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

[mariocaz]

Thank you Ted,

Let me try it.

[mariocaz]

Help Ted !!!!!!!

Now I am receiving tons of this errors in my email:

Database error in vBulletin 3.7.6:

Invalid SQL:

SELECT id,views
FROM vblgv AS lgv
WHERE lgv.ipaddress = '186.15.15.217';

MySQL Error : Table 'allreef_inicio.vblgv' doesn't exist
Error Number : 1146
Request Date : Wednesday, September 30th 2009 @ 10:53:50 PM
Error Date : Wednesday, September 30th 2009 @ 10:53:50 PM
Script : http://www.all-reefs.com/inicio/showthread.php?t=7433
Referrer : http://www.all-reefs.com/inicio/forumdisplay.php?f=20
IP Address : 186.15.15.217
Username : No Registrado
Classname : vB_Database
MySQL Version :

Help.

[mariocaz]

Mmmm I don´t know why the vblgv table doesn´t exist.

I ran the the xml files in the ACP.

I don´t know how to create a table, if you want give me tha SQL instructions to do it in the phpmyadmin or another xml file.

I think when I uninstalled the mod I deleted the table but when I reinstalled it the table had to be installed again.

[Ted S]

The table can be created with the SQL:

CREATE TABLE PREFIXlgv (
        id int(7) unsigned NOT NULL auto_increment,
        ipaddress VARCHAR(25) NOT NULL default '0.0.0.0',
       firstaccess INT UNSIGNED NOT NULL DEFAULT '0',
       views INT(4) NOT NULL DEFAULT '0',
       lastactivity INT UNSIGNED NOT NULL DEFAULT '0',
        PRIMARY KEY (id),
        KEY indexs (ipaddress,views,lastactivity)
      ) TYPE=MyISAM

Be sure to change or remove PREFIX.

[mariocaz]

if the table complete is vblgv, Is this one the correct instruction ?

CREATE TABLE vblgv (
id int(7) unsigned NOT NULL auto_increment,
ipaddress VARCHAR(25) NOT NULL default '0.0.0.0',
firstaccess INT UNSIGNED NOT NULL DEFAULT '0',
views INT(4) NOT NULL DEFAULT '0',
lastactivity INT UNSIGNED NOT NULL DEFAULT '0',
PRIMARY KEY (id),
KEY indexs (ipaddress,views,lastactivity)
) TYPE=MyISAM

or like this:

CREATE TABLE lgv (
id int(7) unsigned NOT NULL auto_increment,
ipaddress VARCHAR(25) NOT NULL default '0.0.0.0',
firstaccess INT UNSIGNED NOT NULL DEFAULT '0',
views INT(4) NOT NULL DEFAULT '0',
lastactivity INT UNSIGNED NOT NULL DEFAULT '0',
PRIMARY KEY (id),
KEY indexs (ipaddress,views,lastactivity)
) TYPE=MyISAM

Sorry if I am stupid, but I want to be sure before to run it.

[mariocaz]

Ted,

In this moment (I didn?t ran the SQL instruction yet, I am waiting your confirmation) I am receiving this errors:

Database error in vBulletin 3.7.6:

Invalid SQL:

DELETE FROM vblgv
WHERE (lastactivity + ( * 86400)) < 1254369635;

MySQL Error : You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near '* 86400)) < 1254369635' at line 2
Error Number : 1064
Request Date : Thursday, October 1st 2009 @ 12:00:35 AM
Error Date : Thursday, October 1st 2009 @ 12:00:35 AM
Script : http://www.all-reefs.com/inicio/cron...and=1254369633
Referrer : http://www.all-reefs.com/inicio/onli...e&pp=20&page=1
IP Address : 189.142.218.197
Username : No Registrado
Classname : vB_Database
MySQL Version :

[mariocaz]

Ok I already ran the SQL instruction and I have now the table vblgv, but still receiving a lot of these errors by email:

Database error in vBulletin 3.7.6:

Invalid SQL:

DELETE FROM vblgv
WHERE (lastactivity + ( * 86400)) < 1254370945;

MySQL Error : You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near '* 86400)) < 1254370945' at line 2
Error Number : 1064
Request Date : Thursday, October 1st 2009 @ 12:22:25 AM
Error Date : Thursday, October 1st 2009 @ 12:22:25 AM
Script : http://www.all-reefs.com/inicio/cron...and=1254370943
Referrer : http://www.all-reefs.com/inicio/show...?t=5752&page=6
IP Address : 189.217.98.64
Username : No Registrado
Classname : vB_Database
MySQL Version :

[Ted S]

That error is on the backend only but still needs to be fixed.

How often do have the scheduled task running? What is the value for the setting "Clear IP Activity Log"?

[yahsuah]

http://www.pdfonline.com/web2pdf/index.asp

Is it possible that I can use this script together with LGV plug-in?

I tried but it hasn't worked together.

How can I exclude this website: http://web2.pdfonline.com/pdfonline/pdfonline.js

<!-- START: PDF Online Script -->
<script type="text/javascript">
	var authorId = "CED9DC99-40A8-4A21-9709-D89FD891A8F3";
	var pageOrientation = "0";
	var topMargin = "0.5";
	var bottomMargin = "0.5";
	var leftMargin = "0.5";
	var rightMargin = "0.5";
</script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://web2.pdfonline.com/pdfonline/pdfonline.js">
</script>
<!-- END: PDF Online Script -->

[Ted S]

This code would not impact javascript files.