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.

[TigerWare]

Originally Posted by Breathex

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

What is the error message?

** edit to add **
Unfortunately you came back to the site almost 2 hours after I originally posted this reply, and you did not respond. Having thought more about your enquiry, I cannot actually say with any certainty that your error has anything to do with this modification. If you can see the thread listed, my modification will have done its job already, and the thread would be accessible as per the normal access rules of your site. Until you respond with more information, I'm unable to help you. I have had no other error reports to date from the 52 installs logged. (Thanks All!)

[kushal]

good modification, thank you for the efforts.

[ThorstenA]

Will not use this product, but here's a suggestion: option to only use "Do Contact Us To Thread" for logged in users. They can then see their messages in the forum (you can set up forum rules to let users only let view threads they created).

[TigerWare]

Originally Posted by ThorstenA

only use "Do Contact Us To Thread" for logged in users. They can then see their messages in the forum (you can set up forum rules to let users only let view threads they created).

The same thing can be accomplished by creating a special usergroup, or changing forum permissions for logged in users within a specific forum. I cannot see any scenario where a logged in member would need to use a 'contact us' form to post a forum message. Can you cite an example where your proposed option could be used?

[thalamus]

Excellent plugin, TW! :up: As ever, it's great, I love it and have it installed on one of my vb sites

[TigerWare]

Hello all,

First of all, many thanks for your tremendous support and positive responses on the release thread. I have now finished extending the product to version 1.1 with some cool new features. Some of the update is based on requests from you guys, so please feel free to upgrade as soon as possible.

I have updated post #1 with the new product xml and added some additional screenshots for your enjoyment.

Once again, many thanks for your support, and you have any problems with the upgrade, please fire me a message on the thread, or in PM if you prefer.

Cheers for now,

TigerWare

[Triky]

Nive product, TigerWare.
I have one question. If I reply to the created thread, do I reply to the e-mailer (it send an automatic e-mail reply), or not?

[TigerWare]

Originally Posted by Triky

Nive product, TigerWare.
I have one question. If I reply to the created thread, do I reply to the e-mailer (it send an automatic e-mail reply), or not?

Thanks Triky,

That's a very good question and I have been thinking about this particular aspect myself.

Currently, a reply to the new thread is just that, a reply to the thread only. I may add an option later where a reply to the thread can reply to the original sender address, but for now any outbound communications would have to be done manually.

[Triky]

I understand. Thank you for your fast reply.

[TigerWare]

Originally Posted by Triky

Thank you for your fast reply.

You are welcome. :up: