Miscellaneous Hacks - Force Style for Selected Users or Groups

Hack Support

This hack is now discontinued - this means that while it will remain available for download and use, there will be no further updates, nor will support be provided as the thread is no longer monitored. But not to worry, you can now check out the new 3.8.x version of this hack which will work with v3.7.x, as well as with v3.6.12 (and maybe even earlier versions).

Please click Mark as Installed if you are using this hack.


vBulletin Version Compatibility

This hack can be used with both vBulletin v3.6.x and v3.7.x


What Does This Hack Do?

This hack allows you to force a style to certain usergroup(s), secondary usergroup(s), and/or certain user(s) or any combination of the three. It is a port/update of my v3.5.x hack available here, apart from the fact that settings are now controlled from the AdminCP.

Scenario

The setup on my forums is that I use the default style as the parent to all my other styles which makes modifying the templates easy for me, I just edit my default style and the child styles inherit the changes.

I wanted to use a child style as the standard style for visitors and members, but not have them have a choice of the default template at all, but as soon as you logged out you were presented with the default template that you did not want guests to see.

This hack rectifies that. It also allows you to let others use the Default Style while forcing the usergroup(s)/member(s) to the one style you selected.

Note: There is no upgrade path from my v3.5.x version, you have to uninstall that one first before installing this one.


Installation Instructions

1. Import the product-jd_20070403.xml into vB using the AdminCP Product Manager. If upgrading from an earlier version, then set Allow Overwrite to Yes.
2. In vBulletin Options > Force Styles for Selected Users or Groups, change Force Styles for Selected Users or Groups - Enable to Yes to turn it on.
3. In the other boxes, select the usergroup(s), member(s) and the style id you want to force on those usergroups or members

What if you need custom style permissions as well?

This question has been asked a few times: What if you need custom style permissions so that you can control which usergroups see/select what styles? The hack I use is Andreas's Restrict Style to Usergroup hack which he released for v3.5.x. It is because of that hack that this one exists, and I have tested it on v3.5.x, v3.6.x and v3.7.x, and it works for three versions and works fine with my hacks as well.

For instance on my forum I need to use both hacks, as the style I force on my guests and normal members is not selectable nor do I allow them permission to use it, and is also not my default style (all my other styles are child styles of my default one), so without Andreas's hack I would not be able to do this.

But just to let you know that Andreas's hack is unsupported and is not likely to ever be supported (unless it is a proven bug), so if you have problems with it, you are on your own.


Version History

v1.01 - Wednesday 11th April 2007
-- Final Release
-- Added: AdminCP option

v1.00 - Tuesday 3rd April 2007
-- Initial Release


Show Your Appreciation

Although not required, if you have enjoyed the benefits of this hack, and would like show your appreciation for my efforts, then please feel free to click on the Support Developer link and donate any amount you feel is appropriate.

[Mosh]

Originally Posted by lostgirl815

One thing I would love to be able to do is create a joinable usergroup that would allow someone to set themselves on style override. But for some reason this only works if a person is only a member of one single group. If anybody has any idea how I could get around that quirk, I'd appreciate knowing it.

Unfortunately, that is not the goal of this hack.

It is something I wrote for my forum and decided to release here.

I have no desire to expand this hack at all, as it does exactly what I need it do it, and I hope others benefit from this as it is.

[lostgirl815]

I wasn't complaining about your hack or asking you to rewrite it - I was trying to use it for x purpose and ran into x problem and wondered if anyone knew a way around it. And although asking questions is normally an exercise in futility on here, every now and again I get lucky, so I ask anyway.

[yoyoyoyo]

it would be nice if this hack didn't override the custom style settings for individual forums in the Forum Manager

[giotmuadong]

very nice, i like your hack .. thanks!!!

[SpankMe]

Excellent. I use it on my biker site for users who start flaming. I force them to use a really ghey looking pink style until they calm down

Only problem is that the style has to be user selectable to work. Would be good if it worked on styles that are not user selectable. :up:

[Mosh]

Originally Posted by SpankMe

Only problem is that the style has to be user selectable to work. Would be good if it worked on styles that are not user selectable. :up:

Read post #16, as that hack will fix your problem.

[Mosh]

Originally Posted by yoyoyoyo

it would be nice if this hack didn't override the custom style settings for individual forums in the Forum Manager

The 3.7.x version of this hack has been released here, it rectifies this.

[Red Spider]

just what i needed - thanks!

I'm running vB 3.7 BETA 4 and it works fine!

[Forumdayim.Net]

I was searching a hack as soon as that..

Thanks so much guy.

Installed

[Ronin Six]

Thanks for this mod!! Been using it a little while now.

Just having some issues with guest users seeing a custom style even though I'm not forcing it on them. Here's the situation:

Parent style is the default style. Custom style is a child of the default.
I'm forcing the custom child style on user groups that have been promoted to a certain level.

I'm not forcing the custom child style on the guests, but they're seeing it anyway.

I have a feeling it might be because I'm using it slightly different that you have it for your own forums (your default is a child style, and what you're forcing is the parent). Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!