Miscellaneous Hacks - Forum Minimum Age Restriction

Forum Minimum Age Restriction
By: Idan B.

1. Description & Usage:
Forum Minimum Age Restriction hack will allow the forum admin to set minimum age restriction for the given forum. Should the age be under the minimum age, the user will be unable to view forum.

2. Installation:
Please click Mark as Installed.
Installation is pretty easy - just download & install:

• Goto: AdminCP->Plugin System->Manage Products : Choose "Add/Import Product" and import this product xml (product-forum_min_age.xml)

3. Upgrade From Older Version:
1. uninstall previous version
2. Download new version xml & install as instructed in previous section.

4. Configuration:
Once installed, the "Forum Manger" under admincp will have extra section for each forum:
Section name: "Minimum Age Requirement"

• Enabled ? - Yes/No
• Minimum Age - Text (INT)
• Hide Forum ? - Yes/No

5. Known Bugs:
- [S]Advanced Search still listing all forums (including hidden ones).[/S] fixed in v1.1.2

6. TO-DO's LIST (Next Versions):
- Bypass to certain usergroups

7. Extra Notes:
The text used in this modification is fully configured via phrase manager in admincp.
- "Last Post" : min_age_limit_cannot_view_last_post_info
- "access denied" error_under_min_age

typo in "restriction" word fixed. sorry about that

Enjoy hack & dont forget to click Mark as Installed

[mrtroybaker]

Been waiting on this for a while' Thanks

Installed

[IdanB]

Originally Posted by jonah1892

would there be any chance to hide the age restricted forum all together

as i would be concerned younger members can see this and change their age to gain access

This feature now available with new version.

[mrtroybaker]

Love the idea. But there is a problem.
It still does not hide the forum. If the member clicks the main forum it gives the error but if the member clicks "last post" it will still let them in.
After clicking the "last post" and getting in I can now enter the 18 and over section with a username that is 9 years old

[mrtroybaker]

Ok, it did hide the forum but only after refreshing the page. But as long as it can be seen you can still get in by using the "last post" link

[IdanB]

hmm.. i assumed if forum access is denied it will prevent him from thread link...
but you are right, i'll fix it: will add check on thread page as well.
will update hack by tomorrow noon (maybe even in next hour or so)

[IdanB]

Originally Posted by mrtroybaker

Ok, it did hide the forum but only after refreshing the page. But as long as it can be seen you can still get in by using the "last post" link

When you select the "hide forum" the forum still visible for you ?
Also where does it show you the last post link ? (that one should be replaced by phrase)

I'm adding now check on thread view as well, so should u get there from some unknown source, it will show denied access as well.

[IdanB]

Here's work progress:
1. I've confirmed the bug which resulted with the forum still visible in some condition, while going from forumhome to forumdisplay.
This bug is now fixed: now forum in the "forumdisplay" is properly hidden.
2. Last Post link was hidden already. Couldnt not confirm any bug there. according to all my testing this worked fine. Did you mean by any chance you got the link from some search / or "new posts" link ? as that's one loophole that wasnt covered.
3. To cover any loophole of any kind = I've also added check on "showtread". so if user may obtain link to post (from somewhere), he will not be able to see it.

TO-DO:
Now working on 1 more (last) fix - to "filter" any posts from search results (on hidden forums) from under-aged users, so they wont be aware of such forums.

Once this last "search filter fix" is ready, i'll upload new version code (will be towards tomorrow after-noon). as i dont want to "spam" with too often updates. i will upload all of these fixes tomorrow.

regards.

[IdanB]

finished updating modification - new version uploaded (1.1.1)
All "immediate bugs" been fixed.

Note: One possible "loophole" still remains - if going into "advanced search", under-age user will be able to see list of all forums names (including hidden ones).
He can't search them !! (only see their names)
I'm still researching on how to code so that list wont show hiddens ones. i hope this will be fixed on next version.

[Hostboard]

Would it be possible to have this have its own catagory/forum selection page? For sites that have LOTS of catagories/forums it is a bit cumbersome to have to go in and edit each and every forum whereby if it had its own list it should be easier to select.

If you could select a catagory and have it tag all the forums under it that would work too.

Thanx!

[mrtroybaker]

Yes, all the problems were fixed. Thank you. Great hack