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.