Linked accounts

[SWFans.net]

I know it has been requested before but now that another bulletin board I use has implemented such a thing I thought I would go ahead and make the request again. I know for RPG forums it is a very handy thing.

I am requesting a hack that allows a single user account that is linked to other accounts on the same board.

The details are; ezboard has now implemented a Master Account system through their pay program. It ties multiple accounts into a single one so that when a user with this feature enabled makes a reply or new thread, where the user name in the submission area is there is a selection box/drop down that allows a user to choose which of their names the post is to be made by.

Would it be possible to have such a hack on vBulletin?

The board I co-admin is primarily RPG, almost all the users there have more than a single account and such a feature would be very handy for all of us. I suspect other RPG communities would benefit from it as well.

Thanks for reading and considering. :)

Can't let an inferior product like ezboard one up vBulletin in any way now can we? :p

[Nupraptor]

If you're unclear as to what my partner-in-crime is referring to, have a look here (http://www.ezboard.com/releasenotes.html). :)

This would be very much appreciated if someone could make a hack that would allow vB to behave similarly.

[SWFans.net]

I’m jealous of ezboard now. :cry:

[Nupraptor]

:(

[Reeve of shinra]

T'would be nice to have.

[SWFans.net]

This idea for a hack has been requested before by the very people who have replied to this thread, with little response either:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?threadid=28398

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?s=&threadid=32737

but I had hopes that the fact of ezboard now boasting such a feature would help motivate the people who are proud to call vBulletin a superior product into adding a similar feature. I don?t think ezboard is superior. But I sure would like to see this feature added, and I know the 1000+ members of our forums would like it too since so many of them are ezboard users and are boasting about the Master Account add-on ezboard has while we don?t. =(

[Nupraptor]

I was hoping that someone would be kind enough to do this one for free. But if absolutely necessary, I am willing to pay a reasonable amount for it to be done.

[SWFans.net]

I am willing to help fund for having this hack made as well.

[Reeve of shinra]

Before going to sleep last night, an idea of how to do this popped into my head. I'm to lazy and dont have time to try coding this, but maybe if someone feels ambitious enough they can take a shot at it.

I. Create a new user profile field.
This will store the user id's of the new accounts. (ie: 12, 14, 342)

II. Template mods - So that new thread and new reply offer a drop down box where users can select the account they wish to post under. The drop down box will be like the forum jump in that it will only show the accounts availble to the user. (those listed in the profile field above).

III. PHP script
a) Script to explode the ID's in the profile field for use.
b) Authentication - Adding an idea brings up the log in box. User cannot add account if they cannot 'log in'

IV. PHP modifications.
Include a backdoor for pass authentification so that if the user is trying to post using the alias re-logging in isnt nessasary.

(I would make a seperate hack just for admins and mods for extra security).

Anyway ... thats my idea. =)

[DjSap]

dont really understand this, you want to give the users the option of making fictional charecters in their account and give them their own profiles which people can see, then when you post you can chose weather your real account name is displayed or one of your charecters name?

[Reeve of shinra]

in a word - yes.

Just an easier way of switching between multiple accounts.

[SWFans.net]

Reeve is correct. Our users, being part of a large scale Role Play, have several accounts, which we would like to make it so that if they log into one, they effectively log into all of them at the same time and can choose via a drop down box, which account they will be posting with.

[SWFans.net]

Bumping to the top in hopes someone will consider this one last time.

Note: Payment is being offered if someone is able to do this.

[WhisperPntr]

Hi there...

I wanted to originally come onto this site to find an easy hack for this but realized it's probably not even out.

I'm rather shy about releasing my hacks since I know other people do a much better job...however I believe that there are those who wish not even to TOUCH the coding and I may release it soon after initiial implementation as a result.

Please look at http://www.wildfuryx.com/forum/calendar.php for dates and such.

I'll post the file here.

[Vivi Ornitier]

Hmm, I think I may have an answer, but not exactly what you want.

What you could do is have a table that stores the names of the extra accounts(not really accounts though :)) and then have it list them in newthread and newreply, in a drop down box. So for an ORPG board, you could have multiple personalities without the excess accounts. If this interests you, I will write it.

[WhisperPntr]

Hi vivi et. all.

That addresses the display issue, not other issues such as character information, behaving as a separate or subaccount, etc.

Currently I have already pseudocoded the one extra field in users, and a new table called characters.

The problem now is everything else, being registration, posting, and character management.

I plan to make subaccount registration and character management a new link BUT must make changes to user information and post display.

This is going to take me a while!!!

[SWFans.net]

Our thoughts were to somehow link all the accounts via email address, but neither Nupraptor nor I possess enough PHP coding skills to really accomplish this at all. I know that our RP community would kill to get their hands on a hack that could allow them to have a drop down in either new topic or post reply screens that would give them the choice of their usernames to post with.

I hadn’t checked this topic in a long time and missed the fact that a couple people showed interest in working on it. I do hope that they still are, and am eager to hear of any progress or even make arrangements to acquire it if it is already done in some workable fashion.

[Master Yoghurt]

I would think such feature would be useful to non RPG boards too. Basically, if you have 2 or more accounts, it makes much less hassle posting with your alternative ID. For example, you might have one screen name for personal use, chatting or otherwise, the other account for more formal use (adm/mod/support/service etc).

It would prove an invaluable tool. Development is encouraged. :)

[samtha25]

Rather than linking multiple accounts, wouldn't it be easier and better were users to be able have multiple identities for one account? Is there some reason the users' need the multiple accounts other than for changing their usernames?

[SWFans.net]

For Role Playing purposes, it suits most better to have full ability to edit and create an individual profile for each seperate character. With information such as a short biography, in character birth location, in character age, and so forth. At least thats the case at our role playing forums.

[adland]

Rather than linking multiple accounts, wouldn't it be easier and better were users to be able have multiple identities for one account?

I am interested in something like this. I want users to be able to have two identities for one account -- one that they can use to freely give their opinion in the community and another that they can use to conduct business with one another (tansactions between parties).

[scsa20]

okey, I'm too lazy to read this all, you said Ezboard just got this?? damn, where have you've been?? Ezboard had it for a vary long time (it's called a global account ;)) and it's free, but to get more options to use, you'll need to pay....Ezboard is not like the board that you need to upload onto your site and set it up, it works on there own networks, meaning they can let the users sign up for a global account (meaning they only sign up once and gain access to all the boards that's on the Ezboard networks) or just for the local account (meaning they only sign up for that board)....Ezboard has alot of databases and 1 (maybe more) main database where all the global users are stored...if the user just want to sign up for that one board that s/he's at, then that username well only be stored on that database but if the user wants to gain access to all the board that s/he happen to go to that's by Ezboard, then s/he can sign up for a global account so that s/he doesn't have to sign up more then 1 time.......

now, what your wondering about doing is kind of hard to do, unless you know lots and lots of codes....if you have 2 different boards on 2 different sites (maybe the same site) then maybe you can do something that lets the user sign up locally (only going to that database) or globally (go to a main users database).....but then that well mean you need to put in codes that needs to check if the user is on your database, and if so, it well only update that, but if the users on the global account, then you need to put in codes that puts the user in their and update it there and also makes it look in their to make sure it's a global or local user.....basicly it'll take about 3 databases (1 main user account for global users and 2 board ones that puts the user in there if s/he wants to be a local user and for the boards information) or more (depends how many are wanting to link with you)....you basicly well have to edit every PHP files (plus you need to make a main User info place where you can choose to edit either global or local users).....that's just kind of hard to do :eek:

[SWFans.net]

Originally posted by scsa20
okey, I'm too lazy to read this all, you said Ezboard just got this?? damn, where have you've been?? Ezboard had it for a vary long time (it's called a global account ;)) and it's free, but to get more options to use, you'll need to payObviously. Did you have a look at the date for the first post? And for your own information, this option has not been free on ezboard for around 3 months, maybe 4 now.

[scsa20]

lol, when I last saw (sometime this mornning), it was free for signing up for a global account, you just need to pay for extra featers, but I could be wrong, cuz I signed up for the global account 2-3 years ago, way back when I started out with Ezboard for a gameing clan....I didn't see anything about paying for a global account, only about extra featers.