Add a client side open ticket list to osTicket 1.8.1

This article replaces the old one from:
https://tmib.net/add-client-side-open-ticket-list-osticket-18

With the release of osTicket 1.8.1 I thought that it was time to update this article which adds a client side open ticket list, adds the ability to control it its on/off, and how many tickets it should display in the admin panel. One of the features that I would love to see integrated into osTicket is an open ticket listing for clients. I feel that it gives clients the ability to see what tickets are already open so as to cut down on duplicate tickets, and give them a better idea of how many tickets are ahead of them when they place their request. This mod is will be added to github and a pull request to integrate it made.  It was originally written for osTicket 1.6ST, updated for 1.7 as well as 1.8. I have included two ways to install it. If you have modified your installation already you can install manually following the directions. If you have not modified your installation I have included all the files that you can simply copy over your existing ones.

With the release of osTicket 1.8.1ST I thought that it was time to revisit this article.  This article describes a mod which adds the following functionality to osTicket:

• a "safe" client side open ticket list [reduced information]
• Toggle display on/off in admin panel -> tickets
• Configure how many open tickets to display in admin panel -> tickets (default 10)
• more intelligent display of open tickets and faqs (built in)
• aesthetic css formating for the list.
• Utilizes osTicket db functions for communication with the DB.

1. Save the display_open_topics.php into your base osTicket folder. Open it and edit the lines 16 through 18 to match your setup.

2. Save the theme.css to osticketDirectory\assets\default\css\theme.css -OR- open osticketDirectory\assets\default\css\theme.css

A. To make the landing page fit together a little better scroll or find:

#landing_page #new_ticket

change

margin-top: 40px;

to

margin-top: 10px;

scroll or find:

#landing_page #check_status

change

margin-top: 40px;

to

margin-top: 10px;

B. add the following to the bottom

#openticks {
  padding:5px;
  background:#BFBFBF;
  -moz-border-radius: 5px;
  border-radius: 5px;
  -moz-box-shadow: 3px 3px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
  -webkit-box-shadow: 3px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
  box-shadow: 3px 3px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
}

#openticks-a {
  border-right-style: solid;
  border-right-width: 1px;
  border-right-color: #BFBFBF;
  text-align:center;
  vertical-align:middle;
  padding-bottom:4px;
}

#openticks-b {
  text-align:center;
  vertical-align:middle;
  padding-bottom:4px;
}

3. Copy the index.php (included) into your base osTicket folder -OR- open and edit \index.php scroll down and replace line 50-54

<p>Be sure to browse our <a href="kb/index.php">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)</a>, before opening a ticket.</p>
</div>
<?php
} ?>
<?php require(CLIENTINC_DIR.'footer.inc.php'); ?>

change to:

<p>Be sure to browse both our <a href="kb/index.php">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)</a>, and the open tickets below before opening a ticket.  Thank you.
  <div id="openticks"><?php include('display_open_topics.php'); ?></div>
</p>
</div>
<?php
} ?>
<?php require(CLIENTINC_DIR.'footer.inc.php'); ?>

NOTE: This will not get displayed if you have not enabled and setup knowledgebases and have a public FAQ! To do so read this article: setting up and using FAQS in osticket. Alternatively you can replace the code change above with this one:

<?php
if($cfg && $cfg->isKnowledgebaseEnabled()){
    //FIXME: provide ability to feature or select random FAQs ??
?>
<p>Be sure to browse both our <a href="kb/index.php">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)</a>.
<?php
} ?>
<p>Please review the open tickets below before opening a ticket.  Thank you.
<div id="openticks"><?php include('display_open_topics.php'); ?></div>
</p>
</div>
<?php require(CLIENTINC_DIR.'footer.inc.php'); ?>

The file archive for this mod can be downloaded here.