I've had a few ideas bounced around and one that seems popular is that a site visitor who is not a member of a certain group can only view x-number of pages on the forum in a 24 hour time period before being presented with an error type page informing them how to access more pages.
Basically the requirement would work something along these lines:

• A visitor or member who is not already part of the group can view a set number of pages ie 5 within a 24hour period
• Once 5 pages have been viewed the visitor/member sees page asking them and informing them how to join a particular group to get unlimited access
• Existing members of the group get unlimited access
• Ideally number of pages allowed should be accessable for change by the admin

The User Groups mod would be a good starting point for this, or alternatively create the above as an add-on to it. Also, to be incorporated alongside the Site Supporters mod to effectively give visitors and none supporting members a taster of what is there but limit access unless they're prepared to support the site financially

Is this do-able ?


Edit: Fixed typo

I don't think there's a way to limit by pages, but by topics, yes.

Topics seems to be a better idea actually Carefree as otherwise pages such as post.asp register.asp etc would be counted - good one

it would be doable, but the only way to track it would be with a cookie, so it would be pretty simple to get around by simpley deleting your cookie

Just thinking out loud....If a check was made to see if the visitor/member was in a group, and only members of that group were allowed unlimited access, then if the visitor/member deleted their cookies then wouldn't access still be denied?
I suppose the topic count would have to be written to a visitor/member by way of a cookie and if that person had cookies turned off or kept deleting them then they would have unlimited access

so would the way to go be to have a check made initially to see if the visitor had a forum cookie and if not then write one. If the visitor can not accept cookies then they are redirected elsewhere?
Cookies are not my strong point so i'm a bit at a loss as to what can be acheived or not acheived using them

Originally posted by HuwR
it would be doable, but the only way to track it would be with a cookie, so it would be pretty simple to get around by simpley deleting your cookie

the only other way is to only allow members to view the site/forums.
so...
visiters - must sign up to vew site but restrict access to forums? members - can view x ammount of forum topics
paying members - gets full unlimited access

this way, a cookie isnt the deciding factor on how many pages can be viewed

another way would be to filter ip addresses, but we all know how un reliable/flawed that would be

The only problem with that is that our site has many references within search engines and if someone searches for something and are presented with a registration page before they can see the results of their search, then chances are they'll hit the back buton and go elsewhere.
What we'd like to acheive is for a visitor or existing member who is not part of the site supporting group to be able to get a taster of what is there and then to join the group to get full access
.... a bit like the magazines in the newsagents, you can have a quick flick through them but if you want to sit and read it you need to take it to the till and buy it

Originally posted by Webbo
Just thinking out loud....If a check was made to see if the visitor/member was in a group, and only members of that group were allowed unlimited access, then if the visitor/member deleted their cookies then wouldn't access still be denied?
I suppose the topic count would have to be written to a visitor/member by way of a cookie and if that person had cookies turned off or kept deleting them then they would have unlimited access

so would the way to go be to have a check made initially to see if the visitor had a forum cookie and if not then write one. If the visitor can not accept cookies then they are redirected elsewhere?
Cookies are not my strong point so i'm a bit at a loss as to what can be acheived or not acheived using them

Actually, there's another way to approach this using cookies. Have the cookie automatically decrement (instead of increment) the count and if the cookie value didn't reach 0, no access. Then if the cookie is deleted, still no access.