Private Message Workbench: Read, Search, Delete, Report and more

PM Workbench v1.00 Beta 5

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Hack: PM Workbench
Version: 1.00 Beta 5
Author: MarcoH64
vB Version: vBulletin 3.5.0. RC2
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Important Notice:
Depending on the modules installed, a privacy statement might be added to your board.
This Privacy Statement can not be removed or hidden by any means. Failure to comply would be against the TOS
of this hack, and you would not be allowed to use it.

If your board already has a Privacy Notice covering reading Private Messages by Administrators, you can PM me a link to that statement on your board (provide test login if needed) and your email address, and i will mail a Plugin to remove the Privacy link.


What is this hack?
PM Workbench offers you a variety of tools for working with or extending the standard vBulletin Private Message System.
It is a Modular System that will allow you to add those functions that you need for your board. New Modules might be added later.
The system is fully phrased and options can be set in vBulletin Options.
Permissions to use Modules are given using the includes/config.php for increased security.
Currently no file or template edits are needed.

More modules might be added later. For some i am waiting for new hooks to be implemented in RC3.



Donations are always welcomed to PayPal: marcoh64 AT gmail.com

Currently Supported Modules:

PM Workbench - Report PM

This Module adds a Report PM icon to the postbit when users are reading a PM. The reports and send to the PM Folder of the
userid defined to receive them. Administrators who are given access can read the reports, the original PM, and add notes to them.

Features:
- Access to the PM Reports is controlled in your config.php for added security
- Add report button to PM's, no template edit needed.
- Usersw can give a reason for the report.
- Reported PM's can be seen without modifications to them (PM's are not forwarded, but just added to the inbox of the report userid).
- PM's are fully parsed
- Notes can be added to reports.


PM Workbench - Read/Search Private Messages

This Module let administrators who are given permission, search and read PM's

Features:
- Access to the PM's is controlled in your config.php for added security
- PM's can be searched for:
- Keyword (title and/or body)
- Username (sender/receiver/both, optional exact match)
- Send date after
- Send date before
- With a simple click read the PM and see who still have it in their folders.


PM Workbench - Performance Pack

Add extra indexes to the pmtext table for faster searching.


Known limitations:
The 'Report PM' module might not work on some heavily modified Styles. I will be (hopefully) posting another (beta) hack for that tomorrow.

[Marco van Herwaarden]

It is mostly still beta since i didn't have the time to create a new version with all the ideas i still have for this hack yet. There have not been any serious reports for the current version (as you can see if you read back in this thread).

[Firestar.chkn]

Hi Marco,

Any news on this hack? It's quite an awesome Hack. Also, if I PM you a link to my privacy statement tonight, can I expect the hack soon?

There are also a couple of fixes with regards to postbit_legacy that you wanted to do. Have these been done, or must I just use the inline code adjustments to get this working?

One last thing. Is there a way to just change the privacy statement to point to mine? I suppose I can just add it in myself, so no worry really.

Cheers and thanks for a great hack
Firestar

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Originally Posted by Firestar.chkn

Also, if I PM you a link to my privacy statement tonight, can I expect the hack soon?

If you pm a link to your statement and your mail address, i will sent you a plugin to remove the privacy statement tomorrow.

Originally Posted by Firestar.chkn

There are also a couple of fixes with regards to postbit_legacy that you wanted to do. Have these been done, or must I just use the inline code adjustments to get this working?

No they are not in the current version, but changing to postbit_legacy will only require a minimal change to the plugins. If the solution was not posted in this thread, also ask for this and i will try to post the solution here.

Originally Posted by Firestar.chkn

One last thing. Is there a way to just change the privacy statement to point to mine? I suppose I can just add it in myself, so no worry really.

No, i don't think that is possible, it will either point to the second post of this thread, or no privacy statement.

[Firestar.chkn]

Hi Marco,

Thanks for the reply. PM sent. Where does it show your privacy statement? The automatic one that points to this forum? Does it only show it below the inbox, or other places as well?

Otherwise, thanks for a GREAT hack. I'm really enjoying this one from my previous version

Cheers
Firestar

[Firestar.chkn]

Installed and working. THanks Marco! Awesome hack! Rated 5 and clicked install. Just waiting for that email now

[cmiller1014]

Sounds like a cool idea but all information on my site belongs to me. I dont need to provide any privacy statement to my members, or to vbulletin.org. Guess this wont get installed.

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Originally Posted by cmiller1014

Sounds like a cool idea but all information on my site belongs to me. I dont need to provide any privacy statement to my members, or to vbulletin.org. Guess this wont get installed.

If you have a TOS page where you explicit say that all including PM's belong to you, then you could get the Privacy statement removed. PM me with a link to the page and your mail address if you want this.

[Sidewindr]

Get the following error .. it seems to work but this error comes when displaying the PM...

Warning: array_merge() [function.array-merge]: Argument #1 is not an array in /includes/adminfunctions_mh_pmwb.php(281) : eval()'d code on line 18

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /includes/functions.php on line 2454

[Marco van Herwaarden]

Originally Posted by Sidewindr

Get the following error .. it seems to work but this error comes when displaying the PM...

What vB & PHP versions are you running?

[T3MEDIA]

Originally Posted by ixian

I do respect that, and I appreciate his work. That has nothing to do with the issue at hand - as a coder, I would think he would appreciate feedback on his hack good or bad as long as it is constructive and not mere message board flaming. My opinion is that these requirements - either linking back here or having an existing privacy policy that in the sole opinion of the coder, who is not an attorney, is an acceptable substitute is not acceptable to me. I feel this entire "read members private messages" debate is net-lawyerism at it's worst and this kind of requirement is reacting too far in the other direction to it.

That said, it's my own opinion, and the coder can do what he or she wishes. I'm not implying he should change his hack because of it - that's an informed decision only he can make.

Its old but this was very well put ixian.

Just so people know it is actually a breach in privacy to have the users come to vbulletin.org with out them knowing. This would be more damaging for the admin than reading the PM. As well the protection is for only 1 party who will never see this notice that is the person who wrote the PM. The person who recieves it reliqishes the right once they consider it abuse or spam. OBVIOUSLY it must be reviewed.

Does vb.org have a statment stating this will uccour to guests from differnt sites and how will thier private information be handled? Does anyone on any site using this hack state that vb.org may or may not get specific types of information? Is the privacy aggreement for vb.org and (whoever you are) are in syc with one another to co exist legally with this idea.

So its not really ad-ware its more inadvertant spy-ware. (please ignore my bad spelling. English is not my first lanugage but I am learning). Please note I put inadvertant... I am aware its not the purpose of the hack.

If you use this logic used to protect members you would have to have a notice saying if you use it your information may or may not be given to third parties.

vb (all vb) records ip, referer and sessions. This is the major flaw having vb.org involved in private messages. But I just wanted to say that. this is old news but just so people understand.

(think about it. Once a guest hits this page and an admin reviews it they now know)
1. This user comes from x website (its vb, its a 3.5.x site and there is a cookie left) so This user is a member of x website (100% sure)
2. This user was previously reading a PM
3. This user uses whatever browser and speaks whatever lanuage. (OS system as well)
4. This user had (whatever is in your copy and paste space) saved
5. This user just had spam or an abusive message.

I could now email the owner of that site about some new spam blocker for vb or use google adwords to market to the users about more secure websites that are simular to thiers. "Are you tired of forum spam?". (advertise on this site method)

That is off the top of my head. I dont think anyone is using this that way but hey... if you want to be legal do it all the way.