Completely private threads
 

This is an "upgrade" to my previous "private threads" hack. I am releasing it as a new hack because some people would not want the "completely private" functionality and because the code is different.

Special thanks go to RMS10 who sponsored this hack and decided it should be public and for everyone to test.

A private thread is either:

* A thread that some selected users/usergroups can view
* A thread that some some selected users/usergroups cannot view, everybody else can
* The thread can be hidden from other users/usergroups at the user's will

How does it work?

When the user creates a thread he will be given the option to type users or usergroups and to limit posting only to that users or for that users to be excluded from the threads.

The disallowed users cannot see the thread in the forumdisplay page, they cannot search for it, the cannot view it even if they know the direct url (a message error appears to them). It is unavailable to them.

If a thread is private guests canot see it, otherwise a user can just log off your forum to see the thread. You have to be validated in the forum with proper permissions to see the thread.

Administrators can always see private thread, even if the user selected to exclude administrators.


If you installed the previous private thread hack please uninstall it (reverse the file and template edits) to properly install this one.

Info for hackers:
You may modify, improve, upgrade, redistribute this hack, include it
in another hack or yours or translate it provided you do it free of
charge and you distribute it in www.vbulletin.org at least, there is no
need to pm me asking for permission
Some portions of the code are (c) Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

Looks great - thanks for releasing :)!

good work, although wouldn't it just be easier to set up a private forum?

WOOOOHOOOOO

i requested this months and months ago.... (but for vb2.x.x) finely i can use it. it will be EXTREAMLY handy.

This gives you the ability to mix groups, i.e. today you want groups 1, 5 and 6 to view a certain thread. Tomorrow you may want 2,1 and 4 to view a different one.

I plan to use this to allow me to post certain information. Depending on the topic not all groups can have access to it. The access could change for each thread I post. Therefore a private forum would not work as well.

One question....

Are users able to exclude admins to read their post?
I sure hope not... :/

Can i define which usergroups are able to use this feature?

nice mod if tweakable tho

Your questions are answered in his post.

Great idea!

The only option I would like to see, is some sort of marking that shows that a thread is private.

While the threadview itself is nice, it would be nice to see some sort of icon or whatnot that would display in the threaddisplay.

Very nice!

I am sure I will use this hack!

If you have acces to the thread and you enter to it a legend of "This is a private thread and these are the allowed users" will appear. If you are not allowed to see it you will not see the thread at all. Users that are allowed to post are aware that it is a private thread.

How much does it takes to install it?
Could it be remade as an add-on for a shoutbox, to replace the private room system?

thank Kentaurus, good job :)

Took me 10mins, Great hack ;)

Can I set this functionality in the Forum Permissions? I may use it, but only in some Forums.

forum restriction are to be defined in your admincp indeed
this counts for a single post you make, even in a forum with full public access...

check it out ;)

Right now any user in any forum can use completely private threads. Right now there is no way to disabled private threads in specific forums.

Is it possible to only allow this option to certain usergroups?

Hello, and thanks for tackling this! I have wanted a system muh like this to replace PMs all together. More functionality, but you got the gist right here.

Anyway, my question is this: If USER_A only allows USER_B to view the thread, can USER_A still read it? Or if a member of GROUP_1 makes it so only GROUP_2 can read it, is it then possible for him to read it? I mean....they did write it, so it would be sort of silly to block themself.

One ever so slight problem I have with this is a private thread still shows on the forumhome if it is the last post in a forum.. people cannot view it but they know it is there and so I`m getting complaints, anyway to block it from the forumhome as well as everywhere else?

*bumping thread*
as I wonder the same question as Giveit2u43

I need to get the thread of forumhome...

Get the thread titles off forumhome, and setup forum and user permissions and this hack will totally replace PM's! Awesome. I can't use it though until that stuff is fixed. :)

Suggestion.... as it may be, is to have a dropdown list of usergroups, and incorperate the pm systems find user button, so people do not have to know exact spelling///title

Thank you so much!

/me clicks install 5000000 times

thanks a lot Dir : Kentaurus
for this work

best regards
zahco

I get this error when I install this hack. I am currently running vB 3.0.1

great idea. Nice work. :)

I would love if this feature was added. Then I would click install.

If the Forumhome issue could be solved, then I'd install too.

is this hack we can use it in the new v. of vb .?

Most hacks for previous versions do work, there may be some minor variations in code, but for the most part work with newer versions, unless there is a major change in the code.

HERE I HAVE INSTALL THIS HACK

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT .. IAM USE VB 3.0.3

I HAVE DONE ALL AND WHEN I GO TO CHECK THE ADMIN PANEL I GET THIS ERROR

--------------------------------------------
Parse error: parse error in c:\apache\htdocs\forums\includes\functions.php on line 1935

Fatal error: Call to undefined function: devdebug() in c:\apache\htdocs\forums\includes\functions.php on line 1000
-------------------------------------------

I GO TO TO CHECK FUNCTIONS.PHP AND I REMOVE THE CODE THAT I ADD IN THIS FILE AND THE ADMIN WORK FINE BUT WHEN I GO TO THE FORUM HOME PAGE AND I TRY TO ENTER ANY FORUM I GET THIS ERROR


----------------------------------

Fatal error: Call to undefined function: private_thread_not_allowed() in c:\apache\htdocs\forums\forumdisplay.php on line 751
----------------------------------

ANY IDEA PLEASE

The other problem is that the "lightbulb" for a new post will go on for everybody, even if they aren't allowed to view the thread.

How can I set permissions so that only certain usergruops can access this feature?

Thanks.

Can anyone work on this hack or only the orginal author?

I'd be willing to pay for this hack if we cab get some of these minor bugs mentioned fixed.

This is a great hack.

What's the deal?

I will install once this feature is added.

:)

I could add the features in, but then the up-tights would get their panties all twisted up over it. If you want it done, I'd be willing to do it for a fair price. IM me on AIM @ Mroadster84 or PM me. Thanks

Hi, how can I prevent EVERYONE to see it from the archives?


ok, I fixed that by placing the below in archive/index.php

// display thread


// HACK: private threads.
if (private_thread_not_allowed($threadinfo))
{

echo "<div align=center>The author of this thread made it private and only users that he designated it for may access it.</div>";
eval(print_standard_error('privatethread_notallowe d'));
}
// HACK: private threads.

if ($do == 'thread')

this sounds like a great hack, why doesn't some expert iron out the shortfalls?

In this image attachment
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/attachmen...chmentid=17025


it has 5 options for a Private thread.
Can someone expand the intent of each of those options for me?

For example, option 2 says, "Only Selected Users". Does this mean "Only Selected Users" can see the thread but they cannot post or does it mean "Only Selected Users" can read and post to this thread?

Thank you.

Does this function with vb 3.0.3?

That has nothing to do with posting. Posting permissions are the ones that you selected in forum settings for that forum. That hack is about viewing threads.