Username Request
 

Introduction
I was looking through the Modification Requests forum here and found a pretty good idea. The basic idea was to add a list of users who would like a name change for the administrators. I added the basics and released it. In consecutive versions I have added the abilities and features you have requested and this is the product. It is morphing into a more powerful, more useful system each and every version.

The Tools

User Tools
Inside the User Control Panel, there is an area that is added where a user is given the ability to submit a username that they would like their name changed to. They receive PM updates depending upon the "status" of their request, whether it is Accepted or Rejected.

Administrative Tools
As soon as a request is added to the database, the specified administrator is sent an e-mail saying that a user would like a username request. Inside the Administrators Control Panel, a new section is added under the "Users" navigation tab, that lists all the "Pending" requests with the ability to "Reject" or "Approve" the request. A user will be notified via PM when an action is taken. When a username is approved, the system will automatically change the username.

Username History
This tool will list all username changes that a user has requested. It will also display the status of the request, meaning that if you reject it, this will be displayed. This tool will be built upon in a later version.

Username History Changes:
In the next version, the status of a username change request has been revamped and no longer includes hard-coded "Accepted", "Rejected", and "Requested" status values. More information will be given at the release of v1.1.0!

Requirements
This hack has several requirements. They include:

• vBulletin v3.6.6 or higher (This is the minimum version required for the next requirement)
• The usercp_nav_bottom template hook.

To get around the second requirement, you can copy the cell manually or add $template_hook[usercp_navbar_bottom] at the end of the User Control Panel navigation.

Installation
Installing the product is easy. Just follow these steps:

1. Upload Files into your Administrators Control Panel directory.
2. Import the product through the Product Manager.
3. Click Install Here

Known Bugs:

1. No e-mail is sent out to users upon username change. Fix: The next version will include a fix that will respect all the users settings on receiving e-mail from administrators.
2. The setting for PM sender was ignored within the code and uses the userid of the administrator who changed the username through the administration back-end. Fix: In the next version, revamped settings and improved back-end will now properly use a setting similar to this.

Big Thanks!
I would like to give a big thanks to Paul M for helping me with my stupid mistakes in v1.0.4 - v1.0.6! Now all of my mistakes should be taken care of (unless I made a mistake in the disallowed if statement). Thanks Paul!

I would also like to say thanks to Marco for pointing out a possible SQL Injection that was in v1.0.4 - v1.0.6 (It was inside the ACP, and used a wrong variable name / clean type).

And to Dannyloski for fixing my modification on his forum and providing the fix here. :) Much faster than I did it.

Final Remarks
I hope that you will enjoy this product as much as I enjoyed making it.

Future Features:

1. Change Amount Limitations.
2. Points Integration (Name a few)

Change Log:

1.0.9 (April 25th, 2008)

• FIXED! Adds CSRF securitytoken support.

1.0.8 (October 30th, 2007)

• FIXED! The username history in the administrators control panel should work now, with changes to the coding (I was checking for a variable I never set).

1.0.7 (September 10th, 2007)

• FIXED! The permissions actually work! Thanks to Paul M pointing out my errors...
• FIXED! Possible SQL Injection removed.

1.0.5 & 1.0.6 (September 9th, 2007)

• FIXED! Removed hard coded text within templates.
• FIXED! Removed hard coded text within the ACP file.
• FIXED! PM Titles now use the phrases, and does not show the phrase varname.
• FIXED! The minimum posts error will now correctly be written (would show varname before).
• FIXED! 1.0.6 Change. Bitfields / Permissions now work.
• IMPROVED! Admin CP dates now include the time of the request, along with the date.
• NEW! Template Caching for all templates!

1.0.4 (July 30th, 2007)

• NEW! Username History inside the ACP / Member's Profile Page.
• IMPROVED! Record Storage - Includes status, and doesn't remove entries upon rejection / approval.
• NEW! Date of request information!
• IMPROVED! Text is now phrased!
• NEW! Usergroup Permissions!

1.0.3 (July 23rd, 2007)

• FIXED! Security Exploit has been removed.

1.0.2 (June 17th, 2007)

• IMPROVED! Error Checking & Handling

1.0.1 (June 13th, 2007)

• NEW! Username Limits Checking
• NEW! Uses Template Hooks
• IMPROVED! Checks Username Against current and usernames in the database.
• NEW! Automatic Update of Username in ACP
• NEW! Minimum Post Requirement
• NEW! User PMs: Accepted & Rejected
• NEW! Admin Notifications
• FIXED! Grammar

1.0.0 (June 10th, 2007)

• Username Requests
• Current Username Checking
• Data Submission
• User CP Page

Cool Mod,

Thanks! :up:
Kyle

Sweet. I can use this. It would be nice if the admin received some kind of notice of the request. A check of existing user names would also be beneficial....I'm sure you already have thought of these...but just wanted to mention it. Thanks for the mod.

very good work and very easy to install cant wait to see more usefull features :)

Agreed. If this was implemented I would definately install this.

Distance

Sweeeet! Installed and working great so far.

Can this be integrated to work maybe with Icash or a points system to be charged when they request this??

This is a sweet mod, been waiting for something like for a long time - but ..... am I right in thinking the changes have to be done manually? There's no button for "approve" so it can be done from the Username Requests page?

Cracking work though, glad someone finally brought this one out :D

If this hack could be extended for custom field change requests, it would be extremely helpful. In our forums, we have some custom fields that are normally not editable by members. now they end up writing to the mods to change the data....

Nice nice

What am I missing here! Where is the product to upload?

Okay awesome some questions or suggestions.

1. what happens if the username they request is already in use?
2. I only allow letters and numbers on my site for usernames, can I limit there requests to numbers and letters only? if not, can you please add this feature.
3. in admincp when i view username requests, does it have the option to accept it, or do i have to manually change it still.

Otherwise awesome work!

This has amazing potential....i'm going to hold off on installing it just now to see where you go with it....but I'll be watching :D

Nice hack :)

Installed and running, Nice work thanks

Is it possible to add a change button in the admincp to automatically change the username

You can cancel the template edits for 3.6.6+, try to use the new template hooks

Excellent idea! This should be a feature built into vBulletin. ;)

Indeed, integrate this with a points system or a Post Thankyou hack and it would be soo cool dude.
Something like: "You need X points or X thanks to be able to request a new username."

Thanks m8 my bad. I had Explore set on filmstrip view and I didn't see the .xml file.

Nice mod, installed.

I agree with the one feature request of a PM or email notification for the admin when a member request a name change. :)

I'm going to hold off as well as this is a great idea with an unbelieveable growth potential.

I like the idea alot. But since my site is a pretty big one, I'll take some time to backup mySQL. I'll let the other users test it first. Thanks again for this wonderful modification.

This is a great hack but I was wondering if it's possible to add an optional ACP feature where users are able to edit their usernames by themselves in the User CP, just like the others, y'know.

WOW. Let me just say that. A lot of installs in about 24 hours.

The features I plan to add (as some of you suggested) are:

1. Minimum Post Amount (!)
2. User PMs: One for Accepted and one for Rejected (!)
3. Admin Notifications (!)
4. Automatic Update of Username (ACP)
5. Username Checking (!)
6. Better error checking & handling
7. Phrased
8. Username Limits Checking (!)
9. Points Integration (Name a few)

(!) denotes completed.

The reason I have the template edit is that I have 3.6.4 installed locally and haven't been able to update it.

I'm glad to see that you guys have helped each other, and really enjoy this mod. I would love feature requests!

What is not working properly? I would be glad to have a look at it.

Just change the text in all the places. That way you'll have "username requests" but for the field.

Number 2 I might have to work on but the other ones definitely.

Maybe another hack!

Possible if you can make this for 3.5.x?

looks forward to your list being completed, those are features i will need to wait for. thanks :)

Nice mod! :)

hay is their a way you can make the mod change the username by a click of a button? and it will auto send the pm to say its been done rather than having to view the request, go into the user's account and settings :) just a thought

I could try, but I don't see why this wouldn't work. I only have a 3.6.7 board installed.

That's another mod that I'm going to build after this one.

great stuff@ such a great hack!

Edit: Figured it out, thank you

Is it just me or you didn't uploaded the files right?? i only see some ds.store files.

When upgrading do i just need to upload xml file or do i have to upload everything all over?

Like SubZero mentioned...I think some of the files are missing. [:)]

Useless. The files needed aren't even in them. LOL

I install and yet it doesn't work. Running up to date

can this be permitted to certain usergroups alone ?

hmm let me try a whack at this..

not working for me either...

is their a way you can stop auto-name changing?