Show Thread Enhancements - Limited Guest Viewing -- Motivate Guests to Register

vB4 Users Find the vB4 Version Here.

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, with database setting used)

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 (adds a read-and insert/update query).

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.

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by Megatr0n

Hi Ted,

Still having the same issues with this hack.

Keep using the files you had from 3.7.... there were no changes to the 3.8 upgrade. I need to release an update with the fixes we found for you.

[Megatr0n]

Originally Posted by Ted S

Keep using the files you had from 3.7.... there were no changes to the 3.8 upgrade. I need to release an update with the fixes we found for you.

Can you please attach the file again?

Btw, I tried to send you a donation and it didn't work.

[JackRock]

Works BEAUTIFULLY! Thanks for this one!

[digitaldome]

thanks for the addon,i just installed and working fine with vb 3.8

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by Megatr0n

Can you please attach the file again?

Btw, I tried to send you a donation and it didn't work.

You'll find the file in the 3.7 thread near the last page. I don't keep the versions I post up but will be releasing an update for both 3.7 and 3.8 soon.

As for the donation, I appreciate the gesture. I don't control the links to the donation system myself (that's part of the vbulletin.org site) but if you click it again things should work.

[Bisha]

Search Engine Bots

What happen when I log in as google bot profile!

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by Bisha

What happen when I log in as google bot profile!

Please read the main hack thread.

[satlazone]

I want that this modification will work only on Israeli IPs.
Is there an option to specify israeli IP ranges so it will affect only on them?

For example, I am adding to the list the following IP range: 212.179.*.*
A user is coming to my site and trying to view a thread and his IP address is 212.179.1.1, then he receiving a message telling him to register.
but if an other user that weren't in the list of the IP ranges is coming to my site, he will not receive a notify to register.

Is there an option like what I mentioned on this mod?

[Ted S]

There's no options to look only at certain IPs nor is there any plan to add such a function. That said you could with relative ease modify the code to do this, it's just a matter of defining the IP ranges and comparing them within the main plugin routine.

[BlackJacket]

*Installs*