When email validation is required, potential members submit an 'application' for membership. Like most Admins, I modified my page code so that an email is sent to Forum Admin when an application is submitted.
When Admin clicks link to view pending memberships (admin_accounts_pending.asp), he/she is presented three choices:
delete application, approve application, or activate application. The forum already provides for an email to the Applicant when the membership request is approved. I have found no Applicant notification if request is denied. (And I am not worried about it at this point.) Unfortunately, there was no "automatic" notification to the Applicant if the Admin "activates" the account. Previous posts suggested that Admin notify the Applicant of the action by emailing the Applicant using the Profile's email link. I propose an alternative.
I have inserted the following code in REGISTER.ASP:

'####### Notification of Admin activation Mod #### Line 192 #####
strSource = Request.ServerVariables("HTTP_REFERER")
If strSource = "http://www.YOURDOMAINNAME.com/forum/admin_accounts_pending.asp" Then
'Email to Applicant that registration is now active
strRecipients = strSender
strsubject = strForumTitle & " Registration "
strMessage = "Your application has been approved. You can now login using your username and password." & vbNewline & vbNewline
%>
<!--#INCLUDE FILE="inc_mail.asp" -->
<%
Else
'#Do nothing
End If
'####### End Notification of Admin activation ######## Line 205 ####

This code looks to see if register.asp is open by ADMIN_ACCOUNTS_PENDING.ASP If it was, it means Admin has "activated" the account and automatically sends an email to the Applicant.
DISCLAIMERS
I am NOT a forum guru, so you MUST test this code carefully. It works on my forum. Make backup copies of your file(s) before you test this code. And by all means... if you see a problem, please post so that I and others may learn!
I hope you try this... and hope more so that it works as expected!!
gary b
<

Originally posted by gary b Unfortunately, there was no "automatic" notification to the Applicant if the Admin "activates" the account.

That's because administrators should not be activating accounts; it defeats the purpose of e-mail validation if pending members do not have to follow the link e-mailed to them in order to activate their accounts. Only in rare cases when, for example, the link will not work for someone (this is usually down to their own stupidity ) should you manually activate an account.
<

I hear what you are saying, Shaggy... but there are several reasons to add this change.
For a forum where 95% of the members are former military members over 60 years old, it comes in handy! In our case, some of the prospective members are known to the Administrator. Besides, there could have been prior external communications between the Admin and the potential member. You say "...administrators should not be activating accounts", but that is based on *your* opinion, right? Other forum Admin's circumstances may be different. So since you think that activation is a taboo, you wouldn't add it at all? ...even though, as you recommend, it never be used?? You aren't a Republican, are you?? They always seem to know what's best for me and my family. <insert heavy dose of cynicism here!>

And one more reason to implement this change: Requiring email validation really cuts down registration by idiots who just want to post links to porn and such. When a registration is received that 'looks' okay, the Admin has the option to immediately activate the account. If hindsight shows that the User violates the terms of forum use, the 'trash can' icon works well. Our forum Admin thinks of it as 'selective email validation'.
If it weren't for IE 'remembering' passwords, most of our members couldn't log in the day following registration. It is NOT because these men are stupid. It is because they are older and did not grow up in an electronic world. I don't know how old you are, sir, but you may experience some of these traits some day.
I would still recommend putting the change in. If it is never used, then email validation is never "compromised" as you imply. When needed, it is at your fingertips... like a spare tire.
Sorry for the long post. Perhaps others will add their thoughts.
gary b

ADDENDUM
Just checked our forum. Pending registration as follows:

First name: bbfosamaxb
Last name: bbfosamaxb
Email: bbfosamaxb@mail.ru

You think this dude will get 'activated'??<

I think that you are both right in your circumstances. This is a nice add on if needed and serves a purpose but I can also see shaggy's side as well. That is what is great about this forum people contribute and you don't have to take it but for those who want it they can. As for you remarks on Republicans you should be careful on making remarks like this. First of all as a VERY Conservative Republican I enjoy my opinions as you do yours. What you can saying that republicans know whats best for your family the same argument can be made about Democrates . I don't like to be told where I can read my bible and or pray. So its probably best not to make these kinds of remarks cause they can be offending. But this is my opinion.

Thanks for the contribution I can see on a couple of boards I use where this could be handy will have to see if the client would like something like this.<

JJ...
Just agitating

And I do see what Shaggy is saying. His point (about why use email validation if you are just going to 'activate' anyway?) is well made. This modification is something that one must use carefully. However, I'm afraid the logic of precluding it completely escapes this senior citizen. I must be stupid... <just agitating!!>

I *do* enjoy and learn from the different perspectives. I would not like it any other way!
Thanks again for the input, JJ...
gary b

PS
Working on mod to display first and last name in 'pending registrations' page. Tough one for me! Not having first and last names negates one big reason to use 'activation'.
Ciao!
gary b
<

There is/was a "Pending Member Profile" MOD up on www.snitzbitz.com - it was basically a modified profile page that let you look at a pending member's profile. I've used it for a while now to help filter out spammer vs. idiot-who-doesn't-check-email. If memory serves, it did need a little tweaking...<

Good morning, all... just a quick update.

I have modified the admin_accounts_pending.asp page to display FIRST and LAST NAMES and *not* the meaningless Username. I expect to post a list of the changes in the next 24 hours. Please note! The IP lookup link on the existing page does not work. The link uses 'samspade.com' which does not appear to exist. I have modified this code to point to Network Solutions IP lookup. The IP lookup link now works!
More later...
gary b
<

Originally posted by gary b
Please note! The IP lookup link on the existing page does not work. The link uses 'samspade.com' which does not appear to exist. I have modified this code to point to Network Solutions IP lookup. The IP lookup link now works!

SamSpade has changed the interface to their Whois lookup. Changing the link from: to: Will fix it if you want to keep using their site.

<

Thanks PPSSWeb...
Some Snitzer's may want to keep the link to samspade. Obviously, they need to change the original code/original URL. I chose Network Solutions only because I was familiar with that site.
Thanks again for the additional info!
gary b
<

Here are the changes necessary to display the first and last names of someone who has "registered" (applied) for Forum membership approval. This would seem especially relevant if you have installed the 'Full Name' mod! The "username" really contains no useful identification information.
Please note:
1. Your line numbers may vary from those shown! Look closely at the changes and you should be able to identify the lines that need changed. 2. BEFORE you begin, make a backup copy of your admin_accounts_pending.asp file If you have a problem, replace your newly modified file with your backup copy.
If you have questions, please email me.
Hope you find this useful.
gary b


Changes to admin_accounts_pending.asp
Replace Line 221:
strSql = "SELECT M_FIRSTNAME, M_LASTNAME, M_EMAIL, M_IP, M_DATE, MEMBER_ID, M_KEY, M_APPROVE"

Replace Line 338 (Optional -- wording change):
" <td><font face=""" & strDefaultFontFace & """ size=""" & strDefaultFontSize & """><b>NOTE:</b> The following table will show you a list of applicants that are waiting to be validated or activated.</font></td>" & vbNewLine & _

Replace Line 349 with these TWO lines:
" <td bgColor=""" & strHeadCellColor & """ align=""center""><b><font face=""" & strDefaultFontFace & """ size=""" & strDefaultFontSize & """ color=""" & strHeadFontColor & """>First Name</font></b></td>" & vbNewLine & _
" <td bgColor=""" & strHeadCellColor & """ align=""center""><b><font face=""" & strDefaultFontFace & """ size=""" & strDefaultFontSize & """ color=""" & strHeadFontColor & """>Last Name</font></b></td>" & vbNewLine & _

Replace Line 368:
if strRestrictReg = "1" then intcolspan = 9 else intcolspan = 8


Replace SEVEN Lines (373-379) with these EIGHT lines:
mM_FIRSTNAME = 0
mM_LASTNAME = 1
mM_EMAIL = 2
mM_IP = 3
mM_DATE = 4
mMEMBER_ID = 5
mM_KEY = 6
mM_APPROVE = 7

Replace Lines at 387-392 (entire block) with these lines:
MP_MemberFirstName = arrMemberData(mM_FIRSTNAME, iMember)
MP_MemberLastName = arrMemberData(mM_LASTNAME, iMember)
MP_MemberEMail = arrMemberData(mM_EMAIL, iMember)
MP_MemberIP = arrMemberData(mM_IP, iMember)
MP_MemberDate = arrMemberData(mM_DATE, iMember)
MP_MemberID = arrMemberData(mMEMBER_ID, iMember)
MP_MemberKEY = arrMemberData(mM_KEY, iMember)
MP_MemberApprove = arrMemberData(mM_APPROVE, iMember)

Replace THREE Lines 414 (name, email, and IP portions) with these lines:

" <td bgcolor=""" & CColor & """ align=""center""><font face=""" & strDefaultFontFace & """ size=""" & strDefaultFontSize & """ color=""" & strForumFontColor & """>" & chkString(MP_MemberFirstName, "display") & "</a></font></td>" & vbNewLine & _
" <td bgcolor=""" & CColor & """ align=""center""><font face=""" & strDefaultFontFace & """ size=""" & strFooterFontSize & """ color=""" & strForumFontColor & """>" & chkString(MP_MemberLastName, "display") & "</font></td>" & vbNewLine & _
" <td bgcolor=""" & CColor & """ align=""center""><font face=""" & strDefaultFontFace & """ size=""" & strFooterFontSize & """ color=""" & strForumFontColor & """>" & MP_MemberEMail & "</font></td>" & vbNewLine & _
" <td bgcolor=""" & CColor & """ align=""center""><font face=""" & strDefaultFontFace & """ size=""" & strDefaultFontSize & """ color=""" & strForumFontColor & """><a href=""http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp?ip=" & ChkString(MP_MemberIP, "display") & """ target=""_blank"">" & MP_MemberIP & "</a></font></td>" & vbNewLine & _




<

Oooh. Thanks for the update on the whois lookup, as well as the extra option. Great! I'm in the same boat as gary_b. We can't just allow users to be activated upon registration, because of the quantity of spammers; and I've tried getting our activating admin to use the authentication email for validation, but she's convinced it won't work for our users. Plus, if you saw all the replies we get from our users and how often we get them emailing, "I can't log in, and when I register it says my username is already in use" - and we've specifically in very large, bold text on the registration terms page stated to only register ONCE, and WAIT to receive your activation email. Then, they still email saying they can't remember their username or password and please help after they're activated. We have a very "low-tech" crowd. So we activate each account manually. What I'm thinking needs to happen, though, is that the email we send manually after activating them can just be sent once we click the "Activate Account" link. Then it's not dependent upon any assumptions that visiting the accounts_pending page means all accounts previously listed and not deleted are activated.<

Originally posted by gary b
Like most Admins, I modified my page code so that an email is sent to Forum Admin when an application is submitted.<

Gary, where did you find the mod to do this? Notify admin of new registrations.