Welcome headers - Improve community registration rates

[GlowHost.com]

Templates use HTML. This is true of all templates and is not unique to welcome headers.

If you want to style the messages, use HTML.

Thanks Ted, appreciate the response. Great mod by the way. :)

[dieselpowered]

Hey Ted, you did such a fantastic job on this mod I was curious if it works with 3.7?

Thanks!

[Ted S]

As noted at the top of the main thread there is another version for 3.7.

[cougar networks]

Great mod Ted.

Installed on kent business forum.

Well done and thanks. :)

[Konstantinos]

the problem is the unactivated users get the same msg as COPPA users. i want seperate msg for thos 2 usegroups cause COPPA users have already confirmed their email. how to ? i think the older version had that.

edit

what i did. i created a phrase welcome_coppa and in the welcome header template

i added

<if condition="is_member_of($bbuserinfo, 4) AND $vboptions[wlhunconfirmed] AND !$welcomehdr">
<!-- / coppa user message -->
<br />
<table class="tborder" cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="$stylevar[cellspacing]" border="0" width="100%" align="center">
<tr>
<td class="alt1">
<phrase 1="$vboptions[bbtitle]" 2="register.php?do=requestemail" 3="sendmessage.php$session[sessionurl]" 4="$bbuserinfo[username]">$vbphrase[welcome_coppa]</phrase>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<!-- / coppa user message -->
<if condition="$welcomehdr = '1'"></if></if> right after <!-- / unconfirmed user message -->
<if condition="$welcomehdr = '1'"></if></if>and now i have seperate messages for coppa and unactivated users

[Tompa85]

<a href="http://koinos.de" target="_blank">Installed</a>.

[drpeppper]

Seeing most my Google and Yahoo Slurp bots at this page..

Viewing 'No Permission' Message
Viewing Error Message

Is there a way to exclude them from being blocked?

[Ted S]

Seeing most my Google and Yahoo Slurp bots at this page..

Viewing 'No Permission' Message
Viewing Error Message

Is there a way to exclude them from being blocked?

That's not related to this addon. Welcome Headers show an HTML message on your pages and do nothing to stop or allow bots (or anyone else for that matter) into your site.

[drpeppper]

Woops!, ha, I meant to Limited Guest Viewing (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=131985)
Sorry, and Thank You.

[Ted S]

Woops!, ha, I meant to Limited Guest Viewing (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=131985)
Sorry, and Thank You.

Read the hack description and install file... It explains how the hack works with search engines.

[globalinsites]

Is it possible to change the color of a word/link in the Guest Message? I tried it with [color=Option ]value[/color ] but it doesn't work.

[Ted S]

Is it possible to change the color of a word/link in the Guest Message? I tried it with [color=Option ]value[/color ] but it doesn't work.
You need to use regular HTML, not BBCode.

[netzrate]

install and work nice!

Thank you!!

[jwaggoner]

I've just installed the mod on our 3.6.2 Vbulletin board test site but I don't see any welcome messages... I've installed the plugin and ensured it was switched on in the admincp and made the changes from step 1 and 2 in the default style (the only one installed).

How do I test this functionality? I have delete the cookie to ensure I was considered a unknown user from my PC...

I would love to use the mod so any help or hint is welcomed!!!

greetings,
John

[Ted S]

I've just installed the mod on our 3.6.2 Vbulletin board test site but I don't see any welcome messages... I've installed the plugin and ensured it was switched on in the admincp and made the changes from step 1 and 2 in the default style (the only one installed).

How do I test this functionality? I have delete the cookie to ensure I was considered a unknown user from my PC...

I would love to use the mod so any help or hint is welcomed!!!

greetings,
John
Have you added the welcome headers variable to your template?

Are you viewing your board as a guest (and thus seeing the login box)?

[Iron Guard]

*installed*..thanks, just one quick question.

I edited the navbar template, however I still have dual welcome messages. The custom message and the standard vb message. Upon installing this mod I followed the directions and removed the code necessary at forumhome. Any reason I am still getting both messages.

I have two styles, default and dark, but only have the one style activated. Do I need to edit the forumhome template in the default style as well? thanks

[Ted S]

You have not removed the forumhome code from the appropriate template... if using a custom template it's entirely possible that it exists elsewhere and may look slightly different. A search should help you find it.

[jwaggoner]

I've just installed the mod on our 3.6.2 Vbulletin board test site but I don't see any welcome messages... I've installed the plugin and ensured it was switched on in the admincp and made the changes from step 1 and 2 in the default style (the only one installed).

How do I test this functionality? I have delete the cookie to ensure I was considered a unknown user from my PC...

I would love to use the mod so any help or hint is welcomed!!!

greetings,
John

Thanks for your replies. I was finally able to figure it out. First plugin installed so I had to figure a few things out to get it working.:D

[Iron Guard]

You have not removed the forumhome code from the appropriate template... if using a custom template it's entirely possible that it exists elsewhere and may look slightly different. A search should help you find it.

oh oh....tough one... i am a tech tard and its all i can do to install the simple modifications....so the code that I did remove (as outlined in the instructions) may exist somewhere else? I have only one style enabled and it was from within that style (dark) that I wen to the forumhome template and removed the code.

When you say search I can't even begin to imagine where I would start to do that....whoa!

[Ted S]

If it's still showing up then it's not removed... There's several search tools in the template system I'd suggest using to find it.

[Iron Guard]

Hi Ted,

So...I used the search function and located the phrase <!-- guest welcome message --> in the template Forumhome >welcome headers and then removed it! Conducted a search and thus it could not be located....clicked save and ...no dice...both messages remain....so I deleted from my inactive default style, just in case...clicked save and again no dice...both messages continue to show up even after I search for the phrase and it doesn't show up....
What might you suppose is going on? Thanks

[Ted S]

Hi Ted,

So...I used the search function and located the phrase <!-- guest welcome message --> in the template Forumhome >welcome headers and then removed it! Conducted a search and thus it could not be located....clicked save and ...no dice...both messages remain....so I deleted from my inactive default style, just in case...clicked save and again no dice...both messages continue to show up even after I search for the phrase and it doesn't show up....
What might you suppose is going on? Thanks
There's clearly still code somewhere... What's the URL to your forum?

[Iron Guard]

<a href="http://www.ironguardfitness.com/forums/" target="_blank">http://www.ironguardfitness.com/forums/</a> i just edited the phrase in the short term

[Kadence]

Neat mod :) Only problem is that in vBulletin Options->Welcome Headers, the Enable Lurker Message 'click here' links to .../admincp/phrase.php?do=edit&e[global][welcome_lurker]. This gives a 'No Phrases Matched Your Query' error.

The actual phrase to edit seems to be 'welcome_guest'.

[Ted S]

Neat mod :) Only problem is that in vBulletin Options->Welcome Headers, the Enable Lurker Message 'click here' links to .../admincp/phrase.php?do=edit&e[global][welcome_lurker]. This gives a 'No Phrases Matched Your Query' error.

The actual phrase to edit seems to be 'welcome_guest'.
It sounds like you changed something or downloaded this hack elsewhere... The world "lurker" does not appear in the source code at all.

[ram94401]

Great Mod. It will definitely help to improve the regn rate. I searched this thread to get an idea about how to include the html for the message window. For example, your demo page has nice colored background. I want to add our default border color. So, I added this to the welcome message phrase.

<table class="tborder" cellpadding="$stylevar[cellpadding]" cellspacing="$stylevar[cellspacing]" border="0" width="100%" align="center">
<thead>
Welcome to our forums message....
</thead>
</table>

Even then, no changes to the display. Is there a way to customize the display of these messages? Thanks!

[Ted S]

You can change the message content by editing the phrases for each message, links to these phrases are provided in the welcome headers section of your vbulletin options page. You can change the html that holds the messages by editing the template welcome_headers.

[Tharos]

thanks friend

[BusMonkey]

Dang! Wish it was for 3.6.9! Is there anyway to upload a 3.6.8 file onto a 3.6.9 version?

[Ted S]

Dang! Wish it was for 3.6.9! Is there anyway to upload a 3.6.8 file onto a 3.6.9 version?

Nope. There's no way you can use this. There's HUGE changes between 3.6.8 and 3.6.9. Ok, just kidding... it will work fine with 3.6.9 (sub-versions rarely cause conflicts and you are free to test things yourself....). :D

[Kadence]

It sounds like you changed something or downloaded this hack elsewhere... The world "lurker" does not appear in the source code at all.
That's odd. The file I installed earlier is the same as the one I downloaded just now from this thread. I uninstalled and reinstalled a new download, but the Welcome Header Messages option is still 'Enable Lurker Message' with text 'Do you wish to display a message to lurker visitors?'. Even though, as you say, vbwelcome_headers_3_6.xml does not contain this text. And the actual phrase setting_wlhguest_desc seems to be correct, using 'Guest' instead of 'Lurker'; the Options page seems to be the only thing different than it should be.

This must be because the forum used to contain an older version of this plugin. However all older plugins were uninstalled, and I was re-installing them. Also I checked 'Allow Overwrite' when reinstalling. So why is the old phrase being used for the options panel? Very confusing :confused:

[Ted S]

You've got me.... I don't have all the old versions on this machine but I can't recall ever changing the phrase although it's very possible. Try an uninstall/ install maybe?

[ram94401]

You can change the message content by editing the phrases for each message, links to these phrases are provided in the welcome headers section of your vbulletin options page. You can change the html that holds the messages by editing the template welcome_headers.

Thanks Ted. It's very helpful.

[steelflesh]

Works on 3.6.9 without any problem
Thanks

[periphrastic]

thanks ted s for the modification

whenever i try to use the "copy thread" feature, i get a blank white page with this hack enabled, by itself. i know this mod is not supported. still, any advisement? if not, thanks anyway

[Ted S]

whenever i try to use the "copy thread" feature, i get a blank white page with this hack enabled, by itself. i know this mod is not supported. still, any advisement? if not, thanks anyway

This add-on just displays an HTML message and does not add anything that would impact your moderation tools.

[periphrastic]

^ exactly, thanks ted s

i'm going to keep this mod, regardless of the blank page issue. it's far more useful than the copy thread feature, for me, anyway.

thanks for your response.

[Ted S]

^ exactly, thanks ted s

i'm going to keep this mod, regardless of the blank page issue. it's far more useful than the copy thread feature, for me, anyway.

thanks for your response.

Again, that issue has no relation to this addon unless you have further modified it yourself. I suggest you check your other addons and/or templates to figure out what is broken and causing your javascript functions or forms to mis-fire.

[periphrastic]

okay, i agree with you. will continue to troubleshoot this with my focus on other possibilities. thanks ted.

[Vuris]

hi i just installed this mod and think its great, but the only problem i have is the "join the community now" link is broken it redirects to mysitename.com/register.php when my registration link is mysitename.com/forum/register.php how do i go about changing this so it locates to the right area with the rest of my site?

probally a dumb question but im new to vb

[Ted S]

Modify the phrase that corresponds to the message with the bad link. You can edit phrases from the Welcome Headers System admin options.

[Vuris]

Modify the phrase that corresponds to the message with the bad link. You can edit phrases from the Welcome Headers System admin options.

what exacly am i looking to edit?. sorry complete novice :P

Phrase manager > Registration? > product menu > welcome headers ? > copy and paste previous header? > save .

[bluedogoz]

This is a great Mod Ted S, thankyou.

A must have Mod for any vBulletin forum (3.6.x). One can see an improvement in registration rates with this Mod installed in VB Version, 3.6.9.

We see over night the Latest vBulletin Version, 3.6.10 security release is out.

Has anyone tryed this mod with 3.6.10 ? And will it work without any problems?

[wally]

We see over night the Latest vBulletin Version, 3.6.10 security release is out.

Has anyone tryed this mod with 3.6.10 ? And will it work without any problems?

Yes it works with 3.6.10

[Ted S]

Has anyone tryed this mod with 3.6.10 ? And will it work without any problems?

This mod is 3.6.x compatible as noted in the mod information.

[Ted S]

what exacly am i looking to edit?. sorry complete novice :P

Phrase manager > Registration? > product menu > welcome headers ? > copy and paste previous header? > save .

vBulletin Options --> Welcome Header System --> Link for each message.

[SpeedJunkyz]

I did this Hack and nothing happened

[Ted S]

I did this Hack and nothing happened

Did you install the template changes as per the instructions in all styles and view your forums as a guest?

[Phornixx]

Installed

Looking great dude thanks!

[eyeoftiger]

tep 4) Configuration Options (Recommended)

The Welcome Header System is designed to be flexible and highly customizable to meet the specific needs of your forum. To customize which messages show up and what they say, go to your vBulletin Options, scroll to the end of the list and select "Welcome Header System".

Through this interface you will have the ability to enable or disable each message as well as configure options for display frequency. The admin interface will also provide you with easy access to modify the phrases for each welcome header message. While this is not required, it is highly suggested that you customize the phrases to speak specifically about your community.

I CAN NOT FIND "Welcome Header System" in my control panel, what's wrong?? but i can see the welcome header in my forum, http://sportsunit.com/forum. Please help

[Eq4bits]

go to admincp>vBulletin Options then used the scroll bar to look thru that list, depending on previous mod's added it may be way down near the bottom.

[sebaldus]

Great addons..:D

[Doctor Dan]

After playing around a bit, I decided to put the "$welcomeheaders" at the end of the header template right after "$spacer_open".

In this way, the welcome messages, etc. appear immediately below the header, and are also shown on the vBadvanced CMPS pages as well.

- Dan

[zorag]

Anyone tried this with VB v3.7.1

[Ted S]

Anyone tried this with VB v3.7.1

The hack is 3.7.x compatible.

As a general statement to anyone reading the thread and since this continues to come up about a thousand times in a hundred threads, very few hacks are impacted by the "dot" releases (3.7.0 vs 3.7.1, etc...) which generally fix bugs and security issues. When in doubt, try it out... something you should do with any addon regardless of what it's stated to work with.. addons conflict with each other and with customizations more than with vBulletin.

[Philster]

Yes, I have it installed on 3.7.1 and it works fine.

[pjkcards]

How do I find what the link for {3}, {2}, etc. are? I want to check into what those links are. Thanks

[Ted S]

The variables are coded into the template welcome_headers and differ from message to message.

[pjkcards]

Great, thanks. I looked there, but couldn't make out the links. Can you please tell me what the link is of these (the bold):

Hello {1}, Your account has not been confirmed and is not yet active! To become a registered user on this forum (required for posting or accessing special features) you will need to verify your email address by clicking a special link sent to you in our original welcome email. If you have lost this email, or it never arrived, please go <a href="{2}">here</a> to request another activation email be sent to you. If you suspect your email address is set wrong, go <a href="{3}">here</a> and fill the form out so an administrator can fix your account. Also please be sure to disable any spam filters you may have for our website, so that this and all future messages can reach you.

If you could say something like "2 is domain.com/welcome.php" or something, that would be very helpful. The reason I am doing this is because on my CMPS homepage, links are showing up as domain.com/register as opposed to domain.com/forum/register. So instead of using {3} and whatnot, I want to directly link, it makes it much easier for me too so I can change it without having to look up a phrase.

Thanks

[Ted S]

You can edit the phrases to point to whatever links you want, the variable links are just there to make life easier.

As far as tracking them down, they're all in the welcome_headers template, each phrase is called in a different message with the variables pulled in using fields like 1="$bbuserinfo[username]" and so forth.

[pjkcards]

Hello,
Yes, I did see these and such:
1="$bbuserinfo[username]"

But how do I find what link is "$bbuserinfo[username]"? I want the exact link to that and 2 and 3, such as domain.com/forum/username.php . Thanks

[Ted S]

The variables are standard vBulletin ones. I'm not sure if there's a list of them somewhere but most are prety obvious (i.e. username is username, site name is the forum title).

Again, you can change any of the variables to exact text, links, or whatever by editing the phrases through the vBulletin Admin Control Panel --> Welcome Header System.

[pjkcards]

Hello. Yes, I realize that "$bbuserinfo[username]" is username, and whatnot. But I want to put the exact link into the translations via the ACP>Welcome Header System. I don't know where "$bbuserinfo[username]" takes me on the forum, that is the problem.

[Ted S]

The person's username doesn't take you anywhere... it's a username... it prints a username. You would replace the link in the part of the phrase that utilizes a url (<a href=".....">).

[pjkcards]

Oh yeah, my bad. I meant for 2, and 3. They seem to links to activate your account or resend activations, but I am unsure of what the link to that is. Thanks for your help.

[Ted S]

Just copy the urls that are broken, modify them as you see fit and paste them directly into the phrase.

[Sup101]

Thanks Alot ... Installed :)

[pjkcards]

Just copy the urls that are broken, modify them as you see fit and paste them directly into the phrase.
I can't see the activation email, etc. posts/links because my account is fine. Hence why I am asking for the links here.

[Ted S]

I can't see the activation email, etc. posts/links because my account is fine. Hence why I am asking for the links here.

There's no list besides what you see in the templates and plugin file. If you're customizing your phrases you'll see the name of each link and can point the URL to whatever page you like... be the the one I put in or a different one that you think is more relevant. As stated in the hack, the default messages are just that -- default and should be customized as best you see fit.

[JustAskJulie]

Can someone tell me what the time is before it turns an active member into a lurker? The number listed is: 1209600, I don't know if that's seconds, minutes or what... but I do know that I just had a member report to me that they are getting this message (and getting annoyed by it) despite having posted within the last month.

[khurtsiya]

Is it compatible with vBulletin 3.8.1 + vBSEO 3.2.0?

[Ted S]

Can someone tell me what the time is before it turns an active member into a lurker? The number listed is: 1209600, I don't know if that's seconds, minutes or what... but I do know that I just had a member report to me that they are getting this message (and getting annoyed by it) despite having posted within the last month.

An active member is always an active member... They will see the please post message if it's been more than 14 days (1209600 / 86400 = 14 days). You can of course change this by increasing the 1209600 value to whatever you like or simply by disabling that welcome header entirely.

[Ted S]

Is it compatible with vBulletin 3.8.1 + vBSEO 3.2.0?

This code is compatible with 3.8.x or of course you could use the 3.8 version of the addon which uses vBulletin notices.

[YabbaDabba]

Ted S,

First, many, many thanks for this mod. I've used it for almost 2 years now and it was a huge step in leveraging our forum's potential.

Considering downgrading to this 3.6 version from the 3.7:notices version.

Any special considerations? Can both be "installed" at same time?

Also, do you have a more full-bodied elaboration of the differences between your 3.6 plug-in and the vB3.7 Notices mechanism? (Other than the hints supplied on your 3.7 thread)? I realize you can't bite the hand, but I found the Notices form logic limiting in all but the simplest cases. We have complex groups and promotions and the Notices logic seems ill equipped to handle our needs.

[Ted S]

Great question YabbaDabba. I'll do my best to explain...

As you know notices are "native" to 3.7 & 3.8 and for most people who just do basic messages they fit the bill.

Of course as you've discovered the system is pretty basic and while there's a lot of options it actually doesn't do everything the simple conditions in welcome headers did (on the other hand it does a lot of cool things welcome headers did not do).

Yes, both can be used at once.

Yes, the 3.6 version works on 3.7+. No, nothing has to be tweaked to do this...

I personally run the 3.6 version on my client sites as it lets me build whatever conditions I like using template variables rather than relying on what is in the notifications system.

As for your last question the difference is pretty much code vs interface. vBulletin provides notices to let people build their own messages -- welcome headers uses template conditions to do the same thing. With my 3.7 mod you get a set of notices using the built in feature, with the 3.6 mod you get a template that identifies the right scenario to display a message to.

That solve your questions?

[Drago13]

I would love to use this hack... one problem... It shows up in my vb options to set the rules, but it does not show up on my admin cp to post messages etc...
I followed directions correctly. any suggestions ?... I browsed about a hundred threads, saw where other people had the same problem, but couldnt find a solution... thanks in advance for any help...

[Ted S]

I'm not following your problem....

If it shows up in your Admin CP options then you're set. What's the issue?

[vizitor]

Hi,

I don't if this is already posted (if so, sorry)... I've translated this addons into german (deutsch).

[ARSamo]

thanx this is too good

[Mobo]

Not sure what is going on with my site, but there is no vBoption for Welcome Headers. I've installed and even update the default messages, but now it does not show up at all in my list of option on my site. I know it's working as if I visit the site not logged in, I can see it!!

Any thoughts???

[Ted S]

Not sure what is going on with my site, but there is no vBoption for Welcome Headers. I've installed and even update the default messages, but now it does not show up at all in my list of option on my site. I know it's working as if I visit the site not logged in, I can see it!!

Any thoughts???

Perhaps you're using the new version which works through the notices manager?

[Mobo]

LOL, yeah I'm a tard! That was it. lol Thanks man!

[jkcerda]

tagged

[Stormlilly]

Will this Mod be compatable with the new VB 4.0?

Thanks!

[Ted S]

Information on vbulletin 4 compatibility will come out when vBulletin 4 is far enough along to know what development changes are required and of course, what features are contained. There won't be a version if this is all built in. :D

[Stormlilly]

Information on vbulletin 4 compatibility will come out when vBulletin 4 is far enough along to know what development changes are required and of course, what features are contained. There won't be a version if this is all built in. :D

Thanks Ted for your reply, I really appreciate it.

[dalreardon]

Hi,

I am using VBulletin 4.1.5 Will this plugin work with that version?

Thanks,
Dale.

[HMBeaty]

Hi,

I am using VBulletin 4.1.5 Will this plugin work with that version?

Thanks,
Dale.
No.

[HMBeaty]

Hi,

I am using VBulletin 4.1.5 Will this plugin work with that version?

Thanks,
Dale.
Try searching the vB 4 forum for modifications. ;) THIS one is for vB 4 though :)

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=231384

[Ted S]

Hi,

I am using VBulletin 4.1.5 Will this plugin work with that version?

Thanks,
Dale.


vBulletin.org Forum (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/index.php) / vBulletin Modifications (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/forumdisplay.php?f=198) / vBulletin 3.6 Modifications (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/forumdisplay.php?f=191) /vBulletin 3.6 Add-ons (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/forumdisplay.php?f=194) / Welcome headers - Improve community registration rates (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?p=2232478#post2232478)

:confused:

With the search tool you can limit yourself to a specific version, like 4.0.

[friendlymela]

It will work on 4.2.2 ?