Autoclose Thread After X Days Inactivity (Works from date of last post in thread!)

Old Thread Autoclosing Hack
by Rob Woelich of www.teenhelp.org

Update - 10/29/06:
Threads that have been autoclosed have the closed icon in the forum display (thanks to Kall for the code/suggestion). Also, the "New Reply" button still shows for admins and supermods who have permission to post in the thread.

This seems to work fine on 3.6.0+, but I'm not going to bother releasing it just for that version because it's such a simple hack. If something isn't working right, verify your template edits... if you use a custom skin/style, they could be different.


DESCRIPTION:
This is a relatively simple hack that makes a thread appear "closed" after a specified amount of time. The amount of time is calculated from the last post in the thread, not from the start of the thread, making this a very effective way to keep old topics from being brought up without locking them out while they're still being discussed.

This installation consists of:
1 Product XML Upload for 3.5.0+ (should work on all versions above)
3 Template Edits in the SHOWTHREAD template
1 Image Upload (Optional, really... looks better with image though)

Into more detail:

This hack installs plugins on your showthread and newreply pages. When a user views a thread, the plugin will check the date of the last post in the thread and if the post was made more than a predetermined amount of time ago (one month by default), the thread will appear closed to the user. The thread isn't actually set as closed in the database. If a user clicks on the "Closed" button, they'll be given a No Permission message, keeping them from replying, and the Quick Reply box at the bottom of the thread will be hidden from the user as well. Administrators and super moderators by default are still able to reply to autoclosed threads and will still see the Quick Reply box.

As mentioned, the expiration time is calculated from the last post in the thread, so if a thread is autoclosed and an admin or supermod makes a post in the thread, the thread will be reopened. Since the thread isn't actually set as closed in the database, it's important to note that using the "Open Thread" option from the thread administration menu won't reopen the thread to other users. The only thing that will keep the thread open is a post existing in the thread that's dated as to deter the expiration time.

INSTALLATION:
Complete installation and template editing instructions are included in the ZIP file.

CUSTOMIZATION:
This hack was designed for a specific purpose, to keep those old annoying topics from being brought back up after two months by that one annoying newb.

However, there are a few customizations available, including the usergroups that can reply in the autoclosed threads, the amount of time until a thread is autoclosed, and the message displayed at the top of the thread when the thread has been autoclosed. Customization instructions are included in the ZIP file and are extensive enough for anybody to understand.

OTHER:
Two screenshots of an autoclosed thread have been included. One shows the Quick Reply still visible for administrators. Please click Install if you used and liked this...

[bada_bing]

Originally Posted by bada_bing

Looks like a sweet hack and something I need for my selling and trading forums.
I do have a couple questions before I click install.

- Will this work on vb 3.5.3 ?

- Also when does this hack start closing threads older then 30 days with no activity , does it start closing already created thread that are beyond 30 days with no activity or does it start with new threads created after the hack is installed?

- Also if this hack checks dates everytime a user enters that thread what is the query count and server load like?

Thanks

Anyone?

[Tinbendr]

Originally Posted by bada_bing

Anyone?
- Will this work on vb 3.5.3 ?

I installed with 3.5.3.

- Also when does this hack start closing threads older then 30 days with no activity , does it start closing already created thread that are beyond 30 days with no activity or does it start with new threads created after the hack is installed?

My understanding is that is uses the last date of the last thread.

- Also if this hack checks dates everytime a user enters that thread what is the query count and server load like?

I don't know that one.

[phonexpo]

Installed, thanks. Working fine on 3.5.4 !

[nasser71]

nice jop m8
thanks
instaled

[DementedMindz]

ill tell you what would be great for this is say the thread gets closed have it where they can set up a option to move threads to a 'recycle bin' forum this way it will get moved to that forum and closed... cause they have this hac that moves them https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=106774 but it basiclly does it if you chose... would be nice if it closed it and moved it... hope you usnderstand what i mean

[nasser71]

hi
i did follow the install info but at the upper part the thread closed button appear and in the lower part of the thread you can see the add replay button
and even if the member press the add replay button or the thread closed button he can go to add replay page

any help in this matter is highly appreciated

[rwoelich]

Originally Posted by Tinbendr

Clicked installed.

I have the Quick Reply turned off for ALL users, (a useless feature IMO), but the quickreply box is showing anyway.

Hmm, weird. It might be showing up because by this mod it's set to show up for administrators even with the thread closed, so you might be the only one seeing it. Still, if you have it turned off anyway... my suggestion would be to not change the section of code for the Quick Reply.

[rwoelich]

Originally Posted by bada_bing

Looks like a sweet hack and something I need for my selling and trading forums.
I do have a couple questions before I click install.

- Will this work on vb 3.5.3 ?

- Also when does this hack start closing threads older then 30 days with no activity , does it start closing already created thread that are beyond 30 days with no activity or does it start with new threads created after the hack is installed?

- Also if this hack checks dates everytime a user enters that thread what is the query count and server load like?

Thanks

Should work on 3.5.3, yes.

As for which threads it closes, it will close them if they were created before installation of the mod. It will close any thread that's gone more than 30 days without a reply. To prevent the thread being closed or to reopen the thread, simply post in the thread.

And for query count, it doesn't add any additional queries. It uses the info from the queries that are already used on your showthread.php or newreply.php page.

[rwoelich]

Originally Posted by nasser71

hi
i did follow the install info but at the upper part the thread closed button appear and in the lower part of the thread you can see the add replay button
and even if the member press the add replay button or the thread closed button he can go to add replay page

any help in this matter is highly appreciated

Double check to make sure you applied the template modifications correctly. It sounds like you might have missed the parts where you change the code for the new reply button, or incorrectly applied them.

[zylstra]

Originally Posted by LiveWire

Hmm.. this is like mine here. https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=82827

Not quite. This one does not modify the database. Another difference is that this one modifies the button to say "Closed Thread" rather than leaves the button as "Reply" only to tell the member on the next page that the thread cannot be replied to.