Advanced Warning System (AWS)

Advanced Warning System Version 3.5.0

The AWS version for vB 3.5 has been released. You can download it and get support in this thread:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?p=770032


Advanced Warning System Version 3.4.16 (latest stable release for vB 3.0.x)


LATEST ANNOUNCEMENT

The AWS has its own Premium Forum here at vBulletin.org, so please use that for questions and discussion on this hack.

The Permium Forum is located at :

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/forumdisplay.php?f=105





This Warning System owes its existence to Zero Tolerance's Warning Hack (https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=65336). I liked the idea, so I installed Zero's hack in my forums site. However, as in most cases, I was not fully satisfied with the way it worked, so I started customizing it. Other people in the thread above, asked questions, which I had already answered by my customizing work, so I answered, giving away those parts of the code, that I had modified.

In the long run, I almost hijacked the thread and the hack from Zero, so I guess I owe him an apology. However, the mods I did have compiled a new, more complete warning system, with much more functionality. Several members from that thread, asked if this could be released as a new hack, so after discussing it with Zero, here it is.

What it does? Well, it is a Warning System, which means it allows you (the administrative team of your site, in other words the admins, the supermods and the mods), to define offences, which the members of your forum should NOT commit. But as we all know, there are instances where members do not follow the rules. In that case, this warning system, allows you to issue a warning to the member who commited the offence. The warning has some points associated with it, as well as a period over which it is valid. When a member gathers enough points, he is banned from your forums, for a predefined period of time. That's mostly it, but below, you can find a short list of features:

Full warning system with:

- post- and non-post-related warnings
- hierarchical warning schema
- hidden or real warners
- customizable maximum warning points
- automatically bans members who reached the maximum warning points
- customizable ban days
- customizable ban user group and permanent ban user group
- customizable restore user group, where users are restored after they get unbanned
- customizable option for who can see the warning level of the members
- automatically issued warnings for posts which contain censored words
- automatically issued warnings for private messages which contain censored words
- supports incremental banning periods
- supports multiple warnings for the same post
- warned members are notified either by Private Message or e-mail when they are warned and when one of the warnings they have received is either deleted or expired
- maintains historical listings of issued warnings (even if deleted or expired)
- customizable warning types
- each warning type has predefined warning points associated with it
- each warning type has predefined maturity period, after which it is automatically deleted
- reports for admin, mods and members
- cron job included to automatically remove matured warnings
- uses vBulletin's cron job, to automatically unban banned users
- all options are setable in your AdminCP
- user warning points and number of bans viewable in your AdminCP User Manager.
- statistics show warning per type, warnings per warner, bans per user.
- Allows you to warn a user from your AdminCP/User Manager.
- Large "Warn" sign, in posts which have received a warning, for mods, supermods and admins, to easily distinguish those posts.
- Ability to remove user's avatar, signature or usage of the Private Messaging system, depending on the warning points he has collected.
- Supports non-standard admins, supermods and mods user groups.
- Allows you to save a copy of the warning send to the warned user, in a predefined forum.
- Allows you to issue "Alerts" (warnings without warning points, for first-time offenders)
- Allows you to add private or public notes for a user, either post-specific or not. Notes appear in the postbit, above each user's message.
- etc.

Admitedly, this is not an easy hack to install. It requires 20 new templates and modifications to some existing ones too. It requires five new tables and modifications to some others. It requires several new phrases. I've tried to make the installation, as easy as I could, by automating certain tasks in an automatic installer. The installer will add the new templates for you, add the new tables required and change the existing ones, and will add the required new phrases. You will have to manually edit the existing templates and the php files though. I also included an upgrade script, which will upgrade those who are using Zero Tolerance's warning hack (version 1.5) to this one. An uninstaller is also included, which removes what the installer installs.

Please keep in mind, that this is a very difficult hack to install. For this reason, I strongly recommend that you back up your database before starting the installation. I also suggest that you keep copies of each file and template you edit, so that you can always revert to a previous stable condition. Finally, I strongly suggest that you always run the latest release.

The zip file always contains both the instructions and the files required to install the latest version. If you have installed a previous version and want to upgrade to the latest, there is a text file attached, in the zip with upgrade instructions. Follow them.

In this thread, you will also find a more detailed document describing the features of this hack, as well as a document describing its version evolution.

Also keep in mind that the installer, will add the AWS templates only to your default style. If you want to use them in another one, you may try this Zero Tolerance's hack, which copies the templates to other styles you may have.

Another thing, the installation instructions were written when vB was at release 3.0.3, so you may expect to find some differences, with the latest files and templates. As far as I can tell, I haven't faced any such case, but I post this reservation here, since I do not have the time to recheck all the instructions for compliance with the latest vB release. The hack has been installed and is working fine with the vBulletin version shown at the top of this thread.

Finally, if you are using more than one style, the installer will install the templates only in the default one. If you want to use the rest of your styles, here is a hack, that will do this for you.

This hack can also be integrated with Zero Tolerance's vBChat. However, since I am using a heavily-modified version of vBChat, I haven't included instructions, on how to patch the original vBChat files, in the documentation. If you are interested in having AWS issue automatic warnings when one of your user enters a censored word in a vBChat message, or if you want your moderators to be able to warn a user, who misbehaves in vBChat, please post a thread in this forum and I'll help you through.

This is my first officially released hack, so please don't be to harsh with me, if I broke any rules or made any mistakes. The mods have been tested extensively, both by me and two volunteers (thank you gentlemen), but I am only human.

Closing, let me thank Zero Tolerance, who got me started in this, and who owns a big part of the code of this hack. I definnitely couldn't have done it, without his code.

Special Note
For those who upgrade from Zero Tolerance's hack to my AWS, even though I have included a script which will do some of the work automatically, not everything is done by that script. Read the installation instructions carefully. You have to run the upgrade script first and then do several things manually. If you just run the upgrade script and just upload the files, the AWS will not work properly. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to post here.

Also, let me add here, that version 3.3.0 wouldn't have been possible without the contribution of Revan.

And a couple of warnings:

PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE LATEST ZIP FILE FROM HERE, BEFORE YOU START INSTALLING THIS HACK. JUST BECAUSE YOU DOWNLOADED IT A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, THAT DOES NOT MEAN IT IS THE LATEST VERSION. MAKE SURE YOU DOWNLOAD THE ZIP, JUST BEFORE YOU START INSTALLING THIS HACK.


LATEST VERSION

Version 3.4.16 (released Thursday August 25th, 2005 GMT 18:18)

A couple of bugs fixed in this version. One is related to the Notes feature, and it allowed plain users to see the notes entered, if the "Who can view warning points" setting was set to "All".

Features.txt a new version of this file has been uploaded on April 4th2 005 GMT 09:30, which covers the latest additions to the hack. The original Features.txt file hasn't been updated since the first release of this hack, so it was time for an update.

John

[Shack Networks]

Thanks Man I realy appreciate the reply, this hack is a god send and I have often wondered why a system like this was NEVER incorporated into vBull in the first place as it would of saved many Admins a lot of time and heartache.

I was thinking it would be a good idea to try and automate several of the warnings if possible... No idea how it would work but it would be fantastic if it could be pulled off..

Many thanks and heres to looking forward for a VIP fix lol

Ta

H

[ChrisLM2001]

Originally Posted by mcyates

I think that this is something I should address, by not resetting his total points to 10, but leaving them at whatever they were the moment he got banned, i.e. 14 in this case. In that way, even when the minor offenses are removed, he still has the 7 points from the major one, and with 3 more he gets banned again.

What do you people think?

That would be better, just let the points warning do the job. and when one warning is removed and the points go below the banned limit he is unbanned

That's a good suggestion. Try to make it as automatic as possible, too. Points come down, and the offender can get the green light to return. Would be nice if this hack can be written so after the points do come down, an Admin can choose which usergroup the offender can return too. Either his former one, or a moderated one. That's one less followup an Admin needs to do. Set it and forget it.

Sv1cec: thanks for the heads up about the email variations, too.

Chris

[fpouk]

Any way of setting this hack up where only admins or admins and mods can view the warnings of people. Dont really like the idea of other members being able to view others warning levels.

thanks

[SamirDarji]

Originally Posted by sv1cec

I tend to agree with you.

The only problem is, that with the system as it is now, when a member reaches the maximum points and he is banned, his total warning points get reset to the maximum warning points. When the lesser warnings start getting removed, he artificially ends up with fewer points than he should have. In your example above, and assuming that the first offense was worth 2 points, the second 7 and the third 5, when the user was banned, he had 14 points, but the moment he gets banned he is left with 10 (let's assume the limit is 10). When the two minor warnings expire, (2+5) he is left with only 3 points.

I think that this is something I should address, by not resetting his total points to 10, but leaving them at whatever they were the moment he got banned, i.e. 14 in this case. In that way, even when the minor offenses are removed, he still has the 7 points from the major one, and with 3 more he gets banned again.

You know, when I first read how the system would reset the total to ban level, I thought that it shoud work differently. But at that time it really didn't affect too much, so it wasn't of much concern. Now it does affect the way warnings and bans would expire. I'm not sure how hard it would be to make it keep the total as opposed to resetting it, but if it is too hard, having the 3 points (in your example) would be better than 0. I'm sure whatever changes (if any) that need to be done will be positive.

And I think I need to say this as well. I have been working with vb extensively for a couple of months now on my site, and I have worked on all sorts issues and hacks/fixes. I need to say that the support for this hack (and everything John has done for this warning hack) is far beyond what I have seen even for pay solutions. Thank you John for dedicating this type of time and effort to the community. Your contribution means so much to so many of us. I vote this should be the hack of the month.

[sv1cec]

Originally Posted by SamirDarji

You know, when I first read how the system would reset the total to ban level, I thought that it shoud work differently. But at that time it really didn't affect too much, so it wasn't of much concern. Now it does affect the way warnings and bans would expire. I'm not sure how hard it would be to make it keep the total as opposed to resetting it, but if it is too hard, having the 3 points (in your example) would be better than 0. I'm sure whatever changes (if any) that need to be done will be positive.

And I think I need to say this as well. I have been working with vb extensively for a couple of months now on my site, and I have worked on all sorts issues and hacks/fixes. I need to say that the support for this hack (and everything John has done for this warning hack) is far beyond what I have seen even for pay solutions. Thank you John for dedicating this type of time and effort to the community. Your contribution means so much to so many of us. I vote this should be the hack of the month.

OK, let me try to answer some of the latest posts here:

1. I have to thank SamirDarji for the nice words, sincerely appreciated.

2. From next release, points would accumulate and not be reset to the maximum. Please be careful, I do not say that banned members will be unbanned, based on the expiration of the warnings, this is more involved and it might take some time. But if the warning points are not reset, then at least someone can always do the maths and come up with the right answers. As it is today, you may see 4 points, and wonder where are the rest of them, since the totals for the warnings one has received maybe 12 or 15.

3. Automating warnings: I'll check it out today and see how easy it is to implement it in a subversion, or if a new version would be required.

4. For ChrisLM2001, at the moment, the banned member is restored to his previous usergroup when he is unbanned. I can add a Warning Options, in which you could specify the user group in which the member is returned into. Would that help?

5. For fpouk, it can be done, you just have to enclose the part which shows the warning points and bans, in conditionals similar to the ones used for showing the "Warn XYZ" and "View XYZ's Warnings". The question is, if you are using hierarchical, then the Super Mods will be able to see the warning points of the mods. Do you want it that way? For your help, it's in the postbit template (or postbit_legacy).

6. For Shack Networks, if you do not use the hierarchical schema, I think your admins/supermods/mods can warn any other usergroup. I'll change it so that this works that way, even with hierarchical.

7. For Shack Networks, as for your list idea, I can check what it means to check the words against a list and add a warning automatically. As for the web sites list, I think this can wait, I am not sure I have the expertise to do it, so maybe in release... 12.0.0. LoL

OK, if you guys don't make me answer so many posts here I would have time to work more on the hack. See you later, I am going to make the "to do" list and start working.

Rgds
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John

[sv1cec]

OK folks, some of your wishes have become a reality.

I just uploaded version 1.3, which answers your requests for:

- Being able to warn users belonging to other usergroups than "registered users"
- Being able to define who can see the warning level and the number of bans of your members, in postbit (it's either "All" or "Mgm" which stands for management team)
- Being able to define a user group in which your banned users get restored, when they get unbanned. I HAVE NOT TESTED THIS THING, I DO NOT HAVE A WAY TO TEST IT, SO WHOVEVER ASKED FOR IT, TRY IT AND LET ME KNOW.

I also added a new report, in the AdminCP, which allows you to see which of your members have been warned.

I still need to check the issue about the restricted words.

Rgds
----------
John

[mcyates]

Originally Posted by sv1cec

OK folks, some of your wishes have become a reality.

I just uploaded version 1.3, which answers your requests for:

- Being able to warn users belonging to other usergroups than "registered users"
- Being able to define who can see the warning level and the number of bans of your members, in postbit (it's either "All" or "Mgm" which stands for management team)
- Being able to define a user group in which your banned users get restored, when they get unbanned. I HAVE NOT TESTED THIS THING, I DO NOT HAVE A WAY TO TEST IT, SO WHOVEVER ASKED FOR IT, TRY IT AND LET ME KNOW.

I also added a new report, in the AdminCP, which allows you to see which of your members have been warned.

I still need to check the issue about the restricted words.

Rgds
----------
John

your the best!!!! Cheers

Updating it now.

[mcyates]

updated everything seems to be working fine.

One question, when peoples bans run out, they are automatically unbanned andthire warnings are reset to 0? Right? Or do the warnings stay untill they have done their course? Say the warning was for 30 days, would that we wiped or would it stay?

[sv1cec]

Originally Posted by mcyates

updated everything seems to be working fine.

One question, when peoples bans run out, they are automatically unbanned andthire warnings are reset to 0? Right? Or do the warnings stay untill they have done their course? Say the warning was for 30 days, would that we wiped or would it stay?

Warnings stay, they are not removed when the user gets unbanned.

Rgds
-------
John

[mcyates]

oh right, so i have to remove them manually then?