Deleting a post

vkaryl

I've read the discussions I could find on this, and searched in the FAQ and the Troubleshooting section. The posts indicate variously that the "admin tool/cleanup utility" should be activated; or that the cleanup utility isn't working in version 1. Could someone give me a definitive answer as to how I delete a post? I see (and have used) the "hidden" and "closed" options. I just don't see an option to delete. And yes, I'm the admin. Thanks.

Minisweeper

/me wonders why he hasnt added this as an FAQ yet.

By default vanilla doesnt, and almost certainly will never, by default, allow you to delete users posts. The Comment Removal extension should work assuming you have the correct mysql version it's just that the user removal extension isnt compatable with v1 yet.

vkaryl

Um. You're joking? Why on earth would this program NOT allow deletion of posts? One of the major problems of any forum software installation is the sheer asininity and stupidity of "fly-by" users. Which is why post deletion is absolutely a necessity in a quality forum application. And if there's a "solution" (the comment removal extension), why is it not compatible with the release version of this software? *jaw dropped, goggling* I'll think about this software, but I have to say up front that without thread/post deletion it's probably a no go. I could maybe just do what needs done in the database though that's not a logical solution at all. The programmer needs to get real with this. Every other forum solution out there allows thread/post deletion. What's with that here? Silly. [And btw, I've used forum software since phpBB 0.1 - in other words, a VERY LONG TIME. I've used IPB, SMF, you name it, I've used (and paid for) it. Right now, this particular package is looking like the orphan child.]

ithcy

ok, bye!

Bergamot

It would be nice to be able to hide all comments/discussions by a given user, or even make that a role setting.

takai

Aah, I like that idea Bergamot. I still miss the system cleanup. I just find it annoying to log in and see all of the hidden threads and posts. I know the delete post extension is there, or I can do it manually. But the system cleanup was slick and fast. Saved database space too.

vkaryl

Bergamot said: "It would be nice to be able to hide all comments/discussions by a given user, or even make that a role setting." [since there does not appear to be any way to quote posts either *sigh*] Hiding is useless. It's a kludgy workaround, which leaves grunge in the database. If there's no option to delete the extranea from the database, that's a serious lack.

takai

vkaryl, http://lussumo.com/addons/?PostBackAction=Search&Keywords=quote&Type=All&Sort=Recent

nathan

-- Hiding is useless. It's a kludgy workaround, which leaves grunge in the database. If there's no option to delete the extranea from the database, that's a serious lack. -- Mark had some very good reasons about NOT having a dleet function, and I suggest you do a quick search and take a look at some of the other discussions about comment/ post deletion. Eventually, when the CleanUp extension is finished/ made compaitble with V1, then you can get rid of the 'hidden' entried from the DB. Really, the few extra entries that you have hidden will not break the bank in terms of db size. They are only text entries. This way, IF you ever need them for any particular reason, they are still there.

ithcy

hey vkaryl, it's not a workaround. it's a different way of doing things. there is a philosophy behind it - and about 1000 other threads on this very same topic which contain plenty of helpful background information on why Vanilla works the way it does. "the programmer" does not need to "get real." it might be a good idea for you to read the FAQ and the docs before you come barging into the forum complaining. the people who write extensions are not always the same person who writes the core. if an extension isn't up to date with the core, well, those are the breaks. you can always write one yourself - speaking of which, maybe you should check out the addons site. there are two quote addons there. [And btw, it doesn't really add anything to the discussion to tell us how long you've used forum software - and no, 2000 (when phpBB was released) wasn't really that long ago.]

vkaryl

I searched. I posted AFTER I searched. I didn't find anything about "philosophy". There's nothing logical about a "philosophy" which leaves dreck in the database. Takai, I don't see anything in the link you provided which addresses this situation. ithcy, 6 years is FOREVER in terms of software.... and considering that I searched using what I thought were logical terms, perhaps YOU might like to provide some links to those "philosophical" postings? Whatever. I'm quite sure y'all don't need one more user.

Minisweeper

If i see one more person use 'space' as an excuse for deleting comments i think i'll probably explode. And as nathan says, Mark has his reasons why his forum software will never delete things as a core function and I for one can completely understand and reason with that. I also seriously dont see what the problem is with hiding things (assuming you ignore the afformentioned space 'issue') since then you cant see them (unless you choose to, and why you'd do that is beyond me (except to take another look at posts you've 'deleted')). I had another point but mum just came in to ask me why i was still up at 5am and i forgot it.

If deleting posts is so important to you, the extension which is available doesnt work for you for some reason, and a different forum package out there offers you more functions which you value, then please go ahead and use it. We'll never please everyone.

vkaryl

EXCUSE ME. I did not at any point say anything about space. That is not the point. The point is that if I as the forum admin want to delete a thread, it should be my right to do so. And since the package is at release version (that's what 1.0 means, yes?), but the only option to enable something that should have been coded from the get-go is an extension which doesn't work with the release version, that's a bit - um - space-cadetish, I think. As far as packages offering more functions, again, you're missing the point. This package could be a replacement for every other OS package out there forum-wise, but not if the programmer's "philosophy" leaves out of it one of the most important parts of a viable forum software script. [Oh, btw, I've been registered here for quite a while, watching the progress as I had time. I really had hopes for this. But apparently they were forlorn.]

ithcy

6 years is FOREVER in terms of software
ok... thanks for the info! i've only been a programmer since the 80s, so i had no idea.

There's nothing logical about a "philosophy" which leaves dreck in the database.
yes, there is, you just don't understand it, and you're creating a straw man to boot. it's not "leaving dreck in the database" at all.

if the link had been called "delete" instead of "hide", and then you realized that you could retrieve deleted threads, this thread would probably not be here.
on that note, this thread doesn't need to be here. why not just bump one of the other ones on the same topic?

nathan

@ vkaryl: Here is the comment where Mark (the developer behind Vanilla) explains his reasons and logic behind NOT having a delete function. http://lussumo.com/community/discussion/2685/?Focus=33333#Comment_33333 I hope that helps shed some light on the situation.

ithcy

and considering that I searched using what I thought were logical terms, perhaps YOU might like to provide some links to those "philosophical" postings

this is YOUR problem, not mine. but maybe your definition of "logical terms" doesn't include the word "deleting"? because i found that thread that nathan posted within a few seconds of searching for deleting. i decided not to post it because, frankly, you're being really rude in this thread.

vanilla is plenty "viable" and it has loads of happy users. this is a friendly community. please keep it that way.

vkaryl

Thank you Nathan for the link. I find it extremely interesting that when I used the search function for "deleting posts" that particular entry did not show up. However, my "philosophy" is completely different. If the post I want to delete is nothing but spam with links to porn etc. then there IS NO VALUE TO IT. Period. If the post I want to delete is nothing but links to garbage, why would anyone ever think it would be valuable at some point in the future? Y'all are not getting something here. One of the contracts I make with the provider of my reseller space is that I will have NO DATA in my webspace which falls within these proscribed fields: pornographic sites or materials, sites promoting abuse (sexual, child, adult, senior, women, men, animals wild or domesticated), terrorism, violence, intolerance, or racism. Of course, I could use a different provider - but I AGREE with these strictures. So if grigori from Rumania posts links to his porn site, all I can do with this script is hide the post. But it's still there in the database, and should my provider decide to get persnickety, they could terminate my contract. Sorry. That's not good enough.

nathan

I do believe the Comment Removal Addon by Bergamot will delete posts, not just cooments. Here is the link to it again anyway. http://lussumo.com/addons/?PostBackAction=AddOn&AddOnID=95 -- Thank you Nathan for the link. I find it extremely interesting that when I used the search function for "deleting posts" that particular entry did not show up. -- I knew who wrote it and the basic content of it, so I did an advanced search. It was burried pretty deep. I know what you are saying, but if you look at a basic install of Vanilla, there is really nothing there. This would never get in Core because there is almost no additional functionality IN CORE. All it can do it add posts and the extensions are what you use to get the additioanl functionality. With this philosophy used in the design of the application, and having such a feature available as an extension/ add-on, the situation does not seem unreasonable to me.

ithcy

so you're saying your provider has the right to search through your database without your permission, and use the data thereby gained to terminate your contract because of data posted by your users which is not publically accessible?

i find that extremely interesting. where is this provider located? because in the US, that's not called persnickety, it's called illegal.

also: maybe we were not "getting" this because you hadn't brought it up.

nathan

Sorry. That extension was by SirNot. My mistake.

vkaryl

Thank you again Nathan. I didn't see that extension when I went through the list. I will give that a go, I hope it fixes this sticking point. Other than this one thing, I really like this script. It's also, among other things, very easy to template, which is certainly unusual. ithcy - you're attempting to promulgate a flame war. I'm sorry, but I haven't any use for that. Goodnight, and I certainly hope you never attempt to tell your host provider that looking at what you store on the space you lease from them is illegal.