Make privacy settings unavailable for members

Is there a way to make the privacy settings unavailable for members?

Or to hide them from every page where they can change them? So admin can make default settings in database?

Have you tried disabling the privacy groups in the admin panel?  If so, what was the results?

I disabled all privacy settings, but the block still appears, though limited options to select. See printscreens

I see, well then, this calls for some custom code work.

Before you do anything, can you let us know exactly what you're trying to achieve? I and others are looking for a resolution to a few privacy problems and it may pay us to put heads together and commission someone to do the work for all of us. That way we could share the expense. (See below)

I've spent hours modifying my site to overcome privacy issues, but I have a long way to go. A lot can be done from Admin. For example, when you went to the Privacy section, did you click the blue Settings link on the top right. That takes you to the section where you can control privacy groups. That may be all you need.

You can also remove the little keys at the top left of each profile group. That will stop your members making groups available to friends only or worse. To do that, follow my instructions in the attachment. If you need a PDF, let me know.

Sadly Dolphin favours the member and gives Admin very little control in this area. A very simple mod should be possible at Boonex level to add an Admin field "Admin to Set Privacy Levels Y/N".

Such an option would stop members literally destroying your site. For example, members can set all profile fields to friends only, making it like facebook. That may be fine in some instances, but in a site where members are there to share with ALL other members (a small club for example), that setting can ruin the site.

Another member could upload 500 photos and make them private, thus using your server space for the benefit of no-one, except him.

I think there are several "missing" mods and maybe Boonex needs to look at this as well as third party vendors. Maybe we could start a crowd-funding group and offer to fund mods that Boonex can then develop and add to dolphin to make it better for everyone? 

I'll start a thread on that subject and see where it takes us.

johnk42,  I don't want that section with the privacy settings to be visible (and usable) for members, exactly for the reason you mention.

A lot can be done from Admin. For example, when you went to the Privacy section, did you click the blue Settings link on the top right. That takes you to the section where you can control privacy groups. That may be all you need.

That's what I tried, but it doesn't hide the section at all.

My site is meant to show everything to everyone, so no one should be able to make some items private or for friends or fans or whatever only.

As a result, admin should be able to determine the privacy of everything at admin site.

I agree to share the expense for a mod like that.

One thing I forgot to mention, and one you may have overlooked is:

 Admin/Builders/Page Builder/Profile Edit.

 I've dropped the following blocks back into the unused block section. Thus my members can't choose who views their profile.

• Edit Profile Privacy
• Edit View Privacy. 

Hope that helps. I'll work on my funding exercise over the next few days because I'm very busy.

That's not really my issue. 

The big issue is that these privacy settings come with every module, and those I want to skip from my site.

Can you please explain exactly what you want to achieve? Good modules such as Modzzz Verified Members that create "Privacy Groups" have ways of disengaging the group. I only have two groups available: "Members" and Friends".

I don't have a lot of modules working, but all their privacy settings are set in the Privacy Groups settings.

It would be helpful if you can specifically tell us where you're running into trouble.

I would like to have the whole block with privacy settings to be invisible for members (also in modules), so they can't change anything anymore.

I think that's something different from what you are trying to achieve.

I'm still trying to work out which block you mean?

If you can't take a screenshot, can you give us a breadcrumb path:

profiles/edit/profile/edit profile/privacy

admin/privacy settings/settings

Also, are you looking at this problem through Admin's profile, or have you set up a test profile so that you can see what other members see?

Unless you can specify the block and tell us which modules are causing issues, it may be very hard to help.

I added screenshots in my first posts :-)

I sincerely apologise. The post below it distracted me.

At this stage of life I've set Groups, Events etc to be created by Admin only for the very reasons you state. I do not want these settings available either because some members take far too much advantage of the system.

It's on my hit list to remove these items and enable members to start groups, events, etc but I haven't spent any time on it yet I'm afraid. That's not to say I won't.

If I have time tonight or tomorrow, I'll look at it, but mine will be a hack. 

I've had a quick look. You may have to set the default Privacy Group in the database, do you plan that to be Members? Also will you be making group posts and forum posts Participants? (Recommended)

I'll do a test run. Are you happy with paying with code and the database?

Try this and see how you go. Provided you backup the file and the database, you can probably test it on your working site. I don't recommend that, so it's your choice.

This is on a clean install and your line numbering may differ.

Go to modules/boonex/events/classes/BxEventsFormAdd.php

Line 391    Change    //Privacy to  /*Privacy

Line 436    Add a */ at the end:   'allow_upload_files_to' => $aInputPrivacyUploadFiles, */

The only changes you need to make are in RED

Upload and test. I didn't need to clear the cache.

All you're doing is blocking out the Privacy form fields. The default data should remain intact. If you wish to change it, that's another exercise.

I tested it with Add and Edit, but not Delete. I can't see why it wouldn't work, but backup!

I also haven't tested it with photos or videos.

Johnk42, this works. Now the whole privacy block is invisible to members.

Thanks a lot !

Annabel, I sent you a PM to say I was dragged away during my research on this. I didn't have time to post a solution or retraction here and still don't.

The code above indeed removes the form details, but existing Admin settings seem to be modified somewhere when someone joins the group. I'm still unable to locate where the new values were being sent to the database because I have interstate visitors and can't spend any time at the computer. As I said in my PM it could be some time before I get a chance.