Censor or replace specific URL by forum?
 

I'm looking for a way to block a specific URL by forum. The story is that Imgur has blacklisted my site. Their issues is that my member have used it to host pictures of their items in our classifieds, which is against their TOS. As a result any Imgur images don't work on my site, and there is a lot of other locations and threads that are based on Imgur content. Apparently that is not a problem with Imgur.

Anyways Imgur policies aside how would I go about blocking their URL in my classifieds?

Thanks,
Tim

What does every such link begin and end with, and what would you like it replaced with? Also, what version of vB are you running?

In your acp/vboptions/Censorship Options, third section down, Censored Words.

Add imgur to the box.
Save

Remember to do as instructions say:
You will need to Rebuild the Post Cache after making changes to update existing posts.

Any links or image links with imgur will no longer function nor will any added after this.

I seriously considered recommending the censorship feature, but I thought perhaps the OP just wanted the links to be removed in specific forums only, and not sitewide. :)

oops, I did not see that part.

Well, I wasn't sure one way or the other, and hopefully the OP can clarify. :)

I'm in the same boat as the OP. Looking to censor IMGUR in just a specific set of forums.

Edit: Not quite the same boat as OP, didn't notice was the VB3 forum. I'm on 4.2.2. Looking to disallow any text containing imgur.com period from a set of forums.

Well, I'll ask you the same questions:

What does every such link begin and end with, and what would you like it replaced with? Also, what version of vB are you running?

I only need to do this for a specific sub-set of forums. I'm trying to still allow my users to use Imgur in all locations other then our classifieds. The use of Imgur images in the classifieds is how I got blacklisted.

Sample image links -

In an ideal world I would have images from Imgur.com be hyper linked [URL] instead of embedded as images [IMG] but I will take all out censoring for the time being if that is easier.

Thanks for the help,
Tim

To update, I found this mod for VB4 that worked in my situation. Not sure if there is a VB3 version of this.

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=293490

So, you have images embedded such as:

And you would want this changed to:

And only in certain forums?

Yes, that would be ideal.

Okay, tonight I will look into creating a vB 3.8.x product you can install to do that. It won't change what's in your database, only what is shown when viewing the posts. It will allow you to select the forums in which it is active, and to turn off the product in the settings if needed.

Before I begin work on this, I need you to verify that you are using vB 3.8.x...I don't want to create the product only to find out you are using another version and it doesn't work. ;)

Thanks Mark! Direct from my site footer -

Tim

Okay, that should work...my vB 3 dev site is vB 3.8.9, and so I will post back once I have something for you to try. :D

Okay, here is a simple mod that does what you asked. Download the attached .XML file, import it, go the the settings and enable the product and select the forum(s) in which you want it to be active, save the settings and let me know if it works for you.

Also, if you wish for any additional features or changes, feel free to let me know.

Note: It should work for vB 4.x as well. :)

You are a good person Mark. I have seen you make an addon with just an idea a few times for free I might add, I hope your donation box gets filled, its well deserved.

Sorry for been out of thread.
But you are wrong about Mark. His is not a good person but much much more. Even if you want to donate him for his work, does not accept it. God bless him, and hope he has all the best in his life. :)

I'll echo the gents above me. :D

Thanks, everyone! :)

Now of course it would be nice to hear from the OP, to see whether this addresses the stated issue satisfactorily.

Thanks Mark! For some reason I stopped getting notifications from this thread so I didn't see your reply until now. I've got it installed and it seems to be doing what I want. I haven't seen any negative issues, but will report back after it has been running for a few days.

I've submitted a request to Imgur to unblock me, fingers crossed this works.

Tim