I am using UBB Threads 7.5.4.2 running on Linux. I have an issue with my ISP that limits outgoing email. So, I want to disable the Watch List features by "hiding" it from the users. Can I hide this option from users so that it is not displayed? I think the DB can stay the same, just don't offer users an option to change their watch list settings.

What files and specific changes would I need to make?

Thanks,
Mike

Depends on how much you want to change.
You will need to edit the template files.
You could delete the options to email in the form and leave it as none with nothing else to select. Hide the option completely deleting the column.
Edit the language file to say it has been disabled.
Bla Bla.
But anyway here are the files needed to edit.
Forum/templates
/editdisplay.tpl( for default My Preferences)
/edittopics.tpl (for watched topics)
/editusers.tpl (for watched users)
/editforums.tpl (for watched forums)

Did not have a lot of time to look closer. But they are just small template files when you look at them it will be obvious what options to delete or comment out.
Of course members already getting emails will not be changed that would be a database change to clean them out.

If you need more detail when I have time I will type it in.

BTW,while you are looking at the files there are other email options to consider like the private message email. You could disable that also.

Thanks, I will see what I can do with those files.

The PM mail should be OK as it is only sent to a small set of users. I will use a discussion list style of email to broadcast to all users if needed.

Mike

Okay don't get fixated on it is a php file.
It just is a form with some table formating
If you cut and paste it into a html editor it may be missing the form tags but it is very close.

It's also on the Full Reply screen, so you'd have to do a smidge more digging...

i'd recommend making a feature request over at UBBCentral and see if Rick could get something in v8 to completely disable the watched list.

Then again, v8 will have a mail queue...

Giz that option is just for adding a watched item only not to email. Option is "Add this Thread to my Watched Topics."
But you are correct there are other items to consider. Such as the Email Post button when viewing a topic.
But Mike stated he is only concerned with email notification of watched items.

I can handle single emails sent out to individuals, just not all members at the same time.

Ideally, each forum subscription or watch list would send email to it's own email discussion list (ie one email, one address). Distribution of email to users would be managed by the discussion list (ie mailman). The biggest problem here is how to automate the subscribe/unsubscribe to each forum discussion list. I think it's possible, but would require sending a command to the mailman admin http://list.mydomain.com/admin.cgi. This would be separate from the UBBT database.

Either that or manage the subscriptions manually.

I had the same issue with classic at that time.
Even though threads is very different.
From memory:
What I did was register several users using a specific distribution email address for each.
Then logged on as each user and subscribed to the pertinent forums.
Then banned the user so stray emails would not be sent to them from the board and so they would not show up as users in the user list.

No file hacks were needed.

Then I added a list(island) to subscribe to on the main page.
Then in the list manager I added a footer to explain how to unsubscribe to the list.And a note not to reply to the email.
I also had to set security measures in the mail list for only subscribed members to limit spam. Meaning the main board email address was allowed to post.

It worked very well at the time.

Ruben,

This is exactly what I had in mind. But I will still have to hack the Watch List so that the feature is disabled.

Mike

Currently yes.
If it will still work today.
Lots of security measures have been placed since then.
I see you posted at ubbcentral with this feature request.
You might want to enhance that post for what you are asking for.
Gizmo stated there will be a email queue for version 8.
And it will allow you to throttle the outgoing mail for limitation caps but will not do what you are asking for now. Meaning send to a distribution list. You would still need to go through similar steps.

BTW, I was the one that pushed for that feature but I never thought about still using distribution lists.

You know the more I think about this, It is a great suggestion.
Several people have asked how to directly import a post from a discussion mail list to a forum. Which does not work currently.
But at least this will give a start to that feature outgoing only.

I have these mods up and running at the following site if anyone wants to take a look.

The option to modify user's watchlist has been removed.

The watchlist option has been replaced by subscription to email discussion lists.

http://grapevineforum.com

Thanks,
Mike