Show Thread Enhancements - Limited Guest Viewing -- Motivate Guests to Register

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 [or membership upgrades] by limiting the number of threads guests [or certain membergroups] 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.

Install Instructions: Read the install file. Customize via admin settings & templates.

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): Anything that changes your forum viewing can impact how search engines treat it. The cookie approach used by this modification is bypassed by many bots and, since people can still view posts, cloaking should not apply. Users with IP logging may face more restrictions although a filtering system lets defined spiders pass. This plugin is intended to limit repetitive viewing and not restrict people from single views.

For a full explanation of the impact on bots read the install file before asking questions.

Usergroup Limitations:
Version 2.1 introduces basic usergroup limiting with the same rules & messages guests get. Based on demand this may be extended to a per-usergroup level restriction and messaging in the future.

Change Log:
- 7.21.2012 - Update to 2.1.0 which adds usergroup limiting, fixes mySQL 5.5 support, removes the need for template editing, cleans up install guide. Upgrading is optional.

Mod Philosophy -- Drive Your Own Success:
All of my mods are inspired by my work in the digital industry and are designed to drive registrations, interaction or other engagement activities the core platform does not address. Each is designed to fit a general need by providing a starting point but it's on you to decide how to make things work to their best possible outcome. Don't stay in the box.

[Nomar86]

tagging for future use

[Budget101]

Originally Posted by Ted S

With which option?

Tried it in several versions of vb & on several browsers
In 4.0.2 pl4
Enable Guest Viewing: Yes
Database Logging: No
Enable Register Takeover message: Yes, 5
Register Block: Yes
Register Block Count: 15
Excluded forum Ids: (blank) also tried it with 2 specific forums
Clear IP: doesn't matter, not using it.

in vb4.0.3 & vb4.0.5 & vb4.0.6
Enable Guest Viewing: Yes
Database Logging: No
Enable Register Takeover message: Yes, 5
Register Block: Yes
Register Block Count: 20
Excluded forum Ids: (blank)
Clear IP: doesn't matter, not using it.

In IE it took 47 pages before it showed the "Block" page and when I clicked on another page, it returned a blank page.

In FF it took 13 pages to show the Register takeover message, then returned Blank pages following that page.

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by Budget101

Tried it in several versions of vb & on several browsers
In 4.0.2 pl4
Enable Guest Viewing: Yes
Database Logging: No
Enable Register Takeover message: Yes, 5
Register Block: Yes
Register Block Count: 15
Excluded forum Ids: (blank) also tried it with 2 specific forums
Clear IP: doesn't matter, not using it.

in vb4.0.3 & vb4.0.5 & vb4.0.6
Enable Guest Viewing: Yes
Database Logging: No
Enable Register Takeover message: Yes, 5
Register Block: Yes
Register Block Count: 20
Excluded forum Ids: (blank)
Clear IP: doesn't matter, not using it.

In IE it took 47 pages before it showed the "Block" page and when I clicked on another page, it returned a blank page.

In FF it took 13 pages to show the Register takeover message, then returned Blank pages following that page.

Code is not variable, it executes or it doesn't... Either their is a conflict or the cookie isn't getting set to track it. How fast are you refreshing? What other mods do you use? Are you watching the lgv cookie increase as you reload?

[yahwehpassim]

Is this mode also good for 4.0.3? I really like this mod

[coloradomoms]

is it possible to use this as a registered user, anti-lurking tool? As in, if they are logged in, but have zero posts, they can only view x amount of threads before posting an intro?

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by yahwehpassim

Is this mode also good for 4.0.3? I really like this mod

Sure

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by coloradomoms

is it possible to use this as a registered user, anti-lurking tool? As in, if they are logged in, but have zero posts, they can only view x amount of threads before posting an intro?

Out of the box this only handles guests but you could modify it with relative ease

[MedellinStyle]

dosent work in 4.06 ??
it import but i dont see the options :S

[Videx]

Originally Posted by MedellinStyle

dosent work in 4.06 ??
it import but i dont see the options :S

You probably forgot to refresh your AdminCP after the import. Or you're looking in the wrong place. It's in Settings>Options>Limited Guest Viewing System.

[coloradomoms]

Originally Posted by Ted S

Out of the box this only handles guests but you could modify it with relative ease

Thanks, I'm going to try it out. I have limited xml knowledge, so lets pray I don't crash my site in the process! LOL