Your Top 5 Favorite Xenforo Modifications?

DRE

Well-known member
My top favorite Xenforo modifications are those modifications that help follow the principle of The Path of Least Resistance / The Principle of Least Effort. Xenforo's speed, intuitivity and convenience far outshines most forum softwares by following these principles in most areas, if not all.


1. All Topics by birdoprey5

This was my favorite modification on vBulletin because some members were too lazy to look at the other subforums. The All Topic's modification lets you show all threads created in other subforums, inside one subforum. By placing the All Topics subforum above all of the other subforums in the listing I am following the Principle of Least Effort. This convenient modification helps even noobs get easily acquainted with the forum.



2. Most Recent Posts Sidebar by borbole

Two things before I begin. This is the only paid modification on the list but at $5 it's cheap and totally worth it. Second, you have to modify this addon in order to make the first couple sentences of a post show up in the sidebar. I missed this default sidebar feature from vBulletin because it allowed guests and members to easily get a glimpse of the conversations that take place within the forum without having to click on a single link. When it comes to the Principle of Least Effort, this feature shines above all because you can make show a set number of last post excerpts. This is a feature that we take for granted because we see it everywhere on blog sites and other forums but for some odd reason, this important feature is not available as a default sidebar.



3. Conversation Manager by Syndol

How frusturating is it to have to click inside an individual private conversation just to find out who sent you the message? Seriously, not being able to see who has sent you a private conversation or who all is involved in the conversation just from looking at the list is a glaring oversight. This is the only forum software I've used that does that. Thankfully, Syndol has answered the call. I've also noticed that since I've installed Conversation Manager, more members are messaging me. It's probably like that for everyone else too. The increase of private conversations created after installing this modification is a fine example of the Principle of Least Effort in action.



4. XenPorta CMS by Jaxel

The ease of installing and configuring this CMS system further follows the principle of The Path of Least Resistance and the Principle of Least Effort. That's how easy it is to set up Xenporta. You can learn how flexible it is by reading the FAQ. Xenporta has a shorter learning curve than vBCMS and Wordpress integration. It is also quicker to make changes due to the way their blocks are set up and it's forum integration seems to be more thorough than other CMS addons. XenPorta gave me the opportunity to make a cool main site that could show off the site's different features without the headache of buying a CMS or integration plugin.



5 Post Topic From Forum Home by The8thLegion

Not trying to toot my own horn by posting my own template modification but this was another convenient modification I had to have from vBulletin. The Post Topic button further assisted the principle of least effort by letting members create a thread from the forum list instead of having to go inside the forum to create a topic. I also took the same concept by adding Post New Reply Link From Thread Display so that members can post from the thread listing and the RecentThreads block in Xenporta... and that sums up my list.
 
Here goes....

1. [XI] Sportsbook by bobster65
This is easily, without any doubt, the only add-on I would ever need at any forum I was on. If I can bet on games, music awards, tv shows, random things, I am one happy guy. This gives the majority of members something to do while at the forum (if they finish posting, etc), and it usually keeps them hanging around for just a little bit longer. Never know where that "longer" time spent on the site could lead. Not many people have had a chance to demo it, but anyone that is familiar with vBookie has a sense as to what this is. I have to say, this version is more user-friendly and visually appealing than other versions. Once it is officially out, I would seriously suggest getting your hands on it. You can tailor it to suit your needs, and there is pretty much anything you can imagine that you can bet on. Easily one of the people I enjoy chatting with here as well, and very open to suggestions, ideas and critiques. Oh, might be a wise idea to throw on this app as well, which is my #2.

2. [bd] Banking by xfrocks
To go along with #1, this is pretty integral in my overall site operation. We give out "pG Cash" for posts, likes, new threads, etc. With his newest update, this has now
taken off in my eyes. The tab was pretty big with BANK (000,000) listed, but once that moved out and it became just "Bank", it looked so much better. Integrates really well with xenForo, and it seems every add-on by xfrocks is as good as they come. I haven't had any issues from any of his add-ons, this one just happens to be one of my favorites. It matches what our users need, and want. Another dev who seems to be willing to help at any time, for any reason. It goes a long way, others have hopefully noticed.

3. [bd] Tag Me by xfrocks
Another add-on our members abuse. The simplicity of getting someone's attention by adding "@", and an alert popping up is great. It's such a useful app, I am sure it is overlooked and considered an add-on. This really should be in core, without a doubt. There aren't many add-ons I have felt that way about, but certainly, this is on that does belong. Fits seamlessly into our instance.

4. Post Ratings by Darkimmortal
Darkimmortal has so many outstanding add-ons, I couldn't leave him off my "favorite list". TaigaChat is really close to being on here, it is used SO much at our site. I seriously think our activity would decline if it was gone. But as far as personal favorites, I have to go with this. I am really glad this was added, as it takes the simple "Like" system and really expanded. I know I have seen members here say how it resembles one from another site. Well, I was never a member on any site with this feature, and I love the flexibility you have with it. The inclusion of - really makes it worthwhile, as on our site, if you post something to get a -, it is usually deserved, and should be kept up with. Hah, maybe I am just mean. Anywho, I do really like this one... Dark is yet another one I see that is willing to listen to his customers, get fixes out, and continually work to get his add-ons all being top-notch.

5. Template Modification System (TMS) by guiltar
This one has QUICKLY rose onto the list. After doing template edits for MANY MANY things, I finally tried this out and I am so glad I did. Very easy to use as well as understand. I cannot wait to see the development of this down the road. This will shave much time off of updating a site now, thanks to this.

Others I cannot be without: Conversation Manager by Syndol , TaigaChat by Darkimmortal and XenMoods (images edited for own use) by Dismounted

Ones that I will be purchasing/installing upon release: Stock Trader and Pick Em'

Need funds to upgrade to/want to buy: Conversation Essentials and Bookmarks by Syndol

I think that about covers it. I think I have tried every add-on posted, almost every style as well. These are just the ones that have really stood out to me. By far, the XenForo experience for me has been much better than I have had elsewhere, as far as dealing with add-ons, devs, and the product itself. Lucky to have jumped on the XenForo bandwagon as soon as I did.
 
Notes that most of your "favorites" for XenForo are not XenForo Modification.

Should rename the title.... Top 5 you wish were for XenForo
 
Couldn't agree more about the conversations lacking any clear note of who is in them (unless you open them). But I think I was put off the plug-in because you need to do template edits?

I use...

Sitemap for Xenforo
Tapatalk
A plugin that was uploaded to a thread just to include a custom php script - I run a modified version of this to insert rotating banners

also use Kotomi's script to allow an external page to be wrapped in the XF header and footer (for my member map)

Trying to get to work...

bd Widget framework (so I can have sidebars in other places. Otherwise will be used for the today's birthday part)
 
Notes that most of your "favorites" for XenForo are not XenForo Modification.

Should rename the title.... Top 5 you wish were for XenForo
Nah man. This is for modifications.

If this was a Top 5 Favorite Features to be added for Xenforo my list look like this:

1. Merge Members (this comes with vB4)

2. The ability to move primary usergroups to another primary usergroup. (this comes with vB4)

3. Friend's List Albums (also comes with vB4)

4. Advanced Member Search Request - (some of these features are default in vB4).

5. Google Sign Up - We can do this with Facebook, why not Google?
 
I stand corrected, your 1st one isn't.
Oh that one isn't in the Resource Manager. BirdOPrey has to add it. I'm already using it. Just like bobster and stewart1champ's first modification also isn't in the Resource Manager. We've got that in common so far.
 
Here goes....

1. [XI] Sportsbook by bobster65
This is easily, without any doubt, the only add-on I would ever need at any forum I was on. If I can bet on games, music awards, tv shows, random things, I am one happy guy. This gives the majority of members something to do while at the forum (if they finish posting, etc), and it usually keeps them hanging around for just a little bit longer. Never know where that "longer" time spent on the site could lead. Not many people have had a chance to demo it, but anyone that is familiar with vBookie has a sense as to what this is. I have to say, this version is more user-friendly and visually appealing than other versions. Once it is officially out, I would seriously suggest getting your hands on it. You can tailor it to suit your needs, and there is pretty much anything you can imagine that you can bet on. Easily one of the people I enjoy chatting with here as well, and very open to suggestions, ideas and critiques. Oh, might be a wise idea to throw on this app as well, which is my #2.

2. [bd] Banking by xfrocks
To go along with #1, this is pretty integral in my overall site operation. We give out "pG Cash" for posts, likes, new threads, etc. With his newest update, this has now
taken off in my eyes. The tab was pretty big with BANK (000,000) listed, but once that moved out and it became just "Bank", it looked so much better. Integrates really well with xenForo, and it seems every add-on by xfrocks is as good as they come. I haven't had any issues from any of his add-ons, this one just happens to be one of my favorites. It matches what our users need, and want. Another dev who seems to be willing to help at any time, for any reason. It goes a long way, others have hopefully noticed.

3. [bd] Tag Me by xfrocks
Another add-on our members abuse. The simplicity of getting someone's attention by adding "@", and an alert popping up is great. It's such a useful app, I am sure it is overlooked and considered an add-on. This really should be in core, without a doubt. There aren't many add-ons I have felt that way about, but certainly, this is on that does belong. Fits seamlessly into our instance.

4. Post Ratings by Darkimmortal
Darkimmortal has so many outstanding add-ons, I couldn't leave him off my "favorite list". TaigaChat is really close to being on here, it is used SO much at our site. I seriously think our activity would decline if it was gone. But as far as personal favorites, I have to go with this. I am really glad this was added, as it takes the simple "Like" system and really expanded. I know I have seen members here say how it resembles one from another site. Well, I was never a member on any site with this feature, and I love the flexibility you have with it. The inclusion of - really makes it worthwhile, as on our site, if you post something to get a -, it is usually deserved, and should be kept up with. Hah, maybe I am just mean. Anywho, I do really like this one... Dark is yet another one I see that is willing to listen to his customers, get fixes out, and continually work to get his add-ons all being top-notch.

5. Template Modification System (TMS) by guiltar
This one has QUICKLY rose onto the list. After doing template edits for MANY MANY things, I finally tried this out and I am so glad I did. Very easy to use as well as understand. I cannot wait to see the development of this down the road. This will shave much time off of updating a site now, thanks to this.

Others I cannot be without: Conversation Manager by Syndol , TaigaChat by Darkimmortal and XenMoods (images edited for own use) by Dismounted

Ones that I will be purchasing/installing upon release: Stock Trader and Pick Em'

Need funds to upgrade to/want to buy: Conversation Essentials and Bookmarks by Syndol

I think that about covers it. I think I have tried every add-on posted, almost every style as well. These are just the ones that have really stood out to me. By far, the XenForo experience for me has been much better than I have had elsewhere, as far as dealing with add-ons, devs, and the product itself. Lucky to have jumped on the XenForo bandwagon as soon as I did.
When I was reading your list, I realized that the tag me, post ratings and taigachat modifications you mentioned are probably some of my members top favorite features. My list probably looks different because it's coming from the perspective of a webmaster trying to follow a certain web design aesthetic.
 
Couldn't agree more about the conversations lacking any clear note of who is in them (unless you open them). But I think I was put off the plug-in because you need to do template edits?

I use...

Sitemap for Xenforo
Tapatalk
A plugin that was uploaded to a thread just to include a custom php script - I run a modified version of this to insert rotating banners

also use Kotomi's script to allow an external page to be wrapped in the XF header and footer (for my member map)

Trying to get to work...

bd Widget framework (so I can have sidebars in other places. Otherwise will be used for the today's birthday part)
All you do is copy n replace everything within 3 conversation_list templates. Real easy. Totally worth it. If Xenforo changes the conversation template, they will tell us during an update and all you would have to do is revert the whole template and ask Syndol to update the modification.
 
Thanks T8L - think I'll give that plugin a go then. As you say I can easily revert templates if it doesn't suit.
Yup. Too bad it doesn't include a delete conversations option though. That also comes default in a lot of forums I'm on.
 
Just installed it, actually the three template edits were quite a quick cut and paste job. Thanks again for bringing this up, not only is it now installed but I really do like the extra info this gives. I have wasted quite some time hunting for the right message in my inbox previously, it's worse when you're admin like me and might send multiple messages with the same subject!
 
I don't get this one, can anyone explain it? I understand the idea of giving some points to people for doing things, in this case as money, but then what happens with the "money" you amass? Or have I missed the point totally?

We use that money to go along with our virtual betting app (Sportsbook). Some people lose bets, so the only way they can earn "money" back is by posting.
 
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