Show Thread Enhancements - Limited Guest Viewing -- Motivate Guests to Register

vB4 Users Find the vB4 Version Here.

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, with database setting used)

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 (adds a read-and insert/update query).

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.

[Joey805]

Hey Ted,

Is there any way that this mod could tie into the "who's online" page which shows what everyone is doing? I currently list my guests on this page as well, but I have no way of telling which users are viewing the forced registration message. It just shows them viewing the thread.

Thanks

[Ted S]

Probably possible. I'll look at the code next week.

[Joey805]

Originally Posted by Ted S

Probably possible. I'll look at the code next week.

Perfect! I really appreciate it.

I'll be standing by and awaiting your response.

[Super-six]

Im viewing this in the product brief:

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.

The message above notates 3.6 & 3.7....So this one is 3.8....any compatibility issues?

Also interested in hearing about that last question tying into "who's online"

Thanks

[Ted S]

compatibility, no. The issue listed is collision in which someone could have two messages showing (i.e. a notice and an lgv message) but that's a setting item, not something that will stop anything from running.

[Keesa]

I am a little confused by this part:

This option allows you to set the number of threads/ posts a guest may view before receiving seeing the Register Take-Over Message

Threads or posts? Which is it. Allowing them to view 3 threads is a lot different than allowing them to view 3 posts.




edit:
I set it to 2 to test it and I cannot make it work. I have edit the navbar.

Is it because it knows MY cookie as the admin? I am logged out and viewing on a different browser


Does having a "notice" on doing anything to impact this?

[ecihanuysal]

block page and the other page (take over) messages haven't appeared yet

i edited navbar. uploaded cron file and imported the xml.

what's the problem? any idea?

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by Schnee

Threads or posts? Which is it. Allowing them to view 3 threads is a lot different than allowing them to view 3 posts.

It's individual pages. So threads if they are viewing an entire thread or posts if they view one post.

Is it because it knows MY cookie as the admin? I am logged out and viewing on a different browser

Yes it is. This is a modification to impact guests, if you are logged in or cookied as an admin or even a member it won't impact anything. Log out completely to see the mod in action.

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by ecihanuysal

block page and the other page (take over) messages haven't appeared yet

i edited navbar. uploaded cron file and imported the xml.

what's the problem? any idea?

Are you viewing as a guest?

If so please check that the cookie lgv is getting set and increasing as you view more threads.

[Gosef]

thanks a lot