know where to insert that bit.
plug ins are handy in that you don't usually need to know code.

[David Clark]

Sorry cycleman, I neglected to include contextual instructions for that update so now the walkthrough for how to install it is kind of all over the place.

Head to your admin control panel. Mousing over the Structure tab, click on Layout Templates. On this next screen, locate the Thread template, and click on the Post List tab on the next screen.

You're going to want to make a new line under line 19 and paste the code that Eton quoted above. Save the template and then browse to a thread to ensure the reply is showing as it should.

Also I agree on the plugin comment. This would be possible with a plugin, but it doesn't appear that anyone's taken up the project. Maybe this thread you made will change that.

[cycleman]

thx David. i think i'll wait for a plug in before i start making changes to the layout.

[David Clark]

Right-o. Just as a potential temporary workaround, were you aware that you can link directly to posts now in v5? Just expand the cog dropdown in any post, mouse over Link to Post, and copy the link for "Link to this post in this thread". When accessing this link, it will automatically scroll you down the page to the relevant post in a thread.

[cycleman]

cool, i'll try that. i still need a plug though.

[cycleman]

bump

[Todge]

I have looked into this before, but could not find any way of retrieving a reply number from the source code, or a way of getting the number of posts per page.

David Clark, are either of these available, or am I missing something obvious?

[Chris]

Jul 14, 2013 6:02:51 GMT -8 Todge said:

I have looked into this before, but could not find any way of retrieving a reply number from the source code, or a way of getting the number of posts per page.

David Clark, are either of these available, or am I missing something obvious?

window.listMan.options.limit would reflect the value chosen as posts per page for the forum and the reply number would be a calculation of current_page-1 * post_per_page + current_post.

This post might help

[Todge]

Oh wow.. No work is needed then, the plugin is right there..

Just remove the <script></script> tags and copy/paste the content into the Javascript part of the plugin, save, and Bob's your uncle.

[cycleman]

thx for the input, Eton Bones and Todge.
unfortunately, i saw no change in the post format. i even took out the <script></script> tags. still nothing.
does it only apply to new posts?

[Todge]

Nope, it should work for all existing posts too..

I'll throw the plugin together using EBs code and post it here..

Numbered Replies.pbp (706 B)

[Wormopolis]

there is still the issue of referring to replies in later posts.

lets say you make a reference to reply #10 in a later post, say reply #25. then someone deletes reply #5. what used to be reply #11 is now #10 and the reference in (now post #24) wont make any sense now.

[cycleman]

this has only come up once before since so far, as the admin, i have been the only one to delete posts.
presumably at some point this will no longer be the case, so a note of some kind should be made.
i was thinking something like the [this post has been deleted by ...] posts in the IMDb discussions.