Advanced Warning System (AWS)

Advanced Warning System Version 3.5.0

The AWS version for vB 3.5 has been released. You can download it and get support in this thread:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?p=770032


Advanced Warning System Version 3.4.16 (latest stable release for vB 3.0.x)


LATEST ANNOUNCEMENT

The AWS has its own Premium Forum here at vBulletin.org, so please use that for questions and discussion on this hack.

The Permium Forum is located at :

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/forumdisplay.php?f=105





This Warning System owes its existence to Zero Tolerance's Warning Hack (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=65336). I liked the idea, so I installed Zero's hack in my forums site. However, as in most cases, I was not fully satisfied with the way it worked, so I started customizing it. Other people in the thread above, asked questions, which I had already answered by my customizing work, so I answered, giving away those parts of the code, that I had modified.

In the long run, I almost hijacked the thread and the hack from Zero, so I guess I owe him an apology. However, the mods I did have compiled a new, more complete warning system, with much more functionality. Several members from that thread, asked if this could be released as a new hack, so after discussing it with Zero, here it is.

What it does? Well, it is a Warning System, which means it allows you (the administrative team of your site, in other words the admins, the supermods and the mods), to define offences, which the members of your forum should NOT commit. But as we all know, there are instances where members do not follow the rules. In that case, this warning system, allows you to issue a warning to the member who commited the offence. The warning has some points associated with it, as well as a period over which it is valid. When a member gathers enough points, he is banned from your forums, for a predefined period of time. That's mostly it, but below, you can find a short list of features:

Full warning system with:

- post- and non-post-related warnings
- hierarchical warning schema
- hidden or real warners
- customizable maximum warning points
- automatically bans members who reached the maximum warning points
- customizable ban days
- customizable ban user group and permanent ban user group
- customizable restore user group, where users are restored after they get unbanned
- customizable option for who can see the warning level of the members
- automatically issued warnings for posts which contain censored words
- automatically issued warnings for private messages which contain censored words
- supports incremental banning periods
- supports multiple warnings for the same post
- warned members are notified either by Private Message or e-mail when they are warned and when one of the warnings they have received is either deleted or expired
- maintains historical listings of issued warnings (even if deleted or expired)
- customizable warning types
- each warning type has predefined warning points associated with it
- each warning type has predefined maturity period, after which it is automatically deleted
- reports for admin, mods and members
- cron job included to automatically remove matured warnings
- uses vBulletin's cron job, to automatically unban banned users
- all options are setable in your AdminCP
- user warning points and number of bans viewable in your AdminCP User Manager.
- statistics show warning per type, warnings per warner, bans per user.
- Allows you to warn a user from your AdminCP/User Manager.
- Large "Warn" sign, in posts which have received a warning, for mods, supermods and admins, to easily distinguish those posts.
- Ability to remove user's avatar, signature or usage of the Private Messaging system, depending on the warning points he has collected.
- Supports non-standard admins, supermods and mods user groups.
- Allows you to save a copy of the warning send to the warned user, in a predefined forum.
- Allows you to issue "Alerts" (warnings without warning points, for first-time offenders)
- Allows you to add private or public notes for a user, either post-specific or not. Notes appear in the postbit, above each user's message.
- etc.

Admitedly, this is not an easy hack to install. It requires 20 new templates and modifications to some existing ones too. It requires five new tables and modifications to some others. It requires several new phrases. I've tried to make the installation, as easy as I could, by automating certain tasks in an automatic installer. The installer will add the new templates for you, add the new tables required and change the existing ones, and will add the required new phrases. You will have to manually edit the existing templates and the php files though. I also included an upgrade script, which will upgrade those who are using Zero Tolerance's warning hack (version 1.5) to this one. An uninstaller is also included, which removes what the installer installs.

Please keep in mind, that this is a very difficult hack to install. For this reason, I strongly recommend that you back up your database before starting the installation. I also suggest that you keep copies of each file and template you edit, so that you can always revert to a previous stable condition. Finally, I strongly suggest that you always run the latest release.

The zip file always contains both the instructions and the files required to install the latest version. If you have installed a previous version and want to upgrade to the latest, there is a text file attached, in the zip with upgrade instructions. Follow them.

In this thread, you will also find a more detailed document describing the features of this hack, as well as a document describing its version evolution.

Also keep in mind that the installer, will add the AWS templates only to your default style. If you want to use them in another one, you may try this Zero Tolerance's hack, which copies the templates to other styles you may have.

Another thing, the installation instructions were written when vB was at release 3.0.3, so you may expect to find some differences, with the latest files and templates. As far as I can tell, I haven't faced any such case, but I post this reservation here, since I do not have the time to recheck all the instructions for compliance with the latest vB release. The hack has been installed and is working fine with the vBulletin version shown at the top of this thread.

Finally, if you are using more than one style, the installer will install the templates only in the default one. If you want to use the rest of your styles, here is a hack, that will do this for you.

This hack can also be integrated with Zero Tolerance's vBChat. However, since I am using a heavily-modified version of vBChat, I haven't included instructions, on how to patch the original vBChat files, in the documentation. If you are interested in having AWS issue automatic warnings when one of your user enters a censored word in a vBChat message, or if you want your moderators to be able to warn a user, who misbehaves in vBChat, please post a thread in this forum and I'll help you through.

This is my first officially released hack, so please don't be to harsh with me, if I broke any rules or made any mistakes. The mods have been tested extensively, both by me and two volunteers (thank you gentlemen), but I am only human.

Closing, let me thank Zero Tolerance, who got me started in this, and who owns a big part of the code of this hack. I definnitely couldn't have done it, without his code.

Special Note
For those who upgrade from Zero Tolerance's hack to my AWS, even though I have included a script which will do some of the work automatically, not everything is done by that script. Read the installation instructions carefully. You have to run the upgrade script first and then do several things manually. If you just run the upgrade script and just upload the files, the AWS will not work properly. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to post here.

Also, let me add here, that version 3.3.0 wouldn't have been possible without the contribution of Revan.

And a couple of warnings:

PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE LATEST ZIP FILE FROM HERE, BEFORE YOU START INSTALLING THIS HACK. JUST BECAUSE YOU DOWNLOADED IT A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, THAT DOES NOT MEAN IT IS THE LATEST VERSION. MAKE SURE YOU DOWNLOAD THE ZIP, JUST BEFORE YOU START INSTALLING THIS HACK.


LATEST VERSION

Version 3.4.16 (released Thursday August 25th, 2005 GMT 18:18)

A couple of bugs fixed in this version. One is related to the Notes feature, and it allowed plain users to see the notes entered, if the "Who can view warning points" setting was set to "All".

Features.txt a new version of this file has been uploaded on April 4th2 005 GMT 09:30, which covers the latest additions to the hack. The original Features.txt file hasn't been updated since the first release of this hack, so it was time for an update.

John

[sv1cec]

Folks,

A few words about Version 2.0, to open your appetite.

As it is running on my forums now, it is catching words, which are in the censored words list of vBulletin, and it issues automatic warnings to the poster. The censored words are trapped in the following instances:

1. When you create a new thread.
2. When you reply to a post in a thread.
3. When you edit a post you have submitted before.
4. When you send a Private Message.

This is done for both the titles and the text of the posts.

All this is fine and nice, but there are some issues. For example, let's suppose you implement that system and a member posts some nusty words in one of his posts. The warning is issued, however, the original text, before being censored is nowhere to be found, vBulletin does not store it. It just replaces the letters in the bad words with a predefined character, so you end up with a post like "You are an *******". So? If the poster protests, how do you prove him he has actually typed a censored word?

The things get worst in Private Messages. The PMs are stored in the database, and the admin can read them, but again, they are stored with *****. Now, if it's not easy to tell a member that he was warned because he posted a public post, with obsceneties, how will you convince him that his PM (which goes from one member to the other) was obscene?

So, I am thinking if this feature should be released at all. I can always add one option for post-related automatic warnings, and another for PM-related ones, so the admin can select which one he would implement. Would that be satisfactory?

Also shall I add this automatic warning thing, in e-mails (the Contact Us form)?

Your opinion will be greatly appreciated, so please do not hesitate to comment.

As for the suggestion to warn users who post in old threads, I think this is a ... whole project by itself. My original idea, was that an admin would be able to select from a list of automatic warnings, which one he want to use. However, the changes required in the code, make such an effort totally impossible. Imagine that different code is required to trap the censored words in the edit post, than in the new post and totally different in the PM. So, I guess this is not something you will see in the immediate future.

However, keep those ideas coming, something good (and relatively easy) could come up.

And now the funny thing, yesterday evening my system warned several members of my forum, with no reason. Why? Because in the code, the routine which traps the censored words, is sometimes combined with other routines. In my infinite wisdom, when I was comparing the original message with the final one, I didn't do that at the censor routine only, so almost all the PMs that were send last night, got a warning. Say frustrated users again??? LoL

I am listening folks, keep those ideas coming.

----------

John

[ptenthus]

Originally Posted by sv1cec

Show me that area of the file, there is no ']' in that line. Show me a few lines before and a few after. Maybe you erased something more than just the quotes.

Rgds

Doh, never mind...found the problem. the " should be not removed, but moved to the end of the line just before the ; (second install[] line)...

Now it runs just fine.

Was:

PHP Code:

$install[]="alter table ".TABLE_PREFIX."warnings
add `warned_status` char(1), add `removed_by` int(15), add `removed_date` int(15)";

 $install[]="alter table ".TABLE_PREFIX."user add `warning_bans` int(2), add `warnings` int(5);

$install[]="alter table ".TABLE_PREFIX."warning_types add `warn_maturity` int(5), add `warn_permban` char(3), add `warn_type` char(3)"; 


Second line should be:

PHP Code:

 $install[]="alter table ".TABLE_PREFIX."user add `warning_bans` int(2), add `warnings` int(5)"; 


[sv1cec]

Originally Posted by ptenthus

Doh, never mind...found the problem. the " should be not removed, but moved to the end of the line just before the ; (second install[] line)...

Now it runs just fine.

Was:

PHP Code:

$install[]="alter table ".TABLE_PREFIX."warnings
add `warned_status` char(1), add `removed_by` int(15), add `removed_date` int(15)";

 $install[]="alter table ".TABLE_PREFIX."user add `warning_bans` int(2), add `warnings` int(5);

$install[]="alter table ".TABLE_PREFIX."warning_types add `warn_maturity` int(5), add `warn_permban` char(3), add `warn_type` char(3)"; 


Second line should be:

PHP Code:

 $install[]="alter table ".TABLE_PREFIX."user add `warning_bans` int(2), add `warnings` int(5)"; 


Glad you have it working.

Rgds

[Torqued]

Originally Posted by sv1cec

Oooops,

This thing is getting too complicated. It's impossible to test every combination!!


Sorry!!!

That fixed it. Thanks!

It's not impossible to test all combinations, it's just tedious. Thanks again for your work on this!

[Shack Networks]

Lo M8

First of all thanks for the response, A lesser man would of told me to shut up lol

Anyhow

I dont think PM should be included in the warning system as TBH what people do between themselves is non of my concern as if it does get out of hand I am sure the person on the recieving end would make a complaint.

As for the open forums, that is the bit I would want to concentrate on as in the past people have found it fun to post links to sites that do nothing more than add hundreds of pops up boxes etc, and no matter how many times you tell them to use a pop up blocker none of them actualy listen lol

I also want to use it to filter out links to sites containing Warez or serials and keygens etc so that they can not post links to them and if they do so they will receive a warning. I am sure my site is not the first or the last to be plagued by this problem and in the past I have seen several hosting companys take sites down as the staff have failed to spot links to warez etc.

Like you said when it comes to PM's it is very dodgy ground as the very description of the system contains the word PRIVATE and thats how I think they should remain.

Thanks for all the hard work you have put in on this and I am only to greatfull of anything that helps to make this hack better than it already is.

Small Ideas make Big Hacks.

[rh2004]

Hello, I receive this error when I click confirm of warning a user, it does
warn and email out the user I just seem to get this for some reason the Warn.php file is in place and all the others any ideas what it is... It is a
brand new board...

Database error in vBulletin 3.0.3:

Invalid SQL: 
		            INSERT INTO userban
		            (userid, usergroupid, displaygroupid, customtitle, usertitle, adminid, bandate, liftdate)
		            VALUES
		            (1260, 7, 0, 0, '', 1, 1101849704, 1102454504)
		            // (1260, 7, 0, 0, '', 1, 1101849704, 1102454504)
		        
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 '// (1260, 7, 0, 0, '', 1, 1101849704, 1102454504)' at line 5

mysql error number: 1064

Date: Tuesday 30th of November 2004 04:21:44 PM
Script: http://www.domain.com/community/Warn.php
Referer: http://www.domain.com/community/Warn.php?do=WarnUser&id=1260&post=88319
Username: admin
IP Address: --

[chris2707]

Since the error is caused by a duplicated section that's been commented out, I'd just delete this:

// (1260, 7, 0, 0, '', 1, 1101849704, 1102454504)

[rh2004]

How do I delete that .... :squareeyed:

[sv1cec]

Originally Posted by rh2004

How do I delete that .... :squareeyed:

Find that query in the Warn.php file and replace the whole thing with :

PHP Code:

                $DB_site->query("
                    INSERT INTO " . TABLE_PREFIX . "userban
                    (userid, usergroupid, displaygroupid, customtitle, usertitle, adminid, bandate, liftdate)
                    VALUES
                    ($user[userid], $group, $user[displaygroupid], $user[customtitle], '" . addslashes($user['usertitle']) . "', $bbuserinfo[userid], " . TIMENOW . ", $liftdate)"); 


If you do not know how to delete the commented part, just download the new zip file and upload the Warn.php file.

Guys, I still do not receive e-mail from this thread. What's wrong here?

Rgds

[rh2004]

Thanks for the above it worked code change

Can smeone tell me how I add this to satellite template which I brought because in
the templates theme I can't find any of the text where I need to add this new text after....