Miscellaneous Hacks - Do Contact Us To Thread

-=+ WHAT IS THIS? +=-

Quite simply this product allows for Do Contact Us form submissions to be directed into a new thread of a specified forum. You may optionally control the email notification system too.

-=+ FEATURES +=-

Various aspects of this product are controlled via the AdminCP, such as:-

• Ability to turn it on/off.
• Pick the forum into which new threads will appear.
• Ability to specify a user as the thread starter.
• Control the content of new thread titles.
• Control the content of post text.
• Turn on or off support for Smilies.
• Ability to set new threads to Moderated.
• Switch off email notification entirely.
• Define multi-recipient Email Notifications.

-=+ INSTALLATION +=-

Import the supplied product xml by using the Product Manager of the AdminCP, as below:-

• Plugins & Products -> Manage Products -> Add/Import Product

-=+ UPGRADING +=-

You do not need to uninstall the older version of the product.

Import the updated product xml by using the Product Manager of the AdminCP, as below:-

• Plugins & Products -> Manage Products -> Add/Import Product

Ensure the option Allow Overwrite is set to Yes on the import screen, prior to clicking Import.

-=+ POST INSTALLATION/UPGRADE +=-

Post installation settings can be found in vBulletin options section:-

• vBulletin Options -> TWP - Do Contact Us To Thread

In order for the product to operate certain criteria must be met, as follows:-

• Plugin must be enabled. (true by default)
• Product must be enabled in the options. (no by default)
• A forum must have been picked in the options. (none by default)

If any of the above criteria are not satisfied, the product will NOT operate. Please check these before asking for help.

-=+ WHAT'S NEW IN V1.1 +=-

• Cosmetic Fix

  It was noted after version 1.0 was released that certain phrase variables being used were defined twice. One for the plugin to use and another for the vbOptions screen. Version 1.1 fixes the issue by renaming each of the phrases defined for the vbOptions screen. An installation script is provided in the product xml to automate the renaming when users upgrade.

• Bug Fix and Option Added : Missing Name Replacement

  On occasion the sender of the Do Contact Us form forgets fill out the Name field. This option provides a convenient replacement text if the name is empty. This was mistakenly hard-coded in version 1.0. ({no name} by default)

• Option Added : Allow Smilies

  You can now turn on or off smilies for new messages that come in. (No by default)

• Option Added : Moderate New Threads

  You can now set new threads to be Moderated upon arrival. This may be useful on boards which have a mixed permissions setup on the Forum, and allows messages to be approved first. (No by default)

• Option Added : Override Default Email Sender

  By default vBulletin will dutifully send notification emails to the address defined as "Webmaster" and to addresses defined in Contact Us Options (if configured). This setting will stop those emails from being sent. (No by default)

• Option Added : Enable Email Notification List

  This option will enable or disable the Email Notification List (see below). (No by default)

• Option Added : Email Notification List

  This setting allows you to define a set of email addresses that you wish to send notifications to on the arrival of new messages. This will work in addition to the default handling of notifications unless you have disabled it via the Override Default Email Sender option. (Empty by default)

-=+ RELEASE HISTORY +=-

• v1.1 : 18-Nov-07 : Minor fixes and added options.
• v1.0 : 12-Nov-07 : First public realease.
• v0.1 : 04-Nov-07 : Internal Test Version.

-=+ THE CREDITS +=-

This product has been developed from an unreleased original plugin by weeno. Many thanks to weeno for permission to use the plugin code (originally posted here) as the basis of this formal release.

-=+ ISSUES +=-

Confirmed as NOT COMPATIBLE with vBulletin 3.7.* Please refer to post#2 for a 3.7 Patch.

-=+ SPECIAL THANKS +=-

Many thanks to everyone who clicked the Nominate For MOTM during November 2007, and for subsequent votes on the MOTM Poll for December. It makes the effort a really worthwhile experience.

[COBRAws]

In comparison to the old hack this works great, we can even choose to enable/disable functions without any edits into the product.

A new option for this would be to be able to send the email to multiple UserIDs, so instead of the original vboptions config it would be sent to any other users we may want.

Thanks!

[TigerWare]

Originally Posted by COBRAws

A new option for this would be to be able to send the email to multiple UserIDs, so instead of the original vboptions config it would be sent to any other users we may want.

Thanks for the suggestion COBRAws. The email side of the do contact us is a little outside the scope of this particular modification, but I'll take it onboard for a possible extension, for sure. My first thought when I read this was, "why not give the multiple-recipients access to the forum in which the messages will appear", I would assume they would be board staff members. This would save email bandwidth, especially on a busy board.

Many thanks.

[TigerWare]

Originally Posted by TheBlackPoet

personally cant think of anything else this hack might need....

Actually that got me thinking, which is probably a bad idea at my age. vBulletin options allow for different pre-defined subjects to be added to the default sendmessage form (vBulletin Options -> Site Name / URL / Contact Details -> Contact Us Options). In turn, these subjects can be configured to send to different recipients (see the Admin Help Popup) so why not define a different forum for each unique subject? Might be useful on a busy board with a few different subjects set up.

The mind boggles... that's one for version 1.1 me thinks.

:up:

[Floris]

This looks like a nice modification. The code has been properly commented, and it seems to be using vBulletin functionality such as the data manager to increase performance and security. Finally no nag text "click install to get support" or "donate to me if you like my small mod" .. I've nominated it for mod of the month. And will most likely use this on my web site.

[TigerWare]

Thank you so much Floris. I couldn't ask for a better summary. :up:

[ymy]

perfect ,

Good idea! Installed.

YmY

[Dream]

Originally Posted by Floris

This looks like a nice modification. The code has been properly commented, and it seems to be using vBulletin functionality such as the data manager to increase performance and security. Finally no nag text "click install to get support" or "donate to me if you like my small mod" .. I've nominated it for mod of the month. And will most likely use this on my web site.

I'm hoping I'm not included in that definition. I don't see what's wrong with asking people to click install to get support, or to donate if they like your work. Some very good coders around here do those.

And bump for a great addon.

[Eq4bits]

*Installed quick and easy, works like a charm
Thanks and Kudu's

[Scandal]

Great hack! I'm looking for a hack as this one!
I delete my e-mail from Vb options > Contact details and now i receive the messages only on a hidden -only for admins - forum.

You have my vote for the mod of the month!



-philos

[Breathex]

Really a nice mod what i need for a long time.

When an unregistered user sends message, it appears as a thread but when i click to thread it gives database error message.

Any solution for this problem?