Add-On Releases - Limited Guest Viewing -- Motivate Guests to Register

Version 2.0 of this addon which allows for IP tracking using a mySQL database has been released. This is an optional feature which is disabled by default.


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)

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.




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.

Updates
- 12/10/2008 - Bug update to fix issue #2-01
-10/30/2008 - Release of version 2.0 beta
-05/04/2008 - Release of 3.7.0 version

[Ted S]

The table didn't get added for a reason... You can try reimporting but it's likely your vbulletin mysql account doesn't have enough access to create the table in the first place... But no reason you can't try.

[EricPSF]

Hi,

I hv installed and tested out without logging into my forum.

I tested it out by clicking on the "back" button of the browser everytime for more than 5 times, but I'm still unable to see the limited guest message?

Any advise? I hv already enabled the mod in admincp.

[adamskiii]

nice one man. thanks

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by EricPSF

Hi,

I hv installed and tested out without logging into my forum.

I tested it out by clicking on the "back" button of the browser everytime for more than 5 times, but I'm still unable to see the limited guest message?

Any advise? I hv already enabled the mod in admincp.

I'm not following your issue... did you view 5 threads or use a back button multiple times to see 5 cached pages?

[Rene Kriest]

Kudos, Ted_S!

This addon really boosts registrations. If you have a decent forum with information of great value for your visitors then this is without any doubt the way to go.

I really cannot see why this addon doesn't show up as MotM and still suffers its fith star. Well...

[EricPSF]

Originally Posted by Ted S

I'm not following your issue... did you view 5 threads or use a back button multiple times to see 5 cached pages?

Hi Ted,

Yes, I viewed 5 threads. I used the back button to go back to the main forum page everytime to select 5 threads.

Thank you.

[IcheeWaWa]

I updated my version of this plugin yesterday and starting seeing db errors in my email this morning when the cron ran:

Invalid SQL:

DELTE FROM lgv
WHERE (lastactivity + ( * 86400)) < 1228892404;

I looked at the lgvdb.php in /includes/cron and the sql is incorrect:

// actually do the kill
$vbulletin->db->query_write("
DELTE FROM " . TABLE_PREFIX . "lgv
WHERE (lastactivity + (". $lgvcleardays ." * 86400)) < ". TIMENOW ."

Note the DELTE. I know it's just a typo and I have corrected it on my system.

Thanks for the mod!

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by EricPSF

Hi Ted,

Yes, I viewed 5 threads. I used the back button to go back to the main forum page everytime to select 5 threads.

Thank you.

I'm still not following... did you load 5 threads by clicking on them or did you simply surf back using a back button to see 5 threads you had already viewed? There's a dramatic differance between the two actions... if you click a link the page loads up and calls the system, if you merely go back and foward to pages you've already seen it's all from your cache and the system doesn't refresh.

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by IcheeWaWa

I updated my version of this plugin yesterday and starting seeing db errors in my email this morning when the cron ran:

Invalid SQL:

DELTE FROM lgv
WHERE (lastactivity + ( * 86400)) < 1228892404;

I looked at the lgvdb.php in /includes/cron and the sql is incorrect:

// actually do the kill
$vbulletin->db->query_write("
DELTE FROM " . TABLE_PREFIX . "lgv
WHERE (lastactivity + (". $lgvcleardays ." * 86400)) < ". TIMENOW ."

Note the DELTE. I know it's just a typo and I have corrected it on my system.

Thanks for the mod!

Yikes. Good catch... issuing an update right now!

[Ted S]

An important bug update has been released for the 2.0 version of this addon! This update fixes a typo in the cron file causing it to improperly reset guest counts. Anyone using the 2.0 version of this addon who has database logging AND the clearing tool enabled should upgrade immediately.

To update simply download the attached version2 zip file and replace the cron files via FTP. No changes to the plugin file were made other than updating the version number.

Users not using database logging or on version1 do not need to upgrade.

Thank you to IcheeWaWa for discovering this bug and reporting it.

Issue: #2-01