[mfarmerhi]

Alright. The more I explore, the more sure I am of the conclusion I came to in my last post above.

In the end, I've left both hacks installed.

Because the "Text on PM" redefines the bitfield for 'hasaccessmask', if you choose to use both hacks ("Text on PM" and "Allow Groups to read"); AND you've first installed the "Allow Groups" hack FIRST, THEN installed "Text on PM", you'll need to go back to all the users you've allowed to read the thread contents (in the forum(s) you've selected as your "Allow Groups to read" forum(s)) and:

1) Change each user first to "no" or "default"; THEN
2) Change that same user BACK to "yes"

YOU HAVE TO DO THIS EVEN THOUGH YOUR USER ACCESS MASKS WILL STILL SHOW THOSE USERS AS HAVING PERMISSION TO READ CONTENTS

Although I am not sure how it happens, it's my belief that by redefining 'hasaccessmask' with a new bitfield, it causes vB to "forget" whom could and could not read thread contents, requiring you to again re-define them.

Said another way, the variable that used to define who could read contents, has been changed. To restore that permission you need to again define those users.

Again, this *should* only apply to users who have FIRST installed the "allow groups to read" hack, THEN installed the "text on pm" hack.

~ Mark