Unsubscribe Link for Site Notifications

Hi, 

It would be helpful when trying to comply with anti-spam rules, that on every email sent out it includes a direct link to unsubscribe (disable) site notifications for the recipients account. Such as the "confirm profile" link that's generated.

Just wondering if anyone has added this functionality to their site? 

Just another feature that should be a no brainer to be included with boonex, yet it isn't.

No thoughts on this one?

Any dev willing to tackle this for me, or currently working on a Mod like this?

There is one that is sent to member when subscribed to something on the site.

in Admin>Settings 

drop list, Subscription message template.

right, I'm look for the "Site notifications" though. The setting that in the your profile properties. Things such has new greetings, messages, news letters... etc... a way to disable that via a link sent in each of those messages.

 got you..

my way around was to make the field set as "off," making new members forced to tick the box to get site notifications.

Many members complained about this so I'm sure this is what your dealing with.

Admin>Fields Builder>

open EmailNotify and Advanced tab, set default value to "0," this will uncheck the box by default.

Ahh ok, that's a start anyway. Thanks. The big picture is my email server's reputation with the larger email providers. With 50k+ emails a week it's becoming more important. It's best to provide a link that will directly unsubscribe them from the email etc...

 I would think running a command in MySQL to change all members EmailNotify field value to "0" would be cool.

I'm not able to write the code, maybe someone will help.. therefore I could run it too. 

# mysql -u dbuser -p

Password:

> use example.db

> UPDATE Profiles SET EmailNotify=0 ;

 I'd rather not though :) It does, spark up some traffic when user's get updates. I just want them to have a simple way to change it.

Just what I needed! lol

I guess you need to edit the templates and add, "To unsubscribe to notifications, go to "edit profile" and uncheck the email notifications" (or however it is listed).  There are a couple of nice email notifications modules in the market that gives your users better control over which notices they get in their emails.  I am waiting for one to be upgraded to 7.1 so I can install it on my site again.

 yeah that's what I have now, doesn't really comply with anti-spam standards though.

It wouldn't be too hard to whip up a quick file that took the user number from the command line and then changed the subscription status in the database. Then link that in the email template. For instance if you called the file unsubscribe.php the link would be something like http://www.yoursite.com/unsubscribe.php?ID=2 .. Then you could use the email template user id variable to make a correct link.

The upside to this is the person getting the email could just click the link and it would be done.. the downside is it would be open to abuse. For instance anyone could unsubscribe random people from your site by typing that command line with random user numbers. Not that it would happen but it could. 

Sooooo, there are two other alternatives:

1. Protect the unsubscribe file to only people logged in.. upside, no abuse. Downside, if someone signs up with another persons email that person won't know the password and won't be able to unsubscribe. 

2. Add a new random hash to the profiles field when an account is created. Then add that hash to the email template so the link is like http://www.yoursite.com/unsubscribe.php?ID=3&CHECK=FS234G   ... Then you would have your unsubscribe file check the hash against the user number before it unsubscribed the person. 

Unfortunately the last option would require the most work but is also the best choice. Did that all make any sense?

Interesting suggestions... I think I may look into #2... there must be a way to create the random hashes already since the emails that are sent when someone subscribes to a profile, photo, video etc... has a hash in it AFAIK...

Something to ponder anyway for now. I wish boonex would improve the whole messaging/email system.

I have seen unsubscribe links where they take you to a page where you then have to put in the email address that you used to subscribe.  So, add this to the unsubscribe script where the user has to enter the email address used to register with the site.  This would add one more "are you sure" step so that a person does not accidentally unregister.

While I am not sure, I think in the US the Can Spam Act requires one to have such unregister links in any email that is sent out to members subscribed to a service.  As I said, I am not sure about this.

 yeah, you are supposed to...

 Reading this made me realize I was way over thinking this with my whole "random hash" idea. Instead of just passing the user id in the command line the unsubscribe link should pass the email address also. This would prevent someone from randomly unsubscribing people from your site. Soooo here's my attempt to give you guys what you want (or at least a good starting point for you). I'm doing this from work and it's 4am here so sorry for any misspellings or other nonsense.

Just put the attached file in your Dolphin directory and then put this at the bottom of your email templates:

<a href="<Domain>unsubscribe.php?ID=<recipientID>&Email=<Email>">Unsubscribe</a>

The unsubscribe file checks to make sure the user id is an integer and the email is a property formatted email address. These two things should make it reasonably safe from sql injection. It then makes sure they match (same user) and changes their email notify setting. Easy huh?

Give it a shot and let me know what you think..

Beautiful. Anyway to bring it to the page with a confirm button? "Are you sure?"

Question: Does it prompt them for a confirmation first, or just remove the email subscription?  I am thinking someone might accidentally click the link and unsubscribed without knowing they have.  Believe me, members do all kinds of crazy things.

Edit, I should read the previous posts first :lol:

:)

New and improved! It now asks if they are sure and then either unsubscribes them or sends them to the homepage based on if they click yes or cancel. 

I wish Boonex would consider letting people with "advanced" membership level post FREE mods in the market. I think it would encourage more  people to whip up little add ons like this. I understand them wanting a yearly fee from the people selling mods but free ones too?

http://www.boonex.com/forums/#forum/Tips-Tricks-Sharing-0.htm

I think that is where they want up to post free stuff :)

 Outstanding, thanks so much. Works great!

It's all these little things that add up that could make boonex a more complete package, but thankful there are some around that have the knowhow and desire to help.

Thanks!

You're welcome, glad to help.

I think you're right... hopefully a mod will move this there.

Thanks for this mod, your work is appreciated. 

Tips and tricks is OK, but things can get lost there and the search feature on the forums is almost worthless; sorry Boonex but it is and it is why there are so many duplicate posts asking for help on the same things.  Why not open the Market to Advance?  Is there some magic to Premium that the Premium users are the only ones that can code?

While I am unsure, I think Elgg does not lock people out from placing mods on their site; I think that is the reason there was such a huge number of free mods on Elgg compared to Dolphin.

 You're quite welcome, not a problem.

Excellent mod! thanks for sharing, greatly appreciated.

Works great with my Dolphin 7.1.1

 Agreed