Miscellaneous Hacks - Exclude forum from New Posts and Today's Posts

Here is an easy way to exclude forums from New Posts and Today's Posts.

Edit the search.php file.

PHP Code:

function set_newitem_forums($criteria)
{
    global $vbulletin;

    //figure out forums
    //This follows the logic of the original search.  If a forum is specified then use it and its
    //children.  If an include list is specified, then use it without its children.
    //Do not honor the exclude list if we are using the provided forumid
    if ($vbulletin->GPC['f'])
    {
        $criteria->add_forumid_filter($vbulletin->GPC['f'], true);
    }
    else
    {
        if ($vbulletin->GPC['include'])
        {
            $list = explode(',', $vbulletin->GPC['include']);

            if (is_array($list))
            {
                $list = array_map('intval', $list);
                $criteria->add_forumid_filter($list, false);
            }
        }
        
        // start hack
        $vbulletin->GPC['exclude'] .= ',1,2,3,4';
        // end hack
        
        if ($vbulletin->GPC['exclude'])
        {
            $list = explode(',', $vbulletin->GPC['exclude']);

            if (is_array($list))
            {
                $list = array_map('intval', $list);
                $criteria->add_excludeforumid_filter($list);
            }
        }
    }
} 


Replace the numbers 1,2,4, and 4 with the forum numbers you want to exclude.

[Videx]

Originally Posted by wolfyman

so... is there a hack that makes it easy for the normal user to do it?

Are you imagining a page that lists all your forums with a checkbox beside them and users may check the ones they don't want in their search query? Then they can press a button to get the code to add to their browser bar?

No, I am unaware of such a mod. Seems like an awful lot of trouble to go to just for a few brain-dead people that probably wouldn't use it anyway.

[wolfyman]

investorsiraq.com has it, and the users love it.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by wolfyman

is there a hack that allows members to choose which forums to exclude for themselves?

I made a a hack that did that on my forum, but only a handful of members used it.

[kofoid]

Where do you make this edit? This would be a smokin' add on with instructions

[wolfyman]

Originally Posted by Andy

I made a a hack that did that on my forum, but only a handful of members used it.

All communities are different, but thank you for your comment. Would you be willing to share your work?

[kofoid]

I found this on vb.com. Super easy.....
http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showt...+forums+search

[Andy]

Originally Posted by wolfyman

All communities are different, but thank you for your comment. Would you be willing to share your work?

The code uses an external database so that I don't modify the vBulletin database. It's more works this way but less problematic during upgrades. For this reason it's not something I'm willing to share or support.

[New Joe]

As said, this needs to be a mod for users to be able to do.

[Andy]

One of the problems with allowing the members to exclude the forums they choose is that if they choose lets say a dozen forums, under the breadcrumb where is says "Excluded Forums" becomes very long. To do it right you would want to make the excluded links message a link.

Also some would only want the excluded forums from being displayed when doing a New Posts or Today's Posts and not when using Advanced Search. So to do it right becomes very complex.

[burntire]

Thanks for the code. Installed.