vB Mail Reply

vB Email Reply 0.7BETA


What it does:
This allows your members (and you of course) to reply to threads by email. All they have to do is wirte to a specific email address (that you specify) and include a special code in the email subject.

How it works:
A script (vbemailreply.php) is run using the vB3 Cronsystem every minute. This checks a pop3 or imap account for emails and then processes these emails, inserting the data into the database. Then a reply is sent to the sender, stating that either the post/thread got entered correctly or that there was some kind of error.

Is it complicated?
Actually no. There is an install script that does most of the work as well as two small file changes. If you do have problems installing it, contact me for help.

Changes:
New files (2):
/includes/cron/vbmailreply.php
/includes/mimeDecode.php

Changed files(1):
/includes/functions_newpost.php

New database fields/tables(1):
New userfield added by installscript

New templates(0):

Changed templates(0):

New phrases(3):
emailreplyerror
emailreplydone
emailnewthreaddone

Changed phrases(1):
notify

Screenshots:
none

Credits:
The idea and small parts of the script are based on Chen 'FireFly' Avinadav's Email posts into forum hack, found here: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...threadid=40595

Instructions:

• Backup all your files as well as your database.
  For help backing up your database, look here: http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/m...atabase_backup
• Upload vbmailreply.php to your /includes/cron/ folder
• Upload mimeDecode.php to your /includes/ folder
• Open the file /includes/functions_newpost.php in your favourite PHP editing program.

• FIND (around line 196):
   
  $post['poststarttime'] = trim($post['poststarttime']);
   
  ADD BELOW:
   
  if ($post['isemail']) { $bbuserinfo = $post['userinfo']; }
   
   
  FIND (around line 273):
   
  if ($vboptions['logip'])
   
  REPLACE WITH:
   
  if ($vboptions['logip'] AND !$post['isemail'])
   
   
  FIND (around line 321):
   
  if ($prevpostfound)
  {
   
  ADD BELOW:
   
  if ($post['isemail'])
  {
  return ('dupepost');
  }
  else
  {
   
   
  FIND:
   
  }
  else
  {
  if ($parentid == 0 AND $type != 'thread')
   
  REPLACE WITH:
   
  }
  }
  if (!$prevpostfound)
  {
  if ($parentid == 0 AND $type != 'thread')
   
   
  FIND:
   
  	$useremails = $DB_site->query("
  		SELECT user.*, subscribethread.emailupdate
  		FROM " . TABLE_PREFIX . "subscribethread AS subscribethread, " . TABLE_PREFIX . "user AS user
  		LEFT JOIN " . TABLE_PREFIX . "usergroup AS usergroup ON (usergroup.usergroupid = user.usergroupid)
  		WHERE subscribethread.threadid = $threadid AND
  			subscribethread.emailupdate IN (1, 4) AND
  			subscribethread.userid = user.userid AND
  			user.usergroupid <> 3 AND
  			user.userid <> " . intval($userid) . " AND
  			user.lastactivity > " . intval($lastposttime['dateline']) . " AND
  			(usergroup.genericoptions & " . ISBANNEDGROUP . ") = 0
  	");
   
  REPLACE WITH:
   
  	$useremails = $DB_site->query("
  		SELECT user.*, userfield.*, subscribethread.emailupdate
  		FROM " . TABLE_PREFIX . "subscribethread AS subscribethread, " . TABLE_PREFIX . "user AS user
  		LEFT JOIN " . TABLE_PREFIX . "userfield AS userfield ON (userfield.userid = user.userid)
  		LEFT JOIN " . TABLE_PREFIX . "usergroup AS usergroup ON (usergroup.usergroupid = user.usergroupid)
  		WHERE subscribethread.threadid = $threadid AND
  			subscribethread.emailupdate IN (1, 4) AND
  			subscribethread.userid = user.userid AND
  			user.usergroupid <> 3 AND
  			user.userid <> " . intval($userid) . " AND
  			user.lastactivity > " . intval($lastposttime['dateline']) . " AND
  			(usergroup.genericoptions & " . ISBANNEDGROUP . ") = 0
  	");
   
   
  FIND:
   
  $evalemail["$languageid"] = '$message = "' . str_replace("\\'", "'", addslashes(iif(empty($email_text[PHRASETYPEID_MAILMSG]), $emails['-1'][PHRASETYPEID_MAILMSG],$email_text[PHRASETYPEID_MAILMSG]))) . '";'.
   
  ADD ABOVE:
   
  $touserfieldcode = "field".$vboptions[mailserver_profilefieldid];
  $subjectcode_reply = "[thread-".$threadinfo[threadid]."-".$touser[$touserfieldcode]."]";
  $subjectcode_newthread = "[newthread-".$foruminfo[forumid]."-".$touser[$touserfieldcode]."]";

• Add the following as a translation of the phrase notify:
  

  Hello $touser[username],
   
  $bbuserinfo[username] has just replied to a thread you have subscribed to entitled - $threadinfo[title] - in the $foruminfo[title] forum of $vboptions[bbtitle].
   
  This thread is located at:
  $vboptions[bburl]/showthread.php?t=$threadinfo[threadid]&goto=newpost
   
  ~~~~~ NEW ~~~~~
  New at $vboptions[bbtitle]!
  You can now reply to the thread by replying to this message. All you need to do is to make sure this code appears in the email subject:
  $subjectcode_reply
  You should also remove this text to ensure your reply is readable by other forum users.
  Additionaly, you can start a new thread in the $foruminfo[title] Forum simply by sending a mail to $vboptions[mailserver_emailaddress] with this code in the subject: $subjectcode_newthread
  ~~~~~ NEW ~~~~~
   
  Here is the message that has just been posted:
  ***************
  $pagetext
  ***************
   
  There may be other replies also, but you will not receive any more notifications until you visit the forum again.
   
  Yours,
  $vboptions[bbtitle] team
   
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Unsubscription information:
   
  To unsubscribe from this thread, please visit this page:
  $vboptions[bburl]/subscription.php?do=usub&t=$threadinfo[threadid]
   
  To unsubscribe from ALL threads, please visit this page:
  $vboptions[bburl]/subscription.php?do=viewsubscription&folderid=all

• Upload the file vbmailreply_install.php to your admincp folder
• Be sure to either have a POP3 or IMAP email account ready before running the installation. The data will need to be entered.
• Open your browser and go to http://www.yourforums.com/admincp/vb...ly_install.php and follow the instructions.
• Delete the vbmailreply_install.php file from your webserver.

Donations:
This hack will always be free, however your donations are kindly accepted and will help towards further development. If you donate, please leave me some info (either your forum site or username at vB.org) so that I can thank you.

Install:

Don't feel like donating, but still want to thank me for my work? Click the install button to show your appreciation. As a great side effect, you'll get an email update once there is a bigger update or important security fix!

Updates:

09.08.2004 - I've updated the vbemailreply_install.php file, as there was an wrong value while entering the settings.

Also added support for SSL (untested)
Fixed the whole install routine.
03.11.2004 - Updated the installation as well as the vbemailreply.php file.

[freeshares1]

I now have this working (kind of) i will post what i have done later today

[Lionel]

Thanks in advance. I am anxious to learn what you have done for the no forum permission error message.

[freeshares1]

Firstly if you get the following

Fatal error: Call to undefined function: imap_open() in /home/xxx/domains/xxx.com/public_html/vb/includes/cron/vbemailreply.php on line 55

This means your server's PHP is not compiled with IMAP. This is a core requirement of this hack. If you have root access to your server you can recompile php with IMAP if not ask your host.

As Lionel posted earlier in thread i had to change the following in the phase notify. This was to fix the fact that i was getting blank email's


FROM

 \$vboptions[bbtitle]!
You can now reply to the thread by replying to this message. All you need to do is to make sure this code appears in the email subject:
[thread-\$threadinfo[threadid]-\$touser[field\$vboptions[mailserver_profilefieldid]]]
You should also remove this text to ensure your reply is readable by other forum users.
Additionaly, you can start a new thread in the \$foruminfo[title] Forum simply by sending a mail to \$vboptions[mailserver_emailadress] with this code in the subject: [newthread-\$foruminfo[forumid]-\$bbuserinfo[field\$vboptions[mailserver_profilefieldid]]]

TO

 \$vboptions[bbtitle]!
You can now reply to the thread by replying to this message. All you need to do is to make sure this code appears in the email subject:
[thread-\$threadinfo[threadid]-\$touser[field]$vboptions[mailserver_profilefieldid]]]
You should also remove this text to ensure your reply is readable by other forum users.
Additionaly, you can start a new thread in the \$foruminfo[title] Forum simply by sending a mail to \$vboptions[mailserver_emailadress] with this code in the subject: [newthread-\$foruminfo[forumid]-\$bbuserinfo[field]$vboptions[mailserver_profilefieldid]]]

I am still playing with it but as it stands i can send replies to threads i havent yet checked to see if i can create new thread. Sorry i have never had premission problem.


Colin - Great hack

[freeshares1]

ok after further investigations i have noticed the following

1. i have to put the subject in the following format [newthread-2-password]] if i do it as [newthread-2-password] i get a message saying i have not reached the min no of characters. This leaves the extra ] in the subject.
2. The cron doesnt seem to work the only way i can make it run is by manually running it twice (even if i set it up using my server cron job)

any idea's are most welcome.

[Lionel]

you'll find out that this does not work

1-the cron will never work
2-new users do not have email password automatic
3-you'll never be able to post in forums

and more...

my suggestion is to download chen's version and try to analyze it as I am doing.

[freeshares1]

I can do 3 no 2 i am not bothered about as it will use it more for moderator's and admin's it's no 1 i need to sort out

I fully understand this is a beta and am happy to work with colin to make this a final release.

[Colin F]

Just wanted to mention that I'm currently working on fixing this up.

I'll update the first post with all the new information when I'm done.

[freeshares1]

thanks Colin and if you need any help or testers please let me know. (pm me)

We appreicate your support

[Lionel]

thanks Colin. We have been struggling on that one.

[Colin F]

OK, I updated the first post with some better installation instructions and edited the vbemailreply.php file a bit.

I think I'll have to reupload an updated install file once I'm at home... but otherwise it should work.
Please wait for that (another 3 or 4 hours) and then test it.