Recent Topics for phpBB 3.3

Extension for phpBB to display recent topics on the index page. Originally based on NV Recent Topics by Joas Schilling (nickvergessen), later maintained by PayBas. Now maintained by avathar.

Version

v3.0.0 (15/02/2026)

Support

• Support forum

Requirements

• phpBB 3.3.0 or higher
• PHP 7.1.3 or higher

Features

• Adds a list of recent (or unread) topics or last reply to topics to the index page
• UCP permissions and settings so users can choose their own preferences to override ACP
• View all recent topics on a dedicated page at /app.php/rt (full page) or /app.php/rt/simple (minimal, for iframe embedding)
• ACP / UCP Options:
  • Screen location: Top, Bottom or Side
  • Number of topics to show per page
  • Sort by topic start time instead of last post time
  • Only show unread topics
• ACP Options:
  • Enable/disable Recent Topics on the index page
  • Per-forum toggle: enable/disable Recent Topics display per forum (in ACP Forum Management)
  • Show all recent topic pages
  • Maximum number of pages
  • Set minimum topic type level to display (normal/sticky/announcement/global)
  • Exclusion of topics by ID
  • Display parent forum name in the row
  • Reset all user preferences to defaults
  • Built-in version checker (checks avathar.be for updates)
• Permissions: six granular user permissions — view, enable/disable, location, sort order, unread only, number of topics
• New users automatically inherit ACP default preferences on registration
• Inherits all styling from regular "viewforum" templates
• Filters "Re:" from reply subjects
• Compatible with:
  • "Pre:fixed" Extension from imkingdavid
  • "Topic Prefix" Extension from Stathis
  • Official extension "phpbb/topicprefixes"
  • mChat
  • Collapsible Categories v2
• Custom PHP events for extension integration: topictitle_remove_re, sql_pull_topics_list, sql_pull_topics_data, modify_topics_list, modify_topictitle, modify_tpl_ary
• Tested on:
  • prosilver
  • pbTech
  • pbWow3

Languages supported

• English, German, French, Dutch, Spanish, Czech, Russian, Portuguese, Arabic, Ukrainian, Swedish

Installation

1. Disable, delete data and remove the extension paybas/recenttopics.
2. Download the latest release and unzip it.
3. Copy the entire contents from the unzipped folder to /ext/avathar/recenttopicsav/.
4. Navigate in the ACP to Customise -> Manage extensions.
5. Find Recent Topics under "Disabled Extensions" and click Enable.

Uninstallation

1. Navigate in the ACP to Customise -> Manage extensions.
2. Click the Disable link for Recent Topics.
3. To permanently uninstall, click Delete Data, then delete the recenttopicsav folder from /ext/avathar/.

License

GNU General Public License v2

Originally by PayBas and nickvergessen. Maintained by Andreas Vandenberghe (avathar).