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

[Cyricx]

Unbelievable. Awesome hack!!! This is just what I was hoping for especially for a site like mine that hosts forums for so many different subjects

[Cyricx]

I wonder if you could add like X images or something to the forumbit that were links to disable a forum from view.

[Hexemer]

A very nice usefull hack

[akanevsky]

Thank you.

[Matt_270581]

Great Hack

[high]* Matt_270581 installs[/high]

[zappsan]

Nice hack
/me clicks install

[VAN]

This is fantastic. Thanks for the work!

Now how about adding an option in the ACP forum manager to allow/disallow a forum from being hidden by users? For example, I have a News & Announcements forum that I would not want anyone to be able to hide. If you can add this functionality, it would be perfect.

[ChrisBaktis]

Originally Posted by VAN

This is fantastic. Thanks for the work!

Now how about adding an option in the ACP forum manager to allow/disallow a forum from being hidden by users? For example, I have a News & Announcements forum that I would not want anyone to be able to hide. If you can add this functionality, it would be perfect.

I second this.

[RMS-Chef]

Great hack.

Is there any way to alter the code a bit to still display the selected forums when viewing but exclude it from Get New searches?

EDIT:
Maybe if I disable the plugin hooking to cache_ordered_forums but leave the rest enabled?

[akanevsky]

No. To get what you want, you need to use Andreas's Opt-Out from GetNew/GetDaily, which is essentially what this hack is based on, as said in first post.