Add-On Releases - SMS Notify

Mod Version: 0.1 BETA
vB Version: 3.8.0 or higher (probably works on lower versions, but untested)

Description:

When users subscribe to threads in a forum you specify, they can be automatically SMS'd when there is an update. Only sends the most recent post.

Let me try and explain how this works. It uses the forums for it's integration, there are no custom pages, etc. This allows you to use all of vBulletins usergroup/forum settings to manage the access and whatnot.

I have a category called "SMS Notifications" Under that I have two forums. In the mod options, you set the PARENT forum ID. Basically any forums with this parent ID will be processed. This is the structure that I use.

SMS Notifications (category)

• Commanders (forum)
  • SMS - We're meeting reminder! (Thread)

• Members (forum)
  • SMS - We're under attack! (Thread)
  • SMS - We're all safe now! (Thread)
  • SMS - Servers status update (Thread)

I then set permissions for who can post and who can reply, etc on the forums as you normally would. Just in this case when you're doing it, think about who can send and SMS message. So basically only a few people have POST/REPLY and various people have READ.

The mod will hook events for replies only.

So, I create a separate thread for each "event" that people might need to be alerted about. The members then subscribe to the threads they would like to get a text message about.

Anytime a thread is replied to, all subscribers will get only the latest reply's text sent to them. The way it's setup with the forums also allows you to keep track of who is doing the paging, for what, etc. This doesn't interrupt the standard subscription emails from going out either. That way those without SMS can still get whatever updates if say they have email alerts on their phones or simply just want email subscriptions like normal.

Installation:

Create a new user profile field, this field will be used to contain your members SMS email address.

Import the product as normal.

Edit the options for the mod (Under vBulletin Options -> SMS Notify) in the Admin CP.

Make sure it's on.

Set the parent forum ID

Set the full variable name that you created earlier that holds the SMS email addresses.

Please note, this *IS BETA*. I use it currently, but there may be issues, etc. Please kindly report them here and I'll do my best to correct them. This is only my second vB mod and the other one was just a tweak of someone else's. I'm still learning and if you have tips/pointers, please feel free to suggest things!

[cscimmia]

The xml file (product-sms_notify.xml) seems to be missing some info. There are no parameters listed for "Options". In fact, there's only a close tag for options... <options /> No open tag and nothing in between!

[Trek]

Originally Posted by cscimmia

The xml file (product-sms_notify.xml) seems to be missing some info. There are no parameters listed for "Options". In fact, there's only a close tag for options... <options /> No open tag and nothing in between!

Sorry it's taken me so long, I'll check into it again today, just had a lot going on. =)

[Trek]

I just exported it again to see. I have open and close tags for options, it's just not grabbing the options for some reason. No idea... I'll see what I can do.

[Trek]

Ok, I've gone back and made sure the settings were under the correct product, I've changed the product, resaved it, changed it back, resaved, etc... nothing seems to work. No idea why the options aren't being included... I'll keep working on it.

[cscimmia]

Thanks again for all your help Trek. I'm really excited about seeing this mod work so keep up the good work! I know life sometimes gets in the way too so please don't apologise when you aren't able to reply for a few days! LOL

[Trek]

Thanks for understanding. =) I just deleted the settings group I was using, recreated it from scratch and it still won't export. I'll do some more looking around. =/ It obviously works, I use it on my own site. heh

[MrAgent]

Any updates? I would like to deploy this on my site.

[Trek]

Ok, I finally updated the mod, it should install correctly now. I apologize for the long delay in releases, etc.

In any case, please let me know if you have any issues with this release. I've exported it and reinstalled it on my own forums and it's working without issue.

[dancue]

Can it be made to allow user to input only the phone number? The majority of users will not know what their phone's e-mail address is.

Also, can you have the option for the user to be automatically added to the sms list? (automatically subscribed) They could be given the option in the profile field to select (yes or no) if they would like to receive free text alerts. I'd like to steer them away from having to go to two different places in order to achieve their goal.

[bbcentral]

Originally Posted by dancue

Can it be made to allow user to input only the phone number? The majority of users will not know what their phone's e-mail address is.

That wouldn't work.
For example in Australia they could enter '0412345678' as their phone number
But the script would have no idea what their SMS email address is.
It could be:
0412345678@three.com.au
0412345678@optus.com.au
0412345678@virginmobile.com.au
0412345678@telstra.com.au
0412345678@vodafone.com.au
The numbers can't be matched to a particular carrier based on the prefix either, because it's possible to transfer the number between carriers (I've had the same number with 4 companies personally).

The only way around that would be to have a list of every single mobile carrier in the world, and have the user choose their mobile network when they enter their number, ie:
Number: (Enter Number)
Carrier: (Select)

But the advantage of doing it this way is that because they can specify an email address, they could also put in their Blackberry address and get short notifications sent there. Or if they have a mobile email account, they could enter that instead.

It's a great idea for a mod! I like it