Is there a way to have a single thread flow into multiple conferences?

Tree61 · 08-04-2007, 11:36 PM

This is my first post but did a search for this question and did not see the answer so here goes...

I have a requirement that the author of a thread have the option to select to have the thread appear in several relevant conferences at once. Think of how a listing party can select to have an eBay listing appear in several categories and you will get the idea for what I am trying to do.

A example would be if I have conferences within the forum for Automobile Makers but also conferences for Vehicle types. A thread about Ford Escapes would be relevant for the "Ford" conference but also the "SUV" conference. I do not want the author to have to duplicate the same thread topic in two separate threads and then there are two separate threads underway on what is really a single topic.

I have not bought the bulleting board software but like what I read about VBulletin so am curious if VBulletin can be tweaked to allow this.

Thanks in advance for any guidance you offer.

**OS Master** · 08-05-2007, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tree61

This is my first post but did a search for this question and did not see the answer so here goes...

I have a requirement that the author of a thread have the option to select to have the thread appear in several relevant conferences at once. Think of how a listing party can select to have an eBay listing appear in several categories and you will get the idea for what I am trying to do.

A example would be if I have conferences within the forum for Automobile Makers but also conferences for Vehicle types. A thread about Ford Escapes would be relevant for the "Ford" conference but also the "SUV" conference. I do not want the author to have to duplicate the same thread topic in two separate threads and then there are two separate threads underway on what is really a single topic.

I have not bought the bulleting board software but like what I read about VBulletin so am curious if VBulletin can be tweaked to allow this.

Thanks in advance for any guidance you offer.

Do you want the thread to be posted into multiple forums? Let's say you submit to Forums 1 and 2. If someone in Forum 1 makes a reply; do you want it do be shown in Forum 2 as well? I'm trying to understand what you are asking.

Tree61 · 08-05-2007, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OS Master

Do you want the thread to be posted into multiple forums? Let's say you submit to Forums 1 and 2. If someone in Forum 1 makes a reply; do you want it do be shown in Forum 2 as well? I'm trying to understand what you are asking.

Thank you for your interest.

I do want a reply in Forum 1 to show up in Forum 2 and a reply in Forum 2 to show up in Forum 1. The thread should actually be a single thread but appear within multiple forums.

Ideally, I am looking for a function where the thread starter would be able to click radio buttons next to a complete listing of all forums which the thread starter feels the thread should appear. The admin should be able to add/delete/edit those choices.

I think this should be possible and here is why...I posted this question once and to just one forum here but this thread also for a time will show up in "New Posts" but is just one thread. New Posts probably is complied from date of most recent post or perhaps is limited to date of creation for a new thread.

My goal is to make it much easier for the community to locate a relevant thread even if they are not looking at every forum and every thread in each forum. I feel having a single thread appear in multiple forums increases the odds a thread will be useful to the community since is more likely to be seen and interacted with by the community.

**Brandon Sheley** · 08-05-2007, 01:50 PM

Have you used the announcement function in the admincp ?

**OS Master** · 08-05-2007, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon

Have you used the announcement function in the admincp ?

Only one problem: Registered Members can't access the Admin CP.

I believe this would be moderately difficult to; a modification would have to be released for this. The only way to do this without a modification is manually.

**Big Dan** · 08-05-2007, 04:14 PM

You could just move the thread from forum to forum then the redirects will stay in each forum. Other than that, I cannot think of anyway to do it, and I haven't come across any hacks that do what you're asking.

**Brandon Sheley** · 08-05-2007, 04:44 PM

btw, you don't want a lot of duplicate threads from an SEO view.

**OS Master** · 08-05-2007, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon

btw, you don't want a lot of duplicate threads from an SEO view.

Yeah, that's a bad thing. Or you could just Copy the threads from one forum to another. You'd have to do that manually, though.

Tree61 · 08-05-2007, 07:34 PM

Not sure what the Announcement function does. Or any admin functions. Sorry for my ignorance about the features.

I do not yet have VBulletin installed and will have techies do the installation. I am gathering info so can provide some guidance to the techies.

If that function does allow a thread starting author to optionally have a single thread appear in 2 or more forums at my site then that would solve the issue.

**Brandon Sheley** · 08-05-2007, 08:35 PM

It allows the admins to make a post that can show up on all forums.

**OS Master** · 08-06-2007, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tree61

Not sure what the Announcement function does. Or any admin functions. Sorry for my ignorance about the features.

I do not yet have VBulletin installed and will have techies do the installation. I am gathering info so can provide some guidance to the techies.

If that function does allow a thread starting author to optionally have a single thread appear in 2 or more forums at my site then that would solve the issue.

Are you referring to the "Copy" feature? I believe a Moderator would have to do that unless you give Registered Members the correct permissions; but they have similar functions.

**Paul M** · 08-12-2007, 03:08 PM

A thread can only be in one forum at a time, that is basic vb functionality and cannot be altered.

**OS Master** · 08-12-2007, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul M

A thread can only be in one forum at a time, that is basic vb functionality and cannot be altered.

So what does the "Copy" feature do?

**Brandon Sheley** · 08-12-2007, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OS Master

So what does the "Copy" feature do?

It will copy it, Paul is saying ( I think )that when a thread is made, it's only set to one thread ID..

If you copy a thread, it will have a different thread ID.

**OS Master** · 08-13-2007, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon

It will copy it, Paul is saying ( I think )that when a thread is made, it's only set to one thread ID..

If you copy a thread, it will have a different thread ID.

Ah, I see. But does it really matter?

**Big Dan** · 08-13-2007, 06:21 AM

If you copy a thread, it will create a new thread. Any additional posts to the original thread won't show on the copied (new) thread.

**OS Master** · 08-13-2007, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Dan

If you copy a thread, it will create a new thread. Any additional posts to the original thread won't show on the copied (new) thread.

That's the problem. You will have to copy the thread manually to keep them up to date.

**Brandon Sheley** · 08-13-2007, 08:44 AM

I still would advise against this because of the duplicate content. The admin can make an announcement, this should work just fine

**OS Master** · 08-13-2007, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon

I still would advise against this because of the duplicate content. The admin can make an announcement, this should work just fine

Yeah, but announcements weren't created for that, although copying threads will be flagged as duplicate content. What if the replies are different?

**Brandon Sheley** · 08-13-2007, 04:08 PM

search engines put a bit more weight in the first 200 or so characters, so yea, it might be.