New Posting Features - LAM - Dispute Resolution

This product will allow you to configure a forum so that only a thread creator, their nominated list of disputed members, and moderators are able to reply to the thread. When a dispute thread is created a PM will be sent to all those involved in the dispute.

On my site we have a lot of people selling items, and occasionally something goes wrong during the process. Before we had this product a member would post up about their problem and it became a free-for-all with 'friends' of both sides posting up slating the other side for being wrong and generally turning into a slanging match until the thread eventually got locked. Now, thanks to this product, only those actually involved in the dispute can reply. This has resulted in almost all of our disputes being resolved in a way where both sides are happy.

As of version 4.0.8.1 it is now possible to configure this product to run in "Private Dispute" mode. This extends the normal functionality described above to also prevent those not in the dispute from being able to view the contents of the thread. They can still see it exists but any thread preview text, or opening the thread itself, will show a "You are not authorised to participate in this dispute" message.

As of version 4.0.8.2 it is now possible to configure this product to run in "Extra Privacy" mode. This extends the "Private Dispute" functionality described above to also prevent those not in the dispute from being able to see the thread exists. With this setting enabled dispute threads will not be shown when browsing a forum if the user is not the thread creator, on the disputed list, or a moderator.

As of version 4.1.3.0 it is now possible to make entering the disputed user names optional via the "Optional Disputes" setting. You can also enable the dispute functionality on all forums by enabling the "Globally Enabled" setting.

As of version 4.1.4.0 it is now possible for the thread creator, or a moderator, to edit the threads dispute list by performing an advanced edit on any post in the thread which they have permission to edit. Upgrade instructions for this version can be found here.

As of version 4.1.4.1 it is now possible to create a dispute against a single user group by enabling the "Enable Usergroups" setting. This will allow anyone in the user group to participate in the dispute, as well as anyone on the normal dispute list. PM notifications won't be sent to the user group. This version also fixes several bugs with the Private Dispute option where searches would still show a dispute thread even if the user wasn't allowed to participate in the dispute.

Tapatalk Users - Please see this important note about Tapatalk support.

Installation

1. Download the attached .xml file
   product-LAM_DisputeResolution.xml
2. Install the product
   AdminCP -> Plugins & Products -> Add/Import Product -> Import Product

Configuration

You need configure which forums you want this product to run in, or globally enable it to run in all forums. You can also specify if creating a "dispute" thread in a dispute forum is optional. There is a setting that lets you override who the notification PM is sent from should you prefer it to come from an admin account rather than the user's account. And finally there are the privacy and user group options as detailed above.



Example

When creating or advanced editing a thread in a disputes forum there is now an additional row where the user can edit the user names (and user group if enabled) of those they are disputing...



When the thread is created (or advanced edited) a PM is sent to those involved in the dispute (only newly disputed members are PMd when editing a thread)...



When the thread is viewed it shows at the top who the dispute is between...



An error will be shown if; the thread creator forgets to enter any names and the "Optional Disputes" option is set to No...



the thread creator enters an unrecognised name...



or someone not in the disputed list tries to reply to the thread...




Version History

4.1.4.1 - Added user group option. Stopped threads showing in searches when Private Disputes is enabled. Stopped sending PMs to users already on the disputes list when editing a thread. (2011/07/19)
4.1.4.0 - Added the disputed users to the advanced edit screen & removed the admin option (2011/07/05)
4.1.3.0 - Added optional disputes, global enable and prevented the admin option appearing in non-disputes forums (2011/05/01)
4.1.2.0 - Fixed an SQL error if the admin option was accessed in a forum that didn't have disputes turned on (2011/03/25)
4.0.8.3 - Added auto-suggest to the user names field (2010/11/01)
4.0.8.2 - Added Extra Privacy mode (2010/10/24)
4.0.8.1 - Added Private Dispute mode (2010/10/23)
4.0.8.0 - Initial release (2010/10/23)


Credits

Although I've written this product for vB 4 the original idea came from the Private Debates product written by beebi.

The code to not send PMd to users already on the disputes list when edited a thread was contributed by CheeSie

[dmm2020]

Originally Posted by BadgerDog

Running version 4.1.4.1 ...

Not sure why, but I can't seem to prevent other users (not involved in the dispute) from posting in the disputes forum in the thread created by another member?

It's as if the mod is ignoring the option set (see attached) and letting everyone post in the thread using their own usergroup permissions.

Am I missing something?

Thanks ..

Regards,
Doug

I asked this question earlier. I had to disable and uninstall this mod because the intended privacy was not there. Still haven't seen a fix to it.

[stledger]

This would be a perfect mod for me, is there a version for 4.0.8 though?

EDIT: it seems to work on 4.0.8 but will there be any problems? this is the perfect mod for me

[sticky]

Great mod but was hoping for a couple changes.

Could members choose to appoint a mediator or advocate for themselves? It would be nice to have the option to choose someone to mediate that both members agree on at the very least.

Also, could it be made so that the privacy option is chosen on a thread by thread basis? That is, not every thread is not viewable but some are? Just a checkbox when creating a thread would be great.

[sticky]

The ability to be able to mark disputes are resolved would be great as well.

A tally of how often someone is disputed might be great as well...

[Successfulsteps]

I would love to have this mod. Does anyone know if it works on VB Suite 4.1.9?

I have a real need for this, and before installing, I would like some feedback as things go badly when there are compatibility issues and I don't honestly know enough about vbulletin to insure that not only a mod is uninstalled, but all relevant files and database entries are gone. I also have a very active member base that does do well when those bad things happen

Thanks in advance for your reply!

~Deb

[sticky]

Originally Posted by Successfulsteps

I would love to have this mod. Does anyone know if it works on VB Suite 4.1.9?

I have a real need for this, and before installing, I would like some feedback as things go badly when there are compatibility issues and I don't honestly know enough about vbulletin to insure that not only a mod is uninstalled, but all relevant files and database entries are gone. I also have a very active member base that does do well when those bad things happen

Thanks in advance for your reply!

~Deb

Running fine on a heavily modified 4.1.7 suite

[Successfulsteps]

Originally Posted by sticky

Running fine on a heavily modified 4.1.7 suite

LOL @ heavily modified. I have coders telling me all the time not to have many mods due to how hard it is isolate a problem. But I find that I love the mods here. I had a SEO who came and worked on my site and he was not happy at all with all the plug-ins, he wanted to scrap them all. He said that all the developers here were not experienced and a lot of this stuff was just junk slowing down my forum. But I had no problems until he did upgrade, and I really didn't want to do the upgrade due to being worried about losing some important mods that both my members and staff have come to depend on.

So if it works on 4.1.7 does that mean it will work on 4.1.9? with vbseo? So many of the mods needs special rules for that vbseo. I sure hope all this is worth it for my forum, as things have been so stressful. That's why I ask in advance about these working.

[Alan_SP]

Just tried to edit dispute thread and received this error:

Database error in vBulletin 4.1.2:

Invalid SQL:
UPDATE thread SET LAM_DisputeResolution = '3034,3008,4534,3551,3009,108,2762', LAM_DisputeUserGroups = '' WHERE threadid =;

MySQL Error : You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near '' at line 1
Error Number : 1064

[ProFifaLeagues]

Originally Posted by sticky

The ability to be able to mark disputes are resolved would be great as well.

A tally of how often someone is disputed might be great as well...

Do you think this Could be added on to the mod at all in a new release ???
Would be great to see who is causing issues if it could hold a record of the users in Disputes :up:

[mawby]

Originally Posted by BadgerDog

Not sure why, but I can't seem to prevent other users (not involved in the dispute) from posting in the disputes forum in the thread created by another member?

Did you manage to resolve this? One possible cause is an add-on like Tapatalk which will bypass the checks done by this product.

Originally Posted by 20KingSize

i seem to be having the same problem as dmm2020, members can view the dispute in the new forum posts and new forum threads side bar

It's an on-going problem. When I originally add the Extra Privacy option I hadn't anticipated just how many places I'd need to go and fix (otherwise I'd never have added it!). Some of those places cannot (could not, I've not checked recently) be done with plugins and I didn't want to go the route of getting people to modify code.

Originally Posted by sticky

Could members choose to appoint a mediator or advocate for themselves? It would be nice to have the option to choose someone to mediate that both members agree on at the very least.

They kind-of can already, if the dispute creator adds another person to the disputed list. I know that's not a proper way of doing it but it would work for now.

Originally Posted by sticky

Also, could it be made so that the privacy option is chosen on a thread by thread basis? That is, not every thread is not viewable but some are? Just a checkbox when creating a thread would be great.

The basic privacy option... maybe. The extra privacy option.... maybe if I ever get it working properly!

Originally Posted by sticky

The ability to be able to mark disputes are resolved would be great as well.

It is a good idea...

Originally Posted by sticky

A tally of how often someone is disputed might be great as well...

...as is that. I'm really struggling to find time to keep my own site up and running let alone add features to my mods here. I don't think that is going to change any time soon due to me work load, but I will try at some point this year to go and update/refresh all my products here.

If anyone posts a question or request and doesn't get a timely answer from me, please don't be offended or think I've abandon the product. There just aren't even hours in a day at the moment! (Can't complain really; work is work )

Originally Posted by Alan_SP

Invalid SQL:
UPDATE thread SET LAM_DisputeResolution = '3034,3008,4534,3551,3009,108,2762', LAM_DisputeUserGroups = '' WHERE threadid =;

I've just done a quick test and couldn't replicate this. The obvious error in the SQL is the missing threadid, although having quickly looked at the code I cannot see why this would happen. I know it's a pita but if you could try disabling all other mods quickly to see if the problem goes away, it will at least rule out a compatibility problem with another installed mod.