Partial restrictions for Guests - Help

[thedarkknight]

SMF Version: SMF 1.1.2
Hi,
Recently i started a new forum based on smf. Most of the users are guests users. I want to set a new restriction for guests such that they will be able to view all the categories, boards, topics/threads, but should not be able to view the contents of the thread. When they try to view the content of the thread they must be prompted to register and account.

The closed thing i found for this was "Allow guests to browse the forum" toggle under Features and Options. But this is too vague {It's either browse fully or nothing}.

So is there anyway to do what i wanted ?

I would be very gratefull if anyone can suggest an idea {even remotely usefull} for this....

Thanks in advance

[fallen_angel]

This was discussed recently and IIRC there isn't an option to do that.

Can I ask why you're wanting to do this? For community building purposes you'd be better allowing guest access to most of the boards, but then having a members only section as an 'incentive' for guests to sign up.  

[thedarkknight]

Too bad there is no such option

The reason i wanted to do that was to increase the number of registered members. My forum offers educational/career contents, If guests will have permissions like now then expect for the need to post, they will never register since they can get all the contents without having to.

[fallen_angel]

Is the content actually in the posts or as attachments etc.? One way you could do it if the content's in attachments is not give guests permission to view attachments - that can be set up in the permissions section of the admin panel.

The other way of course is something like I previously suggested - use open boards viewable to guests for general discussions around education and careers, and put the content you want them to be registered to access in a members only area, making sure of course that it's clear there's more content for registered members by using a message on the news fader for example.

<edit>Or, probably more work, but might work if you haven't got too much content at the moment, is to have a topic that gives a taster of the content available in the open boards, and a link to the full content which is of course in a members only area.  Guests can see the taster/summary, but then click the link to go to the full content, they'll be taken to the login/register page to access it. Might work.</edit>

[thedarkknight]

The contents are not as attachments but rather as posts.

I could make certain boards viewable to guests and others restricted like you said, but still the guests can't "SEE" what they are missing. Thats lesser incentive to register.

Thanks anyway for taking time out to discuss this issue. I hope they made it a feature in the next release or make a mod for this.

Speaking of mods, does any mod exist for this ?

[SleePy]

Did you check our mod site and Tips and Tricks (index)?