Mini Mods - Restrict Posting By Forum

The add-on is in response to a request posted by Stratis in this thread:

Deny more than x posts in a specific forum

Stratis has been instrumental in the testing and development of this add-on. :up:

Overview:

This product allows you to select forums in which posting is restricted to a maximum number of posts, which you decide. Restrictions can be for all new posts including new threads, or new posts excluding new threads, or to posting within the threads of others only or posting new threads only. You may exclude selected usergroups from the restriction. Users who attempt to circumvent the product by manually entering URLs in their browsers will be shown the no permission message. You may decide to only count posts within the last x days to determine whether a user may post or not.

Updates:

Version 1.1:

• Added a setting whereby individual users may be excluded from the posting restriction regardless of usergroup.

Version 1.2:

• Added informative message to users for who posting is restricted.
• All posting links are now hidden by setting appropriate variables used in template conditionals rather than simply hiding them using CSS.

Version 1.3:

• Bug fixed where users were told they have no permission to post.

Version 1.4:

• Exempt userlist trimmed for greater compatibility across platforms.

Version 1.4.1:

• Made $threadinfo global for wider compatibility.

Version 1.5:

• Added setting which allows only posts made within the last x days to be counted for the restriction.

Version 1.6:

• Added setting which allows users to be restricted from posting new threads.
• Added setting which allows a choice of time unit for counting posts/threads.

Version 1.7:

• Post counts calculated immediately prior to posting new threads/replies so that posting from tab with no restriction by opening new tab with posting link is no longer possible.

Version 1.8:

• Added setting to allow control over whether child forums are included in the slected restricted forums.
• Added setting to allow all restricted forums to be treated as a group, or to be treated separately.

Version 1.9:

• Added setting to allow for individually defined post limits for the restricted forums.

Version 1.9.5:

• Restricted posting message on both the "forum display" and "show thread" pages now displayed both above and below threads/posts.

Version 1.9.6:

• Fixed bug where only last individual forum|restriction was recognized on some servers.

Compatibility:

Tested and working on VB 4.2.x and should work on all 4.x versions of vBulletin.

Backup/Warning:

This product does not alter your database, however it is always good practice to make regular backups and you should make a backup before installing ANY new mod.

As always, products are USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. I will provide support and do my best to help but no absolute guarantee is offered.

To Install:

1. Download and extract the attached .zip file.
2. Follow AdminCP -> Plugins & Products -> Manage Products -> Add/Import Product.
3. Click on "Choose File" and browse to the product .xml file that was packaged in the .zip file.
4. Click "Import."
5. You MUST enable the product in the settings before it will function.
6. Configure the remaining settings to your liking. Each setting has a detailed explanation of its use.

Support for this product can be found here:

• MHB - Restrict Posting By Forum
• TAZ - Restrict Posting By Forum

[akz645]

Originally Posted by akz645

Question:
- If a User's Primary usergroup is [X] and Secondary is [Y]. If usergroup [X] is restricted but usergroup [Y] isn't, the user will not be restricted. Right?

Originally Posted by MarkFL

If you exclude a certain usergroup, then anyone who is a member of that usergroup, whether primary or secondary, will be excluded.

Answer: Yes.
I just tested myself, to make sure there were no bugs.
We just used different terminology, as I don't think Mark felt comfortable answering my Yes/No question, with the terminology I used.
--------------------------------------

Originally Posted by akz645

Question:
- Posting in threads begun by other users only.
Is that settings for both existing & new threads?

Originally Posted by MarkFL

Here's how the "Nature Of Restriction" setting works:

Thanks for that. But you don't actually answer my question.

So, I'll try and do a quick test now to see.
Then I can explain the question to you further with screenshots and whatnot (real/a more specific example).

Edit: My post below should also be helpful to those who can't specifically discern what the functionality of this mod does (assuming your explanation isn't enough).

[akz645]

Example:
AdminCP settings: http://i.imgur.com/51fEQ4Q.png
Users profile settings: http://i.imgur.com/SYRwzpt.png

This is what happens if you try and go beyond the restriction:
http://tinyurl.com/z57568k OR http://tinyurl.com/oj7pegs
Note: Once you're going to hit the limit, this is what appears: http://i.imgur.com/OucPmeE.png
Basically, you must refresh the page if you want to continue to the post.

Originally Posted by MarkFL

• New Threads And Posting In All Existing Threads - A user's posts in all threads in the subforum are counted. If this count is equal to or greater than the maximum allowed, then they will be prevented from posting new threads and replying to all existing threads.

• My test results:
• [2] posts at maximum. You can not do the following after the limit (for [2 mins]):
  A) Replying in existing threads created by yourself.
  B) Replying in existing threads created by others.
  C) Creating new threads. Note: Creating a thread, increases your post count by 1.
  D) Replying in new threads created by yourself.
  E) Replying in new threads created by others.

Originally Posted by MarkFL

• Posting In All Existing Threads Only - A user's posts in all threads in the subforum are counted. If this count is equal to or greater than the maximum allowed, then they will be prevented from replying to all existing threads, but may start new threads.

• My test results:
• [2] posts at maximum. You can not do the following after the limit (for [2 mins]):
  A) Replying in existing threads created by yourself.
  B) Replying in existing threads created by others.
  D) Replying in new threads created by yourself.
  E) Replying in new threads created by others.
  
  What you can do the following after the limit (for [2 mins]):
  C) Creating new threads. Note: Creating a thread, increases your post count by 1.

Originally Posted by MarkFL

• Posting In Threads Begun By Other Users Only - A user's posts in all threads they didn't start in the subforum are counted. If this count is equal to or greater than the maximum allowed, then they will be prevented from replying to all threads they didn't start, but may start new threads..

• My test results:
• [2] posts at maximum. You can not do the following after the limit (for [2 mins]):
  A) Replying in existing threads created by others.
  E) Replying in new threads created by others.
  
  What you can do the following after the limit (for [2 mins]):
  B) Replying in existing threads created by yourself.
  C) Creating new threads. Note: Creating a thread, increases your post count by 1.
  D) Replying in new threads created by yourself.

Originally Posted by MarkFL

• New Threads Only - A user's threads in the subforum are counted. If this count is equal to or greater than the maximum allowed, then they will be prevented from posting new threads but may reply to all existing threads.

• My test results:
• [2] posts at maximum. You can not do the following after the limit (for [2 mins]):
  C) Creating new threads. Note: Creating a thread, increases your post count by 1.
  
  What you can do the following after the limit (for [2 mins]):
  A) Replying in existing threads created by yourself.
  B) Replying in existing threads created by others.
  C) Replying in new threads created by yourself.
  E) Replying in new threads created by others.

@MarkFL
1)
What about not being able to do:
A) Replying in existing threads created by yourself.
B) Replying in existing threads created by others.

But still can do:
C) Creating new threads. Note: Creating a thread, increases your post count by 1.
D) Replying in new threads created by yourself.
E) Replying in new threads created by others.

2)
What about not being able to do:
C) Creating new threads. Note: Creating a thread, increases your post count by 1.
D) Replying in new threads created by yourself.
E) Replying in new threads created by others.

But still can do:
A) Replying in existing threads created by yourself.
B) Replying in existing threads created by others.

^ That's basically the two I was referring to in my question above.
Although now that I've formatted it this way, I realise there are far more variations that can be done than I initially expected.

[MarkFL]

Did you find the product did not behave as I stated? If so, where?

I tested it, and everything seemed to work, but at present I would like to know if there is anything you find not working as I stated. Once I know no one is finding any unexpected behavior (you know, bugs), then I will consider adding other features. But for right now, I have several other things I want to get done first.

[akz645]

Originally Posted by MarkFL

Did you find the product did not behave as I stated? If so, where?

Originally Posted by akz645

Question:
- Posting in threads begun by other users only.
Is that settings for both existing & new threads?

Direct answer to my question:
- Yes, but for replies only.
The term "posting" is too general and therefore can lead to confusion.

These are the 5 conditions:
A) Replying in existing threads created by yourself.
B) Replying in existing threads created by others.
C) Creating new threads. Note: Creating a thread, increases your post count by 1.
D) Replying in new threads created by yourself.
E) Replying in new threads created by others.

Your explanation doesn't specify between all the terms (which my post above should help users with).
Specifically, you don't distinguish between posts as replies or posts as threads.
- Replying in [own/others] [existing/new] thread OR when creating [own thread] (still increases post count).

Originally Posted by akz645

If so, you could add in 2 additional features.
Example:
- Posting in existing & new threads begun by other users only - which you already have called: "Posting in threads begun by other users only".
[1]- Posting in existing threads begun by other users only.
[2]- Posting in new threads begun by other users only.

Originally Posted by akz645

@MarkFL
1)
What about not being able to do:
A) Replying in existing threads created by yourself.
B) Replying in existing threads created by others.

But still can do:
C) Creating new threads. Note: Creating a thread, increases your post count by 1.
D) Replying in new threads created by yourself.
E) Replying in new threads created by others.

2)
What about not being able to do:
C) Creating new threads. Note: Creating a thread, increases your post count by 1.
D) Replying in new threads created by yourself.
E) Replying in new threads created by others.

But still can do:
A) Replying in existing threads created by yourself.
B) Replying in existing threads created by others.

^ That's basically the two I was referring to in my question above.
Although now that I've formatted it this way, I realise there are far more variations that can be done than I initially expected.

Summary:

New Suggestion:

Instead of radio buttons, have each condition as a standalone setting, where users can decide what specifically they want to limit (if any). Example:
- Replying in a existing thread created by yourself? [Enter Post Count Number],[Enter Time Duration Number]
Note: Leave Post Count Number blank to leave it as unlimited/the vBulletin default. Set it to 0 if you want to stop them from posting altogether.
Note 2: Leave Time Duration Number blank to as unlimited/the vBulletin default. Setting to 0 means you don't want any positing restrictions to apply.
- Replying in existing threads created by others? [Enter Post Count Number],[Enter Time Duration Number]
- Creating new threads. [Enter Post Count Number],[Enter Time Duration Number]
Note 3: Creating a thread, increases your post count by 1.
- Replying in new threads created by yourself. [Enter Post Count Number],[Enter Time Duration Number]
- Replying in new threads created by others. [Enter Post Count Number],[Enter Time Duration Number]

Other (3) Suggestions (ignore previous post suggestions):

Originally Posted by akz645

- Exclude Users &/or Usergroups. (Although it would be better if we could also exclude based on each individual setting, and not just globally.)
Note: If added into the other mod/this mod, it should be on a per forum & usergroup basis.

Feature I would like which are in neither Mods at the moment:
B) If possible, allow us to keep on adding as many conditions as we want.
Example: Usergroup [Z] is limited to [1] post every [10] seconds, [2] posts every [25] seconds, [3] posts every [60] seconds ... in [X] forum.
Note: If added into the other mod/this mod, it should be on a per forum & usergroup basis.

Additional feature:
- The error message the user receives, the admin via adminCP should be able to write out (hyperlink, bold, italics & underlining texts should all be allowed).
Example: "Sorry, you must wait longer to begin posting again. Please read this thread to understand why."
^ Perhaps you can make it so, admins can set different messages on a per usergroup & forum basis.

[akz645]

Originally Posted by MarkFL

I tested it, and everything seemed to work, but at present I would like to know if there is anything you find not working as I stated. Once I know no one is finding any unexpected behavior (you know, bugs), then I will consider adding other features. But for right now, I have several other things I want to get done first.

I just discovered a bug right now:

- If you press the backspace/have another tab where you aren't restricted, you can still actually reply/create a new thread.

To prevent this, shouldn't you create your mod like the other mod, so an error appears immediately even if the user hasn't refreshed the page?
Example of a method (which you'd need to code in) when replying in a thread that should solve this bug:

Example of a method (which you'd need to code in) when creating a thread that should solve this bug:


P.S:
My post here is long, because it's mostly to help avoid confusion.
Not just for you to understand me, but for others to understand all your settings better.

[jagtpf]

Originally Posted by MarkFL

Do you mean a restriction on creating new threads only, while allowing posting to existing threads unrestricted?

I will soon add a setting whereby the admin can choose the unit of time (seconds, minutes, hours and days) for the restriction.

My apologies for missing this - all vbulletin.org notifications were flying into our spam box!

Yes. The restriction on creating New Threads - whilst leaving posts/replies as unlimited.

[jagtpf]

I'll download and have a look at this Mark - many thanks for all your work.

One issue I can see is that the restriction can only be set for 1 usergroup? (unless I've read incorrectly).
In other words would it be possible for usergroup A to be restricted to 2 new threads, whilst usergroup X is restricted to 3 .... still allowing no restriction for Staff etc...

Brilliant work, though. Again many thanks.

[MarkFL]

Originally Posted by jagtpf

I'll download and have a look at this Mark - many thanks for all your work.

One issue I can see is that the restriction can only be set for 1 usergroup? (unless I've read incorrectly).
In other words would it be possible for usergroup A to be restricted to 2 new threads, whilst usergroup X is restricted to 3 .... still allowing no restriction for Staff etc...

Brilliant work, though. Again many thanks.

As of now, the restriction is the same number of posts for all usergroups included in the restriction.

[akz645]

Originally Posted by MarkFL

Did you find the product did not behave as I stated? If so, where?

I tested it, and everything seemed to work, but at present I would like to know if there is anything you find not working as I stated. Once I know no one is finding any unexpected behavior (you know, bugs),

Originally Posted by akz645

I just discovered a bug right now:

- If you press the backspace/have another tab where you aren't restricted, you can still actually reply/create a new thread.

What about that Bug.

You never replied back to me, or checked my PM...

[MarkFL]

Originally Posted by akz645

What about that Bug.

You never replied back to me, or checked my PM...

I do plan to investigate this soon...however, I have been receiving many PMs from users for help with their sites (on which I place a high priority) and working on other projects too.

I appreciate your feedback, and I apologize for not responding to your PM to at least let you know I will do my best to address the issue you found with this product. I also plan to allow for more extensive definitions of restrictions, on a per forum/per usergroup/per user basis.