Miscellaneous Hacks - Force Style for Selected Users or Groups

Please click Mark as Installed if you are using this hack.


What Does This Hack Do?[hr]hr[/hr]
It is a update of my v3.7.x hack available here, with new functionality added.

This hack allows you to force a style to a usergroup via usergroup permissions, so this means that you can force different usergroups to different styles (previous versions of this hack only allowed you to apply only 1 style to a set of usergroups/users).

You can also force a single style (centrally via vBulletin Options) to 1 or more users, and this will override any style that has been forced on usergroups that the user(s) are in.

Scenario

The setup on my forums is that I use the default style as the parent to all my other styles which makes modifying the templates easy for me, I just edit my default style and the child styles inherit the changes.

I wanted to use a child style as the standard style for visitors and members, but not have them have a choice of the default style at all, but as soon as you logged out you were presented with the default style that you did not want guests to see.

This hack rectifies that. It also allows you to let others use the forum wide default style (selected via Style & Language Settings -> Default Style in the vBulletin Options of the AdminCP) while forcing the usergroup(s)/member(s) to the one style you selected, except in cases where you have specifically assigned a custom style to a forum in Forum Manager and override the users' style choice for that forum (it will use the custom style assigned to that forum, unless you select to override that too).


Frequently Asked Questions

Question:

What if you need custom style permissions as well?

Answer:

This question has been asked a few times: What if you need custom style permissions so that you can control which usergroups see/select what styles? The hack I use is Andreas's Restrict Style to Usergroup hack which he released for v3.5.x. It is because of that hack that this one exists, and I have tested it on v3.5.x, v3.6.x, v3.7.x and v3.8.x, and it works for all four versions and works fine with my hacks as well.

For instance on my forum I need to use both hacks, as the style I force on my guests and normal members is not selectable nor do I allow them permission to use it, and is also not my default style (all my other styles are child styles of my default one), so without Andreas's hack I would not be able to do this.

But just to let you know that Andreas's hack is unsupported and is not likely to ever be supported (unless it is a proven bug), so if you have problems with it, you are on your own.

vBulletin Version Compatibility[hr]hr[/hr]
This hack can be used with vBulletin versions 3.6.0 - 3.8.8.

For an unsupported v3.5.x version of this hack - check here.

For an unsupported v4.0.x version of this hack - check here.


Hack Support/Feature Requests[hr]hr[/hr]
IMPORTANT: This hack is no longer supported.


Install Instructions[hr]hr[/hr]

1. Unzip ms_force_style_38.zip
2. Upload bitfield_ms_force_style.xml to your /includes/xml folder.
3. Import the ms_force_style_38.xml into vB using the AdminCP Product Manager. If upgrading from an earlier version, then set Allow Overwrite to Yes.
4. In vBulletin Options > Force Styles for Selected Users or Groups, change Force Styles for Selected Users or Groups - Enable to Yes to turn it on. You can also enter user(s) to force a style on (and the style to force on them).
5. In the Usergroup Manager edit the usergroup(s) you want to force a style on.

Uninstall Instructions[hr]hr[/hr]

1. Delete the bitfield_ms_force_style.xml file from your /includes/xml folder.
2. Uninstall the product in vB using the AdminCP Product Manager.

Version History[hr]hr[/hr]
v3.8.001 - Friday 21st November 2008
-- Initial Release


Thanks[hr]hr[/hr]
Thanks go out to Paul M who gave me permission to use some of his install code.


Show Your Appreciation [hr]hr[/hr]
Although not required, if you have enjoyed the benefits of this hack, and would like show your appreciation for my efforts, then please feel free to click on the Support Developer link and donate any amount you feel is appropriate.

[Mosh]

Originally Posted by rajubd

is this working in vb4

What does the post just above yours say???? And also what does it say in the vBulletin Version Compatibility section of the first post??? It is already spelled out.

[Mosh]

Hi all,

It is with regret that after over 4 years (and thousands of hours) spent providing free support for my free hacks released here, as of today I will no longer be able to provide support for free.

This is due to being unemployed for a while, being strapped for cash and unable to rely on the virtually non-existent donations from here to help to pay the bills or put food on the table for my family. I am now providing all support for my free hacks released here over at Wolfshead Solutions via an annual support subscription (for a small fee).

It does not mean I will be no longer release free hacks, I will, but I will just no longer be supporting them for free.

My free hacks have and always will remain free to download and use. And so will updates/bug fixes.

I will be releasing more free hacks, but if you require any support at all for those free hacks, you will need to purchase an annual support subscription over at Wolfshead Solutions to receive support.

I am really sorry I have to do this, but revenue generated by my programming gigs are now my only source of income, and I can no longer afford the luxury of providing free support here, when that time can be spent creating new commercial products, doing paid work requests or providing paid support to pay the bills.

Thank you for the understanding.

Regards,

Mosh.

[JohnBee]

It's an interesting hack, but it doesn't work with unregistered not logged in group(pitty)

[DamasGate]

Originally Posted by JohnBee

It's an interesting hack, but it doesn't work with unregistered not logged in group(pitty)

The same problem here.

Any help please?

Thank you

[Mosh]

Hi all,

Free support has now been moved back to vBulletin.org.

Please see the first post for more information (and also this thread at Wolfshead Solutions).

Enjoy

Regards,

Mosh Shigdar - Wolfshead Solutions.

[craig5320]

Hi,

Been using your hack for years and it works great, but I've just been asked to use a different skin on a single forum for all users, regardless of any forced styles.

By default style A is forced for all guest users via your hack.

Style B is forced on Forum 1. and set to override users choice.

Logged in as admin I see Style B on Forum 1 and Style A elsewhere - working.

However as a guest I see Style A everywhere as expected but in Forum 1 I get Style C, a deactivated style that is not the one set for Forum 1 or the force style set for guests.

can you shed any light on what the issue might be here? Why it's correctly overriding the forum 1 style but selecting the wrong style when viewing as a guest. Style C is not set as default it's deactivated, whereas the one I expect to see is active.

Hope that makes sense

Craig

[labadora]

It's an interesting hack, but it doesn't work with unregistered not logged in group

[MissKalunji]

Works perfectly so far...Thank you