two simple template mods for vBulletin SEO

For similar threads, set both to YES:

AdminCP -> vBulletin Options -> Message Searching Options -> Automatic Similar Thread Search

AdminCP -> vBulletin Options -> Thread Display Options (showthread) -> Show Similar Threads

Edit template: showthread_similarthreads

Look for:

Code:

$vbphrase[similar_threads]

Replace with:

Code:

$vbphrase[similar_threads] for: $thread[title]

Related to this. Does anyone have any ideas on a query to update all post titles to be "RE: [thread title]" if they don't already have a title?

EDIT: Got it: two simple template mods for vBulletin SEO

Ok, I got it.

*** WARNING: USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. MAKE A BACKUP OF YOUR DATABASE FIRST. MAYBE TWO TO BE SAFE. NOT RESPONSIBLE. ***

This worked for me to update all the old post titles to "Re: [thread title]" if they were currently blank. If you have a lot of posts this can take a while to execute. I have about 365k posts and it took about 10 minutes.

The query:

Code:

UPDATE post SET post.title = concat("Re: ",(SELECT thread.title FROM thread WHERE thread.threadid = post.threadid)) WHERE post.title = ""

After thinking about this more, I think this may not work well for sites that use Threaded or Hybrid modes, since the post title will be set to "Re: [thread title]", when it may be in response to a specific post in the thread and that post may have a different title. I haven't investigated this; I'm just theorizing.

I ONLY use linear mode on my site anyway, so it doesn't affect me.

Originally Posted by ConqSoft

*** WARNING: USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. MAKE A BACKUP OF YOUR DATABASE FIRST. MAYBE TWO TO BE SAFE. NOT RESPONSIBLE. ***

This worked for me to update all the old post titles to "Re: [thread title]" if they were currently blank. If you have a lot of posts this can take a while to execute. I have about 365k posts and it took about 10 minutes.

The query:

Code:

UPDATE post SET post.title = concat("Re: ",(SELECT thread.title FROM thread WHERE thread.threadid = post.threadid)) WHERE post.title = ""

Great idea! I'll do this soon.

Perhaps it is better to implement a template mod instead of changing the database content.

Edit postbit template
FIND:

<if condition="$show['messageicon'] OR $post['title']">
<!-- icon and title -->
<div class="smallfont">
<if condition="$show['messageicon']"><img class="inlineimg" src="$post[iconpath]" alt="$post[icontitle]" border="0" /></if>
<if condition="$post['title']"><strong>$post[title]</strong></if>
</div>
<hr size="1" style="color:$stylevar[tborder_bgcolor]" />
<!-- / icon and title -->
</if>

REPLACE WITH:

<!-- icon and title -->
<div class="smallfont">
<if condition="$show['messageicon']"><img class="inlineimg" src="$post[iconpath]" alt="$post[icontitle]" border="0" /></if>
<if condition="$post['title']"><strong>$post[title]</strong><else /><strong>Re: $thread[title]</strong></if>
</div>
<hr size="1" style="color:$stylevar[tborder_bgcolor]" />
<!-- / icon and title -->

Wouldn't that also require additional edits to make it show on the Printable version and the Archive version?

Plus, I think the database method needs to be used to make Threaded and Hybrid modes look correct doesn't it? (Otherwise, wouldn't Jelsoft have used the same method, instead of using additional database space to store the post titles?)

Yes, sure - further template modifications will be required for this.

What I meant is that it will be harder to perforum "undo" or "modify" after the database modification.

An error occurred while attempting to execute your query. The following information was returned.
error number: 1146
error desc: Table 'hfuk.post' doesn't exist

OK it needs my database prefix in it but where?

Replace [tableprefix] with your table prefix:

Code:

UPDATE [tableprefix]post SET [tableprefix]post.title = concat("Re: ",(SELECT [tableprefix]thread.title FROM [tableprefix]thread WHERE [tableprefix]thread.threadid = [tableprefix]post.threadid)) WHERE [tableprefix]post.title = ""

Also, see my edit to my original query post regarding Threaded and Hybrid modes.

As i to only use linear too I will retry