Miscellaneous Hacks - Mod Alert System (Posts)

-=+ WHAT IS THIS? +=-

Quite simply this product will alert Staff Members when either a New Thread or New Post has entered a Moderated state (nicknamed the Mod-Queue). Alerts are directed to a new thread in a designated Forum.

-=+ FEATURES +=-

Various aspects of this product are controlled via the AdminCP, such as:-

• Ability to turn it on/off.
• Choose to be alerted for new threads, new posts, or both.
• Turn on/off notifications if it is a reply to an already Moderated posting.
• Turn on/off notifications for the 'Quick Reply' box if it is a reply to an already Moderated posting.
• Pick the forum into which new threads will appear.
• Exclude certain forums from the Alert System entirely.
• Ability to specify a user as the thread starter.
• Specify a prefix for the Title/Subject of the Alert.
• Enable an automated reply to the Alert Thread once a thread/post is approved.
• Enable an automated closure of the Alert Thread once a thread/post is approved.

-=+ 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 - Mod Alert System (Posts)

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.

-=+ RELEASE HISTORY +=-

• v1.2 : 21-Dec-07 : Added Alert Thread auto-reply and auto-close features. (see issues section)
• v1.1 : 16-Dec-07 : Added Quick Reply handler and additional option. [Ref]
• v1.0 : 02-Dec-07 : First public realease.
• v0.1 : 23-Nov-07 : Internal Test Version.

-=+ ISSUES +=-

• Version 1.2 adds the ability to auto-reply and/or auto-close the Alert Thread once an approval is made by the Moderator. These 2 features only operate by using inline moderation and will not occur from within either ModCP/AdminCP. This is unlikely to be added unless appropriate hooks are made available within vBulletin itself, or an alternate method is found without making core file changes.
• This product is not tested on vBulletin 3.7

[TigerWare]

Possible Future Updates

• Extend the alert notifications so they can optionally go to PM and/or Email.

FAQ

• Q : Is it possible to create a recursive notification when using a Forum as an alert target? For example, the Alert Thread is created in a forum which automatically sets new threads to Moderated?

  A : No. This scenario crossed my mind very early on. Because of this, the plugin will automatically exclude that forum from the notification system. You will still get the Alert Thread being created, but it will not trigger a new alert.

• Q : Do notifications occur if a Staff member manually changes a post to Unapproved?

  A : No. Alerts only occur when a thread or post is first created (ie: New). Subsequent changes to the post do not create further alerts, and there are no plans to incorporate this as an option.

• Q : How does the Auto-Reply and Auto-Close system work?

  A : After an Alert Thread has been created, one of your staff will be tasked to approve the original thread/post. When using inline moderation (ie: not via the ModCP/AdminCP) you can have an automated reply and/or an automated closure of the the Alert Thread itself. This will help people identify when items have been dealt with. If the original thread/post is unapproved, and subsequently approved again, one of two things will occur. If the Alert Thread is not closed, a further automated reply will occur. However, if the Alert Thread is closed, a reply will not be made. It should also be noted that the Alert Thread must still reside in the designated Alert Forum. If it gets moved somewhere else, nothing will happen.

[Derek Chai]

Very nice! *Installed*

[Dan]

This actually a wonderful idea, one of the many reasons I've never used the moderation features before now on forums.

[TigerWare]

Thanks guys. Indeed Dan, I've always thought it a little odd that vB does not actually have a notification system already. Hopefully this will help to bridge that gap.

[Fungsten]

Finally!! Thank You!!!

[yahoooh]

wow , thanks

[Remi]

Finally!! Thank You!!!

Originally Posted by TigerWare

Possible Future Updates

• Extend the alert notifications so they can optionally go to PM and/or Email.

Can't wait for this

[TigerWare]

Originally Posted by Fungsten

Finally!! Thank You!!!

Originally Posted by Remi

Finally!! Thank You!!!

Snap! I know what you mean. :up:

Originally Posted by Remi

Can't wait for this

This is certainly additional functionality which I do intend to create. Hopefully I'll get it out sometime in mid-December.

[Endurer]

Thanks, I am going to install it right now.