Version: 1.0.0, by MaryTheG(r)eek
Developer Last Online: Mar 2012
Category: Major Additions -
Version: 3.8.2
Rating:
Released: 05-05-2009
Last Update: Never
Installs: 22
DB Changes Uses Plugins Auto-Templates
Additional Files Translations Is in Beta Stage
No support by the author.
Removed by the Author because:
For 7 mods, there are 1905 downloads but only 577 clicked installed.
For these 577 installs I got 4 donations for Brand Free. Make a simple search on the net using the product name and you'll find that 50% have illegally removed my copyright.
I found 3 vb.org style sites, offering for download my mods but after PAID SUBSCRIPTION, or DONATION
You can use it when you want to get any type of your members' feedback. Suggestions, Requests for new features, Opinions and anything similar. The main advantage is that is not using forum style for endless discussions, but rather it let someone to post eg a suggestion and other members can vote positive or negative to this suggestion. Something like that Amazon.com is using.
2.- Installation
The installation is pretty easy, has been checked many times for installing and uninstalling the product. Just follow these steps below:
Download and unzip the file microRequsets.zip
Open the folder vbulletin and select all files and subfolders inside it
Connect to your website and open the directory where is your vBulletin installation (usally forum, forums, portal etc).
Upload the selected files to your site. If you fellow the right way then the file requests.php must be on the same level as the index.php file of vBulletin.
Before any new installation is good to backup your database before, even if nobody is doing it (including me). At lease turn your site off
Check at your AdminCP->vBulletin Options->Plugin/Hook System that Plugin system is enabled.
From your AdminCP->Plugin System->Manage Products choose Add/Import Product and import the product: product-microrequests.xml
3.- Configuration
As every vBulletin product, you need to make some initial configuration before it goes live.
MicroREQUESTS Options
Setup the categories. Category is for general use, you can use products, services, sections of your site or anything else you prefer.
Setup request statuses. Actually this is only for those operating a non-English site, to translate the statuses. Otherwise you can't add/delete statuses.
Setup usergroup permissions.
There is an option to show a special HTML block on index page and in the main page for each category. To do this, you must prepare a normal HTML or PHP file and upload it at microrequests/introfiles/ . Then you can assign the file to the corresponding category from your admincp. Only for the index page, you need to manually enter the filename (including the extention) from microREQUESTS options.
4.- Template Modification
The module is using it's own templates, so it doesn't needs any template modification except if you want to add a link to the navbar. In this case you need to modify the NavBar template.
but then it would exaclty do what a forum and threads do...
Yes, of course, but no threads are created automatically for a request. And then if a member adds a negative vote (or positive vote), he can't justify its choice directly in the resquests system.
FYI... In Usergroup Permissions area, the first question is..
"Can use vbRequests?"
Two quick comments while I am going through the installation process...
One - I would prefer to see support within this forum (as opposed only on your site as mentioned in the description.)
Two - Would be nice to have installation instructions within the distributed ZIP file as well.
Will come back and Mark as Installed and rate it when I have completed the process.
OK.. one more...
Products should be a required selection when submitting a request.
I do not want to register at another site, why put a hack here? I do not understand this
You can download and use it. That's why I post it here (and in many other sites). That's the most common problem that many members don't like to understand. You don't like to register in another site. Great. Download and use it. But I can't give support in 10+ sites that I'm posting my mods.
For some reason, I didn't see the PDF in instructions in the ZIP file when in WinZIP (not a big fan of the new WinZIP) so please accept my apology for mentioning the lack of the file when in fact it was there all along.
Regarding support, OK, I understand your position. While I still prefer support here, I do appreciate that you are providing support for this and that your are accessible via your site. =)
Thank you for your consideration regarding Products being a required item.
I loved this hack. Thanks a lot for your great effort Maria.
If you don't mind i would like to suggest comment system too. I would like to use this hack for my movie review website and i would like to limit the requests just for lets say "Active Members". It would be nice if other users could make comments about the request.