MOD Random Links Box

[scanreg]

eSyn Pro 1.2

I would love to have a Random Links Sidebox

This would be different from the Featured box or Partners box

The idea is that I'd set some number - like 5 - to display up to 5 randomly selected links from my list. It would change with each page view, and it would be a cool way to bring attention to the listings.

Anyone know how to do this?

Many thanks :-)

[Dave Baker]

Hello scareg,
***Open Header.php and find line of code***

PHP Code:

require_once('util.php'); 


*** Below this line insert following: ***

PHP Code:

$random_links =& $gDirDb->getRandomLinks(5);
$gDirSmarty->assign_by_ref('random_links', $random_links); 


***Save File***
***Open Header.tlp and find following:***

{if $news && $config.news}
<div class="box">
	<div class="box-caption2-right">
		<div class="box-caption2-left">
			<div class="box-caption2">{$lang.news}</div>
		</div>

*** Before this code insert following code: ***
For GreenLeaves template

<div class="box">
	<div class="box-caption2-right">
		<div class="box-caption2-left">
			<div class="box-caption2">Yours caption</div>
		</div>
	</div>
		<div class="box-content">
			<div class="links">
{foreach from=$random_links item=link_random}
	<div class="random-link"><a href="{$link_random.url}" class="title" id="l{$link_random.id}" {if $config.new_window}target="_blank"{/if}>{$link_random.title}</a></div>
{/foreach}
			</div>
		</div>
	</div>

For BlueWater template

<div class="box" style="margin-right: 0;">
    <div class="box-caption">{$lang.Random_Links_Sidebox}</div>
    <div class="box-content">
	<div class="links">
{foreach from=$random_links item=link_random}
	<div class="random-link"><a href="{$link_random.url}" class="title" id="l{$link_random.id}" {if $config.new_window}target="_blank"{/if}>{$link_random.title}</a></div>
{/foreach}
  	</div>
  </div>
</div>

***Save File***

*** Open language file and add ***

'Random_Links_Sidebox' => 'Random Links Sidebox',

***Save File***

[sdawkins]

Dave, this works great Thanks!

[Dave Baker]

Always at your services.

[scanreg]

Thanks, Dave - This is great!

[billybh]

The random links are grabbing a lot of the banned sites. Where should I look to tweak the sql?

[Vincent Wright]

This is in classes/Dir.php, function getRandomLinks()

PHP Code:

    function getRandomLinks($aLimit)
    {
        $sql = "SELECT * ";
        $sql .= "FROM `{$this->mPrefix}links` ";
        $sql .= "ORDER BY RAND() ";
        $sql .= "LIMIT 0, {$aLimit}";

        return $this->mDb->getAll($sql);
    } 


This is pretty buggy implementation [will be fixed in the new version] since it fetches ALL the links, no matter if they are active, approval, banned, or suspended.

To fetch only active links you have to replace it with this one:

PHP Code:

    function getRandomLinks($aLimit)
    {
        $sql = "SELECT * ";
        $sql .= "FROM `{$this->mPrefix}links` ";
        $sql .= "WHERE `status` = 'active' ";
        $sql .= "ORDER BY RAND() ";
        $sql .= "LIMIT 0, {$aLimit}";

        return $this->mDb->getAll($sql);
    } 


This should do the trick.

[lsb]

Cool feature!
Do you have a hint for me what to do when I want to integrate it into my fire&ice template?

Greetings, Lars

[Greg]

Originally Posted by lsb

Cool feature!
Do you have a hint for me what to do when I want to integrate it into my fire&ice template?

Greetings, Lars

After you do all the stuff Dave showed, add this to the header.tpl

<div class="box">
	<div class="box-caption">{$lang.Random_Links_Sidebox}</div>
	<div class="box-content">
		<div class="links">
{foreach from=$random_links item=link}
	<div class="random-link"><a href="{$link.url}" class="title" id="l{$link.id}" {if 

$config.new_window}target="_blank"{/if}>{$link.title}</a></div>
{/foreach}
  	             </div>
	</div>
</div>

Should work not tested though.

[lsb]

Originally Posted by Greg

Should work not tested though.

Great, works, thank you.
The only thing I would like to change now is font style, so it looks like the text in my featured links box: http...
smaller, left-aligned, a bit space between the lines.
Any ideas?