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.

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by Trip

Quick question Ted...Will your mod affect the syndication (RSS Feed) function on my board. Example, if a non registered user subscribes to my forum's feed and they continue to browse until getting locked down. Will this non registered user still receive the feed. I'm thinking yes, but I am not 100% sure.

This does not impact RSS at all.

[BirdOPrey5]

Installed an working for the most part... but in Chrome with 20 other tabs open in testing sometimes the "Please Register" message would go away and never come back no matter how many threads I clicked on... but it might very well be a Chrome issue... when I clear the cookies it works as expected again.

I only use it to show a please register message with an additional google adsense ad in it.

I also added another plugin so the message also shows on "forumdisplay" instead of just threads and posts.

Thanks for this.

[ESPALPSP]

Installed in 3.8.6 PL1, working fine! Thanks...

[azn_romeo_4u]

Is the 3.7 the same for the 3.8 becuase when I unzip only the 3.7 is in the zip folder.

[azn_romeo_4u]

This doesn't seem to work for me...installing the 3.7 version that was included in the file. Opening up 20 tabs, delete all cookies.

[BirdOPrey5]

OK there is definitely an issue... I thought this might have been a problem with cookies and Chrome but it happens in every browser I've tried (Chrome, IE, Firefox, Opera AND Safari)

When I go to the site as a guest after the 3 thread views (which I set) the "Please Register" message shows as expected... But after 5 to 10 more views the nag message goes away completely and never comes back unless I clear the cookies and start over again.

Obviously this kind of defeats the whole purpose. Curious if anyone else has had this issue- or has kept trying after seeing the message to see if it does eventually go away?

I'm running 3.8.6 PL1.

[Simon Lloyd]

Joe, do you have BOTH messages set to 3 threads?

[BirdOPrey5]

I have "Register Take-Over Message Count" set to 3. I have the "Register Block Page Count" set to 10 but also it's disabled... I don't block anyone just show the "nag" message (and an extra ad.)

[BirdOPrey5]

You know I think even though it was disabled the "Block Page Count" was still counting and when it reached 10 it turned off the whole system instead of just keeping the "nag" message on. I changed the value from 10 to 1000 and have tried it like 20 times and it's still working now.

Thanks... Wouldn't have thought to even try that.

[Simon Lloyd]

Glad thats sorted