New User Welcome PM [v2]

This hack will send any new users a welcome PM. This will work in vB3 Gold and probably RC versions as well. I will give support for this hack (if it's needed) in this thread.

If you upgraded your vB version and you are using a hack version prior to July 8, 2004:
If you have upgraded vB and your hack version is not July 8, 2004 or newer, run this query (there was a problem with the prior instructions):

INSERT INTO `setting` (`varname`, `grouptitle`, `value`, `defaultvalue`, `optioncode`, `displayorder`, `advanced`, `volatile`) VALUES ('regpmtext', 'register', 'Hi $username and welcome to $bbtitle!\r\n\r\nWe appreciate you taking the time to register on our site and we hope you enjoy your stay.\r\n\r\nIf you have any questions, you can ask an administrator for assistance.\r\n\r\nWe hope to see you around.\r\n\r\nSincerely,\r\nThe $bbtitle staff', 'Hi $username and welcome to $bbtitle!\r\n\r\nWe appreciate you taking the time to register on our site and we hope you enjoy your stay.\r\n\r\nIf you have any questions, you can ask an administrator for assistance.\r\n\r\nWe hope to see you around.\r\n\r\nSincerely,\r\nThe $bbtitle staff', 'textarea', 150, 0, 0);

This hack was last updated: Sun December 5, 2004 at 23:00 PDT
This update has a new on/off switch.

Update includes: vB 3.0.2/3.0.3 instructions

To install follow the instructions in the attached file.

Installation Information
Files to Edit: 1
Queries to Run: 11

Upgrade Instructions:

Open ./register.php and remove the hack (to find the old hack see below). And re-add the updated hack found in the Installation Instructions file.

To upgrade to the December 5th release, you'll need to run these three queries:

INSERT INTO `setting` (`varname`, `grouptitle`, `value`, `defaultvalue`, `optioncode`, `displayorder`, `advanced`, `volatile`) VALUES ('regpmon', 'register', '1', '1', 'yesno', 135, 0, 0);
INSERT INTO phrase (phraseid, languageid, varname, `text`, phrasetypeid) VALUES (NULL, '0', 'setting_regpmon_title', 'Automatically Send Welcome PM to New Users?', '5000');
INSERT INTO phrase (phraseid, languageid, varname, `text`, phrasetypeid) VALUES (NULL, '0',  'setting_regpmon_desc', 'Do you want to automatically send a welcome PM to new users?', '5000');

Uninstall Instructions:

Run the queries in this post, and then remove the hack in register.php (see below).

Look for:

PHP Code:

        // ###################################################################
        // # WELCOME PM HACK BY rob_daemon
        // ###################################################################

 // [. . .] There is code here, but I didn't want to take  up more room

        // ###################################################################
        // # END WELCOME PM HACK
        // ################################################################### 


To configure it after installation, go to: Admin CP --> Options --> vBulletin Options --> User Registration Options

Attached is a screen grab of the PM by default and text instructions. If the file appears corrupt, please see this post.

[contramontanum]

Thanks Rob, that did the trick. Very useful hack indeed! Is there a way to format the text in the welcome mail to put in links (to other pages on the forum)? I noticed HTML doesn't work.

[rob_daemon]

Glad that did the trick

Standard vB code will work.

[r6xual]

**install**

Flawless install for me.

[MediaHound]

First off, thanks for a great hack. It's exactly what I was after.

Originally Posted by rob_daemon

The PM will be sent upon the user hitting the final button in the registration system... since there is no "PM Que" in vB, the user will get the welcome PM notice right after they register (even if they haven't activated yet).

That being said,
I just installed it, and ran the first test of a new user registration.
I was alarmed to see the PM before I clicked the link in the email that I was supposed to click before becoming a member. I was even more alarmed to be taken to my inbox with no problem after clicking 'ok' to accept the PM.

Originally Posted by rob_daemon

And the hack simply puts the PM in the user's inbox without any regards for permissions.

If I were a slow or stupid end user on my board, and as soon as I registered and was taken to my inbox, I would think I'm all good to go. I might not realize that there was still a link to click in my email before I was given permissions.

The defalut PM your out of the box hack should include, should tell the user that they still need to check their email and click a link, (if the board requires it).

Had I seen that as the PM I wouldnt have been so alarmed, as the webmaster.
That scared the ** out of me because I thought my users now didnt need to click the link in the email to get their permissions.

Just could have been a little less harsh with that surprise.

Off to my sites!
Thanks again,

MH

[rob_daemon]

Hmm... it really let you go into the inbox before you activated your account? That shouldn't happen (I think)... I'll do some testing tomorrow (or later tonight) to see if I can figure out why you were able to view your inbox prior to activation as vBulletin should prevent that from happening.

Another alternative would to hide the popup box when inserting the PM into the database, but new users who are not familiar with a forums system may not notice the "You have 1 new PM" in the upper right corner. I wonder if there is a way to suppress email messages about PMs, though....

[MediaHound]

Originally Posted by rob_daemon

Hmm... it really let you go into the inbox before you activated your account? That shouldn't happen (I think)... I'll do some testing tomorrow (or later tonight) to see if I can figure out why you were able to view your inbox prior to activation as vBulletin should prevent that from happening.

After a user registers, they are told they need to check their email. That message:

"Thank you for registering, testuser6. An email has been dispatched to testuser6@edit.com with details on how to activate your account. Click here to return to where you were previously.

You will receive an email in your inbox. You MUST follow the link in that email before you can post on these forums. Until you do that, you will be told that you do not have permission to post."

If they click 'here' to return to where they were previously, bang, the popup (as well as the page I was previously on). The popup then takes me to the inbox, and I'm in.

I see how this could be confusing to inexperienced users.

[MediaHound]

Just for the record, I'm also able to reply to the message. Not cool.

Also,
I set up "Welcome Message Ghost" as the user who 'sends' this PM, so I as the admin dont get bombarded with newbie pms.

And the subtitle on this new user tells them:
"Please do not reply to me. I'm just a robot. Use the 'contact us' link for assistance."

This will help cut back the time I spend chatting 1 on 1 with new members unnecessarily.

But, back to it - I think it's not so cool that they can read and write from the inbox if they aren't 'opted in' by clicking the link they were sent.

Your hack is excellent in 99% of its regards, except that the uses can kind of 'get in the side entrance' per say.

[rob_daemon]

What are your permissions on the "Users Awaiting Email Confirmation" usergroup?

[MediaHound]

Originally Posted by rob_daemon

What are your permissions on the "Users Awaiting Email Confirmation" usergroup?

It's a lot of variables.
Everything is set to 'NO', except for the following, which are yes:

Usergroup Options:
Allow Users to have Member Groups (Sets whether or not permissions from the user's member (secondary) user group memberships are inherited or not)

General Permissions:
Can View Member Info
Can Edit Own Profile
Can Set Self to Invisible Mode
Show edited by note on edited messages?
Can Use Signatures

Forum Viewing Permissions
Can View Forum
Can View Others' Threads
Can Search Forums

Who's Online Permissions
Can View Who's Online

If I left it out, its because it is set to 'NO', or it's a file size variable that wont matter here.

Many thanks,

MH

[SnowBot]

I have had this being reported afew times now and was hoping someone can advise me on what to do. ?

Hi Snowy

I'm getting the flashing Private Messages indicator in the NAVbar and within my UserCP is states I have 1 unread PM, but I don't have any.

Any ideas?

Cheers

Its happening all the time and i have to go in and delete it in the database not good, any ideas ?

Thanks