Selective Forum Filter

I no longer support my hacks. Please feel free to update them and release new versions elsewhere as long as I get the credit for the original modification.

/*================================================= =====================*\
|| Selective Forum Filter
||
|| Author : Anton Kanevsky
|| Co-Author(s) : Andreas
|| Works on : vBulletin 3.5.x - 3.8.x
|| Released : May 31, 2009
||
|| Time required to install: 30 seconds
|| Difficulty: easy
\*================================================ ======================*/

DESCRIPTION

Ever came across large boards with a huge number of sub forums? Couldn't find your info? Wanted to run away from that huge load of stupid threads? This hack is intended to save your users from having such a horrible experience. It provides them with an opportunity to exclude any number of forums from the forums list (as well as from "get new"/"get daily" searches), which still letting them to access those forums directly and search within them, too.

STATISTICS

Products to Install: 1


INTRODUCTION

To enable "can be excluded" in all forums, run this query:
UPDATE PFXforum SET excludable = 1
To disable "can be excluded" in all forums, run this query:
UPDATE PFXforum SET excludable = 0
In both cases, PFX must be replaced with the actual table prefix that you have defined in config.php.
If you have not defined a prefix, remove PFX from the queries.
After you run either one of these queries, you must then open and save any one forum for the forum cache to be updated.

VERSION HISTORY

1.1.0
[+] The hack is now compatible with vBulletin 3.5.x - 3.8.x.
[+] Eliminated all template edits.

1.0.2
[+] The hack is now compatible with vBulletin 3.6.
[+] Corrected a couple of mistakes in the installation manual.

1.0.1
[+] Added option to set forums as excludable. By default, excludability of all forums is disabled.

1.0.0
First Public Release

The installation manual is contained within the attached file.

IF YOU LIKE MY HACK, PLEASE CLICK INSTALL

[Insert Username]

I'm running into a problem here. I updated the template. I imported the product. I ran the query and set all forums as excludable. I even confirmed in the DB that the 'excludable' field for each forum was set to '1'.

When I go to the options in the user cp, I see the excludable section at the bottom, but none of the forums are showing up.

Any ideas?

[akanevsky]

Originally Posted by Insert Username

I'm running into a problem here. I updated the template. I imported the product. I ran the query and set all forums as excludable. I even confirmed in the DB that the 'excludable' field for each forum was set to '1'.

When I go to the options in the user cp, I see the excludable section at the bottom, but none of the forums are showing up.

Any ideas?

Try saving at least one forum via admincp forum manager. It rebuilds the forum cache.

[Insert Username]

Originally Posted by Psionic Vision

Try saving at least one forum via admincp forum manager. It rebuilds the forum cache.

Perfect! Thanks.

[otstrel]

I would strongly recommend changing the type of field in database from varchar(255) to mediumtext.
Some users are clicking through every forum they don't want to see instead of selecting only categories and they end up with huge list of forumids which simply do not fit in varchar(255).

[sickboy6ths]

Nevermind this post...

[kofoid]

anyone know what's up with 3.5.4? I can't see it in my user options either. Just installed for the 1st time today

[akanevsky]

Originally Posted by kofoid

anyone know what's up with 3.5.4? I can't see it in my user options either. Just installed for the 1st time today

Please read the first post. Thanks.

[kofoid]

Hi again. OK I am slow, blond and apparently blind. I don't see what you are referring to in the 1st post other than it was created for 3.5.4. Sooo any idea why I can't see it in my memberoptions?

[akanevsky]

Originally Posted by kofoid

Hi again. OK I am slow, blond and apparently blind. I don't see what you are referring to in the 1st post other than it was created for 3.5.4. Sooo any idea why I can't see it in my memberoptions?

Please read the introduction section of the first post.

[Deimos]

Can't seem to get this working properly on VB 3.6.4

SOME of the categories/forums show up, but not all of them
I ran that sql query in the first post, but that hasn't helped

Any suggestions?