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.

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by staffurdu

Unfortunately, I am NOT that expert. Would you be please so kind to tell me how can I do this with this mod OR with another way?

What I want to do is ---->> I want to restrict the daily thread views for Registered Usergroup members (and if possible for one more usergroup Lurkers otherwise I will have to delete it if I can restrict only one usergroup).


Following is the only line where I have found the $show['guest'] flag:

if ($show['guest'] AND !$lvgbot AND $vbulletin->options['lgvon'])

What should I change in this? (Sorry I dont have much knowledge about these things thats why I dont know what changing must be done. )

staffurdu - modifying an addon requires some coding understanding.

The function for checking group membership is

 is_member_of($bbuserinfo, 47)

You can use multiple groups 47, 48, 49, etc...

[GTX2]

This hack is great, i just love it, and works great with 4.1.2, but be aware if activated, in my case, i started to get half of income with adsense. Just figured later, maybe guests like to browse forums but not to register..... :/

[mmacrypt]

Thank you for this mod, I have it installed but not using it yet. Want to track some number really well before activating it and see what happens.

[nalinikpriya]

gr8 mod. It would be helpful in increasing the new registrations to my site. Rated 5.
thanks

[tjh4384]

I am torn about this one, page views are outstanding "fodder" when looking for sponsors/advertisers, so hate to cut off page views, but also like idea of having guests get a "nudge" to register

Would be great if, after so many views, mod could take guest to a page that had a
nudge, that while the forum doesn't "force" registration, it offers so much they should
consider registering (or something to that effect) then perhaps a pair of links, one that
would take them to free registration the other to take them to the page they were
viewing to let them continue to build page view stats for the board

This is just suggestion, I am not a coder so don't know what it entails, but, please, don't take this as a "criticism" in
any fashion, the coders here that share their outstanding work are GREATLY appreciated by myself and everyone
who benefits from it on my community

[KProjects]

I had it installed on a forum but recently took it off. I know I got more registrations with it installed, but they're the type to register then leave.. now that it's off, I know that if someone registers they're more than likely going to post something soon..

Great system though - helps to boost registration numbers which is what most new forums need to get going..

[CUBS]

ok I installed . But how do I make it to when the guests exceeds the number of views it kicks them off the board and the saying comes up and they cant view anymore threads. Its set now that the saying comes up you excedded but they can still view more threads what did I do wrong or what setting is wrong

Also would this 4.x.x work on the 3.7.4 or do I have to use the 3.7.4 which i'm using now anyway

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by CUBS

ok I installed . But how do I make it to when the guests exceeds the number of views it kicks them off the board and the saying comes up and they cant view anymore threads. Its set now that the saying comes up you excedded but they can still view more threads what did I do wrong or what setting is wrong

Also would this 4.x.x work on the 3.7.4 or do I have to use the 3.7.4 which i'm using now anyway

You need to enable the block option in your control panel.

[CUBS]

I did here are the settings are these set corect
Enable Limited Guest Viewing yes

Enable Database Logging no

nable Register Take-Over Message yes

Register Take-Over Message Count 3

Enable Register Block Page yes

Register Block Page Count 3
Clear IP Activity Log

never

[orangedays]

assuming CMS articles are non viewable to guests,
will guests be prompted to register as well?
Or does this work with forums only?