Miscellaneous Hacks - SocialForums 1.4

SocialForums for vBulletin 3.7
Created by Marius Czyz aka Phalynx.

This mod will work *ONLY* with vBulletin 3.7 or higher. It will not run on vBulletin 3.6.x due to non existent feature of "social groups".

Support will be only given for people who clicked Mark as INSTALLED.

Description
Not satisfied with vBulletin social groups messaging function? With SocialForums your social group leaders can create a standard forum for their group.
A group leader can only create a forum if the group has at least 5 members - this can be changed via settings. Optionally the group leader can be a moderator of such a social forum.

Permissions
Since 1.3 there are advanced permissions active (Forum and Archive). This includes read/write public and private (moderated/invite only) socialforums and creation of forum. As this needs two additional queries on every page you can disable this.

Demo
None, see screenshots

Installation
This product is fully phrased and uses template hooks. No file changes or manual template edits needed.
1. Upload bitfield_socialforums.xml to existing folder /includes/xml/
2. Upload functions_socialforums.php to existing folder /includes/
3. Fresh Installation: Just import the product. Upgrade: Import the product, allow overwrite. No forums get lost!
4. Check settings, especially for parent forum. Don't forget to set permissions via usergroups!

Troubleshooting
Q: I don't see a link to create a forum. Why?
A: Check permissions for the usergroup, espacially if the user is allowed to create forum.
A: Check if the usergroup meet min users requirement, see AdminCP/Settings/SocialForums.

Q: My users see the forums, but they shouldn't!
A: Check permissions for the usergroup, if the users usergroup is set to "can see".
A: Did you disabled the restriction mode? Enable it.

Todo
- By deleting a group the forum should also be deleted/archived. Currently this has to be done manually.

Known Issues
- On big boards with hundreds of social groups this mod can really impact the performance because of the mass of new created forums. If you still want to use this mod use the "Minimum Members" feature with a higher value. Using the permission check there are additional two queries on every page.

History
1.4.6, 6th October 2008
- Permissions are now also active in Archive

1.4.2, 27th May 2008
- Added: If a group has a linked forum the grouplisting has the last post date and count of postings (with permission check).
- Added: Recent threads in linked forum on group home
- Added: Private groups: Link to forum only shown to members of group
- Changed: Enabled permissions for unregistered usergroup. Unregistered Users are not more explicit denied without a check of it's usergroup

1.3.1, 23th May 2008
- Fixed: Not existing array

1.3.0, 23th May 2008
- Added: Permissions are now active. This includes read/write public and private (moderated/invite only) socialforums and creation of forum. Please check permissions for every usergroup! As this needs two additional queries on every page you can disable this.
- Added: Checks for permission before the creation link will be displayed
- Changed: Default View Age set to "Show all Threads"

1.2.1 8th April 2008:
- Added: Group messaging can be disabled via options (previously: always disabled)

1.2.0 4th April 2008:
- Added: Groupleader can now be moderator of group forum
- Added: Minimum Members that are required for own forum
- Added: Group messaging will be automatically hide for group that has own forum
- Added: Forums are created with more allowances
- Added: By deleting a forum the linked socialgroup get's updated
- Added: Forum's description contains link back to social group
- Added: By changing group's name it synchronize it with the forum's name

1.0/1.1 1st April 2008:
- Initial releases

[WreckRman2]

I upgraded this with 3.8 and I wish I never did... I really miss having an actual forum for each group.

[GHC Webmaster]

Originally Posted by IndyWebDesign

I upgraded this with 3.8 and I wish I never did... I really miss having an actual forum for each group.

If with upgrading you mean running the "SocialForums to vB 3.8 Group Discussions Converter" script, that's not actually an upgrade of this mod. It just makes this mod obsolete.

As far as I now the real upgrade of SocialForums is still under construction.

[WreckRman2]

Yes, I did that and now I dislike it.

[GHC Webmaster]

You could restore a backup from before the update (if you have one), but that would obviously cost you everything that's been posted/done since then.

[nanaimobar]

Phalynx did a great job with this mod and coding takes time, for free or otherwise and that's why I donated a small amount to - hopefully - soon update mod for 3.8+. If you can afford a small donation then why not donate and show your appreciation too.

[Phalynx]

Thanks for nanaimobar and another donator for your support!

I'm still developing v2.0, hoping it will be finished at the beginning of the next week.

[BoyG]

donated a small amount too, hope we get the 3.8 version soon. good luck!!

[BoyG]

Donated a small amount too. Hope to get the 3.8 version soon. Good luck and thanks in advance!

[blogthea]

i am really looking forward for the 3.8 version! i would like to donate but i cant find the paypal link

[buro9]

This is a great mod, and when you have a 3.8 upgrade for it you'll have a donation from me.

Truly great work, this is what vbulletin should've done.