"recent topics" in SMF style

[jacortina]

You can show time/queries in your fooer by going to
Admin -> Configuration/Features and Options -> Layout and Options

Check the box after "Display time taken to create every page"

That seems like a serious number of page hits (average near 11 every minute for 20 hours).

Without uninstalling TP, you can start my disabling some blocks and (once you show time/queries) see which ones generate how many queries by enabling them one at a time.

And, with your concern being queries rather than bandwidth over time, serving up more messages per page may give some small benefit.

[hartiberlin]

I see, that already each page access over here at tinyportal.co.uk
takes around 35 queries to the database,
so if this is really the case,
I get around with users being online all the time:

70.000 / 50 users x 35 queries = 40 pages
only for each user per hour !
This now is really a low value !

So it seems this is just a very limit for my forum ,
right ?

What maximum queries to the database does your ISP allow ?

[hartiberlin]

Okay, now I have enabled
"Display time taken to create every page"

and my forum pages have now between 32 and 36 queries per page
to the database.

Is this normal ?

[hartiberlin]

Now as I can see the queries done to the database,
I saw, that the code I had put in there generated 42 queries
to the database for the recent 10 postings !

Now after disabling this bloc it is only 19 queries !
So this is huge difference...
Can anyone post here a code for the last 100 recent postings,
which will only consume 2 to 5 queries to the database ?

Many thanks.

[rebelrose]

hartiberlin, you seem very enthusiastic about things, may I make a small suggestion, you posted here 3 times back to back within minutes of each other.

Might I suggest you slow down long enough to allow someone to respond to your first post before adding the second and third.

Sometimes it is easy to overlook a post when they are posted by the same person in a row this way.

When I say overlook I mean they might miss something and not get all your questions answered.

We try our best to give as much support as needed and would hate to over look something.

Thank you so much.

[bloc]

I suggest changing hosts rather quick. The way you have to cut down on things just to get under that limit is ridicoulus. What if you - heaven forbid - used VBulletin + VBportal? SMF is a very lean compared to that.

Disabling blocks that have their own db calls are always good, thats why I try to make TP db calls be as efficient as possible, to reduce the amount of queries. Which incidentally is also something I am quite surprised to still see the Arcade mod doing: having each page use up to 100-120 queries..

And agreed: please use just one post at a time, its confusing to read and answer.

[AzzX]

Moving my site from php_fusion to SMF/TP and trying To get the "recent topics" similar to my current site www.ozsource.org

New test site www.ozsource.net

Any tips

Thanks lads.

[jacortina]

My latest iteration of the Recent topics Article/Block.

I realized the way this was implemented in order to get membergroup colors, it was performing way too many queries.

Moving my site from php_fusion to SMF/TP and trying To get the "recent topics" similar to my current site www.ozsource.org

New test site www.ozsource.net

Any tips

Thanks lads.

I don't know about that javascipt list expansion, but this code can provide that general kind of a 'most recently posted to topics' table.

It can be used in an article with passed in arguments (for a full article type display) or it can be used in a block (center/frontpage) with parameters specified in the block.

There's quite a bit of documentation in the code itself. Look at the section marked "Boardindex Most Recent Topics Arguments". That uses the Admin-specified number for most recent posts to be shown, but you can provide any number for $list_count.

Code Select Expand

global $context, $settings, $scripturl, $txt, $db_prefix, $ID_MEMBER, $user_info, $modSettings, $user_profile;

//////////////////////////////////////////// ---------- Unconditional Exclude
//
$exclude_boards = array(); // KEEP (to preserve variable declaration)
// $exclude_boards = array(5); //  Exclude single board
// $exclude_boards = array(5, 8); //  Exclude multiple boards
$ex_board_clause = !empty($exclude_boards) ? ' AND b.ID_BOARD NOT IN (' . implode(', ', $exclude_boards) . ')' : '';
//
//

//////////////////////////////////////////// ---------- Use in TP PHP Article (no title or frame from theme)
// This will give most recent XX posted to topics -OR-
// most recent XX unreplied to topics -OR-
// topics posted to in last XX hours -OR-
// most recent XX topics on topic notify list
//
// Sorts by most recent reply (descending; most recent first) -OR-
//          creation order (descending; most recent first)
//
// All in the detailed topic format
//
//
// Default
// index.php?page=##
// most recent posted to topics - will list
// number equal to  $settings['number_recent_posts']
//
// index.php?page=##;count=50 or index.php?page=##;type=last;count=50
// 50 most recently posted to topics
//
// index.php?page=##;type=unreplied or index.php?page=##;type=unreplied;count=50
// Most recent unreplied to topics - will
// list number specified in 'count' or default to
// number equal to  $settings['number_recent_posts']
//
// index.php?page=##;type=hours or index.php?page=##;type=hours;count=12
// Topics posted to in last number of hours
// specified in 'count' or default to 24.
//
// index.php?page=##;type=notify or index.php?page=##;type=notify;count=50
// Topics in topic notifcation list up to number
// specified in 'count' or a maximum of 100 topics.
//
// *** Admins Only ***
// index.php?page=##;type=notify;user=XXX or index.php?page=##;type=notify;user=XXX;count=50
// Topics in topic notifcation list of specified user up to number
// specified in 'count' or a maximum of 100 topics.
//
// index.php?page=##;type=started or index.php?page=##;type=started;count=50
// Topics started by current user list up to number
// specified in 'count' or a maximum of 100 topics.
//
// *** Admins Only ***
// index.php?page=##;type=notify;user=XXX or index.php?page=##;type=started;user=XXX;count=50
// Topics started by specified user up to number
// specified in 'count' or a maximum of 100 topics.
//
// Add argument order=create to sort by topic creation sequence (most recent first)
// rather than by last reply sequence

$do_query = 1;

//////////////////////////////////////////// ---------- Poor Man's Global Announcements Block (center block - no Title/Frame)
// Delete documentation comments above and marked section below
//
// $announce_topics = array(254, 568, 675, 678); // Topic ID's to be 'Announced'
//
// $heading = '<center>Announcements<center>';
// $where_clause = 't.ID_TOPIC IN (' . implode(', ', $announce_topics) . ')';
// $limit_clause = '';
// $order_clause = 't.ID_LAST_MSG DESC';
////////////////////////////////////////////   

//////////////////////////////////////////// ---------- Last 5 Topics Started by User Block (center block - no Title/Frame)
// Delete documentation comments above and marked section below
//
// $heading = 'Most Recent Topics You Started';
// $where_clause = 'ms.ID_MEMBER = '.$ID_MEMBER;
// $limit_clause = 'LIMIT 5';
// $order_clause = 't.ID_FIRST_MSG DESC';
////////////////////////////////////////////   

//////////////////////////////////////////// ---------- Boardindex Most Recent Topics Arguments
//
// Comment out the Info Center's Most Recent Posts Code and Insert this
// to show Most Recent Topics in full detail style instead
//
// $list_count = $settings['number_recent_posts'];
// $heading = 'Most Recently Posted To Topics';
// $where_clause = 't.ID_LAST_MSG >= ' . ($modSettings['maxMsgID'] - 50 * min($list_count, 5));
// $limit_clause = 'LIMIT ' . $list_count;
// $order_clause = 't.ID_LAST_MSG DESC';
////////////////////////////////////////////   

////////////////////////////////////////////  ------ Remove down to next mark to use in block/boardindex ------
//
if (empty($settings['number_recent_posts']))
$number_recent_posts = 20;
else
$number_recent_posts = $settings['number_recent_posts'];

        if( isset($_GET['type']) )
$list_type = $_GET['type'];
else
$list_type = 'last';

        if( isset($_GET['count']) )
$list_count = $_GET['count'];
else
{
$list_count = $number_recent_posts;
if ($list_type == 'notify')
$list_count = 100;
elseif ($list_type == 'hours')
$list_count = 24;
}

if ($list_count <= 0)
{
$list_count = $number_recent_posts;
if ($list_type == 'hours')
$list_count = 24;
}

if ($list_count > 100)
$list_count = 100;

        if( isset($_GET['order']) )
$list_order = $_GET['order'];
else
$list_order = 'lastpost';

        if( $list_order == 'create' )
$order_clause = 't.ID_FIRST_MSG DESC';
else
$order_clause = 't.ID_LAST_MSG DESC';

if ($list_type == 'hours')
{
$list_from = strtotime($list_count.' hours ago');
$where_clause = 'ml.posterTime >= ' . $list_from;
$limit_clause = ' ';
$heading = 'Topics Posted To In Last '. $list_count . ' Hours';
}
elseif ($list_type == 'unreplied')
{
$where_clause = 't.numReplies = 0';
if ($list_count == 0)
{
$limit_clause = ' ';
$heading = 'Unreplied To Topics';
}
else
{
$limit_clause = 'LIMIT ' . $list_count;
$heading = $list_count . ' Most Recent Unreplied To Topics';
}
}
elseif ($list_type == 'notify')
{
if (isset($_GET['user']) && $user_info['is_admin'])
{
$watched_topics = array();
$request = db_query("SELECT ID_TOPIC FROM {$db_prefix}log_notify WHERE ID_MEMBER = {$_GET['user']} AND ID_BOARD = 0", __FILE__, __LINE__);
while ($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($request))
$watched_topics[] = $row['ID_TOPIC'];
mysql_free_result($request);
$heading = $list_count . ' Most Recent Topics Being Watched by User # '.$_GET['user'];
$where_clause = 't.ID_TOPIC IN (' . implode(', ', $watched_topics) . ')';
$limit_clause = 'LIMIT ' . $list_count;
if (empty($watched_topics))
$do_query = 0;
}
else
{
$watched_topics = array();
$request = db_query("SELECT ID_TOPIC FROM {$db_prefix}log_notify WHERE ID_MEMBER = {$ID_MEMBER} AND ID_BOARD = 0", __FILE__, __LINE__);
while ($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($request))
$watched_topics[] = $row['ID_TOPIC'];
mysql_free_result($request);
$heading = $list_count . ' Most Recent Topics Being Watched';
$where_clause = 't.ID_TOPIC IN (' . implode(', ', $watched_topics) . ')';
$limit_clause = 'LIMIT ' . $list_count;
if (empty($watched_topics))
$do_query = 0;
}
}
elseif ($list_type == 'started')
{
if (isset($_GET['user']) && $user_info['is_admin'])
{
$where_clause = 'ms.ID_MEMBER = '.$_GET['user'];
$limit_clause = 'LIMIT ' . $list_count;
        if( $list_order == 'create' )
{
$order_clause = 't.ID_FIRST_MSG DESC';
$heading = 'Most Recent Topics Started by User '.$_GET['user'];
}
else
{
$order_clause = 't.ID_LAST_MSG DESC';
$heading = 'Most Recently Posted To Topics Started by User '.$_GET['user'];
}
}
else
{
$where_clause = 'ms.ID_MEMBER = '.$ID_MEMBER;
$limit_clause = 'LIMIT ' . $list_count;
        if( $list_order == 'create' )
{
$order_clause = 't.ID_FIRST_MSG DESC';
$heading = 'Most Recent Topics You Started';
}
else
{
$order_clause = 't.ID_LAST_MSG DESC';
$heading = 'Most Recently Posted To Topics You Started';
}
}
}
else
{
$where_clause = 't.ID_LAST_MSG >= ' . ($modSettings['maxMsgID'] - 90 * min($list_count, 5));
$limit_clause = 'LIMIT ' . $list_count;
$heading = $list_count . ' Most Recently Posted To Topics';
}
//
////////////////////////////////////////////  ------ Remove up to first mark to use in block/boardindex ------

$stable_icons = array('xx', 'thumbup', 'thumbdown', 'exclamation', 'question', 'lamp', 'smiley', 'angry', 'cheesy', 'grin', 'sad', 'wink', 'moved', 'recycled', 'wireless');
$icon_sources = array();
foreach ($stable_icons as $icon)
$icon_sources[$icon] = 'images_url';

$groupcolors = array();
$request = db_query("SELECT ID_GROUP, onlineColor FROM {$db_prefix}membergroups", __FILE__, __LINE__);
while ($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($request))
$groupcolors[$row['ID_GROUP']] = $row['onlineColor'];
mysql_free_result($request);

$topics = array();

if ($do_query == 1)
{
$request = db_query("
SELECT
ms.subject AS firstSubject, ms.posterTime AS firstPosterTime, ms.ID_TOPIC, t.ID_BOARD, b.name AS bname,
t.numReplies, t.numViews, ms.ID_MEMBER AS ID_FIRST_MEMBER, ml.ID_MEMBER AS ID_LAST_MEMBER,
ml.posterTime AS lastPosterTime, IFNULL(mems.realName, ms.posterName) AS firstPosterName,
IFNULL(meml.realName, ml.posterName) AS lastPosterName,
mems.ID_GROUP as mems_group, meml.ID_GROUP as meml_group,
ml.subject AS lastSubject, b.memberGroups,
ml.icon AS lastIcon, ms.icon AS firstIcon, t.ID_POLL, t.isSticky, t.locked, ml.modifiedTime AS lastModifiedTime,
LEFT(ml.body, 384) AS lastBody, LEFT(ms.body, 384) AS firstBody,
ml.smileysEnabled AS lastSmileys, ms.smileysEnabled AS firstSmileys, t.ID_FIRST_MSG, t.ID_LAST_MSG,"
. ($user_info['is_guest'] ? '1 AS isRead, 0 AS new_from' : '
IFNULL(lt.ID_MSG, IFNULL(lmr.ID_MSG, 0)) >= ml.ID_MSG_MODIFIED AS isRead,
IFNULL(lt.ID_MSG, IFNULL(lmr.ID_MSG, -1)) + 1 AS new_from') . "
FROM ({$db_prefix}messages AS ms, {$db_prefix}messages AS ml, {$db_prefix}topics AS t, {$db_prefix}boards AS b)
LEFT JOIN {$db_prefix}members AS mems ON (mems.ID_MEMBER = ms.ID_MEMBER)
LEFT JOIN {$db_prefix}members AS meml ON (meml.ID_MEMBER = ml.ID_MEMBER)
LEFT JOIN {$db_prefix}log_topics AS lt ON (lt.ID_TOPIC = t.ID_TOPIC AND lt.ID_MEMBER = $ID_MEMBER)
LEFT JOIN {$db_prefix}log_mark_read AS lmr ON (lmr.ID_BOARD = t.ID_BOARD AND lmr.ID_MEMBER = $ID_MEMBER)
WHERE " . $where_clause . $ex_board_clause . "
AND t.ID_TOPIC = ms.ID_TOPIC
AND b.ID_BOARD = t.ID_BOARD" . (!empty($modSettings['recycle_enable']) && $modSettings['recycle_board'] > 0 ? " AND b.ID_BOARD != $modSettings[recycle_board]" : '') . "
AND ms.ID_MSG = t.ID_FIRST_MSG
AND ml.ID_MSG = t.ID_LAST_MSG
AND " . $user_info['query_see_board'] . "
ORDER BY " . $order_clause . " " . $limit_clause, __FILE__, __LINE__);


$topic_ids = array();
while ($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($request))
{
if ($row['ID_POLL'] > 0 && $modSettings['pollMode'] == '0')
continue;

$topic_ids[] = $row['ID_TOPIC'];

// Clip the strings first because censoring is slow :/. (for some reason?)
$row['firstBody'] = strip_tags(strtr(parse_bbc($row['firstBody'], $row['firstSmileys'], $row['ID_FIRST_MSG']), array('<br />' => '
')));
if (strlen($row['firstBody']) > 128)
$row['firstBody'] = substr($row['firstBody'], 0, 128) . '...';
$row['lastBody'] = strip_tags(strtr(parse_bbc($row['lastBody'], $row['lastSmileys'], $row['ID_LAST_MSG']), array('<br />' => '
')));
if (strlen($row['lastBody']) > 128)
$row['lastBody'] = substr($row['lastBody'], 0, 128) . '...';

$row['lastSubject'] = $row['firstSubject'];
$row['lastBody'] = $row['firstBody'];

// Decide how many pages the topic should have.
$topic_length = $row['numReplies'] + 1;
if ($topic_length > $modSettings['defaultMaxMessages'])
{
$tmppages = array();
$tmpa = 1;
for ($tmpb = 0; $tmpb < $topic_length; $tmpb += $modSettings['defaultMaxMessages'])
{
$tmppages[] = '<a href="' . $scripturl . '?topic=' . $row['ID_TOPIC'] . '.' . $tmpb . ';topicseen">' . $tmpa . '</a>';
$tmpa++;
}
// Show links to all the pages?
if (count($tmppages) <= 5)
$pages = '« ' . implode(' ', $tmppages);
// Or skip a few?
else
$pages = '« ' . $tmppages[0] . ' ' . $tmppages[1] . ' ... ' . $tmppages[count($tmppages) - 2] . ' ' . $tmppages[count($tmppages) - 1];

if (!empty($modSettings['enableAllMessages']) && $topic_length < $modSettings['enableAllMessages'])
$pages .= '  <a href="' . $scripturl . '?topic=' . $row['ID_TOPIC'] . '.0;all">' . $txt[190] . '</a>';
$pages .= ' »';
}
else
$pages = '';

// We need to check the topic icons exist... you can never be too sure!
if (empty($modSettings['messageIconChecks_disable']))
{
// First icon first... as you'd expect.
if (!isset($icon_sources[$row['firstIcon']]))
$icon_sources[$row['firstIcon']] = file_exists($settings['theme_dir'] . '/images/post/' . $row['firstIcon'] . '.gif') ? 'images_url' : 'default_images_url';
// Last icon... last... duh.
if (!isset($icon_sources[$row['lastIcon']]))
$icon_sources[$row['lastIcon']] = file_exists($settings['theme_dir'] . '/images/post/' . $row['lastIcon'] . '.gif') ? 'images_url' : 'default_images_url';
}

$color_start = !empty($groupcolors[$row['mems_group']]) ? $groupcolors[$row['mems_group']] : '';
$color_last = !empty($groupcolors[$row['meml_group']]) ? $groupcolors[$row['meml_group']] : '';

// And build the array.
$topics[$row['ID_TOPIC']] = array(
'id' => $row['ID_TOPIC'],
'first_post' => array(
'id' => $row['ID_FIRST_MSG'],
'member' => array(
'name' => $row['firstPosterName'],
'id' => $row['ID_FIRST_MEMBER'],
'href' => $scripturl . '?action=profile;u=' . $row['ID_FIRST_MEMBER'],
'link' => !empty($row['ID_FIRST_MEMBER']) ? '<a href="' . $scripturl . '?action=profile;u=' . $row['ID_FIRST_MEMBER'] . '" title="' . $txt[92] . ' ' . $row['firstPosterName'] . '">' . '<font color="' . $color_start . '">' . $row['firstPosterName'] . '</font>' . '</a>' : $row['firstPosterName']
),
'time' => timeformat($row['firstPosterTime']),
'timestamp' => forum_time(true, $row['firstPosterTime']),
'subject' => $row['firstSubject'],
'preview' => $row['firstBody'],
'icon' => $row['firstIcon'],
'icon_url' => $settings[$icon_sources[$row['firstIcon']]] . '/post/' . $row['firstIcon'] . '.gif',
'href' => $scripturl . '?topic=' . $row['ID_TOPIC'] . '.0;topicseen',
'link' => '<a href="' . $scripturl . '?topic=' . $row['ID_TOPIC'] . '.0;topicseen">' . $row['firstSubject'] . '</a>'
),
'last_post' => array(
'id' => $row['ID_LAST_MSG'],
'member' => array(
'name' => $row['lastPosterName'],
'id' => $row['ID_LAST_MEMBER'],
'href' => $scripturl . '?action=profile;u=' . $row['ID_LAST_MEMBER'],
'link' => !empty($row['ID_LAST_MEMBER']) ? '<a href="' . $scripturl . '?action=profile;u=' . $row['ID_LAST_MEMBER'] . '">' . '<font color="' . $color_last . '">' . $row['lastPosterName'] . '</font>' . '</a>' : $row['lastPosterName']
),
'time' => timeformat($row['lastPosterTime']),
'timestamp' => forum_time(true, $row['lastPosterTime']),
'subject' => $row['lastSubject'],
'preview' => $row['lastBody'],
'icon' => $row['lastIcon'],
'icon_url' => $settings[$icon_sources[$row['lastIcon']]] . '/post/' . $row['lastIcon'] . '.gif',
'href' => $scripturl . '?topic=' . $row['ID_TOPIC'] . ($row['numReplies'] == 0 ? '.0' : '.msg' . $row['ID_LAST_MSG']) . ';topicseen#msg' . $row['ID_LAST_MSG'],
'link' => '<a href="' . $scripturl . '?topic=' . $row['ID_TOPIC'] . ($row['numReplies'] == 0 ? '.0' : '.msg' . $row['ID_LAST_MSG']) . ';topicseen#msg' . $row['ID_LAST_MSG'] . '">' . $row['lastSubject'] . '</a>'
),
'new' => $row['isRead'],
'new_from' => $row['new_from'],
'new_href' => $scripturl . '?topic=' . $row['ID_TOPIC'] . '.msg' . $row['new_from'] . ';topicseen#new',
'href' => $scripturl . '?topic=' . $row['ID_TOPIC'] . ($row['numReplies'] == 0 ? '.0' : '.msg' . $row['new_from']) . ';topicseen' . ($row['numReplies'] == 0 ? '' : 'new'),
'link' => '<a href="' . $scripturl . '?topic=' . $row['ID_TOPIC'] . ($row['numReplies'] == 0 ? '.0' : '.msg' . $row['new_from']) . ';topicseen#msg' . $row['new_from'] . '">' . $row['firstSubject'] . '</a>',
'is_sticky' => !empty($modSettings['enableStickyTopics']) && !empty($row['isSticky']),
'is_locked' => !empty($row['locked']),
'is_poll' => $modSettings['pollMode'] == '1' && $row['ID_POLL'] > 0,
'is_hot' => $row['numReplies'] >= $modSettings['hotTopicPosts'],
'is_very_hot' => $row['numReplies'] >= $modSettings['hotTopicVeryPosts'],
'is_posted_in' => false,
'icon' => $row['firstIcon'],
'icon_url' => $settings[$icon_sources[$row['firstIcon']]] . '/post/' . $row['firstIcon'] . '.gif',
'subject' => $row['firstSubject'],
'pages' => $pages,
'replies' => $row['numReplies'],
'views' => $row['numViews'],
'board' => array(
'id' => $row['ID_BOARD'],
'name' => $row['bname'],
'href' => $scripturl . '?board=' . $row['ID_BOARD'] . '.0',
'link' => '<a href="' . $scripturl . '?board=' . $row['ID_BOARD'] . '.0">' . $row['bname'] . '</a>'
)
);

determineTopicClass($topics[$row['ID_TOPIC']]);
}
mysql_free_result($request);

if (!empty($modSettings['enableParticipation']) && !empty($topic_ids))
{
$result = db_query("
SELECT ID_TOPIC
FROM {$db_prefix}messages
WHERE ID_TOPIC IN (" . implode(', ', $topic_ids) . ")
AND ID_MEMBER = $ID_MEMBER", __FILE__, __LINE__);
while ($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($result))
{
if (empty($topics[$row['ID_TOPIC']]['is_posted_in']))
{
$topics[$row['ID_TOPIC']]['is_posted_in'] = true;
$topics[$row['ID_TOPIC']]['class'] = 'my_' . $topics[$row['ID_TOPIC']]['class'];
}
}
mysql_free_result($result);
}

}

if (!empty($topics))
    {
    echo '
        <div class="tborder" ', $context['browser']['needs_size_fix'] && !$context['browser']['is_ie6'] ? 'style="width: 100%;margin:0px;"' : 'style="margin:0px;"', '>
            <table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" class="bordercolor">
                <tr>';

    echo '
                    <td class="titlebg" colspan="7">', $heading, '</td>';
    echo '
                </tr>';

    echo '
<tr class="titlebg">
<td width="10%" colspan="2"> </td>
<td>', $txt[70], '
</td><td width="14%">', $txt[109], '
</td><td width="4%" align="center">', $txt[110], '
</td><td width="4%" align="center">', $txt[301], '
</td><td width="24%">', $txt[111], '
</td>
</tr>';

foreach ($topics as $topic)
{
// Do we want to seperate the sticky and lock status out?
if (!empty($settings['seperate_sticky_lock']) && strpos($topic['class'], 'sticky') !== false)
$topic['class'] = substr($topic['class'], 0, strrpos($topic['class'], '_sticky'));
if (!empty($settings['seperate_sticky_lock']) && strpos($topic['class'], 'locked') !== false)
$topic['class'] = substr($topic['class'], 0, strrpos($topic['class'], '_locked'));

echo '
<tr>
<td class="windowbg2" valign="middle" align="center" width="6%">
<img src="' . $settings['images_url'] . '/topic/' . $topic['class'] . '.gif" alt="" />
</td><td class="windowbg2" valign="middle" align="center" width="4%">
<img src="' . $topic['first_post']['icon_url'] . '" alt="" align="middle" />
</td><td class="windowbg' , $topic['is_sticky'] && !empty($settings['seperate_sticky_lock']) ? '3' : '' , '" width="48%" valign="middle">' , $topic['is_locked'] && !empty($settings['seperate_sticky_lock']) ? '
<img src="' . $settings['images_url'] . '/icons/quick_lock.gif" align="right" alt="" style="margin: 0;" />' : '' , $topic['is_sticky'] && !empty($settings['seperate_sticky_lock']) ? '
<img src="' . $settings['images_url'] . '/icons/show_sticky.gif" align="right" alt="" style="margin: 0;" />' : '', $topic['first_post']['link'];
if ($topic['new'] == 0)
{
echo '<a href="', $topic['new_href'], '"> <img src="', $settings['images_url'], '/', $context['user']['language'], '/new.gif" alt="', $txt[302], '" /></a>';
}
echo '
<span class="smalltext">', $topic['pages'], '<br>', $txt['smf88'], ' ', $topic['board']['link'], '</span></td>
<td class="windowbg2" valign="middle" width="14%">
', $topic['first_post']['member']['link'], '</td>
<td class="windowbg" valign="middle" width="4%" align="center">
', $topic['replies'], '</td>
<td class="windowbg" valign="middle" width="4%" align="center">
', $topic['views'], '</td>
<td class="windowbg2" valign="middle" width="22%">
<a href="', $topic['last_post']['href'], '"><img src="', $settings['images_url'], '/icons/last_post.gif" alt="', $txt[111], '" title="', $txt[111], '" style="float: right;" /></a>
<span class="smalltext">
', $topic['last_post']['time'], '<br />
', $txt[525], ' ', $topic['last_post']['member']['link'], '
</span>
</td>
</tr>';
}

    echo '</table></div>';

    }
else
    echo '<b><u>'.$heading.'<br><br>No Topics Match Search Criteria</u></b>';

[AzzX]

Cheers - I'll have a good play when I get home.
Great helpful community here, greatly appreciated.

[Ken.]

Thanks J.A.Cortina
My attempt is throwing the error below so I'm missing something here. After reading through the code several times and rereading your post many times as well I'm still not seeing the mistake in my code.
None of my changes seem to be correct. 
At this point the old code has been put back into service untill the new can be sorted out in a test article. 

Parse error: parse error, unexpected $, expecting ',' or ';' in /homepages/46/d100556969/htdocs/mykimbrell/FamilyForum/Sources/Load.php(1708) : eval()'d code(245) : eval()'d code on line 486

EDIT: Never mind! The test article works just fine and it has now replaced the old code as the active article... in copying the code over from J.A.'s post too the article I must have missed some.