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

[BadgerDog]

I've been using this mod (note: v3.6 version) for a long time and it's been great !!! :up:

Thanks for the work Ted... much appreciated ...

I had a question and I just wanted to make sure I've always understood what's happening with this mod ...

A "guest" reads posts on the site up to the limit of what I've set. He gets the warning message and finally the "blocking" message telling him should register.

I get a lot of people who the register, which changes their status to the group "Awaiting Email Validation". I notice that people sit for a long time at that group level, but never validate their emails and in fact, a lot of the time the emails they've provided are invalid. I usually purge this group for anyone over 10 days who hasn't validated their emails.

Am I correct in assuming that they do this so they can continue to read the forums using Ted's mod designed for guests and by registering and staying in the p "Awaiting Email Validation" status they circumvent the restrictions of it?

If so, is there anyplace I can add this group ID so they get treated like guests until they actually complete the registration process and validate their emails?

Thanks for and feedback and best wished to everyone for a happy, safe and prosperous new year ... :up:

Regards,
Badger

[Ted S]

Am I correct in assuming that they do this so they can continue to read the forums using Ted's mod designed for guests and by registering and staying in the p "Awaiting Email Validation" status they circumvent the restrictions of it?

If so, is there anyplace I can add this group ID so they get treated like guests until they actually complete the registration process and validate their emails?

I'd actually theorize (with some data to back it) that many remain unconfirmed because they don't realize they are unconfirmed. The email doesn't get to them and your forum doesn't tell them anything is wrong so unless they go looking, they just get stuck. That's why the welcome headers mod I created has a treatment to bug them to confirm.

In any event, you are correct, once registered they are considered a full member even if they don't confirm. You can address this however by modifying the plugin:

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

Becomes:

if ( ($show['guest'] OR $vbulletin->userinfo['usergroupid'] == 'XXX') AND !$lvgbot AND $vbulletin->options['lgvon'])

Where XXX is the id of your awaiting group

[BadgerDog]

Originally Posted by Ted S

In any event, you are correct, once registered they are considered a full member even if they don't confirm. You can address this however by modifying the plugin:

Hello Ted…

Thank you for the patch. That was gracious of you to provide that …. :up:

I also do use your excellent "Welcome Headers" mod and have so for years as well. First class add-on....

Before I went ahead and put in the patch, I thought I'd check to see what was happening with "Limited Guest Viewing" right now, as it's been a few years since I did that. I discovered something odd. The mod seems to have stopped working at some point in time.

If I turn it OFF, then guests can't access posts and they receive the standard "not permitted" message. If I turn it ON, they are able to view threads, but indefinitely and none of the warning or blocked messages ever appear. I have no idea why it's stopped working and I've done a bunch of testing, but can't find anything unusual. I've recheck the addition of the $lgvmessage at the bottom of "NAVBAR" template and it's there, located right under the $welcomeheaders one, both located right at bottom of the template.

I know it was working and the "Welcome Headers" mod is still functioning fine. I even turned it off and tested without it running, but I never see any "Limited Guest Viewing" messages, nor does it stop anyone from indefinite views of posts in forums.

Any ideas where I can look further to test and debug?

Thanks again for your excellent mods. I have been meaning to send you a donation for years, but it always slips my mind. Now that I'm here once again and dealing with the forum, I have just done that to say thank you for your mods and other help you given everyone of the years.

Regards,
BadgerDog (Doug)

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by BadgerDog

If I turn it OFF, then guests can't access posts and they receive the standard "not permitted" message.

This mod doesnt have that much power. It's possible something is conflicting but I suspect your permissions are out of wack on the forum.

Originally Posted by BadgerDog

I know it was working and the "Welcome Headers" mod is still functioning fine. I even turned it off and tested without it running, but I never see any "Limited Guest Viewing" messages, nor does it stop anyone from indefinite views of posts in forums.

Pop open firefox as a guest and watch for the lgv cookie to be sure it's increasing. Then check that your settings for the message are right

Or turn on debugging by editing the xml file to set $debug = 1; and you will get lots of output about what it is doing.

[vitrag24]

i hope this will be updated for vb 4.0 soon.
Thanks.

[BadgerDog]

Originally Posted by Ted S

This mod doesnt have that much power. It's possible something is conflicting but I suspect your permissions are out of wack on the forum.

Got it running ... :up:

I think there was something amiss with the forum permissions contradicting the mod ...

I reset the forum permissions and it started working fine ...

I had to patch the original XML file with your patch above and re-upload it, instead of patching the plug-in directly. For whatever reason, when I patched the plugin, it would change the hook and the code wouldn't work. I have screen pics of the AdminCP weirdness I can send it you're interested.

If I patched the XML and then uploaded it, everything works fine and now the "Awaiting Email" group gets caught in the same "guest" cookie trap. Works great and has already forced down the guys who were just circumventing the guest access block. Thank you .. :up:

By the way, also installed your "Subscription Notification System" and it's working great as well ...

Regards,
Badger

[mintman72]

Any possibility for an update to 4.0?

[Ted S]

There is already a 4.0 version.

[SomeSailor]

I'm getting an error in the Register Take-Over:

Warning: fetch_template() calls should be replaced by the vB_Template class. Template name: limited_guest_viewing in [path]/includes/functions.php on line 3893

This appears across the top of the forum when they hit the count set in 'Register Take-Over Message Count'.

Any ideas?

[Kunani]

I installed this on 4.0.1 and use the cookie only default settings and everything works fine. Thanks for the great mod. Exactly what I was wanting.