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03-12-2005, 07:31 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Robert
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3
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Simple Forums
Hey - Robert here. I am wondering if anyone out there would mind helping me code a forums. I dont need nothing fancy or anything else of the sort. However, I do want the forums to all be in just one function. Basically, All that will be on forums is this..
- Main Page: List of preset categories (from mysql)
- Within each category, lists the topics posted (limit the last 50 topics posted in, others will be ignored)
- Once in a topic, show the posts
- In the posts, show (1) Author of Post (2) Authors Avatar (3) Authors Total Number of Posts (4) Authors Signature (5) The message (6) Subject of Post (7) Date Posted
- There will be no admin panel. If I need to remove a post, I'll just do it through MySQL
If anyone can help, Please let me know by either email (robertark[at]gmail.com), YIM (robert_w_ark2006), or AIM (robertark2002)
Someone please help, I cant seem to get the structure in my head right. Thanks in advance, -Robert
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03-12-2005, 10:40 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2002
Location: us.ca
Posts: 4,398
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Hi Robert, welcome to the forums.
I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I think you will get a better responses if you ask for help on little chunks.
For example, it seems right now, you need to focus on the datbase structure first. When I'm working on structure, usually I'll do it with pencil and paper first to write down all the tables and fields I need to make. Once it makes sense, then I start creating the database.
Once you create that, then proceed with creating your functions.
There are many ways to do this. I'm curious, why don't you use something that has already been made, like phpBB?
What your asking isn't something that someone can just help you with as a whole unless they wanted to devote a lot of time there with you. Even for an advanced programmer, forums aren't the simplest thing to write.
My advice would be to take it in small bites, .. ask very specific questions here and you are sure to get answers. I am more willing and able to answer a specific question rather than how to do an entire project.
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03-13-2005, 08:50 AM
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#3 (permalink)
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Senior Grasshopper
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: FL
Posts: 317
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Exactly, unless you're just wanting to create your own for fun/education, there are plenty of forum/bbs packages out there for use. phpBB and alike are pretty large and complex, but there are many others that are small enough to get familiar with. (without having to be a php expert)
-r
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03-13-2005, 01:09 PM
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#4 (permalink)
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Robert
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3
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lol
I dont use other scripts because all of my work is original (And I dont like those annoying advertisements at the bottom too). Anyways, I have the database well figured out, so check this out. I am pretty sure its right..hmm 
PHP Code:
# Host: localhost
# Database: newsite
# Table: 'forum_categories'
#
CREATE TABLE `forum_categories` (
`id` int(11) NOT NULL auto_increment,
`name` varchar(100) NOT NULL default '',
`topics` int(11) NOT NULL default '0',
`description` text NOT NULL,
PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
) ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1;
# Host: localhost
# Database: newsite
# Table: 'forum_posts'
#
CREATE TABLE `forum_posts` (
`id` int(11) NOT NULL auto_increment,
`category_id` int(11) NOT NULL default '0',
`topic_id` int(11) NOT NULL default '0',
`author` varchar(100) NOT NULL default '',
`date` varchar(100) NOT NULL default '',
`title` varchar(100) NOT NULL default '',
`message` text NOT NULL,
PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
) ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1;
# Host: localhost
# Database: newsite
# Table: 'forum_topics'
#
CREATE TABLE `forum_topics` (
`id` int(11) NOT NULL auto_increment,
`category_id` int(11) NOT NULL default '0',
`title` varchar(100) NOT NULL default '',
`author` varchar(100) NOT NULL default '',
`posts` int(11) NOT NULL default '0',
PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
) ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1;
I'm pretty sure thats right.. Anyways the structure (or functions i guess) look likes this:
PHP Code:
<?php
if(preg_match("/forums-included.php/i",$_SERVER['PHP_SELF'])) die(header("Location: /index.php?action=home"));
/* If category_id and topic_id is not set - show categories */
if(!isset($_GET['category_id']) && !isset($_GET['topic_id']))
{
$query = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM forum_categories ORDER BY name DESC") or die(mysql_error());
if(mysql_num_rows($query) == 0)
{
?>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="94%">
<tr>
<td class="contentheader" height="16" colspan="3">
Error
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
</td>
<td class="contentbox" width="98%">
There are no categories to choose from yet. <a href="javascript:history.back(-1);">« Back</a>
</td>
<td>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<br/>
<br/>
<?php
}
else
{
while($row = mysql_fetch_array($query))
{
?>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="94%">
<tr>
<td class="contentheader" height="16" colspan="3">
<a href="<?php echo $_SERVER['PHP_SELF']; ?>?action=forums&category_id=<?php echo $row['id']; ?>" class="forums"><?php echo stripslashes($row['name']); ?></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
</td>
<td class="contentbox" width="98%">
<p align="justify">
<?php echo stripslashes($row['description']); ?>
</p>
</td>
<td>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<br/>
<br/>
<?php
}
}
}
/* If category_id is set and topic_id is not set - show topics */
elseif(isset($_GET['category_id']) && !isset($_GET['topic_id']))
{
$category_id = clean($_GET['category_id']);
$query = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM forum_topics WHERE category_id='".$category_id."'") or die(mysql_error());
if(mysql_num_rows($query) == 0)
{
?>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="94%">
<tr>
<td class="contentheader" height="16" colspan="3">
Error
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
</td>
<td class="contentbox" width="98%">
There are no topics to choose from in this category. <a href="javascript:history.back(-1);">« Back</a>
</td>
<td>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<br/>
<br/>
<?php
}
else
{
while($row = mysql_fetch_array($query))
{
?>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="94%">
<tr>
<td class="contentheader" height="16" colspan="3">
<a href="<?php echo $_SERVER['PHP_SELF']; ?>?action=forums&category_id=<?php echo $category_id; ?>&topic_id=<?php echo $row['id']; ?>" class="forums"><?php echo stripslashes($row['title']); ?></a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
</td>
<td class="contentbox" width="98%">
<?php
$query2 = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM forum_posts WHERE topic_id='".$row['id']."'") or die(mysql_error());
$total = mysql_num_rows($query2);
?>
Posts: <?php echo $total; ?>
<br/>
Author: <?php echo stripslashes($row['author']); ?>
</td>
<td>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<br/>
<br/>
<?php
}
}
}
else
{
$category_id = clean($_GET['category_id']);
$topic_id = clean($_GET['topic_id']);
$query = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM forum_categories WHERE id='".$category_id."'") or die(mysql_error());
if(mysql_num_rows($query) == 0)
{
?>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="94%">
<tr>
<td class="contentheader" height="16" colspan="3">
Error
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
</td>
<td class="contentbox" width="98%">
There are no categories to choose from yet. <a href="javascript:history.back(-1);">« Back</a>
</td>
<td>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<br/>
<br/>
<?php
}
else
{
$query = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM forum_topics WHERE id='".$topic_id."'") or die(mysql_error());
if(mysql_num_rows($query) == 0)
{
?>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="94%">
<tr>
<td class="contentheader" height="16" colspan="3">
Error
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
</td>
<td class="contentbox" width="98%">
There are no topics to choose from within this category. <a href="javascript:history.back(-1);">« Back</a>
</td>
<td>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<br/>
<br/>
<?php
}
/* If category_id and topic_id is set - show posts within that topic */
else
{
$query = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM forum_posts WHERE category_id='".$category_id."' AND topic_id='".$topic_id."'") or die(mysql_error());
if(mysql_num_rows($query) == 0)
{
?>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="94%">
<tr>
<td class="contentheader" height="16" colspan="3">
Error
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
</td>
<td class="contentbox" width="98%">
There are no posts in this topic. <a href="javascript:history.back(-1);">« Back</a>
</td>
<td>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<br/>
<br/>
<?php
}
else
{
while($row = mysql_fetch_array($query))
{
?>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="94%">
<tr>
<td class="contentheader" height="16" colspan="3">
<?php echo stripslashes($row['title']); ?>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
</td>
<td class="contentbox" width="98%">
<table width="100%" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="0" style="border: 1px solid #CCCCCC;">
<tr>
<td align="left" rowspan="2" width="20%">
<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<tr>
<td align="left">
<?php echo stripslashes($row['author']); ?>
</td>
</tr>
<?php
$query2 = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM members WHERE username='".$row['author']."'") or die(mysql_error());
$row2 = mysql_fetch_array($query2);
if(!empty($row['location']))
{
?>
<tr>
<td align="left">
Location: <?php echo stripslashes($row['location']); ?>
</td>
</tr>
<?php
}
if(!empty($row2['avatar']))
{
?>
<tr>
<td align="left">
<img src="<?php echo stripslashes($row2['avatar']); ?>" border="0" width="150" height="150" alt="Avatar for <?php echo stripslashes($row['author']); ?>
</td>
</tr>
<?php
}
?>
<tr>
<td align="left">
<?php
if(!empty($row2['aim']))
{
?>
<a href="aim:goim?screenname=<?php echo stripslashes($row2['aim']); ?>"><img src="aim.gif" onmouseover="this.src='aim-hover.gif';" onmouseout="this.src='aim.gif';" alt="Message <?php echo stripslashes($row2['username']); ?>"></a><br/>
<?php
}
if(!empty($row2['msn']))
{
?>
<a href="javascript:alert('MSN Messenger Handle: <?php echo stripslashes($row2['msn']); ?>');"><img src="msn.gif" onmouseover="this.src='msn-hover.gif';" onmouseout="this.src='msn.gif';" alt="Message <?php echo stripslashes($row2['username']); ?>"></a><br/>
<?php
}
if(!empty($row2['yim']))
{
?>
<a href="ymsgr:sendIM?<?php echo stripslashes($row2['aim']); ?>"><img src="yim.gif" onmouseover="this.src='yim-hover.gif';" onmouseout="this.src='yim.gif';" alt="Message <?php echo stripslashes($row2['username']); ?>"></a><br/>
<?php
}
?>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left">
Posts: <?php echo $row2['posts']; ?>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
<td align="center" width="80%">
<?php echo ucwords(stripslashes($row['title'])); ?>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" width="100%">
<p align="justify">
<?php echo stripslashes($row['message']); ?>
</p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
<td>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<br/>
<br/>
<?php
}
}
}
}
}
?>
It works so far except for I havent coded the part to add topics or post posts, lol.. But I think this is right so far.. (This is a file included into index.php fyi..) anyways, if you find any errors (or somewhat of an error) let me know. Peace, -Rob
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03-13-2005, 03:05 PM
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#5 (permalink)
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Senior Grasshopper
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: FL
Posts: 317
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Well, not all packages have advertisements and clauses where you can't remove them. (eg: ipb)
Looks like you have a good start, but I'm not sure what the `one function` goal is for. You can still have a clean setup where the forums can be included in other portions of the site without much effort. Splitting functionality into separate files will help greatly in the long run.. (..splitting logic from the html via some templating helps too)
-r
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03-14-2005, 05:13 PM
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#6 (permalink)
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Robert
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3
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woo hoo
As a matter of fact. I did (somehow) get the forums completly coded, and it works like a charm. Way to go me. lol - I knew that it would be a better idea to code my own forums instead of having someone else code them mainly for the fact that I need to learn. Well - In turn, I did. I greatly appreciate all your comments, but I'm afraid I probobly wont need them anymore - Also - Thanks for your encouragement (Even if you didnt show it) - It taught me a lesson (MAKE YOUR OWN FORUMS!) lol - So once again, thanks, -Rob 
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03-14-2005, 05:39 PM
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#7 (permalink)
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2002
Location: us.ca
Posts: 4,398
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i can't tell if you're sincere or sarcastic, but hopefully you are sincere. if you take into consideration my first reply, you will generally get better help when asking very specific questions, rather than a post so open ended.
you asked if anyone would mind helping you .. so should we have said "no, we dont' mind helping you?" .. that is the only question i really saw asked.
anyway, good job, glad to hear your successfull, even though we didn't show any encouragement to all the questions you did not ask. 
__________________
testing 1 2 3
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03-14-2005, 06:07 PM
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#8 (permalink)
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Senior Grasshopper
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: FL
Posts: 317
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Quote:
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unless you're just wanting to create your own for fun/education
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..figured that was my encouragement part.
If it's for fun or education, do it. There's nothing like writing something from scratch when it works correctly.
Although these days I'm in work mode, so I typically don't have lots of free time to write things for fun.. If I can find something that works that isn't going to be too much of a PITA down the road, then I use it and move on.
I do write a moderate amount of php stuff at work from scratch, but it's the niche stuff that you just aren't going to find out there.
-r
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