New Posting Features - Buddy Forums

This modification will allow you to setup a forum where members can post threads that only their buddies can see and participate in. This may be a good addition for social network type forums.

Features:
- Turns one forum into a Buddy Forum.
- Only members on the thread starter's buddy list can see or reply to the message.
- Prevents Users from Subscribing to Forums or Threads in Buddy List, which would allow them to bypass the buddy permissions.
- Displays "Private" and zeros post and reply count in forum view for Buddy Forum.
- Admin can configure usergroups that can see all messages for moderation purposes.

Prerequisites:
vBulletin 3.6.6 or newer

Installation Instructions:
- 1 XML upload

1. Use the Product Manager to import the product file product-rah_buddyforums_1_0_0.xml.
2. Setup a new forum. Configure it as follows:
- Set "Index New Posts in Search Engine" to No. (If you don't do this, then members will be able to see the contents of messages that they shouldn't)
- Set the forum permissions for non-moderator groups to NOT be able to search the forum.
3. Open the "Buddy Forums" option group in the vBulletin Options, and set the "Buddy Forum ID" to the forum ID you just created.


Revision Log:
1.0.0 - 08/29/07 - Initial Release

Known Bugs:
None.

[Farcaster]

Just an FYI, you must set the permissions for non-moderator groups for "Can Search Forums" to No. Even though the posts are not added to the search index using the instructions above, they still show up in the new posts list. I plan to make this automatic in the next revision.

[BellyBelly]

Looking forward to the revision... will watch closely for updates!

[Forumi Shqiptar]

so how can we block the users from not seeing those threads or posts that are being written into the buddy forum?

As you said they can look at them if they check the new posts....

[inciarco]

Very Interesting Mod!! :up:

I Agree, this Adds Great Functionallity and Use to the Buddy List!!

Two Little Things:

1. Would be Great to be Able to Set more than One Buddy Forum!!

2. Would be Great that could be Added a Filter for the Messages of the User Only to be Displayed on the "Today's Posts" or "Last Posts" or Any Query for the User's Posts, only to be seen by their Buddies, of course the Ones Included on the Buddy Forum(s)!!

I'm Lookind Forward for Updates of this Great Mod!!

My Best regards!!

[inciarco]

I Share with You this Version of this Mod that Allows to Set more than One Buddy Forum, separated by Commas, so that You can Review it; check the Change in the Data Type of the Option Field that Stores the Forum Number, and also the Changes in the Plugins IF Conditionals to Use the Forum Names Separated by Commas ","!! :up:

(I advice the Users to Test it in your Test Forums, until the Developer of this Mod considers that this Changes are Safe)!!

My Best Regards!!

[valdet]

Can you make usernames clickable in "buddyforums_viewableby" template ?

[thedudleys]

test this mod on Version 3.7.0 Release Candidate 3 and it works correctly, thought you would like to know...

[Farcaster]

With the addition of Visitor Messages and Social Groups in 3.7, is there any reason anyone really wants this mod any longer?

[Neo_obs]

Personally I like this mod as it isn't the same as social groups or visitor messages. This is a "private" forum for just people on your buddy list. Right now there are no "private" social group forums or visitor messages.

[vbboarder]

Hi Farcaster, i luv your mods! PLEASE keep this mod and update it for VB 3.7.2. It's useful to have private threads acting as forums that are viewable by buddies only. With a few modifications, it can complement the SocialForums mod really well. As stated in the SocialForums thread, having too many forums causes server load problems. Phalynx's current solution is to implement permissions based on usergroup or # of group members. Well, that's fine but it's an all-or-nothing solution. If you can modify your mod so that it's viewable by social group members only (as an option in addition to buddies only), then the admin can allow Buddy Forums for regular members and SocialForums for VIP members (limited to VIP since it's more server intensive). Also, please provide options to moderate posts and link back to social group page. It would be great if you could review and add the addition by inciarco (post #25 above) to allow multiple forums to be designated as Buddy Forums. Thanks for this great mod and considering these feature requests.