Set up D.C Style Widgets and thread promotion

D.C Style Widgets adds three widgets to XenForo: [D.C Style] New Threads, [D.C Style] Random Threads and [D.C Style] Facebook Fanpage. It also adds thread promotion, so members and staff can feature a thread in a widget, now or on a schedule. Like every widget, these only appear once you place them. The add-on itself works on XenForo 2.2 and newer.

Add a thread widget

1. Go to Appearance > Widgets and click Add widget.
2. Choose [D.C Style] New Threads or [D.C Style] Random Threads.
3. Give it a widget key and a position, for example Forum list: Sidebar.
4. Set the options below and save.

New to widgets? Add a widget and choose where it appears covers keys, positions and display order.

Choose which threads it lists

• Thread sources: the current forum (the default), the current forum and its child nodes, or Custom to pick forums yourself, including All forums. On a thread page the current-forum choices also leave out the thread being read. On pages outside a forum, such as the forum list, they list threads from every forum.
• Threads user: threads by anyone, by the member viewing the page, or by one member you name. Useful for a "my threads" block.
• Type (New Threads): latest threads, latest replies, latest unread or latest watched threads.
• Sticky threads: sticky threads only, non-sticky only, or both.
• Timelapse (days): only threads from the last so many days.
• Order by: post date, last message date, reactions to the first post, replies, views or promote date.
• Maximum entries and Thread title limit control the length of the list.

Random Threads picks from recent threads rather than every thread on the forum, so it stays quick on large boards.

Pick a layout

Widget types sets how the list looks:

• Default: a plain list that works anywhere.
• Narrow 1 and Narrow 2: with thumbnails, for sidebars.
• Wide 1 and Wide 2: with thumbnails, for wide spaces such as above or below page content.
• Slide: a sliding carousel, in a narrow or a wide version.
• Custom: your own template for this widget.

Every layout except Default takes its images from the Thumbnail add-on, so install and set that up first: set up Thumbnail. Without it, use the Default layout. If you use Thread Icon, icons appear in the New Threads widget too.

Add the Facebook Fanpage widget

This widget needs a Facebook App ID before it can show anything.

1. Create an app in Facebook's developer site and copy its App ID.
2. Enter it in Setup > Options > D.C Style - Widgets Options > Facebook App ID.
3. Add the [D.C Style] Facebook Fanpage widget and enter your Facebook Fanpage Url.
4. Choose the tabs to show (Timeline, Events, Messages), the size, and whether to use a small header, hide the cover or show friends' faces.

The width must be between 180 and 500 pixels, and the height at least 70.

Let members promote threads

Promotion puts a chosen thread into a widget. To set it up:

1. Edit a New Threads or Random Threads widget and turn on Promote threads only, so it lists promoted threads.
2. In Promotable user groups, pick the groups allowed to promote their own threads into this widget.
3. Members in those groups now see a promote button on their threads.

Permissions refine who can do what. In the forum permissions, Schedule promote thread to widget lets members set a start and end date, and Time limit on promoting thread to widget (minutes) sets how long they must wait between promote actions. Moderator permissions add Promote any thread to widget and Promote thread to all widget. XenForo permissions explained.

Scheduled promotions start and end through the D.C Style - Handle scheduled widget promotions cron entry, which runs every five minutes. If a schedule does not start on time, check that XenForo's scheduled tasks are running: keep scheduled tasks running. Every promotion is recorded in Logs > Content > Widget action log.

If a widget does not appear, installed an add-on but nothing shows up? walks through the usual causes. Screenshots of each layout are on the Widgets page.

Still stuck? Open a support ticket with your XenForo version, the widget's position and layout, and a screenshot of its options.