Miscellaneous Hacks - Force Style for Selected Usergroups

Please click Mark as Installed if you are using this hack.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This hack has now been discontinued - this means that while it will remain available for download and use, there will be no further updates as this thread is no longer monitored. I am also not interested in doing paid work requests to update this hack at all.


What Does This Hack Do?[hr]Silver[/hr]
It is a update of my v3.8.x hack available here, designed to work with vBulletin v4.0.x.

This hack allows you to force a style to a usergroup via usergroup permissions, so this means that you can force different usergroups to different styles (previous versions of this hack only allowed you to apply only 1 style to a set of usergroups/users).

Scenario

The setup on my forums is that I use the default style as the parent to all my other styles which makes modifying the templates easy for me, I just edit my default style and the child styles inherit the changes.

I wanted to use a child style as the standard style for visitors and members, but not have them have a choice of the default style at all, but as soon as you logged out you were presented with the default style that you did not want guests to see.

This hack rectifies that. It also allows you to let others use the forum wide default style (selected via Style & Language Settings -> Default Style in the vBulletin Options of the AdminCP) while forcing the usergroup(s) to the one style you selected.


Frequently Asked Questions

Question:

What if you need custom style permissions as well?

Answer:

This question has been asked a few times: What if you need custom style permissions so that you can control which usergroups see/select what styles? The hack I use is Andreas's Restrict Style to Usergroup hack which he released for v3.5.x. It is because of that hack that this one exists, and I have tested it on v3.5.x, v3.6.x, v3.7.x, v3.8.x and v4.0.0 Beta, and it works for all five versions and works fine with my hacks as well.

For instance on my forum I need to use both hacks, as the style I force on my guests and normal members is not selectable nor do I allow them permission to use it, and is also not my default style (all my other styles are child styles of my default one), so without Andreas's hack I would not be able to do this.

But just to let you know that Andreas's hack is unsupported and is not likely to ever be supported (unless it is a proven bug), so if you have problems with it, you are on your own.

vBulletin Version Compatibility[hr]Silver[/hr]
This hack can only be used with v4.0.0 and later versions.

For the v3.8.x version of this hack, which will also work with v3.7.x and v3.6.x - check here.

For the unsupported v3.5.x version of this hack - check here.


Install/Upgrade/Uninstall Instructions[hr]Silver[/hr]
The readme.txt instructions file is included in attached .zip file.


Version History[hr]Silver[/hr]
v4.0.002 - Friday 12th March 2010
-- Final v4.0.x release
-- Released at Wolfshead Solutions on Friday 5th March 2010
-- Fixed: Style not being enforced in vBulletin v4.0.2 and above

v4.0.001 - Saturday 28th November 2009
-- Initial v4.0.x Release
-- Changed: Plugin (removed forcing style on users - does not work at the moment)
-- Changed: Hack name (used to be called "Force Style for Selected Users or Groups")
-- Added: readme.txt file
-- Added: VersionHistory.txt file
-- Removed: 1 phrase
-- Removed: 2 AdminCP settings
-- Removed: 1 Bitfield setting


Thanks[hr]Silver[/hr]
Thanks go out to Paul M who gave me permission to use some of his install code.


Show Your Appreciation [hr]Silver[/hr]
Although not required, if you have enjoyed the benefits of this hack, and would like show your appreciation for my efforts, then please feel free to click on the Support Developer link and donate any amount you feel is appropriate.

[rajubd]

Its handy for me because i provide vip as ads free with diff style. Did you changed it because version i download says for rc2

[Mosh]

Originally Posted by rajubd

Its handy for me because i provide vip as ads free with diff style. Did you changed it because version i download says for rc2

Nope, it is the same version.

[rajubd]

Should i copy both file to xml folder

[rajubd]

"Select "Rebuild > Rebuild Style Information", to rebuild the style information (this may need to be done whenever you do Step 4)."

is it
Maintenance>Update Counters>Rebuild Styles

[rajubd]

anyone test it is it working

[josantos]

Can you make a script to force the presentation from users with less to 1 post in the foruns ?

for VB 4.

[Mosh]

Hi all,

It is with regret that after over 4 years (and thousands of hours) spent providing free support for my free hacks released here, as of today I will no longer be able to provide support for free.

This is due to being unemployed for a while, being strapped for cash and unable to rely on the virtually non-existant donations from here to help to pay the bills or put food on the table for my family. I am now providing all support for my free hacks released here over at Wolfshead Solutions via an annual support subscription (for a small fee).

It does not mean I will be no longer release free hacks, I will, I just no longer be supporting them for free.

My free hacks have and always will remain free to download and use. And so will updates/bug fixes.

I will be releasing more free hacks, but if you require any support at all for those free hacks, you will need to purchase an annual support subscription over at Wolfshead Solutions to receive support.

I am really sorry I have to do this, but revenue generated by my programming gigs are now my only source of income, and I can no longer afford the luxury of providing free support here, when that time can be spent creating new commerial products, doing paid work requests or providing paid support to pay the bills.

Thank you for the understanding.

Regards,

Mosh.

[captkirk]

Tested caused many errors to other parts of my board

[jolinary]

Hello, very good mod, thanks you

[tafreeh]

i did install it properly and did set the permission.. but still no effect.

Please Advice.