End-User Options - Selective Forum Filter

I no longer support my hacks. Please feel free to update them and release new versions elsewhere as long as I get the credit for the original modification.

/*================================================= =====================*\
|| Selective Forum Filter
||
|| Author : Anton Kanevsky
|| Co-Author(s) : Andreas
|| Works on : vBulletin 3.5.x - 3.8.x
|| Released : May 31, 2009
||
|| Time required to install: 30 seconds
|| Difficulty: easy
\*================================================ ======================*/

DESCRIPTION

Ever came across large boards with a huge number of sub forums? Couldn't find your info? Wanted to run away from that huge load of stupid threads? This hack is intended to save your users from having such a horrible experience. It provides them with an opportunity to exclude any number of forums from the forums list (as well as from "get new"/"get daily" searches), which still letting them to access those forums directly and search within them, too.

STATISTICS

Products to Install: 1


INTRODUCTION

To enable "can be excluded" in all forums, run this query:
UPDATE PFXforum SET excludable = 1
To disable "can be excluded" in all forums, run this query:
UPDATE PFXforum SET excludable = 0
In both cases, PFX must be replaced with the actual table prefix that you have defined in config.php.
If you have not defined a prefix, remove PFX from the queries.
After you run either one of these queries, you must then open and save any one forum for the forum cache to be updated.

VERSION HISTORY

1.1.0
[+] The hack is now compatible with vBulletin 3.5.x - 3.8.x.
[+] Eliminated all template edits.

1.0.2
[+] The hack is now compatible with vBulletin 3.6.
[+] Corrected a couple of mistakes in the installation manual.

1.0.1
[+] Added option to set forums as excludable. By default, excludability of all forums is disabled.

1.0.0
First Public Release

The installation manual is contained within the attached file.

IF YOU LIKE MY HACK, PLEASE CLICK INSTALL

[akanevsky]

Originally Posted by Greek Wizard

Psionic Vision

This is a great hack, one of your best IMO.

It works great for large forums, for those users that do not want everything.

One question though... I have a user that has blocked out a catagory, however vbAdvanced still shows those threads/forum in the recent news block.

if there anything that can be added on to exclude those from there also?

Thanks

Please contact the developer of vBAdvanced and ask them to respect the visibility settings of forums in the vBulletin forumcache.

[Greek Wizard]

Originally Posted by Psionic Vision

Please contact the developer of vBAdvanced and ask them to respect the visibility settings of forums in the vBulletin forumcache.

OK, Thanks anyways,

I am sure I won't get much help over there so I might bother, it's only a minor issue right now.

I will probably be switching to vBonjour soon anyways, hopefully that one will be better.

[telc]

What exactly does "enable excludability" and "disable excludability" do? Is it needed to run this query?

Also I have around 250+ forums, is the xml file going to be updated to change the varchar to mediumtext to support larger forums.

Thanks.

[Bellinis]

First of all: thank you for this great hack!

Ok, I installed it, but don't see any forums listed in my CP options, only 'reset exclusion'.


I followed the instructions, run the query set alle forums to be excludable. Also I disabled the cache-part. Switched the exclusion option in some forums on- and off, but still no luck. Anything else I could try ?

Thanks.

[Bellinis]

I just discovered why it's not working. The problem is VBSeo. After disabling VBSeo, all worked fine. Nice, but now what?

What can I do to make it working even with VBSeo activated?

[akanevsky]

I don't know. I am not familiar with vBSEO.

[telc]

Is the xml file going to be updated to change the varchar to mediumtext to support larger forums.

[Bellinis]

Originally Posted by Psionic Vision

I don't know. I am not familiar with vBSEO.

I asked at vbseo, and the suggested using Andreas' mod. That mod worked fine for me. Anyhow, thank you for your help. Too bad this mod didn't work out for me....

[akanevsky]

Originally Posted by Bellinis

I asked at vbseo, and the suggested using Andreas' mod. That mod worked fine for me. Anyhow, thank you for your help. Too bad this mod didn't work out for me....

This mod is the same as that mod, except that mod only hides stuff from "get new posts", and this one also hide stuff from forums. They are both based on the same code...

[RoughOcean]

Originally Posted by Psionic Vision

I don't know. I am not familiar with vBSEO.

I am having the same problem with a conflict with vBSEO. I really like this mod and would rather not switch to the other one. vBSEO is a mod that makes search engine friendly URLs using mod rewrite.

I hope this is a minor conflict that can be resolved someday since it seems vBSEO is getting more popular.