New Posting Features - LAM - Dispute Resolution

This product will allow you to configure a forum so that only a thread creator, their nominated list of disputed members, and moderators are able to reply to the thread. When a dispute thread is created a PM will be sent to all those involved in the dispute.

On my site we have a lot of people selling items, and occasionally something goes wrong during the process. Before we had this product a member would post up about their problem and it became a free-for-all with 'friends' of both sides posting up slating the other side for being wrong and generally turning into a slanging match until the thread eventually got locked. Now, thanks to this product, only those actually involved in the dispute can reply. This has resulted in almost all of our disputes being resolved in a way where both sides are happy.

As of version 4.0.8.1 it is now possible to configure this product to run in "Private Dispute" mode. This extends the normal functionality described above to also prevent those not in the dispute from being able to view the contents of the thread. They can still see it exists but any thread preview text, or opening the thread itself, will show a "You are not authorised to participate in this dispute" message.

As of version 4.0.8.2 it is now possible to configure this product to run in "Extra Privacy" mode. This extends the "Private Dispute" functionality described above to also prevent those not in the dispute from being able to see the thread exists. With this setting enabled dispute threads will not be shown when browsing a forum if the user is not the thread creator, on the disputed list, or a moderator.

As of version 4.1.3.0 it is now possible to make entering the disputed user names optional via the "Optional Disputes" setting. You can also enable the dispute functionality on all forums by enabling the "Globally Enabled" setting.

As of version 4.1.4.0 it is now possible for the thread creator, or a moderator, to edit the threads dispute list by performing an advanced edit on any post in the thread which they have permission to edit. Upgrade instructions for this version can be found here.

As of version 4.1.4.1 it is now possible to create a dispute against a single user group by enabling the "Enable Usergroups" setting. This will allow anyone in the user group to participate in the dispute, as well as anyone on the normal dispute list. PM notifications won't be sent to the user group. This version also fixes several bugs with the Private Dispute option where searches would still show a dispute thread even if the user wasn't allowed to participate in the dispute.

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Installation

1. Download the attached .xml file
   product-LAM_DisputeResolution.xml
2. Install the product
   AdminCP -> Plugins & Products -> Add/Import Product -> Import Product

Configuration

You need configure which forums you want this product to run in, or globally enable it to run in all forums. You can also specify if creating a "dispute" thread in a dispute forum is optional. There is a setting that lets you override who the notification PM is sent from should you prefer it to come from an admin account rather than the user's account. And finally there are the privacy and user group options as detailed above.



Example

When creating or advanced editing a thread in a disputes forum there is now an additional row where the user can edit the user names (and user group if enabled) of those they are disputing...



When the thread is created (or advanced edited) a PM is sent to those involved in the dispute (only newly disputed members are PMd when editing a thread)...



When the thread is viewed it shows at the top who the dispute is between...



An error will be shown if; the thread creator forgets to enter any names and the "Optional Disputes" option is set to No...



the thread creator enters an unrecognised name...



or someone not in the disputed list tries to reply to the thread...




Version History

4.1.4.1 - Added user group option. Stopped threads showing in searches when Private Disputes is enabled. Stopped sending PMs to users already on the disputes list when editing a thread. (2011/07/19)
4.1.4.0 - Added the disputed users to the advanced edit screen & removed the admin option (2011/07/05)
4.1.3.0 - Added optional disputes, global enable and prevented the admin option appearing in non-disputes forums (2011/05/01)
4.1.2.0 - Fixed an SQL error if the admin option was accessed in a forum that didn't have disputes turned on (2011/03/25)
4.0.8.3 - Added auto-suggest to the user names field (2010/11/01)
4.0.8.2 - Added Extra Privacy mode (2010/10/24)
4.0.8.1 - Added Private Dispute mode (2010/10/23)
4.0.8.0 - Initial release (2010/10/23)


Credits

Although I've written this product for vB 4 the original idea came from the Private Debates product written by beebi.

The code to not send PMd to users already on the disputes list when edited a thread was contributed by CheeSie

[mawby]

Hi BLUSpy. The problem is with the product and not your settings. Attempting to prevent a thread from being seen completely is proving tricky as there isn't one central place I can do it but instead I have to find all the different searches and fix them all. I did look at this problem last weekend and found the place in code I needed to hook in to didn't actually have a hook I could use.

I appreciate it's not very good though so I will attempt to resolve the issue. Unfortunately due to work time schedules I can't say when I'll get to look at it, but the more people I know this is affecting the more embarrassed I'll be about it so it will get sorted at some point!

[reddyink]

"Originally Posted by reddyink
2) User has an option to enter User Group name and/or Social Group name. In that case, all the members of social group will be able to reply to the thread.
Would this be an additional field or replace the usernames list? (For example, would you want to be able to ban user x OR users in group Y, or ban user X AND anyone in user group Y)"

This could be additional field or replacement (either way is fine)
Instead of entering userids, I would like to enter Social Group IDs or UserGroups IDs so that only and all of the members of the group can participate.

[A Dead Puppie]

Could you release a 3.8 version?

[CardMafia]

Great mod idea. Installed on a new board. I will post a review once the board goes live

[CardMafia]

Originally Posted by BLUSpy

I am not sure if it is just my settings that are or wrong or something is wrong with this product.

Like mentioned up thread I am using this product so that members of my website can create private threads between each other for role-play.

When you click on their profile and then click "View all posts" (and subsequently do a search) people who are not apart of the dispute can view the messages in the dispute thread. I have my settings configured so that they should not be able to view the dispute threads at all.

I have in my settings "Private Disputes" set to Yes and "Extra Privacy" set to Yes.

If you have this set on a single forum, consider setting that forum as unsearchable. Not totally sure if this will prevent the posts from showing on the "View all posts" action, but it would keep the post out of a general site search. Hope this helps.

[sulasno]

tagged

[BLUSpy]

Any word on if you have resolved the search issue I mentioned earlier in the thread? Disabling search in the forum isn't possible for what I want to accomplish, unfortunately. The role-players still need to be able to search through their threads.

[mawby]

It's a difficult one to fix to without hacking files. It is still on my to-do list at the moment.

[reddyink]

When I edit the thread (Go Advanced ), I don't see how to edit the dispute member fields. Doesn't show at all.
First, I want add 1 more person to the dispute after submitting the tread.

Second, I may want to change the person who the dispute is between. Let me now if this can be accomplished. What I am doing wrong?
Thanks

[BlessedFWI]

This is a great mod!

I am using vb4.1.4 and I am not seeing the "Dispute Resolution" under the "Administrative" tools. Can you help me with this please?

Thanks so much!