MusaPekel FindNode – Smart Forum/Category Search Widget for XenForo 2.3 2025-11-08

What is it?​

MusaPekel FindNode is a live filtering widget for XenForo 2.3 that lets users quickly narrow down categories and forums on the forum index without leaving the page. As users type, the on-page list is filtered in real time. It supports three modes:

• All: Matches both category titles and forum titles.
• Forums only: Matches forum titles only; category headers are hidden while searching.
• Categories only: Matches category titles only; forum rows are hidden while searching.

Why use it?​

• Faster discovery: Jump to the right forum or category instantly on large boards.
• In-place filtering: No page reloads, no redirects—just instant narrowing of the current list.
• Theme friendly: Uses default XenForo selectors; compatible with most themes.
• Accessible: Keyboard-friendly search and filter flow.

Installation & Placement​

1. Install the add-on (AdminCP or CLI).
2. Go to Appearance → Widgets and add Find Node (musapekel_find_node).
3. Recommended positions:
   • forum_overview_top (top of forum list)
   • forum_list_sidebar (sidebar)
4. Optional: In Widget Options, choose Filter type: All, Forums only, or Categories only.

Note: In the sidebar position, the widget waits until the main content DOM (forum list) is ready, then binds. No jQuery required.

Click to expand...

How it works​

• The widget targets forum index category/forum DOM nodes only.
• Input is normalized (diacritics/Turkish letters) and filtering is applied on the fly.
• Visibility of category headers and/or forum rows is toggled according to the selected mode.

Performance & Compatibility​

• Client-side only (vanilla JS), no extra HTTP requests.
• Scales well; for extremely large boards, consider tightening CSS selectors to your theme.
• Verified on XenForo 2.3. Custom themes may require minor selector tweaks.

FAQ / Troubleshooting​

• “Widget doesn’t work in sidebar.” The script waits for the main content to mount. If it still fails, your theme may use different class names—adjust selectors (e.g., .block--category, .node--forum, .block-row.node, .node-title a).
• “Column 'title' / 'active' is unknown.” Use correct XF:Widget / XF:WidgetDefinition fields for XF 2.3. Fields like title/active/display_order aren’t DB columns; ordering lives inside the positions JSON.