News & Email Community Bulletin Generator

Updated 30 Nov 2001
Fixed a typo and Birthday Date Bug
---------------------------------------------

Here's a new version of the Community Bulletin + HTML
With the changes and the inclusion of the news section I have
titled it News and Email Community Bulletin Generator.

Here's a list of the changes/modifications that were made

Include News Articles (Threads) in bulletin.
Remove vbCode from news articles before sending email.
User email options include HTML or Text.
Forums are sorted by displayorder.
Category forums do not contain yes/no option.
Private forums marked as no by default.
Fix lasteventdate bug.
Modify admin/index.php installation instructions for version 2.2.x and version 2.0.x.
Include Admin CP edit user option to include Receive Community Email Bulletin and Type (HTML or TEXT).
Remove user password, send link instead.
Preview of HTML and TEXT email.
Post to Forum can be HTML or TEXT
Modified a few mysql SELECT * queries to include only necessary fields.
Cosmetic changes
......

To install
Copy the commbull.php file to the admin/ directory.
WIth a web browser access the commbull.php file.

Example: http: //yoursite.com/forums/admin/commbull.php

Follow the additional installation instructions.

This hack is based on Community Bulletin Generator by Kier
and additional Community Bulletin Generator functions by Kevin

Additional: This hack has only been tested on my machines. I don't have the ability to send emails
to a lot of users so this has not been tested either.

Remember: BACKUP and TEST.
213

[dstruct2k]

Awesome. Just awesome. I had problems with it stoppping after about 30 or so e-mails, but I realized I just have to send less at once.

Also hoping a version of this will show up that saves your settings... I'm tired of doing it manually.

[Ageel]

05-18-03 at 12:04 AM Alien said this in Post #199
I would really love to save settings, is there anyone who was able to get this to save settings? I'd like to keep the same settings each week so I don't have to select it all manually again.

-Jason

mmmmmmmm
I agree with u,
I think there should be some variables that hold:

• excluded forums
• excluded user groups

or there reverse, i.e. Include



thanx for this great hack

[Evil Chris]

This hack is the closet thing to what I was looking for to send out HTML Newsletters from my board.

All I really wanted to do to send HTML newsletters from my board was to prepare the newsletter in my html editor, and paste it into the message box to send to users.

Before the commbull hack, I was unable to do this.

For anyone else who might want to use this hack in this way, here is what you can do. Firstly, I do not give my users the option to take either html or text. They all get html.

I generate the mailing with commbull, but I delete the entire message after hitting preview. I then paste my HTML newsletter in the box and hit send.

I've done some tests, and it works fine so far. It even shows up in Yahoo and Hotmail web based email.

[ImportPassion]

05-17-03 at 07:04 PM Alien said this in Post #199
I would really love to save settings, is there anyone who was able to get this to save settings? I'd like to keep the same settings each week so I don't have to select it all manually again.

-Jason

I think I am going to tackle this one. Will need a new table tho.

D

[Webdork]

I thought at some stage I saw a hack that automatically clicked the "send next batch" button on the email generator - I did a search through this thread and the other 2 bulletin ones but couldnt find it - anyone know ?

[memobug]

So far, so good with my install under vB 2.2.6, following the instructions for 2.2.x

I just wanted to note that the install is not as straightforward as the first post might have you believe. After launching the php, database manipulations are made, and a template and two to three php routines need to be modified in a few places.

Since the 2.2.4 install was not documented, I was very careful about backup and comparing the replaced material and it took me about an hour and a half, including NETLDR's mod for HTML preview and the "optional" hack which makes it possible for the ADMIN to adjust the users' bulletin preferences.

Was it worth it? I need a bit more time to see how much I can customize it, but at the outset, I would say so!

Thanks & regards,

Matt

[Diva]

Hi. I am having a problem with the hack. It is great, except it only sends to 178 people. No matter what I do, it only sends to that many. I even installed the hack below and no dice. Anyone have a suggestion?

08-19-03 at 12:58 AM Webdork said this in Post #205
I thought at some stage I saw a hack that automatically clicked the "send next batch" button on the email generator - I did a search through this thread and the other 2 bulletin ones but couldnt find it - anyone know ?

It was on the page before. HERE is the link to the hack. I hope it helps.

[Aaron1]

This hack is pretty good indeed, although the fact it doesn't work flawless (most of the time it won't show the topic's (news) article title, i'll need to manually insert it) i am very happy with it.

Just an idea: Wouldn't the news items be alot cooler, if you see the persons avatar on the left of the news topic? This will give more props to the submitter of the news. And i'll bet it will look much nicer.... Just like it does on this homepage:
http://www.vbulletin.org/index.php?s=

[Aaron1]

Here you can check a sample what i send out to 2000 members each week:

http://www.xs4all.nl/%7Eaaron1/forumimages/weekly.html

Hope you like it...

But i'd love it if this hack will be bugfixed though (see previous post)

Thanks y'all...

/Aaron

[Diva]

Hi. I have found a way to send it through the CPanel so that all the members can get it. The only problem is the last part where user information is. This is what shows when you send it.

{USER INFORMATION:
These are your current user details
Your username is: "Guess"
Forgotten your password?
You have "$posts" posts
You registered on "$joindate"
You were last active on the boards at "$lastactivity"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Weekly Crier is a way for members to keep up to date and join in on the fun. Hope to see you on the boards soon!

The No Chick Trix Forum Administrator.}

How can I fix this so that the "{" don't show and the postcount, etc... do?