UBB.threads PHP Forum Software Community Forums UBB.threads 7 Version 7 Support Signatures - turning links off

It has become apparent that our forums are a wonderful source of traffic for some of our posters and they take advantage of the links in their sig files.

Some of these I don't mind but some are starting to get a bit annoying and taking advantage of us to promote their product which competes with some of ours. I could just ban them but I would prefer to earn from them.

We have set all links in the sig file to nofollow to reduce the google juice but I would like to turn that off and promote the use of sig files as a benefit to related businesses.

And for them to take that benefit it will cost them a subscription.

So I want to be able to turn links as opposed to images off on a group by group basis and put paying subscribers in a group that allows links in sigs, but all other users can't have links in sigs.

Is there a mod to do this and/or will this be part of the upgrade when/if it arrives?

I have had a look at the code and I figure I could make a hack based on the images option. changebasic.inc.php line 354, check if images are allowed, if yes then allow links, if no then don't. Thus allowing paying users to have a graphic to promote their business as well. Could be a nice little earner for the forum.

Currently that feature does not exist as you desire in a stock or mod version.
But what you could do is limit the "Maximum length of signatures" by group.
So for normal users set it to zero no signature. And the new group to whatever.
Of course that would mean a regular user will not have a signature.

Thought of that but it isn't the preferred option.

Thanks.