Can I block all user names starting with ??

[joetecktips]

I have created a GMRS forum that all users must login using their call signs. Is there a way to ban any user from creating a user name starting with all 25 letters? Is there a wild card character ?
Such as A*, B*, C* and so on. Only letter that is allowed is W.

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

I don't think the reserved names function does that, it already allows you to define a reserved word, and that word will then not be allowed as part of a longer username either without any wildcards involved, but to limit names to certain rules beyond that would require custom code.

By the way, shouldn't K be allowed too?

[joetecktips]

K call signs are old and rare. I am trying to prevent Russia and china from creating porn posts. This would be a perfect way to stop it. Instantly. I have trying other means, but they always find the exploit.

[Arantor]

I think you could do it with a ban since that supports wildcards (and should equally prevent registration)

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

I think you could do it with a ban since that supports wildcards (and should equally prevent registration)

True! Didn't come to think of that. Should be possible, just a ban trigger per letter.

[joetecktips]

Can I do A********? Would that work?

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

Try with something like this, and if this works for usernames starting with a, then you can just add triggers to the same ban for b*, c* d* and so on.

[joetecktips]

When I attempt to add is gives me an error "Member name not found"

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

Interesting, I might have to test this myself a bit - Haven't tried to do something like this before.

EDIT: Yup, this is smelling like a bug to me.

[Illori]

how can it ban on a username that does not yet exist? i am not sure it is a bug or a feature that does not work as expected.

maybe the set reserved names feature would work here? but this may block more then expected.

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

how can it ban on a username that does not yet exist? i am not sure it is a bug or a feature that does not work as expected.

You can do this with emails and IP addresses, I do - I don't understand why username would be any different?

#8345

[Illori]

it is checking the existing usernames registered. so it cannot check a username that does not exist.

if you want to ban username "A" and no one exists with that username,  how do you ban them? they dont exist to ban their account.

also i dont think ban is the right way to handle this, as a ban would stop them from browsing the complete forum.

set reserved names feature may be better used here.

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

Well, creating a "can not register" rule for a username that is already registered sounds a bit redundant to me.
And this is exactly what the partial bans are for IMO.

[Arantor]

Reserved names really doesn't work for this because the requirement is "everything except beginning with W" which cannot be done with reserved names.

[Kindred]

It's not a bug, IMO.   You can't ban a username that doesn't exist. Never have been able to. (and I don't think that you can ban usernames with wildcards)


However, no one has addressed the main point -- this is not the best way to prevent spammers.   Add some good questions.