vB Mail Reply

vB Email Reply 0.7BETA


What it does:
This allows your members (and you of course) to reply to threads by email. All they have to do is wirte to a specific email address (that you specify) and include a special code in the email subject.

How it works:
A script (vbemailreply.php) is run using the vB3 Cronsystem every minute. This checks a pop3 or imap account for emails and then processes these emails, inserting the data into the database. Then a reply is sent to the sender, stating that either the post/thread got entered correctly or that there was some kind of error.

Is it complicated?
Actually no. There is an install script that does most of the work as well as two small file changes. If you do have problems installing it, contact me for help.

Changes:
New files (2):
/includes/cron/vbmailreply.php
/includes/mimeDecode.php

Changed files(1):
/includes/functions_newpost.php

New database fields/tables(1):
New userfield added by installscript

New templates(0):

Changed templates(0):

New phrases(3):
emailreplyerror
emailreplydone
emailnewthreaddone

Changed phrases(1):
notify

Screenshots:
none

Credits:
The idea and small parts of the script are based on Chen 'FireFly' Avinadav's Email posts into forum hack, found here: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...threadid=40595

Instructions:

• Backup all your files as well as your database.
  For help backing up your database, look here: http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/m...atabase_backup
• Upload vbmailreply.php to your /includes/cron/ folder
• Upload mimeDecode.php to your /includes/ folder
• Open the file /includes/functions_newpost.php in your favourite PHP editing program.

• FIND (around line 196):
   
  $post['poststarttime'] = trim($post['poststarttime']);
   
  ADD BELOW:
   
  if ($post['isemail']) { $bbuserinfo = $post['userinfo']; }
   
   
  FIND (around line 273):
   
  if ($vboptions['logip'])
   
  REPLACE WITH:
   
  if ($vboptions['logip'] AND !$post['isemail'])
   
   
  FIND (around line 321):
   
  if ($prevpostfound)
  {
   
  ADD BELOW:
   
  if ($post['isemail'])
  {
  return ('dupepost');
  }
  else
  {
   
   
  FIND:
   
  }
  else
  {
  if ($parentid == 0 AND $type != 'thread')
   
  REPLACE WITH:
   
  }
  }
  if (!$prevpostfound)
  {
  if ($parentid == 0 AND $type != 'thread')
   
   
  FIND:
   
  	$useremails = $DB_site->query("
  		SELECT user.*, subscribethread.emailupdate
  		FROM " . TABLE_PREFIX . "subscribethread AS subscribethread, " . TABLE_PREFIX . "user AS user
  		LEFT JOIN " . TABLE_PREFIX . "usergroup AS usergroup ON (usergroup.usergroupid = user.usergroupid)
  		WHERE subscribethread.threadid = $threadid AND
  			subscribethread.emailupdate IN (1, 4) AND
  			subscribethread.userid = user.userid AND
  			user.usergroupid <> 3 AND
  			user.userid <> " . intval($userid) . " AND
  			user.lastactivity > " . intval($lastposttime['dateline']) . " AND
  			(usergroup.genericoptions & " . ISBANNEDGROUP . ") = 0
  	");
   
  REPLACE WITH:
   
  	$useremails = $DB_site->query("
  		SELECT user.*, userfield.*, subscribethread.emailupdate
  		FROM " . TABLE_PREFIX . "subscribethread AS subscribethread, " . TABLE_PREFIX . "user AS user
  		LEFT JOIN " . TABLE_PREFIX . "userfield AS userfield ON (userfield.userid = user.userid)
  		LEFT JOIN " . TABLE_PREFIX . "usergroup AS usergroup ON (usergroup.usergroupid = user.usergroupid)
  		WHERE subscribethread.threadid = $threadid AND
  			subscribethread.emailupdate IN (1, 4) AND
  			subscribethread.userid = user.userid AND
  			user.usergroupid <> 3 AND
  			user.userid <> " . intval($userid) . " AND
  			user.lastactivity > " . intval($lastposttime['dateline']) . " AND
  			(usergroup.genericoptions & " . ISBANNEDGROUP . ") = 0
  	");
   
   
  FIND:
   
  $evalemail["$languageid"] = '$message = "' . str_replace("\\'", "'", addslashes(iif(empty($email_text[PHRASETYPEID_MAILMSG]), $emails['-1'][PHRASETYPEID_MAILMSG],$email_text[PHRASETYPEID_MAILMSG]))) . '";'.
   
  ADD ABOVE:
   
  $touserfieldcode = "field".$vboptions[mailserver_profilefieldid];
  $subjectcode_reply = "[thread-".$threadinfo[threadid]."-".$touser[$touserfieldcode]."]";
  $subjectcode_newthread = "[newthread-".$foruminfo[forumid]."-".$touser[$touserfieldcode]."]";

• Add the following as a translation of the phrase notify:
  

  Hello $touser[username],
   
  $bbuserinfo[username] has just replied to a thread you have subscribed to entitled - $threadinfo[title] - in the $foruminfo[title] forum of $vboptions[bbtitle].
   
  This thread is located at:
  $vboptions[bburl]/showthread.php?t=$threadinfo[threadid]&goto=newpost
   
  ~~~~~ NEW ~~~~~
  New at $vboptions[bbtitle]!
  You can now reply to the thread by replying to this message. All you need to do is to make sure this code appears in the email subject:
  $subjectcode_reply
  You should also remove this text to ensure your reply is readable by other forum users.
  Additionaly, you can start a new thread in the $foruminfo[title] Forum simply by sending a mail to $vboptions[mailserver_emailaddress] with this code in the subject: $subjectcode_newthread
  ~~~~~ NEW ~~~~~
   
  Here is the message that has just been posted:
  ***************
  $pagetext
  ***************
   
  There may be other replies also, but you will not receive any more notifications until you visit the forum again.
   
  Yours,
  $vboptions[bbtitle] team
   
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Unsubscription information:
   
  To unsubscribe from this thread, please visit this page:
  $vboptions[bburl]/subscription.php?do=usub&t=$threadinfo[threadid]
   
  To unsubscribe from ALL threads, please visit this page:
  $vboptions[bburl]/subscription.php?do=viewsubscription&folderid=all

• Upload the file vbmailreply_install.php to your admincp folder
• Be sure to either have a POP3 or IMAP email account ready before running the installation. The data will need to be entered.
• Open your browser and go to http://www.yourforums.com/admincp/vb...ly_install.php and follow the instructions.
• Delete the vbmailreply_install.php file from your webserver.

Donations:
This hack will always be free, however your donations are kindly accepted and will help towards further development. If you donate, please leave me some info (either your forum site or username at vB.org) so that I can thank you.

Install:

Don't feel like donating, but still want to thank me for my work? Click the install button to show your appreciation. As a great side effect, you'll get an email update once there is a bigger update or important security fix!

Updates:

09.08.2004 - I've updated the vbemailreply_install.php file, as there was an wrong value while entering the settings.

Also added support for SSL (untested)
Fixed the whole install routine.
03.11.2004 - Updated the installation as well as the vbemailreply.php file.

[Freezerator]

Is there still any development on this great hack? I really want to use it, but i rather don't use something beta.

Willing to donate if someone repairs the bugs and makes it a final?

Originally Posted by Freezerator

Willing to donate if someone repairs the bugs and makes it a final?

you can always ask in the Services Requests forum if you want this made by a commercial coder$$$... else, you have low chances these guys pass across your request!

[Aylwin]

Has anyone got this working with version 3.0.7? The main reason I decided on vBulletin was because of this hack. Yes, I realize it's still in Beta version but it's nevertheless very frustrating that I can't get it to work.

First, I was getting blank emails. After removing the code below, emails arrive correctly:

Additionaly, you can start a new thread in the $foruminfo[title] Forum simply by sending a mail to $vboptions[mailserver_emailaddress] with this code in the subject: $subjectcode_newthread

This means I can't start new threads but that's okay... for now. By the way, I also tried the correction posted by freeshares1 but that didn't work either.

Then, when I try to reply I get the error "No permission: you do not have permission to post in this forum." This is exactly the same as Lionel's error where the forumID is empty for some reason (I, too, commented out the part that checks permissions). However, in my case I have no other hacks installed so this is probably related to the version.

Could Colin or someone please please give some advice?

Thanks!
Aylwin

P.S. Is there any way to configure this so that it only processes emails with the code in the subject? The email address I'm using is also used for other purposes.

[Aylwin]

Finally got it working! :banana: Now I can say that this is a truly wonderful mod! In my opinion, it should be a standard feature on all commercial forum software!

Here's how I got it to work on my forums:

In vbemailreply.php, find this:

	###### GET THE THREAD OR POSTID  AND OTHER INFO ######
		if (preg_match('#\[post-([0-9]+)-([a-z0-9]+)\]#i', $subject, $subjectparts)) {
			$postid = intval($subjectparts[1]);
		} else if (preg_match('#\[thread-([0-9]+)-([a-z0-9]+)\]#i', $subject, $subjectparts)) {
			$threadid = intval($subjectparts[1]);
		} else {
			preg_match('#\[newthread-([0-9]+)-([a-z0-9]+)\]#i', $subject, $subjectparts);
			$forumid = intval($subjectparts[1]);
			$type = "thread";
		}

and replace with this:

		###### GET THE THREAD OR POSTID  AND OTHER INFO ######
		if (preg_match('/\[post-([0-9]+)-([a-z0-9]+)\]/i', $subject, $subjectparts)) {
			$postid = intval($subjectparts[1]);
		} else if (preg_match('/\[thread-([0-9]+)-([a-z0-9]+)\]/i', $subject, $subjectparts)) {
			$threadid = intval($subjectparts[1]);
		} else if (preg_match('/\[newthread-([0-9]+)-([a-z0-9]+)\]/i', $subject, $subjectparts)) {
			$forumid = intval($subjectparts[1]);
			$type = "thread";
		}

I also had a few problems with the confirmation emails. So a few changes to vbemailreply_install.php are needed.

Around line 440, find:

\$vboptions[bburl]/showthread.php?p=$newpost[postid]#post\$newpost[postid]

and replace with:

\$vboptions[bburl]/showthread.php?p=$newpost[postid]

Around line 447, find:

Your thread \"\$threadinfo[title]\" was succesfully received and entered in the forum \$foruminfo[title]!
Here is a direct link to your post:
\$vboptions[bburl]/showthread.php?t=\$threadinfo[threadid]

and replace with:

Your thread entitled "$title" was successfully received and entered in the forum $foruminfo[title].

Here is a direct link to your post: $vboptions[bburl]/showthread.php?t=$newpost[threadid]

Or in my case, I simply modified the necessary phrases after the installation.

A few things I wish it could do though:
1) If I reply via email, I would like to resume receiving the reply notification email (as if I had visited the forum and viewed the subscribed thread)).
2) If I start a new thread via email, I would like to be automatically subscribed to that thread if that is the default setting in my profile.
3) Long lines of text are automatically cut and continued on the next line after about 70 characters. That's fine but there also a "=" added at the end of each line. I wish it wouldn't do that.

I think there were one or two more but I can't remember.

Anyway, great mod! I hope further development is done this.

[Lionel]

I can confirm that works

[Aylwin]

I've fixed the problem about lines being automatically cut and the "=" sign showing up!

In vbemailreply.php, at around line 92, find:

		$mailmessage = imap_body($mailbox,$msgno);

after it, add a new line:

		$mailmessage = quoted_printable_decode ($mailmessage);

[Viks]

Is there a place for admins to switch the option ON/OFF for users to start and stop vBmail Reply option for members/usrgroups.

[Viks]

anyone.. !?

please reply..

I just want to know if there is a way to send emails out to members with each new post that is made on the board.. but TURN off vBMail Reply option.

WILL APPRECIATE ANY REPLY

[Eternal2u]

a couple questions..

will this slow a large forum down..since it has to draw each email reply that has been sent in..

my concern is a slow down of my forums which happened before with vB on a slower server, but since upgrading to dual xeon's, i've had no problems, and don't want to install mods that will cause issues with my boards speed..

Also, is it admin cp configurable, in other words, on off like said above, and do you have to make a new email address on your site to allow this to work, or use an email address of your own..

Also, is email virus going to cause issues, and cause for the server to become infected with email virus etc, which would in turn screw over your vB forum with using a email reply system like this?

Just some concerns of mine, if you'd please answer them I would much appreciate it..

Thanks

-Eternal2u

[Aylwin]

I'm probably not the best person to answer this but...

I'm not sure if this will really slow down a large forum that much. For each email reply that is sent, it means one less user visiting the site. That means less clicks, less page generations, less MySQL queries, etc.

At the moment, there's no easy way to turn it on and off. And yes, you do need a dedicated email address because it processes every single email that arrives. I though tabout using a shared email address too but I'm too lazy (and probably too incompetent) to make the necessary changes. It was much easier to simply setup a dedicated email address.

As for viruses and other malicious code sent via email, I doubt you'll have any problems. This system is text based and any attachments are ignored and eventually deleted along with the email after processing. The only issue I see is if the dedicated email address somehow got on a spam list. It won't show up on the site but it will be a lot of useless work for the server since it processes all incoming emails. But this can be fixed by changing the email account.

Someone please correct me if anything I've said above is nonsense.

Aylwin