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.

[tanujdude91]

Beautiful.
Installed but not tested.

[TigerWare]

Originally Posted by tanujdude91

Beautiful.
Installed but not tested.

Feel free to drop in with any comments after you have given the product a test. :up:

[wally]

Idea looks good gonna install this one later on

[TigerWare]

Originally Posted by wally

Idea looks good gonna install this one later on

Thanks wally, do let me know if you have any problems, or ideas on how to make this better. :up:

[ThorstenA]

I simply rewrote contact us style , deleted form and set a link up to a forum where users should post.

[TigerWare]

Originally Posted by 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).

Originally Posted by TigerWare

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?

Originally Posted by ThorstenA

I simply rewrote contact us style , deleted form and set a link up to a forum where users should post.

You deleted the form? Sounds rather drastic. What about guests, how do they get in touch with you? I still don't actually see any benefit to the way you have done that, but whatever floats your boat.

[wally]

Originally Posted by TigerWare

Thanks wally, do let me know if you have any problems, or ideas on how to make this better. :up:

haven't noticed any problems yet looks good

i agree that a email option would be handy (no rush )

[TigerWare]

Originally Posted by wally

haven't noticed any problems yet looks good

i agree that a email option would be handy (no rush )

Cool, no problems is music to my ears. :up: As for email... I did that already in 1.1, is there something missing?

[nyunyu]

perfect hack..reserved for future use.
Great release!

[serhat_kk]

Great mod. Thanks