8 replies to this topic

[Digital Noise]

I've got a bit of an odd situation, and I'm hoping someone here can point me in the right direction.

I have a need to create a forum - easy enough to do, Softaculous has the packages, etc. - but I need to do something very specific, that I'm not sure can be done.  Namely, I need for users of this forum to only be able to see the topics they have created - not everyone's.  There's a purpose for this, I assure you.  I, of course, as well as any other moderators, will need to be able to see all threads and be able to reply to all of them.

Are any of the packages that Softaculous can install capable of doing something like this?  Otherwise I think I'm going to have to create a form and a use a processor to create a "whiteboard" setup, but I'd prefer not to, simply because I'm sure I won't secure it nearly as well as it should be.

[davidatfuzzylime]

I'd be very surprised if there was any software that offered this solution, to be honest - surely it defeats the purpose of having a forum if people can't see, and reply to, posts made by others?

The only workaround I can think of would be to create a separate forum within the software for each user, and then only grant them access to that forum. But that seems a really awkward way to do it!

[Nepherim]

Find a forum that makes use of plugins, as there may be a plugin available for this. Alternately use an open source forum, and modify that, which will be easier than creating your own.

[Digital Noise]

davidatfuzzylime, on 13 December 2010 - 03:35 AM, said:

I'd be very surprised if there was any software that offered this solution, to be honest - surely it defeats the purpose of having a forum if people can't see, and reply to, posts made by others?

The purpose is to allow for threaded discussion between the individual poster and the moderator(s).  The discussions themselves are not between the individual users.  I'd prefer a canned solution simply because most forum software allows for attachments, which would be vital to the use we're looking for.

davidatfuzzylime, on 13 December 2010 - 03:35 AM, said:

The only workaround I can think of would be to create a separate forum within the software for each user, and then only grant them access to that forum. But that seems a really awkward way to do it!

You're right, that would be incredibly awkward and resource intensive - something I'm trying to avoid.

davidatfuzzylime said:

Find a forum that makes use of plugins, as there may be a plugin available for this. Alternately use an open source forum, and modify that, which will be easier than creating your own.

Well, that's kind of why I posted the question - I am not familiar with most of the forum software options as an Admin - I've used most as a user in various places, but that doesn't really help.  I thought I would ask and see if anyone had encountered something in their travels.

As far as modifying an open source one is concerned - I'd love to, but my PHP and other scripting knowledge is pretty much non-existent.  I've been out of the programming game for so long that I keep trying to revert to COBOL.

[davidatfuzzylime]

Would you maybe be better looking at some helpdesk-type software? The system ASO use - this one, apparently - allows people to log in and submit messages ("tickets"), which can then be viewed and replied to by moderators and admins.

Obviously that one is a pay-for solution but you may be able to have more success finding something in that area? I know that one also supports attachments and lets people submit messages by e-mail, too.

[djbaxter]

davidatfuzzylime, on 13 December 2010 - 03:35 AM, said:

The only workaround I can think of would be to create a separate forum within the software for each user, and then only grant them access to that forum. But that seems a really awkward way to do it!

Digital Noise, on 13 December 2010 - 02:02 PM, said:

You're right, that would be incredibly awkward and resource intensive - something I'm trying to avoid.

It's not really awkward at all, unless you have hundreds of users. I do exactly this with a by-subscription-only vBulletin forum. You have to be a bit careful about setting permissions correctly, etc., but it's just a matter of creating a usergroup and a forum for each member and then matching the permissions so only that usergroup and admins have access to the specific forum. Within the forum, multiple threads can be made so it's only on initial setup that there's some additional work.

[Digital Noise]

djbaxter, on 13 December 2010 - 04:11 PM, said:

davidatfuzzylime, on 13 December 2010 - 03:35 AM, said:

The only workaround I can think of would be to create a separate forum within the software for each user, and then only grant them access to that forum. But that seems a really awkward way to do it!

Digital Noise, on 13 December 2010 - 02:02 PM, said:

You're right, that would be incredibly awkward and resource intensive - something I'm trying to avoid.

It's not really awkward at all, unless you have hundreds of users. I do exactly this with a by-subscription-only vBulletin forum. You have to be a bit careful about setting permissions correctly, etc., but it's just a matter of creating a usergroup and a forum for each member and then matching the permissions so only that usergroup and admins have access to the specific forum. Within the forum, multiple threads can be made so it's only on initial setup that there's some additional work.

Hmmm, now this sounds interesting.  Does your setup allow for users to self-register, but then await approval and user-group assignment? Are they able to see the other "forums" in the software when they're logged in, but just not able to access? Or does vBulletin have a function to handle this?  I haven't looked into vB because I know it's not free, and at this point, this is a personal exercise with a small group of people - I'd hate to spend $195 to license something that ends up going nowhere.

[djbaxter]

Digital Noise, on 13 December 2010 - 06:33 PM, said:

Hmmm, now this sounds interesting.  Does your setup allow for users to self-register, but then await approval and user-group assignment?

That's correct. I manually activate the registrations and then set up the forum for the new member.

Digital Noise, on 13 December 2010 - 06:33 PM, said:

Are they able to see the other "forums" in the software when they're logged in, but just not able to access? Or does vBulletin have a function to handle this?

They can neither see nor view the forums. They are hidden to all but me and the specific member.

See it here: http://www.DrDavidBaxter.com - note that all a guest can see is the generic description of the site. I also use a plugin to prevent anyone but me (administrator) from seeing who is registerd, whi is logged in, etc.

Digital Noise, on 13 December 2010 - 06:33 PM, said:

I haven't looked into vB because I know it's not free, and at this point, this is a personal exercise with a small group of people - I'd hate to spend $195 to license something that ends up going nowhere.

It's been a while since I've used other software since once I discovered vBulletin I was "sold". However, you might investigate to see whether what I've done with vBulletin is possible with phpBB or SMF software (freeware).