Add-On Releases - Limited Guest Viewing -- Motivate Guests to Register

Version 2.0 of this addon which allows for IP tracking using a mySQL database has been released. This is an optional feature which is disabled by default.


With vBulletin, forum guests are able to view endless amounts of content without being directly asked or forced to register no matter how many times they come back. The purpose of the Limited Guest Viewing System is to drive in registrations by limiting the number of threads guests are able to view without interruption.

This plugin offers two options which can be used to drive in more registrations. The first option allows you to show a reminder message or advertisement after a guest has viewed a certain number of threads. The second option puts up a roadblock stopping guests from viewing threads altogether after reaching a certain number of views. Both options work together to encourage and ultimately force anonymous visitors to either register or login but can also be used separately based on your individual needs.


Modifications/ Instructions:
Template edits: 1
Plugins: 1 (adds 1 template and several settings)
SQL Queries: 2 [1 insert/update] (optional)

This template hack should take under 5 minutes to implement and customize.

Customizing the content / messages:
To customize which messages appear or what they say, go to vBulletin options, select the ?Limited Guest Viewing System? group and configure the options as desired. Each phase can be modified by adding translation text.

Through the ACP you can enable or disable each option, specify the number of threads that can be viewed before the option is enabled and input any forums you wish to exclude from being blocked.

Search Engine Bots (Spiders):

This plugin is intended to use cookies as a result few if any bots will be impacted when it comes to spidering your site [bots do not generally use cookies]. Users with IP logging enabled face more potential impact from spiders. For a full explanation of the impact on bots please read the install file. Questions about this issue should be asked after the install file will be read otherwise responses will direct you to read the file.

IP/ Database Logging:
As of version 2.0 this addon now allows for IP logging via mySQL instead of just using cookies. IP logging tracks visitors by IP address stopping issues associated with cookie clearing making the system more secure. This is optional and is turned off by default.




There are 3 possible downsides of this option you should be aware of.

1. The system adds an additional query and update every time a guest views a thread which adds to your server load.
2. Some users on ISPs like AOL share IPs and could be forced to register without being able to access any threads.
3. While spiders often change IPs and are specifically excluded (by hostmask) from the addon this is not absolute and it is possible they could be blocked. See the install file for more on this.

Welcome headers compatibility:
The Limited Guest Viewing is designed to work with the Welcome Headers System version 3.6 without any conflict. If you are using the notices system in 3.7 there is the possibility of duplicating messages.

Updates
- 12/10/2008 - Bug update to fix issue #2-01
-10/30/2008 - Release of version 2.0 beta
-05/04/2008 - Release of 3.7.0 version

[shervin_dvb]

Thankx For Answer To Me

please Show Me Link For This Hack Or Code that Hide text in the post for Guests Only Show 50 character in the a part of it

I Think Need a Code For This

Originally Posted by Ted S

Sorry but that is not what this addon does.... you will need to find or develop a different hack to accomplish that.

[EricPSF]

Originally Posted by Ted S

I'm still not following... did you load 5 threads by clicking on them or did you simply surf back using a back button to see 5 threads you had already viewed? There's a dramatic differance between the two actions... if you click a link the page loads up and calls the system, if you merely go back and foward to pages you've already seen it's all from your cache and the system doesn't refresh.

Hi Ted,

Apologized for the confusion.
(1) I tested out by clicking 1 thread from the main forum.
(2) I click the "back" button back to the main forum and select another new thread (which is 2 threads).
(3) So I repeated step 1 and step 2 for more than 5 times, but it still didn't pop-up the message.

I am using firefox and I have enabled the database option too.

Thanks.

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by shervin_dvb

Thankx For Answer To Me

please Show Me Link For This Hack Or Code that Hide text in the post for Guests Only Show 50 character in the a part of it

I Think Need a Code For This

This forum is for support of this addon only. As you need another addon you should post this in the appropriate forum here on vbulletin.org to seek assistance.

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by EricPSF

Hi Ted,

Apologized for the confusion.
(1) I tested out by clicking 1 thread from the main forum.
(2) I click the "back" button back to the main forum and select another new thread (which is 2 threads).
(3) So I repeated step 1 and step 2 for more than 5 times, but it still didn't pop-up the message.

I am using firefox and I have enabled the database option too.

Thanks.

Perfect. Got it...

Can you PM me the url to your site as well as your take over message and/ or block settings?

[shervin_dvb]

Thankx For Answer To Me

Please Give Me Link in the appropriate forum here on vbulletin.org

Originally Posted by Ted S

This forum is for support of this addon only. As you need another addon you should post this in the appropriate forum here on vbulletin.org to seek assistance.

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by shervin_dvb

Thankx For Answer To Me

Please Give Me Link in the appropriate forum here on vbulletin.org

shervin_dvb, This thread is for the support of the Limited Guest Viewing system only. Please post your questions in an appropriate forum. I don't use other forums and could not tell you which is appropriate, that's something you can discover browsing the site.

[eglyntine]

Ted thanks for looking into that database problem I was having. I'm going to delve into it more this weekend but I just wanted to let you know that there is a common factor. It isn't just giving me the error for any unregistered user like I thought before. It seems to only do it with spambots. So I'm wondering if they are running some script that trips the error.

Anyway, I'll let you know what I find out and again Thank you so much for making this mod and taking the time to help out with the minor issues like you do. It's greatly appreciated.

[Ted S]

eglyntine,

Although I don't normally do support for other mods feel free to drop me a PM if you get stuck and I may be able to lend a hand.

[TriMe]

I installed and will test tonight, can't wait. A small typo in the options page on the bottom. See attached picture. Also,

how can we make that this mod instead of the showthread to work for header or headinclude so that user has limited viewing to ALL forum pages like profiles etc

Originally Posted by Ted S

You would have to modify the addon to look at all pages and conditions... basically take the logging function and rewrite where it's called.

Can you elaborate on this? I have a YouTube video section that I would like to cut off from guests. For either:

A. Viewing video for a certain amount of time
and/or
B. Watching 5 or 6 videos.

Thanks in advance,

TriMe

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by TriMe

I installed and will test tonight, can't wait. A small typo in the options page on the bottom. See attached picture. Also,



Can you elaborate on this? I have a YouTube video section that I would like to cut off from guests. For either:

A. Viewing video for a certain amount of time
and/or
B. Watching 5 or 6 videos.

Thanks in advance,

TriMe

Neither of those functions is something this addon covers and would require you to modify the code to impact whatever scripts you have to show videos.