External Data Provider Usergroup/Cookie Setting

[Abe1]

External Data Provider Usergroup/Cookie Setting 2.2


About this hack:
This hack allows you to set what usergroup external.php gets permissions from. This is a great hack for administrators who don't allow guests to view their forum. Using this hack you can set what usergroup it should get permissions from. I'm sure your users want RSS feeds!

There is now an option to have the browser look for cookies to get permissions from.

Administrators who allow guests to view their forum but with barley any permissions, this hack will also help you.


Files edited: 0
Templates edited: 0
Files to upload: 1 (via ACP)
Time to install: 5 seconds

Updates:

Version 2.0 (9/19/06):

Release of this hack for vb 3.6.
Option to use Cookies to get permissions.


Version 2.1 (9/22/06):

Fixed bug with cookie prefixes


Version 2.2 (10/14/07):

If using cookies to get usergroupid to get posts, it will now verify passwords to avoid users who edit cookies.


[CENTER]Please post your comments or suggestions for this hack. I read ALL posts.

MAKE SURE YOU CLICK INSTALL (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/vborg_miscactions.php?do=installhack&threadid=127062)!
You will get an email when a new version is released.

[aveon]

thanx man great one

[Snake]

Thanks.

[MrNase]

This means guests can access pages without having the permission to?
See: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=127101

[Abe1]

This means guests can access pages without having the permission to?
See: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=127101
Correct.

I just read your request. You can use the plug-in code for your custom page.

[Kanustep]

Sounds interesting!

But please answer. I have some forums that I don't want to guests view them, but want to be access to RSS.

This happens since I have to many users using RSS to access to my forum, but when click to see the thread, they will need to register to see the all content of message. Is this possible to do with this hack?

[Abe1]

Sounds interesting!

But please answer. I have some forums that I don't want to guests view them, but want to be access to RSS.

This happens since I have to many users using RSS to access to my forum, but when click to see the thread, they will need to register to see the all content of message. Is this possible to do with this hack?
That is how this hack works.

If you let RSS see the title, when a user clicks on it, they will have to log-in to see it.

[Kanustep]

Great this should be include by default on vBulletin

[Abe1]

Version 2.1 (9/22/06):

Fixed bug with cookie prefixes

[warnmar10]

It seems to work great with user group permission but ignores cookie based permission.

[Abe1]

It seems to work great with user group permission but ignores cookie based permission.
1) Do you hsve the latest version?
2) Do you log-in with 'remember me'?

[ibuddy]

Doesnt work I set it to a usergroup and its still not working...

[ibuddy]

I would really like to get this working this is exactly what Im trying to do.

I have my forum only viewable to members. So I set the usergroup in External Data Provider to a usergroup # that could view all the forums. I went to my rss page and it didnt work, it was blank. I logged in as admin and went to the same rss page, and could see it. So this is not working unless I am not doing something??

Could this because Im using FPS_External Version: 2.00 to generate the RSS feeds and not external.php?

[Abe1]

I would really like to get this working this is exactly what Im trying to do.

I have my forum only viewable to members. So I set the usergroup in External Data Provider to a usergroup # that could view all the forums. I went to my rss page and it didnt work, it was blank. I logged in as admin and went to the same rss page, and could see it. So this is not working unless I am not doing something??


Could this because Im using FPS_External Version: 2.00 to generate the RSS feeds and not external.php?
Any way I can test on your forum?

[ibuddy]

I am using this mod:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=105008

for some reason when I use it, I get a blank screen.

[Abe1]

I am using this mod:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=105008

for some reason when I use it, I get a blank screen.
Try changing the order in which the plug-in run.

[Dexter_kcd]

This is great! I was just getting ready to implement RSS feeds on my site, but we have one forum, that is restricted to members only, and a couple private forums for various groups. This solves the problem of being able to use those forums in an RSS viewer quite nicely. Thanks!

Dexter...

[GoNz00]

thanks :)

/installs

this is better than opening unregisterd usergroups up :D

[ODiUM78]

Thank you very much! This is exactly what i was looking for!

[w1z4rd]

Does this allow you to add multiple groups? I have several groups that need access.

[Abe1]

Does this allow you to add multiple groups? I have several groups that need access.
How would the browser differentiate between them?

[w1z4rd]

Wish I knew. not a great coder. Cookies perhaps? Or, maybe I could use secondary groups.

[Abe1]

Wish I knew. not a great coder. Cookies perhaps? Or, maybe I could use secondary groups.
It uses cookies now to see if it can get a userid so it can get the users usergroup. If it does not find the cookie then it uses a default usergroup that you set.

[Aylwin]

How does the RSS feed check for cookies? Does this mean you need to use a browser for reading the feeds? Or can all RSS readers store cookies? Please pardon my ignorance.

Also, a bit off topic here but is there any way to set the RSS feed to send all new posts instead of just new threads?

[Abe1]

How does the RSS feed check for cookies? Does this mean you need to use a browser for reading the feeds? Or can all RSS readers store cookies? Please pardon my ignorance.

Also, a bit off topic here but is there any way to set the RSS feed to send all new posts instead of just new threads?
Dont know about the 2nd question.

As for your first, it will only work if you use a browser I guess like in FF or IE. If it can't get a cookie then it will use the default usergroup you set.

[jyajay]

I don't want to show any rss feed for guests or regular members but only for a special usergroup.

Is that possible?

[Abe1]

I don't want to show any rss feed for guests or regular members but only for a special usergroup.

Is that possible?
Yes. Set it to look at cookies. Also, set the usergroup setting to usergroup 1 which is guests.

[jyajay]

The thing is that I want only one usergroup to get the feed, not any other logged in user or guest.

[Abe1]

The thing is that I want only one usergroup to get the feed, not any other logged in user or guest.
Then you have to play with the hack your self.

make an IF around the hack

[jyajay]

Could you give me a small advice about how to do that? I am not quite sure what you are talking about.

I already tried to edit the postbit_external though but the usergroup conditional seems not to work there as saving is not possible without producing syntax errors.

[Abe1]

Could you give me a small advice about how to do that? I am not quite sure what you are talking about.

I already tried to edit the postbit_external though but the usergroup conditional seems not to work there as saving is not possible without producing syntax errors.
Try editing the plug-in for this hack.

[jyajay]

Abe, if I could do it myself I wouldn't ask. I was assuming because you wrote this add-on you can tell what I have to change.


I'd very much appreciate your help with this. :)

[Abe1]

Try to change in the plug-in:

cache_permissions($vbulletin->userinfo);

to:

if ($vbulletin->userinfo['usergroupid'] == XXXXXX)
{
cache_permissions($vbulletin->userinfo);
}

[jyajay]

Ok, thank you for the information.

Now I discovered another problem that denies access to the attachments inside of the news feed because of some cookie setting i guess. When I disable your plugin the attachments are shown without any trouble.

On my forum I got the cookie settings set to .domain.com if thats any help to you.

[marshill]

when I go to my RSS: www.mysite.com/forums/external.php?type=rss2 it shows my latest threads and the full text of those threads, but the permissions on those forums are for viewing topics *only*. My permissions are set so that guests are unable to view thread content, and can only see thread titles. I installed your product and assigned usergroup 1 in the settings, but its the same problem. I can see full post content and should only be able to see titles. Even when I log out completely, I can still see the full content of private threads on my RSS.

[Abe1]

when I go to my RSS: www.mysite.com/forums/external.php?type=rss2 it shows my latest threads and the full text of those threads, but the permissions on those forums are for viewing topics *only*. My permissions are set so that guests are unable to view thread content, and can only see thread titles. I installed your product and assigned usergroup 1 in the settings, but its the same problem. I can see full post content and should only be able to see titles. Even when I log out completely, I can still see the full content of private threads on my RSS.
What happens when you actually click on something?

[Abe1]

Version 2.2 (10/14/07):

If using cookies to get usergroupid to get posts, it will now verify passwords to avoid users who edit cookies.

[ninjamaster]

thanks nice work

[bchertov]

Does this hack allow for a user group to just see the first part of a post's body with a link for more? If not, it would make a nice enhancement! I'd like to restrict full text RSS to paid members. Thanks!

[YLP1]

I am a bit confused and need some help. I want to use this modification to only allow admins and premium member group to use the RSS feeds on our other sites and not allow all other member groups and guests to use the RSS feeds.

How do I do that?

Thanks in advance.

[Abe1]

I am a bit confused and need some help. I want to use this modification to only allow admins and premium member group to use the RSS feeds on our other sites and not allow all other member groups and guests to use the RSS feeds.

How do I do that?

Thanks in advance.
This hack does not let you choose which usergroups see what. You can set it show what they would normally see while browsing the forum. Like an admin can now see things only admins can read in RSS.

[YLP1]

I don't want to show any rss feed for guests or regular members but only for a special usergroup.

[quote=Abe1;1208381]Yes. Set it to look at cookies. Also, set the usergroup setting to usergroup 1 which is guests.

This hack does not let you choose which usergroups see what. You can set it show what they would normally see while browsing the forum. Like an admin can now see things only admins can read in RSS.
I am having a serious blond moment I guess. LOL

Abe, you answered yes to the first question and no to mine LOL
What am I missing here? Is there some setting I have to set for each of the usergroups that I don't want to be able to see the RSS feed?

Thanks in advance.

[Abe1]

[quote]I don't want to show any rss feed for guests or regular members but only for a special usergroup.




I am having a serious blond moment I guess. LOL

Abe, you answered yes to the first question and no to mine LOL
What am I missing here? Is there some setting I have to set for each of the usergroups that I don't want to be able to see the RSS feed?

Thanks in advance.
No.

[BadgerDog]

Installed ... :up:

I hope this can do what I think it does ... :D

I'm just learning RSS, but I installed the Cinvin mod and I'm able to get feeds using the Tristana free RSS reader, but it was only getting threads that unregistered "guests" could view, even though Tristana allows the entry of a specific username and password for any given feed.

When I tried to add the feed of a forum that required a user to be registered, I would get this error from Tristana:

Error parsing content data channel. Document is either invalid or unsupported.

So, I just installed this mod here and now I get threads .... :up:

Even using this mod, I still can't get Yahoo to add threads from the same forum as it still gives me this error:

There were some problems while loading your page:

Sorry, we were unable to add this feed. Please try again later.

I'm not sure why Yahoo doesn't work and the free Tristana desktop program reader doesn, but at least I've made progress. :D

Any help or guidance as to what I'm doing wrong would be appreciated.

Regards,
Badger

[J98680Bxxxxx]

Installed, works fine on a closed forum using vB 3.7 CR2 RSS Feed. I have finally succeeded in sending out my RSS Feed.

Thanks Abe1 :up:

[Boofo]

This compliments my Site Map hack greatly. Thank you, sir. ;)

[Boofo]

One question: If someone plays with the links long enough and can find a forumid that is not listed for them, they can subscribe to that RSS feed. I like being able to see all the feeds for whatever areas I am entitled to see, hidden or not, but I would rather not have everyone be able to subscribe to the feeds they can't see by playing with the links in the address bar. Is it possible to stop that?

[Boofo]

Uninstalled since there seems to be no support.

[Abe1]

One question: If someone plays with the links long enough and can find a forumid that is not listed for them, they can subscribe to that RSS feed. I like being able to see all the feeds for whatever areas I am entitled to see, hidden or not, but I would rather not have everyone be able to subscribe to the feeds they can't see by playing with the links in the address bar. Is it possible to stop that?
Not sure what you mean exactly.

[J98680Bxxxxx]

One question: If someone plays with the links long enough and can find a forumid that is not listed for them, they can subscribe to that RSS feed. I like being able to see all the feeds for whatever areas I am entitled to see, hidden or not, but I would rather not have everyone be able to subscribe to the feeds they can't see by playing with the links in the address bar. Is it possible to stop that?

How about making those forums that are not listed not searchable? I don?t know if the RSS feed will get info from those.

Just a hint. :)

[Boofo]

How about making those forums that are not listed not searchable? I don?t know if the RSS feed will get info from those.

Just a hint. :)

I want them to be searchable for anyone who has access to them and not for those that don't.

Not sure what you mean exactly.

An example would be my Staff forum which is not open to the general public. When I use this mod, if they know the link to the Staff forums that can get a feed from it, even though they are not set up to view the forum.

[Abe1]

I want them to be searchable for anyone who has access to them and not for those that don't.



An example would be my Staff forum which is not open to the general public. When I use this mod, if they know the link to the Staff forums that can get a feed from it, even though they are not set up to view the forum.
All has to do with what you set. If you set to use the cookie, then they wont be able to. If you set the usergroup to be a high ranking one, then you are in trouble.

[Boofo]

I have it set to use usergroup 1. I left the settings at the defualt on install.

[Boofo]

Any word on what is happening with this?

[Abe1]

If you set to usergroup 1, then they should not be able to see the restricted forums.

[Boofo]

It is set to one and they can not see the restricted forums in the listing. But if they know the forumid of a restricted forum and enter the link in the address bar, they can view AND subscribe to a restricted forum.

[Abe1]

It is set to one and they can not see the restricted forums in the listing. But if they know the forumid of a restricted forum and enter the link in the address bar, they can view AND subscribe to a restricted forum.
Not if usergroup 1 can't see it.

[Boofo]

Then I should use the usergroup setting and not the cookie override setting? Because at the default settings with the hack, that is how it worked on my site.

[Abe1]

Then I should use the usergroup setting and not the cookie override setting? Because at the default settings with the hack, that is how it worked on my site.
If you use the cookie override, only you will be able to subscribe to those areas. No-one that does not have permission will be able to.

[Boofo]

Yes and when I logged out, I copied the link to the staff area in the address bar and it brought it all up on the page for me while seeing it as a guest.

[Abe1]

Yes and when I logged out, I copied the link to the staff area in the address bar and it brought it all up on the page for me while seeing it as a guest.
Then something wrong with your the usergroup settings.

[RobParker]

Is there any way to set this for a specific thread?

Is it even possible to set up an RSS feed for a thread?

What I want to do is export a thread via RSS and then import it into a Blogger account and have the account just update with the posts in that thread. The point of this is as a sort of fall-back site for when our server gets too busy due to a big news item, instead of users increasing our server load we can just point them to blogger.

[mykkal]

Works well with CinVin's RSS Feeds.

[dolphin678]

Does this mod work with 3.7.3? If not any chance of it being made suitable for later vBull versions?

[Abe1]

Does this mod work with 3.7.3? If not any chance of it being made suitable for later vBull versions?
yes, it works

[BadgerDog]

Sorry... wrong thread...

Deleted with apologies....

Regards,
Badger

[mykkal]

Is there a 3.6.8 version?

[kmatwill]

Does this mod work with 3.8?

[Manoel J?nior]

Excelent!

Great man...

[Aadil]

Does this mod work with 3.8?

Yep started using it today works great

[maximutt]

This version still seems to work on vB 4.0 :)

Now that is solid programming! Great mod!

[kevius]

is this hack 100% ready for vBulletin v4.0 ? are you sure ???

[maximutt]

Yep, I'm using right now on a vB 4.0 PL1 installation. It works perfectly and plays nice with other plugins.

[starman?]

I can confirm it still works in vB4.1 installation.

[AusPhotography]

vB 4.0.7 - yes!

[mykkal]

Does this work with vb 4.2.X?

[mykkal]

I believe its working in vb 4.2.3. I've had it so long I can't remember what it was installed for. LOL I think its working tho.