UBB.threads PHP Forum Software Community Forums General Suggestions and Feedback The matter of how usernames are handled after deleting an account

We just noticed that after deleting an account of an individual who was banned from the Board, that the username on all this person's posted messages was replaced by "Anonymous"! <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> This makes doing a search for these posts nearly impossible and of course no one will know who the person was who posted them. May I humbly suggest that this be changed (back to the way it was, at least years ago), so that the username is retained as the author of all messages?

I suppose there is now no way to reverse this at this point, eh?

Jeff

I have to agree with this.... It just makes for more questions and headaches explaining things to people...

That's an option in your config file. <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Look for this option:

Allow users that are not logged in to choose an unregistered username for their post

If that is set to "No" then all anonymous posts (posts by deleted users are anonymous) are set to "Anonymous". If that option is set to Yes, then the deleted user's old name should show there. <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Although there's no way to search by username for a deleted user anyway. All user's have numbers - if you deleted that user - they get set to the anonymous placeholder user - user#1.

It's really not a good idea to delete banned users, as that gives them an easy opportuntity to regain access by reregistering. If their username is banned, then they are pretty much blocked from doing anything, but if you delete the user, then you also delete the ban. <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

But I think if you change your preference to allow the username to appear - then the username will appear. <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks Josh, I guess that can work too....

[]Allow users that are not logged in to choose an unregistered username for their post.[/]
Thanks Josh, it did surprisingly (to me), restore that username except in the "Last Post" column where he had posted the last message and there is a linked "?" displayed. But that I can definitely live with. <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I would have NEVER guessed that setting that option to "Yes" would effect this particular situation. We do not allow unregistered users to post messages, so it seemed only logical that the option should be set to "No". What it seems to be allowing for is the ability of a non-logged in unregistered user to post messages using an unlimited number of usernames which haven't been taken. Doubtless it is my own inability to understand why this would be allowed? or for what purpose it would be advantageous. []http://www.the-highway.com/Smileys/stupidme.gif[/]

Anyway... the problem has been resolved and thanks again for making a bad situation good. <img src="https://www.ubbcentral.com/boards/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Jeff

Yeah, it probably should be relabeld to something like "List unregistered/deleted posts as Anonymous" as the flag simply overrides whatever username was there if it's user number 1.

[]Yeah, it probably should be relabeld to something like "List unregistered/deleted posts as Anonymous" as the flag simply overrides whatever username was there if it's user number 1. [/]
Or, "Do you want unregistered/deleted posts displayed as Anonymous?" Then the choices would be the reverse of what they are now; "Yes" would enable the substitution and display "Anonymous" and "No" would retain the username for the unregistered/deleted account's username. []http://www.the-highway.com/Smileys/laugh.gif[/]

Dumb question - the config file is not accessed from the control panel is it? Does this fix still apply in the 7.1 version which is what I am still running?
Thanks in advance for your help

Barbara

2004 was pre UBB7

Great Giz until I read the last post I though I missed a feature in the current version. Never really looked at the date of the starting topic. Just looked at the new posts.

Okay - so is there a way to manage how deleted members posts will appear - I always choose option 2
" Delete member and do not alter posts. Ownership will be set to Anonymous with an Anonymous name of: IJO_Barbara."
However they all say "Anonymous"

Our board is a members only board - with proprietary info and when members see "Anonymous" people freak out or worse they won't participate.

I am running 7.1 I can't upgrade right now
Is there a fix?

That is the way 7.x works , delete a member then the person name becomes Anonymous

just change the wordlet to 'Gonzo' or something less 'scary' then.. might be a quick fix0r

ok - Thanks for answering - so i could change Anonymous to Former member ....
Thanks for your help!

Okay I will have to backtrack a little on this item.
In v7.5.2 at least when you delete a member in the control panel you do have a option to preserve the name of the poster.
Here is a sample with a member name of iaei.

Warning: Deleting a member can not be undone.

1. Do not delete this member.

2.Delete member and do not alter posts. Ownership will be set to Anonymous with an Anonymous name of: iaei.

3.Delete member and delete all posts. If there are any replies to a post by this member, they will be attached to the post's parent. If the user's post is a topic, the entire topic will be deleted.

So if you select the 2nd option it will preserve the user name.
It works in 7.5.2

Hardly ever use this feature but if it was in v7.1. It probably was a bug to not work correctly.
So since you can't upgrade right now Sirdude's suggestion is probably the best fix for now.

in version 7.1...If you ban a user - can you take them off the userlist?

I just tried in 7.5.2. Which I don't recall changes on banning between the two versions.
If you ban a user in the control panel under member management. That user will not appear in the user list viewable by members as long as they are banned. No need to change the group the member is in.

I believe this has been the case since ~7.4

So what happens with the latest version when you delete a user but not his posts?
Do they show as anonymous or with the username they had?

Why is this even needed? They can be banned for the same result


The option that was really nice but as removed was the one allowing admin to delete all posts and all replies to those posts as it was very handy to get rid of the rare spammer that makes 50 posts before you notice... and the whole board replies to this person in anger...

Read my post #225421
About four above yours.
That is what your options are.