Mini Mods - Restrict Posting By Forum

The add-on is in response to a request posted by Stratis in this thread:

Deny more than x posts in a specific forum

Stratis has been instrumental in the testing and development of this add-on. :up:

Overview:

This product allows you to select forums in which posting is restricted to a maximum number of posts, which you decide. Restrictions can be for all new posts including new threads, or new posts excluding new threads, or to posting within the threads of others only or posting new threads only. You may exclude selected usergroups from the restriction. Users who attempt to circumvent the product by manually entering URLs in their browsers will be shown the no permission message. You may decide to only count posts within the last x days to determine whether a user may post or not.

Updates:

Version 1.1:

• Added a setting whereby individual users may be excluded from the posting restriction regardless of usergroup.

Version 1.2:

• Added informative message to users for who posting is restricted.
• All posting links are now hidden by setting appropriate variables used in template conditionals rather than simply hiding them using CSS.

Version 1.3:

• Bug fixed where users were told they have no permission to post.

Version 1.4:

• Exempt userlist trimmed for greater compatibility across platforms.

Version 1.4.1:

• Made $threadinfo global for wider compatibility.

Version 1.5:

• Added setting which allows only posts made within the last x days to be counted for the restriction.

Version 1.6:

• Added setting which allows users to be restricted from posting new threads.
• Added setting which allows a choice of time unit for counting posts/threads.

Version 1.7:

• Post counts calculated immediately prior to posting new threads/replies so that posting from tab with no restriction by opening new tab with posting link is no longer possible.

Version 1.8:

• Added setting to allow control over whether child forums are included in the slected restricted forums.
• Added setting to allow all restricted forums to be treated as a group, or to be treated separately.

Version 1.9:

• Added setting to allow for individually defined post limits for the restricted forums.

Version 1.9.5:

• Restricted posting message on both the "forum display" and "show thread" pages now displayed both above and below threads/posts.

Version 1.9.6:

• Fixed bug where only last individual forum|restriction was recognized on some servers.

Compatibility:

Tested and working on VB 4.2.x and should work on all 4.x versions of vBulletin.

Backup/Warning:

This product does not alter your database, however it is always good practice to make regular backups and you should make a backup before installing ANY new mod.

As always, products are USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. I will provide support and do my best to help but no absolute guarantee is offered.

To Install:

1. Download and extract the attached .zip file.
2. Follow AdminCP -> Plugins & Products -> Manage Products -> Add/Import Product.
3. Click on "Choose File" and browse to the product .xml file that was packaged in the .zip file.
4. Click "Import."
5. You MUST enable the product in the settings before it will function.
6. Configure the remaining settings to your liking. Each setting has a detailed explanation of its use.

Support for this product can be found here:

• MHB - Restrict Posting By Forum
• TAZ - Restrict Posting By Forum

[MarkFL]

Originally Posted by jagtpf

Would it be possible to extend this to limit new threads in a 24 hour period, by Forum and Usergroup, whilst allowing unlimited posts?

We use good will to limit one Usergroup to 2 New, another Usergroup to 3 New - whilst posting is unlimited. It mostly works except for excitable newbies and the occasional mis-counter

Yes, I think this would be easy to do, and I will update this product to allow the nature of the restriction to either be based on totals or based on posts/threads created within the last x days.

[jagtpf]

Thanks Mark ....

[MarkFL]

Update version 1.5:

• Added setting which allows only posts made within the last x days to be counted for the restriction.

[akz645]

Originally Posted by MarkFL

Update version 1.5:

Question:
- If a User's Primary usergroup is [X] and Secondary is [Y]. If usergroup [X] is restricted but usergroup [Y] isn't, the user will not be restricted. Right?

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=131014
Screenshots: http://i.imgur.com/Z2NIDv2.png + http://i.imgur.com/9sgXF6v.png + http://i.imgur.com/WdYgHYb.png + http://i.imgur.com/l0VStRm.png

That mod (works on vB 4.2.3) allows on a per forum & usergroup basis OR just on a usergroup basis (usergroup manger).
It also allows us to restrict in minutes, which is better than days IMO (more choice).

Features I'd like which are in your (MarkFL) mod, but not in the other one:
- Exclude users. (Although it would be better if we could also exclude based on each individual setting, and not just globally.)
- Posting in threads begun by other users only.
Note: If added into the other mod/this mod, it should be on a per forum & usergroup basis.

Feature I would like which are in neither Mods at the moment:
- Posting in threads begun by own users only. (The other Mod combines posts in own threads and others threads together.)
A) Floodcheck: Limit in seconds.
So basically, another option for everything, but this time allowing us to also limit in seconds.
Example: Usergroup [Y] is limited to [2] posts every [30] seconds & is also limited to [5] posts every [10] mins - both in [X] forum.
OR
B) If possible, allow us to keep on adding as many conditions as we want (this would be more useful than option A).
Example: Usergroup [Z] is limited to [1] post every [10] seconds, [2] posts every [25] seconds, [3] posts every [60] seconds ... in [X] forum.
Seconds can be converted into minutes and be used multiple times, so having minutes in this case would no longer be unnecessary.
31557600 seconds/year -> Should still be possible. So still allowing the numbers to reach as high as possible, as long as there isn't any major drawbacks.
Note: If added into the other mod/this mod, it should be on a per forum & usergroup basis.

@MarkFL
If you could make this happen, I'd be ever so grateful. :up:

Edit:
Additional feature:
- The error message the user receives, the admin via adminCP should be able to write out (hyperlinking texts should be allowed).
Example: "Sorry, you must wait longer to begin posting again. Please read this thread to understand why."
^ Perhaps you can make it so, admins can set different messages on a per usergroup & forum basis.

[MarkFL]

Originally Posted by akz645

Question:
- If a User's Primary usergroup is [X] and Secondary is [Y]. If usergroup [X] is restricted but usergroup [Y] isn't, the user will not be restricted. Right?

If you exclude a certain usergroup, then anyone who is a member of that usergroup, whether primary or secondary, will be excluded.

Originally Posted by akz645

...That mod (works on vB 4.2.3) allows on a per forum & usergroup basis OR just on a usergroup basis (usergroup manger).

You can set this product to restrict all forums to have the restriction be based on usergroup/username.

Originally Posted by akz645

Feature I would like which are in neither Mods at the moment:
- Posting in threads begun by own users only. (The other Mod combines posts in own threads and others threads together.)
A) Floodcheck: Limit in seconds.
So basically, another option for everything, but this time allowing us to also limit in seconds.
Example: Usergroup [Y] is limited to [2] posts every [30] seconds & is also limited to [5] posts every [10] mins - both in [X] forum.
OR
B) If possible, allow us to keep on adding as many conditions as we want (this would be more useful than option A).
Example: Usergroup [Z] is limited to [1] post every [10] seconds, [2] posts every [25] seconds, [3] posts every [60] seconds ... in [X] forum.
Seconds can be converted into minutes and be used multiple times, so having minutes in this case would no longer be unnecessary.
31557600 seconds/year -> Should still be possible. So still allowing the numbers to reach as high as possible, as long as there isn't any major drawbacks.
Note: If added into the other mod/this mod, it should be on a per forum & usergroup basis.

@MarkFL
If you could make this happen, I'd be ever so grateful. :up:

I will take all of this into consideration.

[jagtpf]

Downloaded to have a looksee - and it looks as impressive as expected. Hopefully you'll be able to pull off the restriction on new threads.

One thought; perhaps minutes rather than days for the time limit?

Thank you Sir ...

[MarkFL]

Originally Posted by jagtpf

Hopefully you'll be able to pull off the restriction on new threads.

Do you mean a restriction on creating new threads only, while allowing posting to existing threads unrestricted?

I will soon add a setting whereby the admin can choose the unit of time (seconds, minutes, hours and days) for the restriction.

[MarkFL]

Update version 1.6:

• Added setting which allows users to be restricted from posting new threads.
• Added setting which allows a choice of time unit for counting posts/threads.

[akz645]

Question:
- Posting in threads begun by other users only.
Is that settings for both existing & new threads?

If so, you could add in 2 additional features.
Example:
- Posting in existing & new threads begun by other users only - which you already have called: "Posting in threads begun by other users only".
- Posting in existing threads begun by other users only.
- Posting in new threads begun by other users only.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I think it would be less confusing/better, if the last two options were swapped around.
So to look like this instead:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Originally Posted by MarkFL

[*]Added setting which allows a choice of time unit for counting posts/threads.

I can't believe I never even thought about that before. Great job :up:

[MarkFL]

Here's how the "Nature Of Restriction" setting works:

• New Threads And Posting In All Existing Threads - A user's posts in all threads in the subforum are counted. If this count is equal to or greater than the maximum allowed, then they will be prevented from posting new threads and replying to all existing threads.
• Posting In All Existing Threads Only - A user's posts in all threads in the subforum are counted. If this count is equal to or greater than the maximum allowed, then they will be prevented from replying to all existing threads, but may start new threads.
• Posting In Threads Begun By Other Users Only - A user's posts in all threads they didn't start in the subforum are counted. If this count is equal to or greater than the maximum allowed, then they will be prevented from replying to all threads they didn't start, but may start new threads..
• New Threads Only - A user's threads in the subforum are counted. If this count is equal to or greater than the maximum allowed, then they will be prevented from posting new threads but may reply to all existing threads.