User level registration question

[John_6x6 +]

What version of 68 Classifieds are you running?
V4.2.0 Developer

What template are you using?
Default

Please describe in detail the issue you are having:

Need a more clear understanding of registration process and user levels. I have search throughout the forum and docs but can't seem to get the answer.

The way I understand it, when guests register for the first time, they become Registered Members by default which is level ID 2 in user groups. I know I can make new user group levels and assign a package to them. But how do I change (or can I change) the way registration makes a user just by default and/or can I register into another user group other than Registered Members?

My example: a Registered Member picks a package and places an ad. I want to have unregistered visitors (guest user level) visit the site, see only certain parts of an ad as defined in the guest user group, and then the guest can register to see more ad details if they choose. The user groups seem to be the key but I can't find a way to make a guest register into any other user group I create other than Registered Members. How do I get them into the registered user group I create?

Maybe I just don't really understand this or my brain is fried so I apologize if my question ends up being a very basic and stupid one. I just can't seem to get it on my own.
Thanks

[seymourjames +]

I think what you are doing is complex because you wish to restrict no only the the posting of adverts of a certain type to different levels of users but also display them to different levels of visitors.

Can I ask your site application/market. I ask this because I do not see why you would wish to do this outside of only one or two industries. You may be making things complicated without real good reason.

[John_6x6 +]

Yes but I'll PM it to you while it's still under dev. Thanks

[Mike-N-Tosh +]

I believe from reading your post that you actually do "get" how it works, however may be confusing the "logic" about the implementation.

The main reason that you would create additional user groups is to offer additional ad listing packages (e.g. different pricing, duration, etc.) as you've already indicated that you understand.

What a user group sees when they view the site listings is what you allow them to see as you have already seen in the settings for the user groups. If someone does NOT log in they are in the guest user group. Once they are registered, then they are put into the registered user group. (If they are registered and DON'T login, they are in the Guest user group).

It sounds like you simply want to limit what the guest user group sees and allow more information to be seen by the registered user group. One of the most common things would be to NOT allow a guest user to see is the "Contact the owner" link to help prevent spam.

In direct answer to your question, there is NO built in method to automagically have a registered user become a member of a different user group other than a registered user. In order to do that, the preferred method would be through a custom module. As you have the developer's version you could modify core php files, but I wouldn't recommend that as it would make upgrading much more difficult. In addition, there are several places depending on other admin settings that would need to be changed. There is no "Oh just change this one line to this" solution for this.

Regarding the enticing a user to register:
I don't allow a guest to see any seller information other than the username as well as don't allow them to contact the seller, save to favorites... I use this little bit of smarty code to alert them to this as an "enticement" to register" at the top of my showlistings.tpl and the viewlisting.tpl files.

{if $smarty.session.userlevel == 5 || $smarty.session.userlevel == ''}
<div style="border: #000 thin solid; width:500px; margin:0 auto;">
      <p><strong>Welcome GUEST</strong>, feel free to browse our listings. However you will be unable to contact the seller or see some of the other information without <a href="userjoin.php">registering</a> or <a href="login.php">log in</a>.</p>
      <p>Registration is <strong>FREE</strong> and this is just one of the many benefits that you receive as a registered user.</p>
</div>
{/if}

This alerts them to the fact that they aren't seeing everything they could be. Only shows if they are not logged in or are a guest and has the convenience of the clickable links to easily do so.

[Lhotch +]

edit your user groups and make the "guest" user group restrictive so it can only see basic ad details.

Edit the "registered user" user group and alow them to see the fleshed out ad. If you do not want these folks to be able to place ads, then simply dont create any ad packages they can use and additionally you could hide the "place an ad" link for all user level except your custom created user (see below).

Create a custom user group and an ad package that is only usable by them.

Since you are using my membership mod and want to limite ad postings to 1 for each user, create an membership package that allows for only a single us and changes the users group to your newly created custom user above.

John doe comes to your site and is a member of the "guest" user group. He registers and is now a mmber of the "users awaiting email" group. Once he responds to the activation/validation e-mail he becomes a "registered user" and wont be able to place any ads but will see full ad details.

Once John Doe buys a membership he will become a member of your custom user group and when he clicks "place an ad" will see a single ad package and can place an ad. Once he places an ad the membership will expire and he will become a registered user again and no longer be able to place ads but can edit his previously posted ad.

It sounds to me like you are trying to make this a lot more difficult than it needs to be.

[John_6x6 +]

Thanks everybody.

Yes, I did make it more complicated than it needed to be now that I've read your suggestions and feedback. My problem is with my own brain - over-thinking it. I just need to allow the script to do what it does best and it will work just fine - guests register to become members. I got bogged down with too many other details and business. Amazing what a good night sleep will do.

I really appreciate the time , effort and support you guys have given. I hope other members here realize the effort you guys put in too.

John