Is there any way to increase/decrease number of views on threads and announcements?

[XYZ500]

Just like the title says;

Is there an EASY way to increase/decrease number of views on threads and announcements? Like editing some file or something. Easy way means that someone who doesn't know anything about coding etc. can do it. I can follow instructions if they are not too complex.

[ozzy47]

Why would you want to do something like that?

I don't think this can be easily done, as any time you did maintenance, or the cron ran, it would reset the views to what they are supposed to be.

[XYZ500]

Why would you want to do something like that?

I don't think this can be easily done, as any time you did maintenance, or the cron ran, it would reset the views to what they are supposed to be.

I was particularly interested in increasing the number of views. Why? To make a thread look very important/hot/popular.

One way I know how to do is use one of those website hits sites and put the thread URL there. I have tried it and it does work, but it messes up the bounce rate on Google Analytics.

Can you think of any other way that I can use to artificially increase the number of views?

[ozzy47]

If your familiar using phpmyadmin, you can change the numbers for the views in the DB in the thread table.

Make sure you do a full backup before messing around. :)

[XYZ500]

If your familiar using phpmyadmin, you can change the numbers for the views in the DB in the thread table.

Make sure you do a full backup before messing around. :)

But you if I do that anytime a maintenance job is run, the views would go back to what they are supposed to be.

I am not familiar with using phpmyadmin but I can follow instructions.

[ozzy47]

No I think it will be ok.

So lets do this. Take a backup first, then you can execute this query in the ACP.

UPDATE thread SET views = 'XXX' WHERE `thread`.`threadid` = Y

XXX will be the amount of views you want, and Y will be the thread id to change the view count.