Hiding threads / Customizing VB to interact with Moodle...?

[embryofilms]

Hi.

I'm not sure where to put this, but since I'm using VB 3.8.4, this seemed
like the best spot.

I have a VB forum that's part of an educational system, which is done
through Moodle. What I need to do is have certain VB forums and threads
remain INVISIBLE to people who have not reached a certain point in the
Moodle course content. For example, imagine there are 20-lesson in 2
Moodle course modules. If someone is on Module 1, Lesson 4... I can't
have them see the VB thread for Module 1, Lesson 5. I don't even want
them to see the VB subforum for Module 2.

So, two questions:

1) Is this kind of functionality available within VB or its plugins? If so,
can you direct me to an appropriate link?

2) If it's not part of this functionality, I'm assuming it would require some
custom programming. Where can I find a programmer who could help
me customize something like this?

Also...

When I run a second group/course, I want them to access the original
threads -- and all the replies that are on that thread -- AS the Moodle
lesson is revealed. Same questions as above: If the above VB functionality
exists, does this, too? And if not, any idea where I can find someone to
help me customize?

Thanks in advance!

Jeff

[Marco van Herwaarden]

By default there is no integration with moodle.

If you want someone to code an integration for you, then you can post in either Modification Requests/Questions (Unpaid) or Requests For Paid Services depending on if you want to pay for the integration or not.

Be aware however that it might not be very easy to create this and there is a risk that such an integration becomes an unworkable solution as vBulletin is not really working like this by default.

[Krahl]

You could likely do this with usergroups and perhaps automate it a bit with promotions.

Search that on the forum as well as the guide.

This would not be automated, but is a viable solution if you're not overseeing hundreds or thousands of students.

Good luck and please post if you hit on a good solution!

[embryofilms]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm looking for a temporary solution that would basically enable us to
have the current (first) group, and a second group starting soon.

Unfortunately, if it's not an easy solution (or relatively easy, meaning
a modest paid solution), then we'll probably end up creating a new
system from scratch and getting rid of VB in favor of something that
could integrate with a whole system.

I would love to have a simple fix, but if this is very difficult and can't
be automated, that may be the end for me. Hmm.

I appreciate the replies.

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Originally Posted by Krahl

You could likely do this with usergroups and perhaps automate it a bit with promotions.

Search that on the forum as well as the guide.

This would not be automated, but is a viable solution if you're not overseeing hundreds or thousands of students.

Good luck and please post if you hit on a good solution!

Even with usergroups i doubt this is a workable solution.

As i understand there will be multiple courses, each with multiple levels. A usergroup would need to be created for each course/level and this means you will probably need an extreme large number of usergroups. That is why i wrote before that it might not be that easy. Otherwise an automated solution should be possible.

The only possible workable solution i see (without giving it some more detailed thoughts and specifications) would be some custom code to add a minimum course/level to the thread table and custom code that will check this against moodle.

[embryofilms]

Originally Posted by Marco van Herwaarden

Even with usergroups i doubt this is a workable solution.

I had a look at the usergroups suggestion, and it's a little too "bulk solution"
for what my system needs, so Marco is right with this reply.

The only possible workable solution i see (without giving it some more detailed thoughts and specifications) would be some custom code to add a minimum course/level to the thread table and custom code that will check this against moodle.

If I understand this suggestion correctly, this would be a fantastic option. If there
was some way for an admin to set the course/level a user must have reached within
Moodle in order to view a given VB thread, I think that would work wonderfully. When
the user reaches that level in Moodle, it triggers the thread reveal.

I've opened a thread in the Request for Paid Services forum if anyone
is able to help me with it.

Thanks!

Jeff