Mini Mods - Inactive Users Email Reminders For 3.7.x

Inactive reminder emails. This mod was designed to send out a reminder to inactive members to try and win them back. Earlier versions of this plugin have had great success, and has been installed on 1000's of forums.

This mod is a revised version of my 3.6 modification.
Someone pointed out that I needed to make a new thread in the right forum for this.

***1.2.7 Update***
Fixed the \ in the message.
Changed the way the mails are processed to try and stop duplicates
Made the bounce management monitor ALL outgoing emails
Added more stats
Added bounced email messaage viewing with management options.
***1.2.7 Update***
This update includes built in support for bouncing emails. The script will automatically detect the bounced mail, mark it as bounced so the user is not to be contacted again so as to avoid spam, and then move that user into a seperate usergroup. This plugin is still in it's testing stages, but I have addressed the bugs mentioned previously regarding the emailing side of things.

This is important so keep reading
To install this plugin and take advantage of the bounced email features you are going to need to follow these instructions very carefully. I can not gaurentee that they will work to the letter as this will be based on each persons individual hosting settings.

Step 1: Pre Install
Before you touch this product you need to do the following

• Create an "inactive" usergroup
• Set up a "bounce to" email address
  Pick an email address that you want to use as your bounced email address. Im using "bounce@icora.co.uk". feel free to use whatever you wish.
• Add a email message filter
  This is the hard part. You need to set up a filter that will 'pipe' an email sent to the above email address.
  I am using Cpanel 11 and this is how i have mine set up:
  Rules: 'To' 'Equals' 'bounce@icora.co.uk'
  Actions: 'Pipe to program' with the setting: |/usr/local/bin/php /home/icora/public_html/forum/bounce.php
  This will depend entirely on your settings and structure so you may have to do a little research. It would be very helfull if people who have to use diferent configurations would post them on here.
• Go into vBulletin options, and find the options for 'Emails'. there is a setting asking you if you want to use '-f'. set this to yes.
• While still inn the email options set the 'Bounce Email Address' to your above address.

Step 2: Install
Remove all previous trace of this modification, and upload all the files in the "upload" folder to your base directory of the server.
Go into your product management section and add a new product. upload the XML file with overwrite selected.
Refresh your admin CP to load the new menu items. Just under the "users" group you will find an "Inactive Reminders" group. open that up and click on settings.
Play with these settings and options to suit for the most part. when you come down to the bounce settings you MUST use the same email address as the one you created above.
Set to active and save.

I must re-iterate that this version has not been widely tested, but the simulations i have ran have worked. I look forward to your feedback!


Features:

• Select the period of time before a user is considered inactive.
• Select how many emails to send to each inactive user per inactivity period
• Choose weather inactivity is based on members "Last Post" or their "Last Visit"
• Specify how often followup emails are sent
• Specify alternative emails to send to reduce repetition
• Keep a log of all inactive users contacted

Planned Updates:

• More detail in reports
• ...such as
• Which useres returned
• Effectivness stats
• Email validity

**1.2.1 Update***
Added more detail to the reports section. You can now see the email address, and quickly indicate which emails were invalid. You can link directly to that user to edit as you wish.
I have fixed some errors which have been crashing people's database. Please post any problems if you can.

**1.2.3 Update***
Fixed several problems with escaping strings
Stopped database errors locking up site
***

**1.2.4 Update***
Added a "From Email" so you can specify your own email address to send the reminders from.
Fixed potential bug for people who do not use the mail queue.

Anyone having problems with sending emails out too fast, and multiple emails being sent need to consider changing their email settings in vbulletin options.
People with emails going out too fast - edit Number of Emails to Send Per Batch to a lower amount
People with multiple emails sending - edit Use Mailqueue System to "Yes, with locking"
***

**1.2.5 Update***
Added more stats in the reports page, also added a "Send test email" option so users can test the functionality of the mod
***

**1.2.6 Update***
Identical to 1.2.5, however EzBounce support added.
***

**Opps Update***
Sorry i somehow managed to not include the file in the zip. My bad.
***

[grahamsmythe]

A couple of things...

1. Where do I put the 'remindermail.php' file?

2. Why can't I put dynamic variables into the Message Title?

[taxick]

Originally Posted by genesteinberg

Nor do I, but version numbers are correct, and the other features, including support for EZ Bounce, are intact.

So?

Peace,
Gene

Im running 1.2.6! And have still have no options to send are test mail!

I have looked in the reports page, and there is no options to do it

Im rally dont now, is this plugins i working on my forum. I dont have eny way to test it

And whats is EZ Bounce????

[RedTrinity]

Originally Posted by GamerGirl27

I just installed latest version (first as update, then as a new install) and can't seem to find what has changed, the options page looks the same as before? Also unable to locate where to add the email address...

Otherwise, I look forward to trying it out.

Bumping as I am still waiting for a response, much appreciated

[Gene Steinberg]

One bug I found in 1.2.6: It fails to recognize the "from" email address you've entered. Mail is going out with a "nobody" address. Yes, the proper address is entered in your product and in the regular places in the Admin CP.

Peace,
Gene

[C Braithwaite]

Originally Posted by genesteinberg

Nor do I, but version numbers are correct, and the other features, including support for EZ Bounce, are intact.

So?

Peace,
Gene

Sorry - i messed up with uploading the files.

Originally Posted by grahamsmythe

A couple of things...

1. Where do I put the 'remindermail.php' file?

2. Why can't I put dynamic variables into the Message Title?

1. remindermail.php goes in your admincp folder
2. this is soemthing i have not considered - i will look into this and add it in for you. thanks for the suggestion.

Originally Posted by taxick

Im running 1.2.6! And have still have no options to send are test mail!

I have looked in the reports page, and there is no options to do it

Im rally dont now, is this plugins i working on my forum. I dont have eny way to test it

And whats is EZ Bounce????

Sorry - as above, i messed up.

Originally Posted by GamerGirl27

Bumping as I am still waiting for a response, much appreciated

"From Email" is loacated at the bottom of the settings. Just make sure you have the most up to date vversion.

Originally Posted by genesteinberg

One bug I found in 1.2.6: It fails to recognize the "from" email address you've entered. Mail is going out with a "nobody" address. Yes, the proper address is entered in your product and in the regular places in the Admin CP.

Peace,
Gene

That is quite correct. I am looking into this now. Thank you for your bug report.

[Gene Steinberg]

Originally Posted by bhanuprasad1981

Dear bhanu
\r\n\r\n

We miss you. Our website is not the same without you. Come back and join in the fun?
\r\n\r\n

Kindest Regards
\r\nThe Team\r\nmysite


i get email with this extra things "\r\n\r\n"how can i stop / change

I sent a test email and had the same problem. Whoops!

Peace,
Gene

[RedTrinity]

Originally Posted by C Braithwaite

"From Email" is loacated at the bottom of the settings. Just make sure you have the most up to date vversion.

Thanks, I just downloaded the latest one from today (with bounce management) and its now updated

I have one little request, any chance of html support with this product?

Otherwise, its coming along really well. Congrats!

Cheers

[RedTrinity]

Ok it is still sending 2 emails to each user, just thought I would let you know. Also just to expand on the previous report by Genesteinberg - the test emails are being sent from the specified email address on the options page, but the actual ones going out to users are still going out with no sender.

Cheers

[taxick]

Originally Posted by genesteinberg

I sent a test email and had the same problem. Whoops!

Peace,
Gene

This hack is gonne be good, but there is some bugs ind that now..

I have the same problem with \r\n\r\n

[C Braithwaite]

Originally Posted by GamerGirl27

Thanks, I just downloaded the latest one from today (with bounce management) and its now updated

I have one little request, any chance of html support with this product?

Otherwise, its coming along really well. Congrats!

Cheers

It should send in HTML...

Originally Posted by GamerGirl27

Ok it is still sending 2 emails to each user, just thought I would let you know. Also just to expand on the previous report by Genesteinberg - the test emails are being sent from the specified email address on the options page, but the actual ones going out to users are still going out with no sender.

Cheers

Have you tried "use mail queue? - yes, with locking"? or could you maybe disable the mailqueue and let me know if it still sends 2 emails?

Originally Posted by taxick

This hack is gonne be good, but there is some bugs ind that now..

I have the same problem with \r\n\r\n

I'm going to get all the bugs removed. it's hard when i don't experience the bugs.