Allow specific users to access forums while closed

[MadK]

Hey there,
I would like to make a request for a product that could allow specific users (by their ID) to be allowed access to the forums while those are closed.

Thanks,
M.

[Speysider]

I doubt such a mod may be made. vB is hard coded to only allow admins access to view a closed forum.

[MadK]

I doubt such a mod may be made. vB is hard coded to only allow admins access to view a closed forum.

I was, however, told by Zachary of vBulletin.com that it could be made into a mod.

http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?353169-How-to-allow-specific-users-to-access-the-forums-while-those-are-disabled&p=1986857&viewfull=1#post1986857

[Speysider]

"could be" doesn't mean "yes it can be done" :)
Try it out yourself, but there could be some side effects.

[kall]

Your lack of knowledge (and then spouting non-facts as if they were facts) still astounds me, Homeworld/Spey.

@MadK If existing code = "if admin{allow access}", then changing it to "if admin OR userid = 1{allow access}" would do exactly what is being asked for. Just a matter of finding someone who can do that for you, may require a file edit though.

[MadK]

Your lack of knowledge (and then spouting non-facts as if they were facts) still astounds me, Homeworld/Spey.

@MadK If existing code = "if admin{allow access}", then changing it to "if admin OR userid = 1{allow access}" would do exactly what is being asked for. Just a matter of finding someone who can do that for you, may require a file edit though.

Nah, I understand what Spey was trying to say, there's no real need to be aggressive on him!

As for the file edit, do you have any general idea of which file it could be? I could always try it myself.

[Boofo]

This was done a while back. I don't remember what version it was done for, but I have seen it somewhere.

[MadK]

This was done a while back. I don't remember what version it was done for, but I have seen it somewhere.

Yeah, I know what you are talking about. I remember a mod was made for this, but I cannot find it anywhere.

[Lynne]

There was a mod to do this for usergroups, not users. Maybe search the word "usergroup" in "all mods" "titles only"?

[Speysider]

Your lack of knowledge (and then spouting non-facts as if they were facts) still astounds me, Homeworld/Spey.
You need to stop attacking me for what I say. Just because it doesn't agree with what you say doesn't give you any added benefit to constantly attack me.


/rant

[MadK]

There was a mod to do this for usergroups, not users. Maybe search the word "usergroup" in "all mods" "titles only"?

Yup, I was able to find that infamous mod, right here (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=137021)! With the help of ragtek, I got the location of the permissions hook for if the board is active or not, but I tried something and ultimately failed! I am shown a blank page.

http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?353305-Hook-Location-Request-(from-3.8)&p=1987765&viewfull=1#post1987765

Hoping someone can do it. :)

[kall]

But there's no hook before or within the code snippet that could help you.

if (!$vbulletin->options['bbactive'] AND
($vbulletin->userinfo['permissions']['adminpermissions'] & $vbulletin->bf_ugp_adminpermissions['cancontrolpanel']))
That is the condition.. you would most likely have to add something to that.

[borbole]

I don''t have time to make this into a plugin but make these edits manually at the class_bootstrap.php file.

Find this code:

if (!$vbulletin->options['bbactive'] AND
($vbulletin->userinfo['permissions']['adminpermissions'] & $vbulletin->bf_ugp_adminpermissions['cancontrolpanel']))
{
// show the board disabled warning message so that admins don't leave the board turned off by accident
$warning = vB_Template::create('board_inactive_warning')->render();
$header = $warning . $header;
$footer .= $warning;
}


And replace it with:

if (!$vbulletin->options['bbactive'] AND
($vbulletin->userinfo['permissions']['adminpermissions'] & $vbulletin->bf_ugp_adminpermissions['cancontrolpanel']) OR (is_member_of($vbulletin->userinfo, 5)))
{

// show the board disabled warning message so that admins don't leave the board turned off by accident
$warning = vB_Template::create('board_inactive_warning')->render();
$header = $warning . $header;
$footer .= $warning;
}



Find this other code:


// check that board is active - if not admin, then display error
if (
!defined('BYPASS_FORUM_DISABLED')
AND
!$vbulletin->options['bbactive']
AND
!in_array(THIS_SCRIPT, array('login', 'css'))
AND
!($vbulletin->userinfo['permissions']['adminpermissions'] & $vbulletin->bf_ugp_adminpermissions['cancontrolpanel'])
)


And replace it with:


// check that board is active - if not admin, then display error
if (
!defined('BYPASS_FORUM_DISABLED')
AND
!$vbulletin->options['bbactive']
AND
!in_array(THIS_SCRIPT, array('login', 'css'))
AND
!($vbulletin->userinfo['permissions']['adminpermissions'] & $vbulletin->bf_ugp_adminpermissions['cancontrolpanel'])
AND
(!is_member_of($vbulletin->userinfo, 5))
)


In my example I did it so the supermoderator group with the gid 5 can enter the board while being of line. You can replace the gid, 5, with whatever group you want to allow access to the off line board.

If you want to allow multiple groups, then separate their id with commas (,).


Hope it helps. I might make a mod out of this later on if I will have some free time.

[erbodega]

the code from @borbole works even on vb 4.2.3, just tested, but the additional usergroup will see the closed board message even if the board is active.

To solve the issue, just edit the board_inactive_warning template from

<div class="forum_disabled">{vb:rawphrase alert_board_off}</div>


to


<vb:if condition="!$vboptions['bbactive']">
<div class="forum_disabled">{vb:rawphrase alert_board_off}</div>
</vb:if>


or try to fix the posted php code like this:

if (!$vbulletin->options['bbactive'] AND
($vbulletin->userinfo['permissions']['adminpermissions'] & $vbulletin->bf_ugp_adminpermissions['cancontrolpanel']) OR !$vbulletin->options['bbactive'] AND (is_member_of($vbulletin->userinfo, 5)))
{

// show the board disabled warning message so that admins don't leave the board turned off by accident
$warning = vB_Template::create('board_inactive_warning')->render();
$header = $warning . $header;
$footer .= $warning;
}