[HTL] & [Normal] Private threads

Tested with 3.0.1

This hack lets you have private threads. A private thread is either:
* A thread where only some selected users can post
* A thread where some some selected users cannot post, everybody else can

With this regular users can protect their threads from regular spammers, it is useful for a roleplaying game, for a semi-private conversation (everybody can read, only some users can post), if you wanted to have a semi-private conversation with 5 people that is not possible in private messages, but a private thread would do.

The hack works:

When you create a thread you will be given the option for the thread to be private. If the thread is private you need to specify:

To allow some users or to deny some users (not both!)

Everybody can see the thread but when they try to answer they must have the proper permissions, otherwise a "this is a private thread" message would be shown to them.

After the thread is posted you can go to the "edit thread" screen and change which users can see the thread and its general behaviour, you can either make it public again or make a public thread now private. This is done by whoever has access to the edit thread tool.

I am not planning to release a "completely private" thread hack, if you don't want anybody to see the thread or to post in it just use a private forum I think only not being able to post is enough functionality (at least for me!).



Please take in consideration this hack only runs with php version > 4.1.0

Info for hackers:
You may modify, improve, upgrade, redistribute this hack, include it
in another hack or yours or translate it provided you do it free of
charge and you distribute it in www.vbulletin.org at least, there is no
need to pm me asking for permission
Some portions of the code are (c) Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

[Princeton]

this hack is only good if the "privateusers" are aware that there is a thread awaiting them ...
the ability to notify the "privateusers" upon submitting new thread would take this hack to the next level

just my .02¢
Other than the above, I think this is a great hack.

[Kentaurus]

Updated the hack to make it work with RC4. It is not longer compatible with any version < RC4 since some vbulletin code is in different place.

[The General]

Originally Posted by Kentaurus

I am not planning to release a "completely private" thread hack, if you don't want anybody to see the thread or to post in it just use a private forum

Too bad, because that's exactly what I need.

[Lionel]

Very nice hack. It works as described. Only one major glitch: How do you prevent people from seeing it thru the archives?

[rnmcd]

This is sooo awesome it could take the place of the unruly Private Messaging system.

[Dreiko]

Yep, I'm waiting for someone to port this to 3.5.x

[vau7]

Oh yes, me too. Thought there would be already the hack for 3.5

[joefitz]

I'm almost ready for beta release with my update although it does have some differences from this mod. It is 3.5.3 ready and is configured as a product although there is one manual file change required that I haven't been able to figure out a good workaround for...

The system is not based on this code although I'm sure it bears some resemblence in certain areas. The main differences between my hack and this one are:

1) mine supports completely private threads
2) mine does not support denying certain members the ability to access/post to the thread

I may develop the latter feature at some point but I don't have it as a need at the moment. It is pretty cool using the Ajax name completion stuff that vB has built-in now! Anyway, I'm going to start a new thread for the beta once it is ready, hopefully on Friday.