[HTL] & [Normal] Private threads

Tested with 3.0.1

This hack lets you have private threads. A private thread is either:
* A thread where only some selected users can post
* A thread where some some selected users cannot post, everybody else can

With this regular users can protect their threads from regular spammers, it is useful for a roleplaying game, for a semi-private conversation (everybody can read, only some users can post), if you wanted to have a semi-private conversation with 5 people that is not possible in private messages, but a private thread would do.

The hack works:

When you create a thread you will be given the option for the thread to be private. If the thread is private you need to specify:

To allow some users or to deny some users (not both!)

Everybody can see the thread but when they try to answer they must have the proper permissions, otherwise a "this is a private thread" message would be shown to them.

After the thread is posted you can go to the "edit thread" screen and change which users can see the thread and its general behaviour, you can either make it public again or make a public thread now private. This is done by whoever has access to the edit thread tool.

I am not planning to release a "completely private" thread hack, if you don't want anybody to see the thread or to post in it just use a private forum I think only not being able to post is enough functionality (at least for me!).



Please take in consideration this hack only runs with php version > 4.1.0

Info for hackers:
You may modify, improve, upgrade, redistribute this hack, include it
in another hack or yours or translate it provided you do it free of
charge and you distribute it in www.vbulletin.org at least, there is no
need to pm me asking for permission
Some portions of the code are (c) Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

[MGM]

very nice! I could find some uses for this

[high]* MGM clicks Install
[/high]

MGM out

[gmarik]

Something like a <hide> hack?
Now understand how good it is ...

[Kentaurus]

Originally Posted by Boofo

Can this be addd to the editpost if you are editing the first post in the thread?

Why this? For the thread creator to be able to edit the allowed users list?

[rms10]

I am not planning to release a "completely private" thread hack, if you don't want anybody to see the thread or to post in it just use a private forum

Any chance you could tell us how to add this option?

[Kentaurus]

Originally Posted by rms10

Any chance you could tell us how to add this option?

you would have to get the privatethread and privateusers column for the forumdisplay, then for each thread check your $bbuserinfo['userid'] against the privateusers and display / not display the thread accordingly.

Maybe I could write a quick hack for it... it just won't be in the txt since I am not using that feature.

[rms10]

Thanks Kentaurus! I will be checking back often in hopes to see the quick hack

[Kentaurus]

Originally Posted by rms10

Thanks Kentaurus! I will be checking back often in hopes to see the quick hack

After trying a little I am actually giving up this feature... I managed to block the threads from showing in the forumlist but they can still be searched / viewed in the member profile and in the summaries. The integration for this is a far more advanced from what I am needing, I am thinking that feature would be a completely new hack, and I am leaving this one only for stopping people from replying.

[Hobbes]

Originally Posted by Kentaurus

After trying a little I am actually giving up this feature... I managed to block the threads from showing in the forumlist but they can still be searched / viewed in the member profile and in the summaries. The integration for this is a far more advanced from what I am needing, I am thinking that feature would be a completely new hack, and I am leaving this one only for stopping people from replying.

VERY. nice .

I will definetly use

[Princeton]

the ability to "auto" notify (via email/pm) privateusers would be a great enhancment to this hack

[Kentaurus]

Originally Posted by princeton

the ability to "auto" notify (via email/pm) privateusers would be a great enhancment to this hack

Just tell your users to subscribe to the thread. When somebody answer they would be notified.