Add-On Releases - Limited Guest Viewing -- Improve community registration rates

Note: This addon works with the 3.6.x series only. Click Here for the 3.7.0 version of this addon.

With vBulletin, forum guests are able to view endless amounts of content without being directly asked or forced to register no matter how many times they come back. The purpose of the Limited Guest Viewing System is to drive in registrations by limiting the number of threads guests are able to view without interruption.

This plugin offers two options which can be used to drive in more registrations. The first option allows you to show a reminder message or advertisement after a guest has viewed a certain number of threads. The second option puts up a roadblock stopping guests from viewing threads altogether after reaching a certain number of views. Both options work together to encourage and ultimately force anonymous visitors to either register or login but can also be used separately based on your individual needs.

Because this plugin uses cookies, few if any bots will be impacted when it comes to spidering your site.

Modifications/ Instructions:
Template edits: 1
Plugins: 1 (adds 1 template and several settings)

This template hack should take under 5 minutes to implement and customize.

Customizing the content / messages
To customize which messages appear or what they say, go to vBulletin options, select the ?Limited Guest Viewing System? group and configure the options as desired. Each phase can be modified by adding translation text.

Through the ACP you can enable or disable each option, specify the number of threads that can be viewed before the option is enabled and input any forums you wish to exclude from being blocked.

About spiders/bots
This plugin works by setting a cookie to track the number of visits from a particular user. As bots do not tend to accept cookies, they should not be blocked. To further insure there is no spider accessibility issues, there script identifies major bots (google, yahoo, msn, aol) and explicitly lets them through -- you can easily add to this list by editing the plugin code should you so desire, however, unless a bot starts taking cookies this should not be necessary.


Welcome headers compatibility
The Limited Guest Viewing is designed to work with the Welcome Headers system without any conflict. To insure that welcome header messages do not show up at the same time as the limited guest viewing message, please be sure you are running welcome headers version 4.1.3 or greater (released 11/19).

Updates
5/9/2008 - Released update to prevent installs on 3.7 boards.
2/18/2007 - Minor update to fix register link. Updates optional.
11/20/2006 - Minor update released to fix error with links in some messaging. Updates recommended.

[ETDC]

Installed - quite easy.

Will monitor improvements in sign-up rate and report back.

Thanks :up:

[MISCMORE]

I installed the mod on vBulletin 3.6.8. But no messages appear ... (yes, the mod is activated ...)

What could the problem be?

Thanks
MISC

[Ted S]

It sounds like you have not added the necessary variable to your templates as explained in the instructions.

[Shinou]

I'm getting the same problem as MISCMORE, nothing showing up in 3.6.8, I double checked the instructions and everything is exactly as they said it. I'll give it one more go.

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by Shinou

I'm getting the same problem as MISCMORE, nothing showing up in 3.6.8, I double checked the instructions and everything is exactly as they said it. I'll give it one more go.

Have you added the $lgvmessage variable to your navbar template for each style?

[Shinou]

Well the instalation guide says put this in $lgvmessage and at the bottom of the navbar template, so here? </table>
</div>

<!-- / PAGENAV POPUP -->
</if>$lgvmessage

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by Shinou

Well the instalation guide says put this in $lgvmessage and at the bottom of the navbar template, so here? </table>
</div>

<!-- / PAGENAV POPUP -->
</if>$lgvmessage

Sorry, I was referring to the wrong hack.

You now need to (a) turn the system on (b) view your board as a guest (c) view as many threads as you allow the block system to display. If you don't get blocked, check your domain's cookies for one named lgv.

[Shinou]

Sweet, I got it to work, thanks!
It was the Welcome header I couldn't get to work. Also wrong hack.

[semantik]

Thanks for making this great hack... been looking for a way to restrict view, but didn't interfere with google. thanks!

[insidedesign]

I have installed the system and it is a great system. I am using the Register Block Page feature, however it seems to be interfering with the Welcome Header MOD...

For example, the Welcome Header displays properly in a forum view:
http://www.genxglow.com/f37/

However, in a thread view - the Welcome Header is not displayed:
http://www.genxglow.com/f37/gxg-taki...on-strom-1440/

I would still like the Welcome Header MOD displayed on thread pages as well. How do I acheive this?

Thanks in advance!