Miscellaneous Hacks - Digital Point Better Facebook Registration

About
I was getting terribly annoyed with the number of users registering with Facebook Connect, only to say they accidentally registered with their real name and wanted to change it.

So with this, the default username will be their Facebook username, NOT their real name.

This will work with 4.0.3 or higher (4.0.3 was the first version with Facebook Connect).

Installation

• Install the product-dp_better_facebook_reg.xml product under AdminCP -> Plugins & Products -> Manage Products -> Add/Import Product

You can see a live version in action here (assuming you are logged into Facebook of course):
http://forums.digitalpoint.com/register.php


Details
Let's say my name is "Shawn Hogan" and my Facebook username is "dpoint" (which it is) and I sign up for a forum that utilizes the Facebook Connect integration that came with vBulletin 4.0.3 or higher...

By default, vBulletin will make my username "Shawn Hogan".

With this addon, my default username will be "dpoint"... if "dpoint" is taken, it will default to "dpoint75" (1975 is the year I was born)... if "dpoint75" is taken, it will default to "dpointXX" (XX being a random number).

By default vBulletin also resets the username back to "Shawn Hogan" if I overrode it, but there was an error with my registration. So as an added bonus, the system will always remember the username if it was set by the user registering.

[Boofo]

Originally Posted by digitalpoint

It will work fine... but it's only useful if you use Facebook Connect so users can register with their Facebook account. But since you would need a Facebook App ID in order to offer Facebook Connect, I assume you don't have one since it requires a Facebook account (which you don't have).

Nope, not yet. I'm trying to hold off until I'm the very last person on earth to sign up for facebook. There has got to be some sort of prize for that, wouldn't you think?

To be honest, their privacy policies make me uncomfortable. And after Sony's Playstation Network hacking fiasco recently, that doesn't help matters in the internet privacy trust department.

[digitalpoint]

Yeah... I have a Facebook account, but I don't really use it. My girlfriend tells me if there's anything I need to know. But that being said, Facebook brings us a TON of traffic and our new user registration went up by probably about an extra 70 per day once we made it so easy to register via Facebook Connect.

[Boofo]

Is there any way to do a facebook account with very little personal info and open to on one? That might be enough to get the id you said I need. I enjoy my anonymity too much, I guess.

[digitalpoint]

Ya of course... just do minimal info and make everything hidden and private to everyone.

[Boofo]

Okay, I'll give it a shot. But if anyone finds anything out about me, you better be ready to make up the spare room 'cause I'm hiding out there at your place.

[Hornstar]

If you're really worried, make up a fake name lol

[Gemma]

Originally Posted by Boofo

Okay, I'll give it a shot. But if anyone finds anything out about me, you better be ready to make up the spare room 'cause I'm hiding out there at your place.

*Away to search for Boofo on Facebook*

Thanks for the mod digitalpoint

[RobbieZ]

Excellent, double accounts.

One with facebook and of course my normal account

[Boofo]

Originally Posted by Gemma

*Away to search for Boofo on Facebook*

Thanks for the mod digitalpoint

Try Boofo131. Boofo was already taken, it seems.

[sola]

Thanks for the work.