Block to show recent topics on SMF message board (not bridged)

For a very basic block you will need 2 files.

The first is the init.php file.  It adds the block into the database, setting the path to the main php file, giving it a name and title.

For this example I am going to say that the block folder is /blocks/smfthread/,the main file smfthread.php.  The init.php would look something like this.

if(!defined("_CHARSET")) exit( );
dbquery("INSERT INTO ".TABLEPREFIX."fanfiction_blocks(`block_name`, `block_title`, `block_status`, `block_file`, `block_variables`) VALUES('smfthread', 'Recent Threads', '0', 'smfthread/smfthread.php', '');");

This is the code that gets run in the admin panel to activate the block.  Then you will need the main code for the block.  As I remember, the ssi.php function outputs basic HTML, so we should be able to use something like this for smfthread.php

require_once('path/to/mboard/SSI.php');
$content .= ssi_recentTopics();

Now, in your skin you will need to include the 2 tpl variables, {smfthread_title} and {smfthread_content}.  Then go to your admin panel, initalize the block and set it to active (1 or 2, depending on where you need this content displayed) and it should work.

THis is a bit simplified, you can also include an admin.php, language.php for translations.

hmm I'd also like something like this but for IPB v1.3 final so im open to ideas if anyone has got any :p

Hi calash, thank you very much for your response.

require_once('path/to/mboard/SSI.php');
$content .= ssi_recentTopics();

Now, in your skin you will need to include the 2 tpl variables, {smfthread_title} and {smfthread_content}.  Then go to your admin panel, initalize the block and set it to active (1 or 2, depending on where you need this content displayed) and it should work.

THis is a bit simplified, you can also include an admin.php, language.php for translations.

Unfortunately, I've already tried it this way, and the recent topics doesn't show in the block, but at the top of the page, while the block displays only the block's title.

Ack....my bad.  Been a while since I played with SMF 🙂

The default function send the output via ECHO, that is why it is bypassing the block and displaying to the top of the page.  I do not have a copy of SSI.PHP to play with, but I think you can change the output method to array by doing the following

$topics = ssi_recentTopics(output='array');

Then you will have to loop through the array and populate $content with the formatted code.  You should be able to copy the loop from SSI.php and just replace the echo statements with $content .=.

Without the SSI.php I am a bit in the dark though....you are on the right track, it is just a matter of formatting the output.

Thank you so much, calash, that was very helpful!  🙂