Miscellaneous Hacks - SocialForums for vB3.8

SocialForums for vBulletin 3.8

Created by Marius Czyz aka Phalynx.

This mod will work *ONLY* with vBulletin 3.8 or higher. It will not run on vBulletin 3.7. Please use the version for vBulletin 3.7

Support will be only given for people who clicked Mark as INSTALLED.

Description
Not satisfied with vBulletin social groups messaging function? With SocialForums your social group leaders can create a standard forum for their group.
A group leader can only create a forum if the group has at least 5 members - this can be changed via settings. Optionally the group leader can be a moderator of such a social forum.

What about old discussions?
Via AdminCP, SocialForums, you can transfer all discussions and messages to a new forum. No post would be lost.

Permissions
There are advanced permissions (Forum and Archive). This includes read/write public and private (moderated/invite only) socialforums and creation of forum. As this needs two additional queries on every page you can disable this.

Demo
None, see screenshots

Installation
This product is fully phrased and uses template hooks. No file changes or manual template edits needed.
1. Upload bitfield_socialforums.xml to existing folder /includes/xml/
2. Upload functions_socialforums.php to existing folder /includes/
3. Fresh Installation: Just import the product. Upgrade: Import the product, allow overwrite. No forums get lost!
4. Check settings, especially for parent forum. Don't forget to set permissions via usergroups!

Troubleshooting
Q: I don't see a link to create a forum. Why?
A: Check permissions for the usergroup, espacially if the user is allowed to create forum.
A: Check if the usergroup meet min users requirement, see AdminCP/Settings/SocialForums.

Q: My users see the forums, but they shouldn't!
A: Check permissions for the usergroup, if the users usergroup is set to "can see".
A: Did you disabled the restriction mode? Enable it.

Todo
- By deleting a group the forum should also be deleted/archived. Currently this has to be done manually.

Known Issues
- On big boards with hundreds of social groups this mod can really impact the performance because of the mass of new created forums. If you still want to use this mod use the "Minimum Members" feature with a higher value. Using the permission check there are additional two queries on every page.
- With activated option to add owner as a moderator the transfering leads to removing all moderators of the linked forum

History
2.1.0, 11th August 2009
- Social Groups without a forum are listed in AdminCP and can be automatically converted with few clicks.
- Fixed errors converting bigger discussions
- Minor changes and fixes

2.0.1, 05th March 2009
- Convert ignores now deleted discussions
- Threads on Groups equipped with mark on new

2.0.0
- First official release for vBulletin 3.8
- Possibility to transfer Social Group Discussion into a real Forum
- New layout for threadlisting, similar to a real threadlist in a forum
- Possibility of a notice in Forums associated with a Social Group
- Discussion/Message counter is showing Thread/Reply counts. Phrase "Discussion" and "Message" cannot be changed to "Thread"/"Reply".
- Transfering a Group to another user updates now also the moderator
- Minor changes and fixes

[Mum]

Originally Posted by Mum

I am running 3.8.1. I have uploaded it. Check my permissions for admin group, and have the ability to create forums. I still can't see the link to create a forum. I have create the home forum, and there is more than enough members in the group. What else can i check?

Have now marked as installed - thought wasted several days now as had thought you would support someone TRYING to install it. It's not really installed and useful at this stage as not working.

*sigh*

[Phalynx]

Your "error" description did not sounded like you need help installing. You need help by using this mod, and that's a big difference. Yes, you wasted time... by doing exactly what? Waiting for an answer? I wrote you already what you need to do.

Why I have to discuss with you to get you to click a link? You are getting a FREE modification with FREE support. All I want is just one click. It's my time that I'm investing here. If you don't like this product, uninstall it and get happy. If you like it, click install and I will help you.

If you still need assistance regarding this, please provide me an temporary admin account so I can look.

[Mum]

Thanks anyway

[djilou]

Moderators and Global moderator can see private forums trough the archives, along with all the topics in that forum even if they have not the permissions to read/write on private forum.

They can not read the topic but display all topic titles in that forum.

Forum isn't visible for members.

[djilou]

Originally Posted by djilou

Moderators and Global moderator can see private forums trough the archives, along with all the topics in that forum even if they have not the permissions to read/write on private forum.

They can not read the topic but display all topic titles in that forum.

Forum isn't visible for members.

Any fix for this?

[Phalynx]

I cannot confirm this.

[FreewayOrange]

I'm kinda confused. I'm currently running 3.7.6 with Social Groups 1.4. I'm going to upgrade to 3.8 soon, but you're saying 2.0 doesn't work in 3.7.x so I can't upgrade it to 2.0. And I assume 1.4 doesnt work in 3.8 which means I cant switch to 3.8 as well... How do I need to upgrade?

[Phalynx]

Just upgrade to 3.8 and after that to SF 2.0
You have after upgrading to 3.8 no option to create a forum, but existing forums are not beeing touched. With SF 2.0 you will have the option to create a forum.

[FreewayOrange]

Originally Posted by Phalynx

Just upgrade to 3.8 and after that to SF 2.0
You have after upgrading to 3.8 no option to create a forum, but existing forums are not beeing touched. With SF 2.0 you will have the option to create a forum.

Thanks for the information I'll upgrade it asap.

[punchbowl]

I have a socialforum that I want to move out of socialforums and no longer be subject to social group permission/membership. I want it to be subject to standard group permissions. Should I move it out of the socialforums and then abandon the social group?

I don't want to lose anything.

tia