New Posting Features - Global Threads: The Next Generation for VB4 by BOP5

Brought to you by BirdOPrey5
www.Qapla.com

Version 1.0 - Initial Release
Version: 1.01 - Permissions for Administrators and Super-Mods now work with primary or secondary usergroups.
Version: 1.02 - Added logging actions to moderator logs.
Version: 1.03 - Documentation update only, to be consistent with Gold version.
Version 1.1 - Bug-fix for mod log. Added new option to disable checkbox on new posts.

This mod was inspired by an earlier Global Thread mod I received permission from randominity to update. It is free and is still available here.

That mod however was a port from a VB 3.6 version and was not optimized for VB 4.x. It included a somewhat complicated system of having to make a separate hidden forum for holding the global threads.

My solution was to create a new Global Threads mod, coded from scratch, designed especially for vBulletin 4.x. Therefore I have named this mod, Global Threads: The Next Generation.

This mod is NOT an upgrade from the old mod. You should uninstall the old mod if you will be using this one.

The purpose of this mod is to let an Admin or Super-Mod designate a thread to be a "Global Thread." Global Threads become listed in every forum. A sticky global thread will be sticky in all forums. Non-sticky global threads behave like any other thread, simply visible in every forum.

Clicking on a global thread will open the thread in the forum it is "native" to. An optional message will be displayed in the thread to alert users they are in a global thread.

There is an optional "globe" icon and thread prefix ( Global: ) that can be turned on and off as well as further ways to distinguish global threads from normal threads.

See a Live Demo:

Here is a Global Thread at Qapla.com
You will see it listed in the Demo forum.
But it's also visible in the News & Announcements forum
And in the Talk forum.

In fact it is in a number of Qapla.com forums if you care to look.

This is the free version. The Gold version is available at Qapla.com.

The GOLD version has all the features of the FREE version but 2 additional options:
1) You may choose specific users (by userid) to give Make Global Thread permissions.
2) You may select or restrict Global Threads to specific forums.


This mod is fully phrased for easy translation.

This mod was designed to run on VB 4.1.10 and above. Older versions may require some manual template edits (instructions included.) I have not tested this mod on any version below 4.0.8.

Instructions:

If you want to convert an existing thread to a "Global Thread" open the thread in your browser.

Go to the "Administrative" drop down menu at the top of the thresd.

Click on the option to "Make Thread Global" and click on "Proceed.:"

The thread will be made global and you will be returned to the thread.

To undo a global thread go to the same menu and choose the option "Undo Global Thread."


If you are creating a new thread or replying to an existing thread (using Advanced Reply) then you can make the thread global in one step.

Before submitting your message scroll down to "After you submit your message..." and the top option should be "Make Thread Global"

Check this box before submitting the message to make the thread a Global Thread.

If it's already a Global Thread then simply uncheck the box "Keep Threas Global" to undo the global status after submitting the message.

Note: This option is available only to Admins and Super-mods. Normal users never see the "Moderation Options" menu.

Please Mark as Installed if you use this.
Donations Always Appreciated. :up:

[John Lester]

Originally Posted by John Lester

Joe I have a suggestion / request for an additional feature. I would love to see a selection of expiration times for the global threads. For example I'd love to be able to put a 1 week, 2 week, 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, or never expiration date on the thread so when the thread expires it turns into a normal thread in the forum it was posted in.

Since I saw your latest reply I figured I'd give this idea another bump

[John Lester]

Originally Posted by John Lester

Joe I have a suggestion / request for an additional feature. I would love to see a selection of expiration times for the global threads. For example I'd love to be able to put a 1 week, 2 week, 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, or never expiration date on the thread so when the thread expires it turns into a normal thread in the forum it was posted in.

bump bump

[BirdOPrey5]

I've noted the suggestion. It would be a significant change, I don't foresee it happening anytime soon I'm afraid. Thank you for the suggestion though.

[John Lester]

Awww bummer

[broncoshq]

Hello, I am a super moderator on a forum where this mod is installed, and it used to work for me, but for some reason, I don't get the choice to create or disable a global thread anymore (this may have been so for a while, as we don't use the feature very often), while other mods (some will less permissions than I) still have this option.

What should I look for?

[ForceHSS]

Maybe the admin removed it from you

[broncoshq]

Originally Posted by ForceHSS

Maybe the admin removed it from you

If by admin, you mean the owner, I asked, and he didn't... at least not on purpose.

I do have full admin rights btw, and I can actually edit the mod's settings via the admin CP, but for some weird reason, cannot access the mod in the normal forum interface...

Is there a place where this mod can be turned on/off for a single moderator?

[BirdOPrey5]

No settings on a per-moderator basis. The paid version can give permissions per user but only give permissions, not take away. If the usergroup is supposed to have it, it should show.

Is it possible you are using a different style than the other moderators?

If you have "Admin Access" (access to the Admin CP) that would generally make you an Admin- I'm a bit confused why you would say you're a super-moderator if you're an admin? I know it doesn't directly have anything to do with the Global Thread issue but I often find things I thought had no relation sometimes turn out to be related all along and maybe the explanation would help me understand what is going on?

[broncoshq]

Originally Posted by BirdOPrey5

No settings on a per-moderator basis. The paid version can give permissions per user but only give permissions, not take away. If the usergroup is supposed to have it, it should show.

Is it possible you are using a different style than the other moderators?

If you have "Admin Access" (access to the Admin CP) that would generally make you an Admin- I'm a bit confused why you would say you're a super-moderator if you're an admin? I know it doesn't directly have anything to do with the Global Thread issue but I often find things I thought had no relation sometimes turn out to be related all along and maybe the explanation would help me understand what is going on?

Sorry, I shouldn't have messed the terminology. I am an admin.

We found the issue. It's related to me being assigned to a custom user group, although this user group should theoretically have the same permission settings as the "default" admin one, yet it won't let me use global threads.
I wasn't able to find a parameter in the user group which could be responsible for this, so I assume something went wrong when the group was created in the first place...

[BirdOPrey5]

If it is a different usergroup id (Admin usergroup is id 6) then it isn't going to get permissions this mod gives to the administrator group. Basically when it says Administrators it means anyone who has Usergroup 6 as a primary or secondary usergroup.