How do I make my forum for registered users only?

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

I've been looking into this for months.

I want to configure my site so that unregistered users are told that they have to register to view any forum content. I know how to make forums invisible to Anonymous users but to them it looks like my forum is empty and they don't bother signing up at all.

Is there some simple configuration option that will enable me to challenge a user's credentials before they see any part of my site?

Thanks,

Melvin
[originally posted on jforum.net by elusivemel]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

Just go to Admin Panel -> Groups -> Permissions and, in the "Anonymous Posts => Deny anonymous posts" section, select all forums you don't want to allow anonymous posts, so users will have to register when they want to participate.

Rafael
[originally posted on jforum.net by Rafael Steil]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

I think I know exactly what you're referring to. Yes, they'll have to register to participate, but there are only two options:

1) Let unregistered users view forums, but deny them the ability to post.

2) Make forums invisible to anonymous users.

The problem with option 2 is that my forum looks empty to unregistered users and they don't bother to register at all because they don't see any reason to.

I'm looking for option 3: Unregistered users come to the site and see nothing but a login/registration page. If they register, they can view and participate. If they don't, they never get past the registration page.
[originally posted on jforum.net by Anonymous]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

^ sorry about the anon post. I just want to get the email if there's a reply. thanks.
[originally posted on jforum.net by elusivemel]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

I see.

Well, there is no permission role for that now, but you can do it easily:

Open the file header.htm and add a code like the listed below to the html, where you want to display the login / register form for non-logged / unregistered users:

<#if !logged>
    <!-- User is not logged or unregistered -->
    <!-- Put the proper form / alert message here -->
<#else>
    <!-- If we get here, then it is a valid user.. -->
    <!-- Display the rest of the regular header.htm contents -->
</#if>

You can also use includes, to separate logic. For example, save header.htm as "header_logged.htm" and create another file named "header_not_logged.htm", where you'll put the alert message / register / login form.
Then, in the header.htm, all code you'll have is something like

<!-- header.htm -->
<#if !logged>
    <#include "header_not_logged.htm"/>
<#else>
    <#include "header_logged.htm"/>
</#if>

Also, make sure you set the "Deny anonymous posts" role, in case where some users try to make a robot or something like to bypass the validations.

Rafael
[originally posted on jforum.net by Rafael Steil]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

Thanks for your reply, Rafael. I'll implement that solution.

By the way, your software rocks. It's very well written and I've found it easy to make minor modifications specific to my needs.

Regards,

Melvin


[originally posted on jforum.net by elusivemel]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

Thank you Melvin! Let us know about your website / forum when you're done with the modifications!

Rafael
[originally posted on jforum.net by Rafael Steil]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

I will, thanks. Although it's adult & bittorrent oriented

If that doesn't offend anyone, I'd be happy to point you to it.


Regards,

Melvin


[originally posted on jforum.net by elusivemel]

[Migrated From Jforum.net]

elusivemel wrote:I will, thanks. Although it's adult & bittorrent oriented

If that doesn't offend anyone, I'd be happy to point you to it.

I'm OK with it - that, most times, means tons of hits . We're working on a professional JForum website, where a section to websites using JForum will exist - from my part, it's good to show who's using JForum, specially when it's a famous / big / interesting one.

Rafael
[originally posted on jforum.net by Rafael Steil]