A question for PHPBB gurus

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Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 1:10 pm

I've been asked this question by a colleague who wants to set up a Bulletin Board for a non-419 application. I recommended PHPBB but when we went through the list of requirements, the following one was problematic.

The awkward requirement is to be able to search for text submitted by someone belonging to a CATEGORY of user. In a health application, a CATEGORY might be Doctor, or Patient, or Hospital Administrator, and the idea is that users would belong to one or more categories. A forum user could then search for all comments made by Patients.

Can anyone tell me if PHPBB can support this, and how?

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 2:39 pm

PhpBB cannot support that kind of search without a modification. The way I would do it - is as follows

1: Make sure you setup the various types of users into various usergroups (PhpBB calls categories - specific groups of forums not the same as usergroups)

2: Modify the search facility adding a usergroup search to the form (currently PhpBB allows you to search by category (in their definition of a category) here is a modded screen shot of what it could look like

Just my 2c worth - I'm sure there is more than one way to do this.

Elite Baiter Joined: 02 Jul 2006 Posts: 1702

You mean example

User - search - comment - results.... ( block users results )

If thats what you wish, you can add a phpbb group category in phpbb 2.21 and turn off search for certain groups such as guests in phpbb can be forced to login to see the results, where your modification would cause a "you dont have permission to view this" etc etc

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 3:50 pm

Thanks for the replies.

As a follow-up question, can users be given the ability to select the USERGROUPs that they want to belong to, eg, during registration? Obviously, they should not have the option to join the Moderator or Admin usergroups, but otherwise they can have free choice.

I'm guessing that the answer will be "No, but it can be added as a bespoke modification" but I thought I should ask

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 5:20 pm

By default users can resign (leave) usergroups from phpBB, joining a usergroup is left up to admin's and mods to do. - you are right if you want users to choose what usergroup they want to belong to - you would have to write a mod. This would NOT be difficult to do. PhpBB uses numeric values for the usergroup determination. You would simply write a front-end that would list the various usergroups via a drop down menu (the ones you choose) once the user clicks on the one they want an SQL statement simply inserts that usergroup numeric into the users profile.

419Eater Admin Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Posts: 7469

Bloody newbies posting oversized images Laughing

( No. I don't want you to check my posting history Embarassed

)

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 5:37 pm

what over sized image Laughing

- last time I checked it, it was exactly 600 pixels wide Laughing

419Eater Admin Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Posts: 7469

774 according to my extensive calculations!

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:22 pm

well then Mr Shiver Sir - best you re-calculate again! Laughing

(Actually - I did re-edit it and uploaded it as the same image - so if you did a REFRESH the new one that is 600 pixels wide will show up - but then I know you have not refreshed your cache .... I'm just not telling you! and yes... I do not think you will even see this message!)

419Eater Admin Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Posts: 7469

Ahh.. The old refresh trick Smile

** SUSPENDED ** Joined: 26 Mar 2005 Posts: 1267

Rover, we all saw it..

Mod Edit: Taken out to avoid you being banned for pissing off an admin Laughing

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 8:00 pm

^^^ I was talking to Shiver - I knew you would all see it! Laughing

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 8:02 pm

Zen wrote:

Bulletin Board for a non-419 application.

Huh? What for?

** SUSPENDED ** Joined: 26 Mar 2005 Posts: 1267

Quote:

Mod Edit: Taken out to avoid you being banned for pissing off an admin

You wouldn't dare ban the loveable Radden.

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 12:29 am

^^^ He is the destroyer of worlds, you know.

Elite Baiter Joined: 02 Jul 2006 Posts: 1702

Zen this should be what your looking for:

link

Just be aware when you mod phpbb to check forums on phpbb for security too.

This means you can keep users from joining premium, doctor groups etc etc, as only open groups ie - free to all will be listed. Hope that helps.

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