Quick Account Switch v1.2

Quick Account Switch v1.2.
by Ianomed

Uses of this hack:

This account will let you string together several accounts owned by the same person. Of course it will also let you string together accounts owned by different people, but that's a dangerous thing to do.

What then is the use of stringing accounts together? Well, this hack will let you switch from one to the other account without having to log out, then log in again. Those interested in the technical aspect I refer to the addition made to login.php, it's all quite simple. You'll see now why it's dangerous to string together your account with someone else's, they'd be able to switch to your account.

I wrote this for two play-by-board RPGs that I frequent, at each of which I have several accounts, an account for each character. This lets me assume another account in moments.

It's also used by admins to switch between test accounts quickly.

Maybe you'll find other uses, eh?

Changes required:

1. Adding of 1 field to user table (installer will try to do this)
2. Adding of 18 phrases (installer does this)
3. An addition to admincp/user.php
4. An addition to global.php
5. An addition to login.php
6. A modification to the navbar template (for each style)
   
   Time needed: 20-30 minutes
   Difficulty rating: moderate

Known issues with v1.2:

Changing the username of an account that's either a slave or master, it does not update these cached usernames. This will be taken care of in v1.3.
Work-around: If you rename a user, unlink it first, and relink after the renaming.
Since I don't see this happening very often on any board I'm releasing v1.2 with this caveat.

Item of note:

For some obscure reason vBportal does NOT play nice with this hack. It'll introduce cookie/header errors. Either do not install this hack if vBportal is installed, or vice versa. Since I don't plan on spending $20 to buy software I'll never use, there's no intention on my part to work out that problem. You're good to go with vbadvanced CPMS, however, this has been tested.

Warranties:

None, in the instructions you'll notice I tell you to backup before applying the hack. I've tested it on 4 boards, each of which have additional hacks installed, and it runs on many more. If it doesn't for you then, well... roll back the changes you've just made and blame yourself.

Tested (and works) on:

• vB 3.0.3. - vanilla
• vB 3.0.1. - vanilla
• vB 3.0.3. - With vbAdvanced Homepage / CPMS (out of the box)
• vB 3.0.1. - With vbAdvanced Homepage / CPMS (out of the box)
• vB 3.0.3. - With vBindex v3.0.0 RC5 (Instructions by bondjetta)
• vB 3.0.3. - Nexialys - ACP cookie hack. <- Recommended combination
• vB 3.0.1. - Nexialys - ACP cookie hack. <- Recommended combination
• vB 3.0.3. - Assorted mods

Future plans:

• v 1.3 - Optionally displaying the linked accounts on the public profile. (i.e. 'I am also ....')
• v 1.3 - Fix user rename issue (see known issues, above).
• v 1.3 - Under Users in the ACP add a Manage Linked Accounts option, listing all linked accounts and their slaves.
• v x.x - Very maybe: allow sharing of a secondary account between two users. This is the trickiest of all, since when on that account, who should you allow switching back to in a way that can't be circumvented.

Future non-plans (I will probably never implement these):

• A 'let users link accounts themselves' mode.

Thanks to Oblivion Knight for the updated dropdown look.

Enjoy

--- History ---
v1.2 - 17th November 2004

• Removed username colouring, it's not really necessary and only adds extra queries.
• No longer uses a custom profile field, instead an extra field in the usertable is made
• Fully phrased, installer written to add phrases
• The usernames for the linked accounts are cached, this means that running the hack now takes no extra queries at all for those logged on as master, or who have no linked accounts. Being logged on as a slave account adds only 1 query per page view, this used to be more too.

v1.1.1 - 27th October

Fixes session expiration problem occuring after switch. Users are encouraged to upgrade. To upgrade follow the instructions in switch_11_to_111.txt. For new installs the corrected code is in switch_111.txt, the installation instructions.

v1.1 - 26th October

Fixes a flaw where on some MySQL versions IDs were matched improperly, also the new session is now permanent. Users are encouraged to upgrade.
To upgrade roll back and redo the changes to global.php and login.php, no changes were made to the template or custom field.

v1.0 - 25th October 2004

initial release

[bondjetta]

Originally Posted by Ianomed

Alrighty then

The session expiration problem has been solved, maintenance version 1.1.1. released.

For those who have v1.1. already installed there is an attachment with the upgrade instructions, switch_11_to_111.txt.

Anyone installing from the new installation instructions (switch_111.txt) will end up with v1.1.1., which has the same fix applied.

Both of these files can be found in this thread's first post.

No updates to this hack are expected to take place until v1.2., introducing new features (and less overhead).

what about people who had 1.0 i did the 1.1.1 upgrade and it works (so far) if i notice anything strange i'll let you know

[Ianomed]

Hiya Bondjetta,

I addressed that in the upgrade notifcation, sent when I hit that button at the top of the thread (well for coders anyway)

"Anyone on v1.0 is asked download the installation instructions, switch_111.txt, and perform the steps concerning login.php and global.php (after removing v1.0's addition to these)."

But you're right... it's good to address it here as well.

The only changes from v1.0 to v1.1 are to global.php and login.php.

From v1.1 to v1.1.1 is login.php only. So from what I understand is your global.php is on version v1.0 of the hack still. Please download the new install instructions and swap out global's part of the hack.

I'll add a 10_to_111.txt in the morning, it's 3:36am here at the moment. Logic dictates I really should try that thing called sleep sometime soon.


v1.2 is due probably around the 12th of next month, but ultimately when ready. The installation/upgrade instructions for that one will be a tad tougher, but i'll try to keep them as easy as possible.

[bondjetta]

Originally Posted by Ianomed

Hiya Bondjetta,

I addressed that in the upgrade notifcation, sent when I hit that button at the top of the thread (well for coders anyway)

"Anyone on v1.0 is asked download the installation instructions, switch_111.txt, and perform the steps concerning login.php and global.php (after removing v1.0's addition to these)."

But you're right... it's good to address it here as well.

The only changes from v1.0 to v1.1 are to global.php and login.php.

From v1.1 to v1.1.1 is login.php only. So from what I understand is your global.php is on version v1.0 of the hack still. Please download the new install instructions and swap out global's part of the hack.

I'll add a 10_to_111.txt in the morning, it's 3:36am here at the moment. Logic dictates I really should try that thing called sleep sometime soon.


v1.2 is due probably around the 12th of next month, but ultimately when ready. The installation/upgrade instructions for that one will be a tad tougher, but i'll try to keep them as easy as possible.

gotcha, it told me to download that file, but i couldn't find it but i'll go look again mostly 'cause i'm retarded and looked for the wrong file name

updated global and login thanks!

[Ianomed]

As attached to the first post.
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/attachmen...chmentid=21405

Now I'm really going off to bed, lol. Having checked out your forums, I'll register there tomorrow. Buddhism is exactly my cup of coffee.

[bondjetta]

Originally Posted by Ianomed

As attached to the first post.
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/attachmen...chmentid=21405

Now I'm really going off to bed, lol. Having checked out your forums, I'll register there tomorrow. Buddhism is exactly my cup of coffee.

fantastic sleep well

[Lionel]

Very sorry to say that cookie is not holding. Same thing is still happening. After a time, it will not switch and won't allow you to log out unless you go back to home page.

[Lionel]

My observation: that happens when I log in as admin, stay in there for a while... Maybe that has to do with conflicting permissions?

[Ianomed]

Lionel, is this with v1.1 of the hack, or v1.1.1?

With the latest version I've switched about a good deal to regular accounts, then waited a couple of hours on the admin account and the session is still alive. This is even after closing the browser and navigating back later.

As such, does this still happen to anyone else using v1.1.1?
This version does exactly what it's supposed to do for me, which considering the changes I introduced today I would expect it to. Programmatically it does almost exactly the same thing when switching as vB would do if you logged out, then logged in straight thereafter (taking out the redirect inbetween, basically).

[bondjetta]

Originally Posted by Ianomed

Lionel, is this with v1.1 of the hack, or v1.1.1?

With the latest version I've switched about a good deal to regular accounts, then waited a couple of hours on the admin account and the session is still alive. This is even after closing the browser and navigating back later.

As such, does this still happen to anyone else using v1.1.1?
This version does exactly what it's supposed to do for me, which considering the changes I introduced today I would expect it to. Programmatically it does almost exactly the same thing when switching as vB would do if you logged out, then logged in straight thereafter (taking out the redirect inbetween, basically).

there might be some type of browser dependency, i'm finding some w/ Firefox now w/ a different issue.

so far it's sticking for me...it did log me out once, but i decided to clear all my forum cookies and try it over just in case something was "off".

[Oblivion Knight]

The upgrade went smooth, and v1.1.1 appears to be working great for me.!

Thanks for your hard work and support Ianomed..