Selective Forum Filter

I no longer support my hacks. Please feel free to update them and release new versions elsewhere as long as I get the credit for the original modification.

/*================================================= =====================*\
|| Selective Forum Filter
||
|| Author : Anton Kanevsky
|| Co-Author(s) : Andreas
|| Works on : vBulletin 3.5.x - 3.8.x
|| Released : May 31, 2009
||
|| Time required to install: 30 seconds
|| Difficulty: easy
\*================================================ ======================*/

DESCRIPTION

Ever came across large boards with a huge number of sub forums? Couldn't find your info? Wanted to run away from that huge load of stupid threads? This hack is intended to save your users from having such a horrible experience. It provides them with an opportunity to exclude any number of forums from the forums list (as well as from "get new"/"get daily" searches), which still letting them to access those forums directly and search within them, too.

STATISTICS

Products to Install: 1


INTRODUCTION

To enable "can be excluded" in all forums, run this query:
UPDATE PFXforum SET excludable = 1
To disable "can be excluded" in all forums, run this query:
UPDATE PFXforum SET excludable = 0
In both cases, PFX must be replaced with the actual table prefix that you have defined in config.php.
If you have not defined a prefix, remove PFX from the queries.
After you run either one of these queries, you must then open and save any one forum for the forum cache to be updated.

VERSION HISTORY

1.1.0
[+] The hack is now compatible with vBulletin 3.5.x - 3.8.x.
[+] Eliminated all template edits.

1.0.2
[+] The hack is now compatible with vBulletin 3.6.
[+] Corrected a couple of mistakes in the installation manual.

1.0.1
[+] Added option to set forums as excludable. By default, excludability of all forums is disabled.

1.0.0
First Public Release

The installation manual is contained within the attached file.

IF YOU LIKE MY HACK, PLEASE CLICK INSTALL

[Andreas]

Hmm, not sure but what about

cache_ordered_forums

PHP Code:

$excludeforums = explode(',', $vbulletin->userinfo['excludeforumids']);
foreach ($excludeforums AS $forumid)
{
    $vbulletin->forumcache["$forumid"]['displayorder'] = 0;
} 


to avoid the file edits?

Btw: Where is the Product XML?

[theArchitect]

Originally Posted by KirbyDE

Hmm, not sure but what about

cache_ordered_forums

PHP Code:

$excludeforums = explode(',', $vbulletin->userinfo['excludeforumids']);
foreach ($excludeforums AS $forumid)
{
    $vbulletin->forumcache["$forumid"]['displayorder'] = 0;
} 


to avoid the file edits?

Btw: Where is the Product XML?

What he said.

But I love the concept.

[heynurse]

Yes, it looks like a great concept!

[JJR512]

Can this be used to, or be modified to be able to, set a universal forum to exclude from the "get new" from the admincp?

The reason is that I have a hidden forum on my board. It's set to inactive, which as described in the admincp prevents it from showing up on the forum view, but is still open if someone knows the URL to it. But it also shows up through the "get new" feature, and I'd like to avoid that. I don't want to make the forum a password-only or limit by permissions or masks; I want it to be accessible to anyone clever enough to find it, but I don't want it to be too too easy, either.

[Boofo]

Will this play well with Kirby's Opt-Out product and what is the difference between the two?

[akanevsky]

Originally Posted by KirbyDE

Hmm, not sure but what about

cache_ordered_forums

PHP Code:

$excludeforums = explode(',', $vbulletin->userinfo['excludeforumids']);
foreach ($excludeforums AS $forumid)
{
    $vbulletin->forumcache["$forumid"]['displayorder'] = 0;
} 


to avoid the file edits?

Btw: Where is the Product XML?

Hmm... That hooks only works within if ($getcounters)... And I am not sure that $getcounters are on everywhere. I'll have to research that before I can say yes.

Originally Posted by JJR512

Can this be used to, or be modified to be able to, set a universal forum to exclude from the "get new" from the admincp?

The reason is that I have a hidden forum on my board. It's set to inactive, which as described in the admincp prevents it from showing up on the forum view, but is still open if someone knows the URL to it. But it also shows up through the "get new" feature, and I'd like to avoid that. I don't want to make the forum a password-only or limit by permissions or masks; I want it to be accessible to anyone clever enough to find it, but I don't want it to be too too easy, either.

This sounds like a vBulletin design issue. Post the problem on vBulletin.com, cause hidden forums should not show up through "get new".

Originally Posted by Boofo

Will this play well with Kirby's Opt-Out product and what is the difference between the two?

It will not play nicely. Instead, it is a modified version of his Opt-Out product, which features everything there is in Kirby's product plus removal of forums from forums list, which Kirby refused to add as a feature.

[akanevsky]

Okay, package updated:

1. Missing XML File Added.
2. The hack is now a plugin-type only. Does not require any file edits.

KirbyDE, please move this to an appropriate forum.

[theArchitect]

Originally Posted by Dark Visor

Okay, package updated:

1. Missing XML File Added.
2. The hack is now a plugin-type only. Does not require any file edits.

KirbyDE, please move this to an appropriate forum.

You Da Man!

[lefthome]

This has to be one of the very best hacks I have used from this site. We have a lot of sections and a large number of our members get upset because of the size. This just fixed their crying....


THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.