Miscellaneous Hacks - Mod Alert System (Posts)

-=+ WHAT IS THIS? +=-

Quite simply this product will alert Staff Members when either a New Thread or New Post has entered a Moderated state (nicknamed the Mod-Queue). Alerts are directed to a new thread in a designated Forum.

-=+ FEATURES +=-

Various aspects of this product are controlled via the AdminCP, such as:-

• Ability to turn it on/off.
• Choose to be alerted for new threads, new posts, or both.
• Turn on/off notifications if it is a reply to an already Moderated posting.
• Turn on/off notifications for the 'Quick Reply' box if it is a reply to an already Moderated posting.
• Pick the forum into which new threads will appear.
• Exclude certain forums from the Alert System entirely.
• Ability to specify a user as the thread starter.
• Specify a prefix for the Title/Subject of the Alert.
• Enable an automated reply to the Alert Thread once a thread/post is approved.
• Enable an automated closure of the Alert Thread once a thread/post is approved.

-=+ INSTALLATION +=-

Import the supplied product xml by using the Product Manager of the AdminCP, as below:-

• Plugins & Products -> Manage Products -> Add/Import Product

-=+ UPGRADING +=-

You do not need to uninstall the older version of the product.

Import the updated product xml by using the Product Manager of the AdminCP, as below:-

• Plugins & Products -> Manage Products -> Add/Import Product

Ensure the option Allow Overwrite is set to Yes on the import screen, prior to clicking Import.

-=+ POST INSTALLATION/UPGRADE +=-

Post installation settings can be found in vBulletin options section:-

• vBulletin Options -> TWP - Mod Alert System (Posts)

In order for the product to operate certain criteria must be met, as follows:-

• Plugin must be enabled. (true by default)
• Product must be enabled in the options. (no by default)
• A forum must have been picked in the options. (none by default)

If any of the above criteria are not satisfied, the product will NOT operate. Please check these before asking for help.

-=+ RELEASE HISTORY +=-

• v1.2 : 21-Dec-07 : Added Alert Thread auto-reply and auto-close features. (see issues section)
• v1.1 : 16-Dec-07 : Added Quick Reply handler and additional option. [Ref]
• v1.0 : 02-Dec-07 : First public realease.
• v0.1 : 23-Nov-07 : Internal Test Version.

-=+ ISSUES +=-

• Version 1.2 adds the ability to auto-reply and/or auto-close the Alert Thread once an approval is made by the Moderator. These 2 features only operate by using inline moderation and will not occur from within either ModCP/AdminCP. This is unlikely to be added unless appropriate hooks are made available within vBulletin itself, or an alternate method is found without making core file changes.
• This product is not tested on vBulletin 3.7

[TigerWare]

Great stuff Mental-Trousers. :up:

[TigerWare]

Hi all,

After more input from users of Mod Alert System (Posts), I have pleasure to add v1.2 update with additional features for your pleasure.

Details:-

After an Alert Thread has been created, one of your staff will be tasked to approve the original thread/post. When using inline moderation (ie: not via the ModCP/AdminCP) you can have an automated reply and/or an automated closure of the the Alert Thread itself. This will help people identify when items have been dealt with.

If the original thread/post is unapproved, and subsequently approved again, one of two things will occur. If the Alert Thread is not closed, a further automated reply will occur. However, if the Alert Thread is closed, a reply will not be made.

It should also be noted that the Alert Thread must still reside in the designated Alert Forum. If it gets moved somewhere else, nothing will happen.

Enjoy!

Kind Regards,
TigerWare

[Borden]

Where is the older version of this hack? I have 3.6.5.

[TigerWare]

This product was written for 3.6.8. There is no earlier version.

[adwade]

Originally Posted by RMS-Chef

Thank you.

Yet, I notice RMS-Chef is running 3.6.3 and seems to have installed it. :erm:

Ref:
RMS-Chef
Designer

Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MA, USA
vB Version: 3.6.3
Posts: 312
Design: Blue Lagoon

So will it not work on 3.6.4?

[TigerWare]

The latest version of this modification contains a depenency setting which starts at 3.6.8. I do not have any earlier version of vBulletin in my test environment and 3.6.8 was the development platform.

I imagine it will work on an earlier 3.6.* version but I do not support it (hence tagging to 3.6.8). The only way to install on an earlier version is to hack the dependency out of the product XML. I cannot stop anyone doing that, but in fairness, I cannot support anyone on that earlier system.

However. I do have further updates to write for this modification, so will look closer at the history of the Hooks I'm using. I will then make a call on whether to relax the version dependency, to support a greater range of the 3.6 line.

Thanks for the nudge.

[adwade]

Originally Posted by TigerWare

However. I do have further updates to write for this modification, so will look closer at the history of the Hooks I'm using. I will then make a call on whether to relax the version dependency, to support a greater range of the 3.6 line.

Thanks for the nudge.

Thanxx for considering it. THIS MOD is something I've wanted since I started using vB and have searched for endlessly.

[fneumeier]

Great Plugin, I was waiting for that for a long time. Thanks!!

There is one more feature I'd love to see: If there is a way to get an e-mail notification when a thread/post goes to the moderation queue?

I've tried to set up e-mail notification in the forum the moderated postings are being put by this plugin, but no luck. Looks like this plugin uses a hook that come after the system checks for e-mail notifications ...

Thank!
Franz

[TigerWare]

Originally Posted by fneumeier

If there is a way to get an e-mail notification when a thread/post goes to the moderation queue?

Thanks fneumeier,

E-Mail notifications is an element I do intend to add to the next release. No time-frames as yet.

[apiasto]

will come handy thnx