Block replies to old threads and prompt for new thread instead

[calorie]

The purpose of this mini mod is to block replies to old threads, prompting the user to start a new thread instead. There is a similar mod at https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=69591 but the difference is that this mod does not place the post in a moderation queue. Instead, if a user tries to reply to an old thread, with or without quoting, this mod shows the user a message with a link to start a new thread in the same forum. If you use this mod, a click of the install button is appreciated.

[SaN-DeeP]

seems a very easily done mod..
but a small question -> we have some forums which runs some jokes threads which are running since 4 months.. (over 2600 replies and still on)

how can we take care of them ?

[moley]

a nice idea i'll install this tomorrow. Thanks for sharing.

[calorie]

seems a very easily done mod..
but a small question -> we have some forums which runs some jokes threads which are running since 4 months.. (over 2600 replies and still on)

how can we take care of them ?

This mod has the following line:


if ($threadinfo['lastpost'] < TIMENOW - 2592000) // 30 days in seconds

so when the last post in a thread is over 30 days old, the user will be prompted to start a new thread.

If you want to prompt the user to start a new thread when the first post in a thread is over 30 days old, then use:


if ($threadinfo['dateline'] < TIMENOW - 2592000) // 30 days in seconds

If you want to prompt the user to start a new thread when the first or last post in a thread is over 30 days old, then use:


if (($threadinfo['lastpost'] < TIMENOW - 2592000) OR ($threadinfo['dateline'] < TIMENOW - 2592000))

Of course, you could also use something like:


if (($threadinfo['lastpost'] < TIMENOW - 2592000) OR ($threadinfo['dateline'] < TIMENOW - 5184000))

to prompt the user to start a new thread when the last post is over 30 days old or the first post is over 60 days old.

[Johnny]

pretty cool hack, i think its useful for those big boards where their are new ignorent users who just post in really old threads just to get in a higher rank

[nexialys]

i would suggest a different approach on this hack, as it's using a template for nothing:

simplier, but as efficient:

/////////////////////////// step 1 ///////////////////////////
/*
Add new Phrase:

Type : Front-End Errors

Varname : zzzz_oldthread
Text: This thread is old. Consider starting a <a href="newthread.php?$session[sessionurl]do=newthread&amp;f=$foruminfo[forumid]">new thread</a> instead.
*/
/////////////////////////// step 2 ///////////////////////////
//In forum/newreply.php at about line 108 find:

// ### CHECK IF ALLOWED TO POST ###

//And afterwards add the following:
if ($threadinfo['lastpost'] < TIMENOW - 2592000) // 30 days in seconds
{
eval(print_standard_error('zzzz_oldthread'));
}

[Logikos]

Damm i just finished my hack vB Expired Threads, same thing as this. But its ACP. Turn on/off, Change the days till closed and the forums you want to lock, blank for all forums. :( beat me to it! :p

[nexialys]

@LiveWire... i prefer the settings you have... but more.. . per-forum activation based.. ;) -- i really love per-forum stuff.. lol

[Logikos]

Per forum as in, only use this hack in specified forum ids?

[nexialys]

no... a setting in forum.php to enable/disable... so you enable by writing a delay, and disable by writing 0 ... ;) two verifs in one.

...damn, i just gave how i build my tools.. lol

[Logikos]

I could do that, i'll see about releasing it tonight. :) Another thing to add is staff don't see this error, and when a staff member post, it reopens the thread.

[calorie]

Per forum as in, only use this hack in specified forum ids?

You could use something like:


if (($threadinfo['forumid'] == XX) AND (($threadinfo['lastpost'] < TIMENOW - 2592000) OR ($threadinfo['dateline'] < TIMENOW - 5184000)))

where XX is the forumid that should be affected by this hack.

[Logikos]

But it wouldn't be using the settings in forum.php, i don't want to have to add a number every time i delte/add a new forum, rather click yes/no when im creating the forum.

[calorie]

I could do that, i'll see about releasing it tonight. :) Another thing to add is staff don't see this error, and when a staff member post, it reopens the thread.
The if statement could use the following:

$bbuserinfo['usergroupid'] != X

$bbuserinfo['userid'] != Y

where X and Y are usergroup and userid respectively.

BTW, this hack doesn't actually close the thread. Rather, it blocks a user from making new posts to a thread after a certain amount of time has past. I made it this way because I didn't want the threads to actually close.

[Freezerator]

Tonight i will test it, looks great

[spence2]

Could there possibly be a way to keep the first post in the thread?

I have stickies that I post to start discussions. Would there be a way to keep the original sticky and start new threads with the sticky intact?

[calorie]

Could there possibly be a way to keep the first post in the thread?

I have stickies that I post to start discussions. Would there be a way to keep the original sticky and start new threads with the sticky intact?

The if statement could use the following:


if ($threadinfo['sticky'] == 1)

so when the thread is stuck the user is prompted to start a new thread.

[SaN-DeeP]

hey calorie, why not update the instructions will all the suggestions posted above :)
will be very helpful for new users checking ur instructions file

Regards,

[spence2]

hey calorie, why not update the instructions will all the suggestions posted above :)
will be very helpful for new users checking ur instructions file

Regards,

If you do, calorie ... could you include how to combine the if statement like so:

"if the thread is sticky" & "if the posts exceed..."

so that users are prompted to begin a new set of comments without losing the original sticky post.

Thank you again.

[calorie]

hey calorie, why not update the instructions will all the suggestions posted above :)
will be very helpful for new users checking ur instructions file

Regards,
Maybe I'll update when I get some extra free time, and after the how-to questions are done should this thread grow large.

If you do, calorie ... could you include how to combine the if statement like so:

"if the thread is sticky" & "if the posts exceed..."

so that users are prompted to begin a new set of comments without losing the original sticky post.

Thank you again.
The if statement could use the following:


if (($threadinfo['sticky'] == 1) AND ($threadinfo['replycount'] > X))

where X is the maximun number of replies to a stuck thread you allow, so when the thread is stuck and the number of replies exceeds X, the user is prompted to start a new thread.

[spence2]

Thanks, calorie! Your support is greatly appreciated.

[Borgs8472]

Any chance of turning this on per forum?

E.g I have one forum with loads more traffic than the others I'd like to stop bumping of old threads, other forums I wouldn't mind...

[calorie]

<a href="https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=558584&postcount=12" target="_blank">https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showp...4&postcount=12</a>

[Freezerator]

Is it possible to give the user a option to still reply?

The way i see it now, he can only create a new thread. It would be logical, if he still has something usefull to say, to let him still reply, rather then starting a new one.

[Logikos]

Then that would complely defet the purpose of this hack

[Freezerator]

Mostly on our forums, when users search, they reply in a thread, without knowing that is _that_ old. Now you can give them a hint or warning, and a option.

[Logikos]

Well i just released a simlar hack. And adding an option for the user to beable to bypass the error wouldn't seem right. I for one hate seeing thread diggers digging up some old thread to put his $0.02 in. If he wants to do it that bad, then he could start a new thread about it.

But thats just my view, though adding an option for the user wouldn't be all that hard maybe calorie will add it.

[nautiqeman]

Is there a way to change this to a number of posts rather than a time period?? If so, how, I'd really appreciate any suggestions. Thanks

[KJA4U]

i need a product or a plugin that stops members from adding new replies to threads after they get a certain period of time old.