Well I disabled it and it looked fine afterwards. the hlxstats link is not the one causing it, because it acts like text because the guy inserted it wrong.

Would it be possible for you to PM with an admin account that can access Plugins and Styles, and an FTP account?

I'm not sure what you mean - which mod did you disable? Thanks or hlxstats?


Fillip

I've sent you admin details

Just wanted to let everyone know Fillip kindly fixed this for me very quickly. Provided I was using a free version of the mod, it's very good service and effort from the author.

Much appreciated :)

Fillip,

I disabled the thanks mod, it's not that text, at all. That has nothing to do with it. Disabling the thanks mod fixed it.

I'm not sure how to solve it then, it could be an issue with the skin or something because dozens of people have installed it and nobody has had the problem you describe :(


Fillip

I've updated the files with improved permissions checking for new posts.

Fillip

Thanks, all works great @ INSTALLED

I totally agree. Abe's mod is largely functional with a couple of unfixed bugs that are irritations but don't impede functionality. I was looking for a possible replacement as an alternative to those irritations.

But at this point, I neither need or want any of your Pro features. My only motivation for buying the Pro version would because I have to do that to get the importer. So, as vauge says, you are asking us to pay for something to find out if we can even make use of the product or if it improves upon what Abe has made available for free.

I also agree with an earflier comment that this is essentially a bait and switch operation, whether or not it contravenes vb.org rules.

This is a very poor marketing strategy, ij my opinion. And please do not add insult to injury by claiming that you are "not in it for the money". If you stand by that statement, add the importer to this version. Otherwise, it is clearly utter hogwash.

I'll let Iain handle the bulk of your post, but I'd just like to add that there's nothing stopping you from installing the Lite version and temporarily disabling Abe's mod to figure out whether this mod is a viable replacement for your wants and needs.

The importer is not a required function for this mod to be operational, it's an additional perk for those who have found the Lite version as well as the Pro features, interesting but still want to preserve their forums' Thanks.

Fillip

And if you want/need to import existing thanks? That's the definition of bait and switch.

thank you

I think you need to look up the definition of "bait-and-switch" :)

By your logic, Windows should only come in 1 version and it should be free, because what if we want/need some feature from Windows Ultimate? Why should we be forced to pay for it when we don't even know if the feature is better than something Linux can provide?

We are offering the import script as a free addition to our Pro features. All our Pro features behave exactly as they are described and it costs exactly what we claim it costs (although vBulletin.org rules prevent us from putting price information here on vBulletin.org, the price information is readily available and easily discerned before any purchase is completed).
We are not obliged to provide the import script and it does not hinder the functionality of our product (Lite or Pro version) in any way, shape or form.

The fact that you or anyone else wants / needs the import script but does not want / need any other Pro feature is sadly just the way things work - sometimes a product appears that is perfect for your needs, sometimes you have to pay extra for other features you don't want in order to get the feature(s) you do want.

To return to my Windows analogue: Say that you need "Virtual Hard Disk booting" and only this feature (from Windows 7 Ultimate) - would you complain to MS and say that this should be available in the Professional version simply because Professional costs less and you want / need this feature?
The response would be that to get this feature, you need to purchase Ultimate.

I hope this clarifies things for you :)


Fillip

Fillips answer was very eloquent, but i guess it's my job to explain our position/choice in the matter.

As stated, there is literally nothing stopping you from installing Lite and disabling abe's mod to try our product out - this solves your problem right off the bat.

There is absolutely 0 need to transfer thanks etc to see how the product functions.

As far as I can see your complaint seems to be that the pro version does something you want, but you don't want to pay for it.

I'm sorry but you're not *entitled* to anything for free. No one is forcing you to stop using abe's mod, we are not shoving this down your throat. We are here providing a free modification which does exactly what it is intended to, bug free as far as we are aware.

We also offer another version which does even more, including transfer information from old mods you may have, and for our work we ask for a fee.

Your argument of "if you're not in it for the money give us it for free" doesn't really hold water. If we were to go by your logic we would simply release everything for free. Then this would be nothing more than a hobby and we wouldn't be able to put the time and resources into making the products as well as we do.

I'm sorry you feel that us asking for money from you for something you want is somehow despicable, but I have to disagree with you there.

Just because you want something and you have to pay for it, doesn't somehow make the person charging you a bad guy, and it baffles me that any mature person could hold that attitude :confused: This isn't some neccessity of life we're withholding from you here.

Just want to add that i personally know quite a few coders who have left vb.org, and almost all of them have named ungrateful users as the reason. Complaining that something you're getting for free doesn't include MORE stuff for free? I'd say thats both rude and unreasonable personally.

Hope that clears up my personal feelings on the matter,

Iain.

Looking into maybe getting the Pro due to the import but need to see what my staff thinks. Only reason I want the pro though is due to importing abe's thanked posts but my members may just want to start fresh who knows. Either product version looks kewl as there is still the like button.

I'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from misrepresenting what I've said.

Not at all. Perhaps it's a language barrier thing but if you re-read what I posted my complaint is in the bait-and-switch strategy,

Please show me where I stated that I or anyone else is "entitled" to something free. What you are doing is providing a "free modification" and then littering the thread with promotions for the paid product. That's my primary objection.

Precisely. You were the one who said earlier it was not about money. I'm simply pointing out that in fact that's BS.

I don't object to anyone making money for decent products or services. I object to the use of the vBulletin.org peer community to push commercial products disguised as free add-ons.

Absolutely. For anyone who missed it, the clarification is this: DBTech is a commercial operation. Nothing at all wrong with that. However, they are promoting their products all over the vb.prg forums in a bait-and-switch manner which is underhanded and obnoxious. There's a lot wrong with that.

Just so I have your objections correct and there's no language barrier interfering:

You're saying that us providing free modifications is a bad thing, because we also provide paid versions?

So, simply because there are pro versions of our products, and we let people know this, you think no one at vb.org should get to download/use the free versions either?

Pretty sure most people would disagree with you there.

Still, since thats your stance, you're more than welcome not to use any of our free products to improve your board - this resolves your problem =)

There is no "disguising", there are no prompts to buy the pro versions in the product, no features installed with a "you cannot use with without pro" notice... Many people switch to our free mods from others because they do the same or more, and any bugs get fixed instantly, unlike with other mods.

So what you are saying is that even though our free mods are as good as, or better than, the competition, that thery're somehow a scam? Give me a break.


I hate to be the one to break it to you, but vbulletin.org was not designed around what you want. Everything we do is well within the rules. I'm sorry that vb.org isn't the exact website run the exact way you want it to be. Perhaps you should find another website that is instead of harassing people who give people things for free on this one?

Iain

I did ask you nicely not to misrepresent my statements. Please stop it.

See above.

Others have received warnings from vb.org for doing what you are doing (e.g., Maria). Want to offer a free add-on? Great. Want to promote a paid add-on? Also great. Just not in a thread about a free add-on.

For the record, I have purchased a number of paid add-ons and enhancements for my forums. This isn't about money. It's about misrepresentation.

If we are in any way breaking the rules, then we will be informed how and why by staff, and change them.

It is not your place to decide who is, and is not, breaking the rules, unless you have a usergroup that isn't displayed?

If not i suggest you allow the admins and moderators to do what they are good at, and not try interpret the rules for them.

Iain

Can you please explain where we have been "putting forth the fraud lures in customers by advertising a product or service at a low price or with many features, then reveals to potential customers that the advertised good is not available at the original price or list of assumed features, but something different is." (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bait-and-switch )

We have not, in any way, shape or form offered something that came with hidden fees, not been as stated or anything else of the sort.

Please refrain from using this term unless you are prepared to explain which definition of "bait-and-switch" you are referring to, and explain how exactly we have fallen under said definition.


Fillip

This is how I see it...
There is a free version has most of the functions that one may need. You can't offer a professional product with only one or two things different than the free one this would kill sales. The developer needs to further better a product. With time and resource this isn't easy or cheap. It is your choice to choose to use the lite over the pro. Yes there is no import on the lite this may be a big sales point to get customers to go pro as the devs here that provide free products' or plugins really don't get anything close to what they deserve. Just my 2¢. Gripe all you want but I can't see the scam as you put it in other words.

Thanks a lot Charlie.

It's comments like this, and people who see things like this, that make us feel good about continuing to make our free versions as good as possible.

Just wanted you to know that sentiments like this mean more to the mod makers than you might think.

Cheers,
Iain

I've been reading this thread and keeping up with it and stopping from replying, but seriously... I can't anymore.

Bottom line is. DJBaxter, you're wrong. Suck it up, move on. If there was a problem with what DBT is doing, the mods/admins here at vb.org would say so. There's nothing wrong happening, as evidenced by their NOT SAYING SO.

If you don't like it, it's too bad. I've been a customer of DBT since they started releasing their mods and have been VERY happy with everything they've done. They've helped me out when it was MY fault, or otherwise not their mods in issue. They've gone out of their way to help me any chance they can. Their mods work, work well and do what they are supposed to.

That is what *I* pay for, the support and the knowledge that I'm giving my money to some that cares about their products.

I've spent a bit of cash at DBT and have never regretted it. If you're not interested in doing the same, don't. If anything, your statements are slanderous.

Please, go elsewhere and while you're at it, good luck on getting support for the other mod your "happy with".

Ohh and so your statements aren't "misrepresented" again, please refrain from posting here. That'll assure you don't have to worry about it again.

This is modification support thread, not a debate. If you are not requiring support then please refrain from further off topic posting. Thank you.

@ DBT: have you planned any integration with integrate Facebook applications?

What kind of integration did you have in mind?

Fillip

Hi,

these features:
# Can Un-Thank a post
# Can Un-Like a post

should be implented in the free version :)

Sorry, but we need to have some features that people need to pay for. If we just put all the features people wanted in the free version, then there'd be no reason for anyone to ever buy pro! :P

Iain

Wrong Answer! :D

What's the guesstimate of the next release timing and features?

BTW, here are some features I'd like to see:

1) Email user when they receive thanks (fully phrased)

2) Link in both postbit and user profile that is a count of thanks given and received that links to a list of the posts concerned.

3) Widget for posts most thanked, with an option to show by thread which would add up all the thanks within that thread.

4) As mentioned earlier, should be able to configure adding to the users reputation points when thanks are received.

For the record, I am happy to see this and other mods offered as paid Pro versions that are well supported. I'd love to see more Paid Pro hacks being offered! Anybody know of a site that gathers up all the paid/commercial offerings?

Will keep your ideas in mind when we're doing the next version. Probably won't for at least a month though - theres other mods in the queue to be updated first.

Feel free to post your ideas on our site to make sure they don't get overlooked when we're designing the next version =)

Iain

is there a demo for the HIDE feature? I need to check if it really HIDES the content no matter what, there are a lot of HIDE modifications, is there an option to post a regular post in order to see the hidden content?

This mod doesn't 100% hide the contents - quoting the post does reveal the content.
However, doing so is much more arduous than simply clicking Like or Thanks ;)

And no, this is not designed to be a HIDE-hack first and foremost, so there's no option to post to un-hide.


Fillip

You can try it out on our website =)

There is no option for a normal post to unhide the content currently no, feel free to suggest it for future version though =)

Iain

Very quick question:

I would love to try this mod out; however, the permissions panel in the admincp isn't showing up..have uninstalled/deleted files/reinstalled about 4 times now and I can't figure it out. Any ideas?

Make sure your userid has Super Administrator rights in config.php.

Fillip

As super admin, I can't get the menu options to show...ideas? Version 3.8.4 and installing the correct XML file.

I also notice (if this matters) in the products page, your two addons that I'm working with today are both black (not hyperlinked)...just noticed it, didn't know if it was relevant.

I should probably also specify that this post is indeed in the wrong place, but the right version is installed.

That just means there's no Product URL setting :)

Did you upload the cpnav file in the correct directory as well?
Also, can you try granting yourself the Can Admin Thanks permission? Just in case xP


Fillip

Okay,

Disregard, and thanks....another super admin had "revised" the config.php without letting me know....and this...is only Monday :)

Aha, the sneaky little bugger ;)
Glad it got solved :D


Fillip