Mod Alert System (Posts)

[TigerWare]

-=+ WHAT IS THIS? +=-

Quite simply this product will alert Staff Members when either a New Thread or New Post has entered a Moderated state (nicknamed the Mod-Queue). Alerts are directed to a new thread in a designated Forum.

-=+ FEATURES +=-

Various aspects of this product are controlled via the AdminCP, such as:-
Ability to turn it on/off.
Choose to be alerted for new threads, new posts, or both.
Turn on/off notifications if it is a reply to an already Moderated posting.
Turn on/off notifications for the 'Quick Reply' box if it is a reply to an already Moderated posting.
Pick the forum into which new threads will appear.
Exclude certain forums from the Alert System entirely.
Ability to specify a user as the thread starter.
Specify a prefix for the Title/Subject of the Alert.
Enable an automated reply to the Alert Thread once a thread/post is approved.
Enable an automated closure of the Alert Thread once a thread/post is approved.
-=+ INSTALLATION +=-

Import the supplied product xml by using the Product Manager of the AdminCP, as below:-
Plugins & Products -> Manage Products -> Add/Import Product
-=+ UPGRADING +=-

You do not need to uninstall the older version of the product.

Import the updated product xml by using the Product Manager of the AdminCP, as below:-
Plugins & Products -> Manage Products -> Add/Import Product
Ensure the option Allow Overwrite is set to Yes on the import screen, prior to clicking Import.

-=+ POST INSTALLATION/UPGRADE +=-

Post installation settings can be found in vBulletin options section:-
vBulletin Options -> TWP - Mod Alert System (Posts)
In order for the product to operate certain criteria must be met, as follows:-
Plugin must be enabled. (true by default)
Product must be enabled in the options. (no by default)
A forum must have been picked in the options. (none by default)
If any of the above criteria are not satisfied, the product will NOT operate. Please check these before asking for help.

-=+ RELEASE HISTORY +=-

v1.2 : 21-Dec-07 : Added Alert Thread auto-reply and auto-close features. (see issues section)
v1.1 : 16-Dec-07 : Added Quick Reply handler and additional option. [Ref (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=1400080&postcount=18)]
v1.0 : 02-Dec-07 : First public realease.
v0.1 : 23-Nov-07 : Internal Test Version.
-=+ ISSUES +=-


Version 1.2 adds the ability to auto-reply and/or auto-close the Alert Thread once an approval is made by the Moderator. These 2 features only operate by using inline moderation and will not occur from within either ModCP/AdminCP. This is unlikely to be added unless appropriate hooks are made available within vBulletin itself, or an alternate method is found without making core file changes.
This product is not tested on vBulletin 3.7

[TigerWare]

Possible Future Updates

Extend the alert notifications so they can optionally go to PM and/or Email.

FAQ

Q : Is it possible to create a recursive notification when using a Forum as an alert target? For example, the Alert Thread is created in a forum which automatically sets new threads to Moderated?
A : No. This scenario crossed my mind very early on. Because of this, the plugin will automatically exclude that forum from the notification system. You will still get the Alert Thread being created, but it will not trigger a new alert.
Q : Do notifications occur if a Staff member manually changes a post to Unapproved?
A : No. Alerts only occur when a thread or post is first created (ie: New). Subsequent changes to the post do not create further alerts, and there are no plans to incorporate this as an option.
Q : How does the Auto-Reply and Auto-Close system work?
A : After an Alert Thread has been created, one of your staff will be tasked to approve the original thread/post. When using inline moderation (ie: not via the ModCP/AdminCP) you can have an automated reply and/or an automated closure of the the Alert Thread itself. This will help people identify when items have been dealt with. If the original thread/post is unapproved, and subsequently approved again, one of two things will occur. If the Alert Thread is not closed, a further automated reply will occur. However, if the Alert Thread is closed, a reply will not be made. It should also be noted that the Alert Thread must still reside in the designated Alert Forum. If it gets moved somewhere else, nothing will happen.

[Derek Chai]

Very nice! *Installed*

[Dan]

This actually a wonderful idea, one of the many reasons I've never used the moderation features before now on forums.

[TigerWare]

Thanks guys. Indeed Dan, I've always thought it a little odd that vB does not actually have a notification system already. Hopefully this will help to bridge that gap.

[Fungsten]

Finally!! Thank You!!!

[yahoooh]

wow , thanks

[Remi]

Finally!! Thank You!!!

Possible Future Updates

Extend the alert notifications so they can optionally go to PM and/or Email.

Can't wait for this

[TigerWare]

Finally!! Thank You!!!
Finally!! Thank You!!!
Snap! :D I know what you mean. :up:

Possible Future Updates
Extend the alert notifications so they can optionally go to PM and/or Email.
Can't wait for this

This is certainly additional functionality which I do intend to create. Hopefully I'll get it out sometime in mid-December.

[Endurer]

Thanks, I am going to install it right now.

[RMS-Chef]

Thank you.

[Snake]

Thanks for this! Might come in handy.

[Masiello]

Thanks, installed!

[Masiello]

This actually a wonderful idea, one of the many reasons I've never used the moderation features before now on forums.
Yes but I think isn't difficult to see also thread/posts from UserCP

[TigerWare]

Thanks all, good to see people are finding this useful. No negative reports indicate I have nailed this one down nice and tight. :)

Masiello, Indeed you are correct, it is very easy to see posts and threads which require moderation in the UserCP. Unfortunately a Moderator or Admin has to remember to go and look. I know I keep forgetting, or maybe I'm just lazy :D

At least here there is an option to have an alert made to a location that can get some notice of Mods/Admins, and make the staff work better, which is why I made it. :up:

Cheers!

[Ryuk]

*clicks install*
wonderful hack :)

[TigerWare]

wonderful hack :)

Thanks Ryuk, compliments much appreciated. :up:

[TigerWare]

Bug Report:-

12 Dec 2007 -- If the option for "Child Alerts" is switched on, a quick reply to an existing Moderated Post does not produce the expected Alert.

Will be fixing this in next version (1.1)

[TigerWare]

Hi all,

Version 1.1 of this little modification has now been released. This small update caters for a report recieved last week which enabled me to realize I had not catered for the Quick Reply box. This release now handles replies made via the Quick Reply box, and you also have an extra AdminCP option to switch on or off that feature for 'Child Alerts' (if they are enabled).

No other changes have been made at present.

No need to uninstall first, simply import the new product XML and set the allow overwrite option.

Many thanks for the support, keep those clicks going.

Regards,
TigerWare

[Mental-Trousers]

Version 1.1 works perfectly. Thanks.

[TigerWare]

Great stuff Mental-Trousers. :up:

[TigerWare]

Hi all,

After more input from users of Mod Alert System (Posts), I have pleasure to add v1.2 update with additional features for your pleasure.

Details:-

After an Alert Thread has been created, one of your staff will be tasked to approve the original thread/post. When using inline moderation (ie: not via the ModCP/AdminCP) you can have an automated reply and/or an automated closure of the the Alert Thread itself. This will help people identify when items have been dealt with.

If the original thread/post is unapproved, and subsequently approved again, one of two things will occur. If the Alert Thread is not closed, a further automated reply will occur. However, if the Alert Thread is closed, a reply will not be made.

It should also be noted that the Alert Thread must still reside in the designated Alert Forum. If it gets moved somewhere else, nothing will happen.

Enjoy!

Kind Regards,
TigerWare

[Borden]

Where is the older version of this hack? I have 3.6.5.

[TigerWare]

This product was written for 3.6.8. There is no earlier version.

[adwade]

Thank you.

Yet, I notice RMS-Chef is running 3.6.3 and seems to have installed it. :erm:

Ref:
RMS-Chef
Designer

Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MA, USA
vB Version: 3.6.3
Posts: 312
Design: Blue Lagoon

So will it not work on 3.6.4? :confused:

[TigerWare]

The latest version of this modification contains a depenency setting which starts at 3.6.8. I do not have any earlier version of vBulletin in my test environment and 3.6.8 was the development platform.

I imagine it will work on an earlier 3.6.* version but I do not support it (hence tagging to 3.6.8). The only way to install on an earlier version is to hack the dependency out of the product XML. I cannot stop anyone doing that, but in fairness, I cannot support anyone on that earlier system.

However. I do have further updates to write for this modification, so will look closer at the history of the Hooks I'm using. I will then make a call on whether to relax the version dependency, to support a greater range of the 3.6 line.

Thanks for the nudge.

[adwade]

However. I do have further updates to write for this modification, so will look closer at the history of the Hooks I'm using. I will then make a call on whether to relax the version dependency, to support a greater range of the 3.6 line.

Thanks for the nudge.

Thanxx for considering it. THIS MOD is something I've wanted since I started using vB and have searched for endlessly. :cool:

[fneumeier]

Great Plugin, I was waiting for that for a long time. Thanks!!

There is one more feature I'd love to see: If there is a way to get an e-mail notification when a thread/post goes to the moderation queue?

I've tried to set up e-mail notification in the forum the moderated postings are being put by this plugin, but no luck. Looks like this plugin uses a hook that come after the system checks for e-mail notifications ...

Thank!
Franz

[TigerWare]

If there is a way to get an e-mail notification when a thread/post goes to the moderation queue?

Thanks fneumeier,

E-Mail notifications is an element I do intend to add to the next release. No time-frames as yet.

[apiasto]

will come handy thnx

[periphrastic]

E-Mail notifications is an element I do intend to add to the next release. No time-frames as yet.

Excellent. Thanks for this mod. I really needed this after finding posts that needed to be moderated, by only incidently logging into the Control Panel. Had I not logged in, I wouldn't have known, and those posts would've just sat there.

Installed.

Can't wait for update!