Private Message Workbench: Read, Search, Delete, Report and more

PM Workbench v1.00 Beta 5

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Hack: PM Workbench
Version: 1.00 Beta 5
Author: MarcoH64
vB Version: vBulletin 3.5.0. RC2
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Important Notice:
Depending on the modules installed, a privacy statement might be added to your board.
This Privacy Statement can not be removed or hidden by any means. Failure to comply would be against the TOS
of this hack, and you would not be allowed to use it.

If your board already has a Privacy Notice covering reading Private Messages by Administrators, you can PM me a link to that statement on your board (provide test login if needed) and your email address, and i will mail a Plugin to remove the Privacy link.


What is this hack?
PM Workbench offers you a variety of tools for working with or extending the standard vBulletin Private Message System.
It is a Modular System that will allow you to add those functions that you need for your board. New Modules might be added later.
The system is fully phrased and options can be set in vBulletin Options.
Permissions to use Modules are given using the includes/config.php for increased security.
Currently no file or template edits are needed.

More modules might be added later. For some i am waiting for new hooks to be implemented in RC3.



Donations are always welcomed to PayPal: marcoh64 AT gmail.com

Currently Supported Modules:

PM Workbench - Report PM

This Module adds a Report PM icon to the postbit when users are reading a PM. The reports and send to the PM Folder of the
userid defined to receive them. Administrators who are given access can read the reports, the original PM, and add notes to them.

Features:
- Access to the PM Reports is controlled in your config.php for added security
- Add report button to PM's, no template edit needed.
- Usersw can give a reason for the report.
- Reported PM's can be seen without modifications to them (PM's are not forwarded, but just added to the inbox of the report userid).
- PM's are fully parsed
- Notes can be added to reports.


PM Workbench - Read/Search Private Messages

This Module let administrators who are given permission, search and read PM's

Features:
- Access to the PM's is controlled in your config.php for added security
- PM's can be searched for:
- Keyword (title and/or body)
- Username (sender/receiver/both, optional exact match)
- Send date after
- Send date before
- With a simple click read the PM and see who still have it in their folders.


PM Workbench - Performance Pack

Add extra indexes to the pmtext table for faster searching.


Known limitations:
The 'Report PM' module might not work on some heavily modified Styles. I will be (hopefully) posting another (beta) hack for that tomorrow.

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Ok i see what is your problem. The problem is that i am doing template edits 'on the fly' your Styles ar so heavy modificated, that the string i am trying to replace (to change the standard report post link into a link to my report pm function) can not be found anymore.

[Sovereign]

BUMP. This is an awesome hack/concept. Any news?

[rinkrat]

This is the same as spyware to me.

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Originally Posted by Sovereign

BUMP. This is an awesome hack/concept. Any news?

There won't be an update for at least 2 weeks i think, i am over my ears in RL stuff (work and family) until at least thursday. I doubt however that the email feature will be the first thing i will add, must do some research before i will start that.

Originally Posted by rinkrat

This is the same as spyware to me.

And that is a very unasked for remark, and a very strange comparison. Spyware is spying on you without you informaing about it. With my hack there must always be a privacy notice that will inform members that PM's can be read.

[Sovereign]

The priivacy thing is OK, it's probably good cause if someone doesn't like it then they can't sic the ACLU on you because you told them already...

[utw-Mephisto]

Mmm... I would add one simple thing : You don't like it, don't use it ? Whats the big deal with discussion privacy etc. ? You have a choice, do you ?

[ixian]

Just adding my opinion, for what it's worth, that I would never install this hack with those requirements. Appreciate the effort but as I know I am far from the only one who feels this way I fear it's mostly going to waste.

[Marco van Herwaarden]

What requirements you are talking about? That i want either the standard privacy notice as supplie by the hack to be shown, or a paragraph in your board policies to cover reading PM's?

If both are a problem to you, then yes, this is not the hack for you.

[Boofo]

I agree with Marco. It is his perrogative as to what requirements he wants in exchange for using his hack. You should respect that, even if you don't agree with it.

[ixian]

Originally Posted by Boofo

I agree with Marco. It is his prerogative as to what requirements he wants in exchange for using his hack. You should respect that, even if you don't agree with it.

I do respect that, and I appreciate his work. That has nothing to do with the issue at hand - as a coder, I would think he would appreciate feedback on his hack good or bad as long as it is constructive and not mere message board flaming. My opinion is that these requirements - either linking back here or having an existing privacy policy that in the sole opinion of the coder, who is not an attorney, is an acceptable substitute is not acceptable to me. I feel this entire "read members private messages" debate is net-lawyerism at it's worst and this kind of requirement is reacting too far in the other direction to it.

That said, it's my own opinion, and the coder can do what he or she wishes. I'm not implying he should change his hack because of it - that's an informed decision only he can make.