Miscellaneous Hacks - SocialForums 1.4

SocialForums for vBulletin 3.7
Created by Marius Czyz aka Phalynx.

This mod will work *ONLY* with vBulletin 3.7 or higher. It will not run on vBulletin 3.6.x due to non existent feature of "social groups".

Support will be only given for people who clicked Mark as INSTALLED.

Description
Not satisfied with vBulletin social groups messaging function? With SocialForums your social group leaders can create a standard forum for their group.
A group leader can only create a forum if the group has at least 5 members - this can be changed via settings. Optionally the group leader can be a moderator of such a social forum.

Permissions
Since 1.3 there are advanced permissions active (Forum and Archive). This includes read/write public and private (moderated/invite only) socialforums and creation of forum. As this needs two additional queries on every page you can disable this.

Demo
None, see screenshots

Installation
This product is fully phrased and uses template hooks. No file changes or manual template edits needed.
1. Upload bitfield_socialforums.xml to existing folder /includes/xml/
2. Upload functions_socialforums.php to existing folder /includes/
3. Fresh Installation: Just import the product. Upgrade: Import the product, allow overwrite. No forums get lost!
4. Check settings, especially for parent forum. Don't forget to set permissions via usergroups!

Troubleshooting
Q: I don't see a link to create a forum. Why?
A: Check permissions for the usergroup, espacially if the user is allowed to create forum.
A: Check if the usergroup meet min users requirement, see AdminCP/Settings/SocialForums.

Q: My users see the forums, but they shouldn't!
A: Check permissions for the usergroup, if the users usergroup is set to "can see".
A: Did you disabled the restriction mode? Enable it.

Todo
- By deleting a group the forum should also be deleted/archived. Currently this has to be done manually.

Known Issues
- On big boards with hundreds of social groups this mod can really impact the performance because of the mass of new created forums. If you still want to use this mod use the "Minimum Members" feature with a higher value. Using the permission check there are additional two queries on every page.

History
1.4.6, 6th October 2008
- Permissions are now also active in Archive

1.4.2, 27th May 2008
- Added: If a group has a linked forum the grouplisting has the last post date and count of postings (with permission check).
- Added: Recent threads in linked forum on group home
- Added: Private groups: Link to forum only shown to members of group
- Changed: Enabled permissions for unregistered usergroup. Unregistered Users are not more explicit denied without a check of it's usergroup

1.3.1, 23th May 2008
- Fixed: Not existing array

1.3.0, 23th May 2008
- Added: Permissions are now active. This includes read/write public and private (moderated/invite only) socialforums and creation of forum. Please check permissions for every usergroup! As this needs two additional queries on every page you can disable this.
- Added: Checks for permission before the creation link will be displayed
- Changed: Default View Age set to "Show all Threads"

1.2.1 8th April 2008:
- Added: Group messaging can be disabled via options (previously: always disabled)

1.2.0 4th April 2008:
- Added: Groupleader can now be moderator of group forum
- Added: Minimum Members that are required for own forum
- Added: Group messaging will be automatically hide for group that has own forum
- Added: Forums are created with more allowances
- Added: By deleting a forum the linked socialgroup get's updated
- Added: Forum's description contains link back to social group
- Added: By changing group's name it synchronize it with the forum's name

1.0/1.1 1st April 2008:
- Initial releases

[Rob Hephner]

Originally Posted by JadedSouls

Usergroups > Usergroup Manager > Administrators > SocialForums > Can View Private Forums

Thanks!

Now, where can I set it up so that the forum only shows to a person when they are a member of that group?

(Oh, and Admin)

I set up the system, I can set up a social group and it creates a forum, but I can only get the forums to be unseen by all or seen by all.

I have Admin permissions set to see and search the forum so i can see it, but I have a test user and on that account I can see the social group and join, but cannot see or search the forum....

[Phalynx]

Originally Posted by VargTimmen

After updating to v1.31 I'm no longer able to create forums.
All settings are correct, als rights where given. Please help me.

Seems your settings are not correct, as the link would appear. Please describe what you did so far.

Originally Posted by Rob Hephner

Since there does not seem to be any installation directions...

Uhm, maybe you should read the readme again. I'm pretty sure there is a part called "Installation".

Originally Posted by Rob Hephner

Now, where can I set it up so that the forum only shows to a person when they are a member of that group?

(Oh, and Admin)

Set all permission to no on every usergroup except the Administratorsgroup.

[Rob Hephner]

Originally Posted by Phalynx

Uhm, maybe you should read the readme again. I'm pretty sure there is a part called "Installation".

Yes, I see that. I just meant as far as options.

Originally Posted by Phalynx

Set all permission to no on every usergroup except the Administratorsgroup.

I did that and I have setup a group as invite only and invited my test account, I also setup a forum.

The test account cannot see the forum at all. Are there other settings that should be addressed?

[Phalynx]

Go to AdminCP/Forums and check the display order of the forum. If you know the ForumID, try to visit it manually (forumdisplay.php?f=x)

[Rob Hephner]

OK, the test user gets this.

[Phalynx]

I assume the invitation was accepted by the testuser?

[Rob Hephner]

Originally Posted by Phalynx

I assume the invitation was accepted by the testuser?

Yes, I am the test user.

I also have another user elsewhere who has accepted and he gets the same message.

(At first I set his usergroup permission as yes to view and search and he could see, but not post.)

I have a parent Which is Clubs (everyone can see) and the private forums get created under a forum titled Private in that area.

[redlabour]

Set all 4 Options to "No" and you get what you want.

I have the same Problem before - nobody understands really what Phalynx really means in the AdminCP.

@Phalynx - please rename the Options.

[Phalynx]

@Rob
Did you changed the permissions of the forums for yourself? Also keep in mind that the permissions for usergroups only affects non-members of a group.

@redlabour
Rename to what?

[Rob Hephner]

Originally Posted by redlabour

Set all 4 Options to "No" and you get what you want.

I have the same Problem before - nobody understands really what Phalynx really means in the AdminCP.

@Phalynx - please rename the Options.

That still did not work.

Phalynx, I understand that my Admin account can see the forum because it is allowed through permissions. The issue is that a user invited to the group and the forum cannot see the forum, nor can they post or access that forum.